Once again, our membership has elected an outstanding group of officers and trustees to serve our Association in 2007-08. I am proud to introduce our officers.
Daniel Gandara
First Vice-President
Dan Gandara brings energy, creativity, conviction and spontaneity to our Board. Dan served our Foundation as president for three years and as a trustee for 11 years. He chaired the Association’s Ethnic Diversity in the Legal Profession Committee in 1989-90 and was a member of the ABA’s House of Delegates in the 1990s.
Dan has received several awards, including WSBA’s Affirmative Action Award in 1995, the Latina/o Bar Association’s “Lawyer of the Year Award” in 1997 and our Association’s “Outstanding Lawyer of the Year Award” in 2006. Dan has served on several committees for the KCBA, Hispanic National Bar Association and WSBA. Dan also has been a frequent presenter at CLEs, seminars and Association events. He currently is a partner at Vandeberg Johnson & Gandara.
Dan credits his grandfather for his success. Dan’s great-grandfather had been a lawyer in Mexico and Dan’s grandfather encouraged him to pursue a degree in law. After attending Harvard Law School, Dan was a deputy city attorney in Los Angeles and worked for the Federal Trade Commission. Dan and his wife, Julie, have two grown sons, one of whom is now attending the University of Washington School of Law.
Dan often reflects on his background and commitment to public service: “I was very fortunate to receive an excellent education. By serving on different organizations, I am able to share my tools and skills and give back to the community. It is very important that the Latina/o community becomes involved in community services because this way we are able to voice our concerns. Involvement also helps the community and the organization to be diverse and provides the opportunity to meet and develop relationships.”
James A. Andrus
Second Vice-President
James Andrus brings commitment, passion, self-reliance and individuality to our Board. A West Point graduate, James served as an Army officer prior to attending law school at the University of Texas (Austin). As a corporate securities and acquisitions partner at K&L Gates, James’s practice includes a broad range of corporate finance transactions. He formerly worked in Houston at Mayer Brown & Platt.
The personal characteristics James most respects in an attorney are “honesty and willingness to do a little extra.” James believes that we “hold a position of respect in our community and are given an opportunity to use it or abuse it.” Born in Louisiana, James has a deep respect for veteran civil rights attorney, Fred Gray, who represented Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Rosa Parks in several notable cases. James also admires the late entertainer James Brown, who once told him, “I don’t want nobody to give me nothing. Just open up the door and I will get it myself.”
James is past president of the Loren Miller Bar Association and an adjunct professor at the Seattle University School of Law, and serves on the boards of Pioneer Human Services, Central Washington’s Business School, and the Northwest Hedge Fund Society. He is a member of our state bar’s MCLE Committee and a frequent CLE speaker. He and his wife, Deidre, have a daughter, Jaylyn, and a son, Jimmy.
In describing himself, James says: “I am a hard-working country boy. I am interested in raising my two children to be productive citizens. I also am interested in enhancing the community such that my children’s joy will be expanded in worthwhile things left for them to experience.”
Richard E. Mitchell
Treasurer
Richard Mitchell brings focus, drive, strength of character and a “can do” approach to our Board. Born in London to parents who immigrated to England from the West Indies and Guyana, Richard’s family’s experiences provided him with invaluable life lessons. His grandfathers deeply inspired Richard to develop “the drive and ambition that he has repeatedly maintained in his own life above all odds.” Richard currently serves our state as general counsel to Governor Christine Gregoire.
Prior to attending Syracuse University College of Law, Richard worked as an architect and urban planner in London. His exposure to the largest urban redevelopment project in Europe inspired him to consider a legal career. Two mentors significantly affected Richard’s life: a Cornell thesis advisor, who articulated the African American experience, and a law school mentor, who assisted Richard to reach his potential.
In 2003, Richard was recognized as a National Finalist in the White House Fellowship Program. In 2006-07, Richard served as president of the Loren Miller Bar Association. He has served on boards for Washington Low Income Housing Network, Environmental Works, the City of Seattle’s Landmarks Preservation Commission, and Zion Preparatory Academy. He also has served as an adjunct faculty member at the Seattle University School of Law. Richard and his wife have three sons, ages 3 to 5.
Richard’s advice to us is as follows: “(Our) challenge is not to lose sight of the wonderful things that a law degree allows you to do. You are well trained and positioned to help your community in ways that require you to think about more than self. You have to give back, and do it selflessly. With a law degree, your community believes — if not expects — you to be a leader. So be one.”
Joan E. Tierney
Secretary/Trustee
Joan Tierney brings enthusiasm, dedication, a second career perspective and a bigger-than-life smile to our Board. As associate director at the Seattle University School of Law’s Center for Professional Development, Joan counsels and mentors law students on professionalism and public service issues.
After 16 years as a public health social worker and childbirth educator, Joan was inspired to become a lawyer when confronted with the legal needs of low-income mothers and foster-care teens. Her personal commitment to our profession is demonstrated by her service as a pro bono attorney with KCBA Volunteer Legal Services, the Elder Law Wills Clinic, VAPWA, Neighborhood Legal Clinics and the Housing Justice Project, for which Joan was recognized as the pro bono “Volunteer of the Month” in April 2006. Joan currently is president of Washington Women Lawyers (statewide) and was recently elected an American Bar Foundation Fellow.
In reflecting on her life, Joan says: “My mother and late father taught me the value of team work, social responsibility and the joys of public life, which I passed on to my children, Adam and Noah, who continue to amaze me with their good works and big hearts. My sons and husband David have shared love, laughter and the true meaning of life’s wonder with me.
“My three sisters, now living on different coasts and continents, taught me how great it is to be a woman at this time in history and how much we owe to those who came before us. Since entering the profession of law, I have been inspired by many people, including Tisha Pagalilauan, Judy Ramseyer and you, Eileen. I look forward to serving KCBA with heart, humor and hard work.”
A very special thank you to John Ruhl, our outstanding 2006-07 president, and our retiring trustees: Amelia Adair, Bonnie Glenn, Karen Murray and Jeff Sakoi. You will be missed.
