Distinctions
· The Best Lawyers in America®, Employment Law- Management
· Certified Project Management Professional (P.M.P.), 2009
· Vice-Chairperson, Mississippi Board of Bar Admissions
· Member, Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam Committee, National Conference of Bar Examiners, 2010-11
· Top Ten Community Leaders in South Mississippi, Sun Herald, 2005
· Career Woman of the Year in South Mississippi, Sun Herald/Business & Professional Women, 2004
Associations
· Project Management Institute
· American Bar Association
- Labor and Employment Law Section
· Society for Human Resource Management
· Mississippi Bar Association
- Chairperson, Labor and Employment Law Section, 1997-98
· Harrison County Bar Association
- President, 2008
Legal Experience
· Coordinate development loan, construction and rehabilitation projects, regulatory compliance and payment of funds under CDBG grants totaling over $68,000,000.
· Shepherded small (350 employees) and mid-size (4000+ employees) private corporations and two public agencies through major restructuring and downsizing, including use of W.A.R.N. notices and ADEA/OWBPA-compliant notifications and releases.
· Served as outside mediator for U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for two years.
· Handled all labor and employment advisory, transactional, and litigation matters for 200+ bed general acute care hospital for 15+ years.
· Substantially revised four-volume policy and procedure manual for general operations, human resources, administrative, and departmental operations of 2000+ employee health care provider.
· Conduct investigations of allegations by whistleblowers.
· Create and conduct client-management training programs on subjects such as hiring, disciplining, and firing employees; conducting internal investigations; avoiding harassment claims; administering the Family and Medical Leave Act.
Papers, Presentations & Publications
· "Hey, you're a lawyer; let me ask you a question." The Journal of South Mississippi Business, May 2012.
· "Use of Nonconformity with Sexual Stereotypes as Basis for Employment Decision Can Land Employers in Court," Workplace, March 2010.
· "Employee Reliance: When the Company Mistakenly Designates Absence as FMLA Leave," Workplace, August 2009.
· "Minimum Wage Hike Effective July 24, 2007" Workplace, July 2007.
· "Mississippi Employment-Related State Law Claims" chapter in Mississippi Employment Law Practice Handbook (published 2003, 2000 by University of Mississippi Continuing Legal Education Center).
· Conducted management training on a number of topics, including:
- Harassment, Discipline, Evaluation, and Documentation
- Strategies for Avoiding Claims under the FMLA
- Sexual Harassment - Management
- Sexual Harassment - Staff
- Dealing with Difficult Employees
- Employer Dos and Donts