Leadership & Policies
The SDCBA’s Board of Directors is the Association’s governing body, and is responsible for guiding the organization, within the parameters set forth by the SDCBA’s Bylaws, the SDCBA Policy Manual, the California Corporations Code, and other relevant provisions of the law of the state of California.
Leadership & Policies |
2021 Board of Directors
The San Diego County Bar Association is governed by 18 elected Board of Directors, including one director from North County, East County, and South Bay who act as a regional representative. In addition, the chair of the New Lawyer Division serves a one year term on the Board as the new lawyer representative. Director elections are held in November of each year and the Bar's president is elected by the board from the second and third year directors. The board meets on the second Tuesday of each month at the Bar Center at 401. For a list of all of the SDCBA's past presidents, click here.For information on joining the SDCBA Board of Directors, please contact Olga Blankson.
- President
Renée N.G. Stackhouse
Stackhouse, APC
renee [at] stackhouseAPC.com - President-Elect
David M. Majchrzak
Klinedinst PC
dmajchrzak [at] klinedinstlaw.com - Immediate Past President
Johanna Schiavoni
California Appellate Law Group LLP
johanna.schiavoni [at] calapplaw.com - Secretary
Nicholas J. Fox
Foley & Lardner LLP
nicholas.john.fox [at] gmail.com - Treasurer
Marissa A. Bejarano
District Attorney's Office
marissa.bejarano [at] sdcda.org - Vice President
Hon. Victor E. Bianchini, Ret.
Judicate West
judgebianchini [at] att.net - Vice President
A. Melissa Johnson
Spencer Johnson McCammon LLP
mjohnson [at] thespencerlawfirm.com - Vice President
Khodadad Darius Sharif
Sharif Faust Lawyers, Ltd.
sharif [at] shariffaust.com - Director
Roxy Carter
Attorney at Law
RoxySDCBA [at] gmail.com - Director
Warren Den
Office of the Public Defender
warrenden [at] gmail.com - Director
Michelle A. Gastil
Law Office of Michelle A Gastil
michelle [at] gastillaw.com - Director
Stacey A. Kartchner
Law Office of Stacey A. Kartchner
sak [at] staceykartchner.com - Director
Brenda Lopez
Patterson, Lopez, Banuelos, Khiterman, LLP
brenda [at] plbklaw.com - Director
Angela Medrano
Law Office of Angela Medrano
angelamedrano78 [at] gmail.com - Director
Wilson Schooley
Schooley Law Firm
waslawprose [at] cox.net - Director
Robert M. Shaughnessy
Klinedinst PC
rshaughnessy [at] klinedinstlaw.com - Director
L. Marcel Stewart
Stewart Law Group
lmslaw [at] att.net - Director
Kimberly Swierenga
Swierenga Law & Mediation
Kimberly [at] ElderFraudFighter.com - New Lawyer Division Representative
Stephanie Atkinson
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney
steph.m.atkinson@gmail.com
Section and Committee Leadership
A full list of the SDCBA's Section Leadership can be found here. For more information about SDCBA Sections, click here.For more information about SDCBA's Committees and Committee leadership, click here.
Internal Leadership
The Association is fortunate to have an amazing team of professional experts and program specialists who execute its’ various functions and priorities. You may contact any team member by emailing them directly or by calling 619.231.0781 and entering the extension listed below.
Executive Leadership
Jill Epstein, JD
Executive Director
jepstein[at]sdcba.org
ext. 4111
BioKeith Fisher
Deputy Executive Director
kfisher[at]sdcba.org
ext. 4107
Bio
Governance
Olga Blankson
Executive Assistant/
Leadership Coordinator
oblankson[at]sdcba.org
ext. 4113
Programs and Events
- Maribel Sanchez
Program Specialist
msanchez[at]sdcba.org
ext. 4118 -
Nic Hagan
Conference Center & Events Manager
nhagan[at]sdcba.org
ext. 4135
Marketing and Outreach
Ron Marcus
Director of Marketing & Outreach
rmarcus[at]sdcba.org
ext. 4116
BioAttiba Royster
Graphic Designer/ Webmaster
aroyster[at]sdcba.org
ext. 4115Sasha Feredoni
Marketing Manager
sferedoni[at]sdcba.org
ext. 4110Hailey Johnson
Publications and Content Coordinator
hjohnson[at]sdcba.org
ext. 4119
Member Services
- Kayla Higgins
Administrative Assistant
khiggins[at]sdcba.org
ext. 4157 Adriana Linares
Lawyer Referral and Information Service
Call toll-free at 800-464-1529 or Local at 619-231-8585
Hable Gratis al 800-464-1529 o Local 619-231-8585
Michelle Chavez
Director of Public Service Programs
mchavez[at]sdcba.org
ext. 4150
BioElizabeth Sorensen
Attorney and Community Outreach Specialist
esorensen[at]sdcba.org
ext. 4153Holly Thomas
Senior LRIS & SCRA Specialist
hthomas[at]sdcba.org
ext. 4130Dawn Young
LRIS Specialist
dyoung[at]sdcba.org
ext. 4127Perla Perez
LRIS Specialist
pperez[at]sdcba.org
Fee Arbitration
Gloria Varela
Fee Dispute Specialist
gvarela[at]sdcba.org
ext. 4154
Finance & Operations
Philip Schneider, MBA
Director of Finance & CFO
pschneider[at]sdcba.org
ext. 4124
BioCynthia Davis
Staff Accountant
cdavis[at]sdcba.org
ext. 4131
Bar Center and Meeting Services
- Julie Marquardt
Member Services Concierge
ext. 4100
jmarquardt[at]sdcba.org - Aldrin Ring
Building Operations Coordinator
ext. 4106
aring[at]sdcba.org
Adriana Linares
Adriana Linares serves as the Technology and Practice Management Advisor of the SDCBA. She is a frequent speaker at national technology conferences and a regular contributor to legal blogs and publications. Adriana has a BA in Geography from Stetson University, an MA in Corporate Communication and Technology from Rollins College, and is an IAPP Certified Information Privacy Technologist. She is a 2013 Fastcase 50 honoree, recognizing “the law’s smartest, most courageous innovators, techies, visionaries, and leaders,” and was profiled as a Legal Rebel Trailblazer by the ABA Journal in 2018. She served as Chair of the American Bar Association TECHSHOW 2017. Adriana calls herself the SDCBA's "human member benefit" as she regularly offers legal technology training and consulting to Bar members.
Jill Epstein, JD
Jill Epstein has been serving as the Executive Director of the San Diego County Bar Association since March 2019. Jill is an attorney licensed to practice in Washington DC, with an extensive background at membership organizations in California, Chicago, and Washington DC. She has worked for the American Medical Association, the Chartered Financial Analysts Society of Chicago, and, most recently the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.
Jill oversees the day-to-day operations of the SDCBA and its 24 employees. Jill also works closely with the Board of Directors to implement policies and vision for the organization. She really enjoys getting to know – and support- the members.
Phil Schneider
Philip Schneider has served as the Director of Finance and Operations and Chief Financial Officer since February 2015. He brings more than 18 years of experience in financial and operations management to the San Diego County Bar Association. He was previously the Vice President of Finance for Mistral LLC, a consumer products company. Phil received an MBA from the University of California at Irvine and a B.A. in Environmental Science from the University of California at Berkeley.
Ron Marcus
Ron Marcus joined the SDCBA team as Director of Marketing and Outreach in May 2019. He is an experienced strategic brander, veteran marketing director, expert copywriter, content marketer, and seasoned creative director, with extensive agency- and client-side experience. He's worked in many industries, including technology, financial services, and construction. Ron has also worked extensively with nonprofit philanthropies and associations over the decades.
Ron has helped many organizations improve their results by optimizing their brand positioning, growing their brand awareness, elevating their total customer experience, and boosting their marketing program effectiveness.
In addition, Ron is an accomplished presenter and facilitator, voice over artist, musician, and martial artist. When he’s not working, Ron plays in bands, teaches karate, and volunteers. He is a Southern California native and has called San Diego home since 1985. He lives with his wife Galina and their two cats, Sam and Toby.
Sarah Harris
Sarah Harris has served as the Director of Program and Events since 2014. She brings more than 18 years of experience in the legal industry and was previously a Director of Operations at McCarthy & Holthus, a national law firm representing financial institutions in a variety of banking law matters. Sarah received a BA from San Diego State University and a Paralegal degree from Cuyamaca College.
Michelle Chavez
Michelle Chavez is a program management expert with more than 20 years of customer relations, sales and marketing, and business leadership experience. She is currently employed at the Lawyer Referral Information Service (LRIS), where she serves as the program director managing the day-to-day functions of LRIS programs. She oversees 6 in-house counselors, works with more than 400 attorneys, coordinates all advertising and promotions, and manages the functions of several key programs, including: Fee Arbitration, Modest Means (low-cost family law), Flat fee programs, Servicemember Civil Relief Act Pro Bono, and Law Week Student Poster & Essay Contest. She is also the staff liaison to the New Lawyers Division.
Prior to her current assignment as program director, Ms. Chavez held other roles in sales and marketing management, customer relations, and staff training and development. These positions prepared her for the functions she now performs at the LRIS, a role she has filled since 2006.
While at the LRIS, Ms. Chavez has been invited to speak at several prestigious conferences and meetings, including the ABA Bar School, ABA 2012-2019 National Lawyer Referral Workshop, and Real-Life Experiences of Using Social Media. She also became a member of the ABA Lawyer Referral & Information Service Leadership Forum (June 2012-January 2013), the National Association of Bar Executives, the Better Business Bureau, and the following Chambers of Commerce: Carlsbad, Escondido, East County, San Diego Regional, San Diego North, and Vista Chamber.
Ms. Chavez is a graduate of San Diego State University where she received a Bachelor of Liberal Arts & Sciences in Psychology. She also graduated from the University of San Diego’s Lawyer Assistant Program, an ABA-approved graduate level curriculum.
Andrew Cave
Andrew Cave grew up in San Diego and has worked almost exclusively for non-profit membership organizations since 2008. Andrew loves to cook, is an avid golfer, and a lifelong fan of the San Diego Padres. He recently bought a house in La Mesa where he lives with his girlfriend Lisa and 4-year-old daughter Olivia.
Keith Fisher
Keith has worked in a leadership capacity as a member of senior management in non-profit, service and technology for the past 25 years in San Diego. His areas of expertise include building and developing successful businesses, boards of directors and management teams, business development and sustainability planning, partnership and collaboration development initiatives, corporate oversight of bylaws and governance ,and human resources.
Aside from more recent consulting work, Keith previously held the title of Chief Operating Officer at the San Diego Opera for 15 years. Most notable is his role in the saving of the Opera in 2014 when impending closure of the venerable arts institution rocked the San Diego community. Keith was tasked with leading the transition of the Opera as a facilitator and advisor to the board, staff and community. While certainly one of the most challenging of circumstances professionally, his role in saving of San Diego Opera is one of his proudest accomplishments. Prior to this, Keith held senior management positions in the technology sector which include ConfirmNet and WebSideStory.
Keith’s educational background includes an Executive MBA from San Diego State University and a Bachelor’s of Science in Administration from Northeastern University. Originally from Maine, Keith has lived in San Diego for over 25 years and resides in Kensington with his partner Mark. In their free time, the duo are incurable home improvement junkies.