The following are highlights from the KCBA Board of Trustees meetings held on June 21, convened by KCBA President Karen Orehoski.
This meeting was the last Board meeting of the 2023–2024 fiscal year. President Karen Orehoski called the meeting to order and welcomed the Board and guests, the Board approved the meeting minutes for the Board meeting on May 15, 2024, with a slight change by voice vote.
During the reports section of the meeting, members heard updates regarding the following KCBA activities:
Treasurer Theresa Wang reported that the KCBA was ninety percent through the budget cycle and ending the fiscal year strong with revenue above budget and expenses on track.
New Lawyer Division (“NLD”) Chair Alyssa Nevala presented highlights from the NLD’s final meeting and end-of-year celebration. She thanked KCBA staff Bridget Schuster, Casey Almas, and Emily Lake for their help in making the celebration a success. She also announced next year’s NLD Board members (Amanda Simantov as the incoming Chair, Ray Williams as the incoming Vice Chair, Jacob Rose, Alex Arnts, Ian Brown, and Jeremiah Surface) and upcoming NLD events. The Board thanked Ms. Nevala for her services to the KCBA.
Executive Director Christina Coad announced the hiring of a new Finance Director who is scheduled to start in mid-July and CPA Jessica Adair will support the transition. In addition, weekly meetings with employees’ union representatives are ongoing to help reach a collective bargaining agreement.
In other business, Ms. Raegen Rasnic, who co-chairs the Judicial Conferencing Committee with Kinnon Williams, briefed the trustees on the work of the committee and their need to get more members on board so they can perform the important work of providing performance feedback to judges who are seeking it. Ms. Orehoski will email trustees with more details on how they can help with the outreach.
Ms. Coad remarked that we have a strategic framework that resulted from surveys, staff, and member interviews, focus groups, and the work done at the retreat this past April. Next step would be to present it at the July Board retreat for finalization. She looks forward to working together to create an implementation plan so that she can collaborate with staff on achieving set goals.
Ms. Overbey updated on the ongoing Housing Justice Project divestiture and the search for a transition administrator to help move the process forward. After careful vetting of the names being considered, all parties involved agreed to extend the job offer to Lisa Stone, a retired affiliate of Northwest Women’s Law (now known as Legal Voice), and she accepted. She will start in July, working closely with Executive Director Coad and HJP staff.
Additionally, Ms. Orehoski updated the Board on a meeting between staff members and the Board’s Executive Committee regarding the February Bar Bulletin issue.
In other actions, the Board approved the budget for fiscal year 2025.
Lastly, President Orehoski recognized outgoing trustees Robert Flennaugh II, Hon. Richard F. McDermott (Ret.), Rory O’Sullivan, and Chalia Stallings-Ala’ilima for their service to the Association and the legal community. She also recognized Theresa Wang for her service as Treasurer and for renewing another 3-year term as a trustee. Executive Director Coad also thanked Ms. Orehoski for her leadership this past year. All were presented with a gift of appreciation.
The Board then entered into an executive session to conduct the annual performance evaluation of the Executive Director.
