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NEXT COHORT STARTS JANUARY
BUILDING LAWYERS AS LEADERS
The San Diego County Bar Association's Leadership Academy 2026
IS THIS YOU?
- Are you seeking to grow in your current role, or realize new leadership roles in the legal or broader community?
- Have you been searching for ways to develop key skills and relationships to accelerate your development as a leader?
- Are you inspired to be of service and looking for ways to live out that goal?
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then you've come to the right place.
APPLICATION PERIOD: AUGUST 4 – December 31, 2025
To apply for the 2026 cohort please click the button below.
Apply Today
Who is this for?
You! The selection process is designed to build a cohort that reflects the personal and professional diversity of our community, and to bring together a group of leaders who will both learn individually and support one another as a group. The Academy is designed for lawyers with at least two years of experience in the profession all the way to senior lawyers seeking to grow and enhance their established leadership.
*You meet the requirement for two years of experience if your bar admission date is at least two years before the date of the first Academy session.
Why?
Lawyers often rise to positions of leadership based on the nature of their work without being provided the tools and resources to excel in those roles. Building Lawyers as Leaders is one of the strategic priorities in the SDCBA's 2023 – 2025 Strategic Plan! To advance this goal, the SDCBA offers a 6-month intensive Leadership Academy to provide a unique opportunity for all lawyers looking to develop and improve their leadership skills, expand their community network, and refine their personal goals.
What?
The purpose of our Leadership Academy is to equip attorney members with essential skills and relationships to be effective leaders within the legal profession and the community as a whole.
The values of the Leadership Academy are: Curiosity, Courage, Authenticity, and Accountability. These are values the Leadership Academy will weave throughout the curriculum for the group as a whole, and these are values that we expect the Scholars to individually bring to the table.
The goals of the Leadership Academy are:
- To train attorneys as effective, ethical, and service-oriented leaders;
- To increase the diversity of leaders in the profession and community;
- To foster relationships among attorneys from a broad segment of the community;
- To provide hands-on leadership training opportunities to members;
- To inspire attorneys to seek leadership positions; and
- To build a support community to assist members in achieving meaningful leadership opportunities.
Faculty and Expert Speakers:
At the Leadership Academy, we will be joined by amazing San Diego leaders – many of whom are lawyers (and you may not even know that!)
In the last three cohorts, we featured the following experts in our sessions. You can expect the same caliber of expert faculty and speakers in 2026, and we will be announcing them soon.
Past Faculty and Expert Speakers:
Dr. Lorri Sulpizio, Executive Director, Conscious Leadership Academy at the University of San Diego, facilitated the two-day opening weekend of the Academy on Self-Leadership and Leading with Empathy and Compassion.
- Elena Acevedo, Ethics and Investigations at Intuit
- Holly Amaya, Co-Founder and COO, Story Imprinting
- Dr. Bo Bae, Senior Consultant and Leadership Coach, University of San Diego School of Leadership and Ed. Sciences
- Mayor Catherine Blakespear, Mayor of the City of Encinitas, Board Chair SANDAG (San Diego Association of Governments)
- Rob Bonta, Attorney General of the State of California
- Hon. Desiree Bruce-Lyle, Assistant Supervising Judge, Collaborative Courts, San Diego Superior Court
- Councilmember Raul Campillo, District 7
- Carmen Chavez, Executive Director, Casa Cornelia
- Hon. Cindy D. Davis, Judge, San Diego County Superior Court
- Jason Conge, Office of the Public Defender
- Dan Eaton, Shareholder, Seltzer Caplan McMagon & Vitek
- Mara Elliott, City Attorney, City of San Diego
- Sean Elo-Rivera, City Council President, City of San Diego, District 9
- Robert Gleason, President and CEO, Evans Hotels
- Ritu Goswamy, Lawyer Leadership Coach & DEI Strategist
- Justice Patricia Guerrero, Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court
- Hon. Maureen H. Hallahan, Assistant Presiding Judge, San Diego Superior Court
- Vanessa Hardy, Vice President of People and Culture, Jewish Family Service
- Dr. Renda Dionne Madrigal, Author and Licensed Clinical Psychologist
- Jordan Marks, San Diego County Chief Deputy Assessor / Taxpayer Advocate
- Kelly Martinez, San Diego County Sheriff
- Rich Mayhew, Executive Coach The Mayhew Group
- Hon. Marcella McLaughlin, Judge, San Diego County Superior Court, SDCBA Past President 2013
- Hon. Kenneth Medel, San Diego Superior Court
- Randy Mize, Public Defender, County of San Diego
- Sandy Naranjo, Board of Port Commissioners
- Jennifer Nelson, CEO, San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program
- Colin Parent, Chief Executive Officer and General Counsel Circulate San Diego
- Melissa Patterson, Associate, Sheppard Mullin
- Kristin Rizzo, SDCBA Past President 2018
- Heather Rosing, CEO and President, Klinedinst PC, SDCBA Past President 2008
- Puja Sachdev, Family Law Attorney, Sachdev Legal Group, APC
- Johanna Schiavoni, SDCBA Past President 2020
- Hon. Roderick Shelton, Assistant Supervising Judge - East County, San Diego Superior Court
- Lorena Slomanson, Director of Development, Legal Aid Society
- Renée N.G. Stackhouse, SDCBA Past President 2021
- Summer Stephan, San Diego County District Attorney
- Council President Pro Tem Monica Montgomery Steppe, San Diego City Council, District 4
- Hon. Eddie Sturgeon, San Diego Superior Court
- Ximena Solano Suarez, Associate, Sheppard Mullin
- Heather Trocha, Office of the San Diego County District Attorney
- Racquel Vasquez, Mayor of Lemon Grove
- Councilmember Marni von Wilpert, District 5
- Matthew Wechter, Office of the Public Defender
These community leaders will address an array of topics critical to leadership growth and, we’ll have many different learning formats, all providing you the opportunity for hands-on instruction. You will get this through TED-style talks, panel discussions with Q&A, in addition to small group dialogue and breakout sessions.
Topics to be covered at Leadership Academy sessions include:
- Self-leadership
- Leading with Empathy and Compassion
- Leading with Purpose & Vision
- Authentic Communication
- Mindset Training & Management
- Conflict and Challenges
- Leadership Recruiting and Teamwork Building
- Capstone Project/Graduation Ceremony
In addition to learning, you’ll have the opportunity to build lasting relationships with your Academy cohort, faculty, and community leaders. All while earning up to 12 hours of CLE!
How?
The SDCBA Leadership Academy will kick-off in January with an orientation and session primer, followed by a two-part opening weekend session, one Saturday half-day session per month through June, a full-day capstone project and graduation ceremony and reception. Along with leveling up your leadership skills and expanding your professional network, the Academy provides:
- Hands-on instruction from local industry experts in leadership and professional development
- Exposure to leaders in the legal and broader community
- Coaching and assessment in the areas of individual leadership, emotional intelligence, and focus on mindset
- Honing communications skills, with an emphasis on authenticity and developing your personal leadership and communication style
- Focus on purpose and vision-driven leadership, building and leveraging teams, and handling conflict and challenges
- Developing and presenting a capstone project with a small group
- The opportunity to build lasting relationships with your Academy colleagues, faculty, and community leaders
- Up to 12 hours of CLE
- And much more!
When?
The 2026 Academy will run from January to June.
All sessions are live/in-person and applicants will be required to certify that they will commit to attend every session.
One excused unforseeable absence with notice may be granted.
Program Cost: Tuition per participant is $1,250 for SDCBA members. Upon your acceptance to the Academy, tuition will be due on or before Friday, December 5, 2025. No refunds will be given after program commencement.
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Thursday, January 15 |
5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. |
(Welcome & Kick Off) |
|
Saturday, January 24 |
9 a.m. - 3 p.m. |
(Opening Weekend Session #1) |
|
Sunday, January 25 |
9 a.m. - 1 p.m. |
(Opening Weekend Session #2) |
|
Saturday, February 21 |
9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. |
(Session #3) |
|
Saturday, March 14 |
9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. |
(Session #4) |
|
Saturday, April 11 |
9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. |
(Session #5) |
|
Saturday, May 2 |
9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. |
(Session #6) |
|
Saturday, May 30 |
9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. |
(Session #7) |
|
Saturday, June 13 |
9 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. |
(Capstone Project) |
|
Wednesday, June 17 |
5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. |
(Graduation Ceremony) |
*precise date/time/length may change
Light snacks and lunch will be provided as part of the educational sessions and Capstone. The Kick-Off will include a light meal, and the Graduation Ceremony will include a hosted reception.
Attendance Policy
- Commitment to in-person attendance is required to join and graduate from the Academy. There is not a virtual or hybrid option and sessions are not recorded.
- Scholars are expected to attend every session of the Academy. At the SDCBA’s discretion, consistent with internal policy, a Scholar may be excused from a single session with advance notice to the Leadership Academy Chair of the Scholar’s circumstances necessitating an absence.
- If an absence is excused, Scholars are required to demonstrate learning of the materials from the session to the Chair or designee.
- If a Scholar misses more than 1 session, the SDCBA will consider this a withdrawal from the Academy and no refunds will be provided. The Scholar may not return to the cohort following the withdrawal.
- Once a Scholar attends the first session, no refunds will be given.
The SDCBA reserves the right to impose requirements to protect the health and safety of all participants in this program, and make decisions in accordance with the best information available at the time.
APPLICATION PERIOD: AUGUST 4 – NOVEMBER 5
2026 Leadership Academy Scholar Bios
Previous Scholar Bios » Scholar Testimonials »
Ceci Ambrosio
Supervising Attorney
Legal Aid Society of San Diego
Ceci has been practicing immigration law since 2019. She is currently a Supervising attorney for the immigration department at Legal Aid Society of San Diego. In the past she has been involved with the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee as a member of American Immigration Lawyers Association and actively participates in the Access to Justice Committee through Legal Aid.
Nar Cruz
CEO/Attorney
The Cruz Law Office APC
Nar Cruz is the CEO Attorney of The Cruz Law Office, APC, an immigration law firm serving immigrants across the United States. An immigrant born in Mexico and raised in South Central Los Angeles, he leads a growing team of 60+ members, including four associate attorneys. His practice focuses on helping families reunite through family-based immigration, and guiding hardworking immigrants—especially those who have faced workplace abuse, exploitation, or domestic violence—toward lawful status, protection, and long-term stability in the U.S.
Davy Day
Senior Associate
Fragomen
I’m a senior immigration counsel at Fragomen with extensive experience advising employers from Fortune 500 companies to startups on employment-based immigration across industries including software, AI, semiconductors, EVs, and construction. I support clients at all levels, from HR to executives and extraordinary-ability professionals. I joined the Leadership Academy to grow personally and professionally, deepen ties in the local community, and expand my leadership, including proudly serving on the Pan Asian Lawyers of San Diego board.
Christina Elhaddad
Shareholder
Hoffman & Forde
Christina Elhaddad is a Shareholder at Hoffman & Forde - the first to be offered that title after the founding Shareholders. She represents individuals and businesses in complex civil litigation, business disputes, and commercial/residential real estate matters. Known for her strategic, detail-driven approach, she manages cases from pre-litigation through trial. Christina co-founded and serves as President of the Arab American Bar Association of San Diego and is the Vice Chair of the Arab American Advisory Board to the SDPD.
Sarah Havens
Founder
Havens Injury Law, Inc
Sarah Allison Havens founded Havens Injury Law, Inc., a plaintiff personal injury trial firm, she is known for her relentless courtroom advocacy and frequent seven- and eight-figure results. She fights for injured victims against insurance companies, corporations, and public entities. A recognized leader and award recipient, she is widely published, speaks nationally, teaches trial skills, and serves as NITA faculty. She is Immediate Past President and former Education Chair of CASD and a Trial Lawyers College graduate. A wife and mother, she’s an avid runner, surfer, snowboarder, camper, dirt bike rider, and life adventurist.
Alexandria Hopson
Attorney at Law
Taylor Anderson LLP
Alexandria currently in her 5th year and works in civil litigation, working on insurance defense cases, medical malpractice, personal injury, premise liability, construction defect and complex tort litigation. In the past 5 years she has completed 3 trials and 2 arbitrations, with successful outcomes for her clients, including 3 defense verdicts. She is an alumni of Thomas Jefferson School of law and a current board member of Lawyers Club.
Austin Lucas
Counselor
California Western School of Law
I previously practiced immigration and criminal defense in Philadelphia. Now, I have transitioned to a non-practicing position in academia and serve as a career counselor for law students and graduates. I chair the Anti-Racism Group and vice chair the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Division within the SDCBA. Our Group has produced educational roundtables and showcases for minority-owned businesses.
Heather Melone
Principal Attorney
Wellspring Law
Heather is the founder and principal attorney of Wellspring Law, a law firm that protects professional licenses and preserves livelihoods. She is a past President of the East County San Diego Bar Association and the current East County Regional Representative of the San Diego County Bar Association. She has held numerous leadership positions in various community organizations and is looking forward to honing her leadership skills to better serve fellow attorneys in San Diego county.
Mehry Mohseni
Certified Family Law Specialist
Cage & Miles, LLP.
Mehry has practiced family law for 10 years and is the Director of New Attorney Development with Cage & Miles, LLP. She has served on several local boards, including Run Women Run, Free to Thrive, and is currently a Vice President with the Lawyers Club of San Diego. She was a fellow of the San Diego Leadership Alliance. In 2018, Mehry received the C. Hugh Friedman New Attorney award from Lawyers Club of San Diego.
Sean Mann-O'Halloran
Senior Associate
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter, & Hampton, LLP,
I am a senior associate in the litigation group at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter, & Hampton, LLP, working to make partner. My biggest leadership accomplishment to date is leading a team of junior associates on a case that made new law in Georgia, pierced the attorney-client privilege under the crime-fraud exception, and obtain summary judgment against a $64 million damages claim.
Michelle Patterson
Attorney|Principal
Michelle Patterson Law
Michelle Patterson is a solo practitioner and the principal of Michelle Patterson Law. She represents clients throughout Southern California in areas of Civil Litigation, Landlord-Tenant, Business, and Bankruptcy. She has been on the Super Lawyers Rising Stars list for three years in a row, in recognition of her civil litigation practice. She is the current Treasurer for the Filipino American Lawyers of San Diego and is a member of the 2026 SDCBA Awards Committee.
Alma Robbins
Deputy City Attorney
San Diego City Attorney's Office
I am a Deputy City Attorney with the Office of the San Diego City Attorney in the Civil Advisory Division. My biggest leadership accomplishment has been providing legal support to a council district and various departments on the drafting and implementation of an ordinance pertaining to the safety of live event workers.
Jana Mickova Will
Senior Deputy City Attorney
San Diego City Attorney's Office
I have been a Deputy City Attorney for the City of San Diego for approximately 20 years, specializing in land use matters. I have spent most of my career in litigation and love everything about being in a courtroom. I thrive on representing the public interest because I see firsthand how much thought, dedication, and necessary compromise go into the City’s decisions. I am most proud of my collaborative efforts and the cases that yield the broadest levels of public benefit. These include appellate decisions clarifying facets of land use and CEQA, as well as less publicized cases that have allowed important projects such as lifeguard stations and homeless services to proceed. Spearheading the City’s legal defense in these types of cases is my greatest leadership accomplishment.
Rebecca Womelsdorf
Staff Attorney
San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program
Rebecca is currently a Staff Attorney at San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program in her fifth year of practice. She has experience in immigration law, insurance defense, employment law, criminal law, domestic violence, and human trafficking. Her greatest leadership accomplishment is launching and operating SDVLP’s Record Relief program, which assists survivors of human trafficking, intimate partner violence, and sexual violence in clearing their criminal records.
The Leadership Academy thanks its generous sponsors for making this program possible.
Producing Sponsor
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Title Sponsors
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SDCBA Leadership Academy Subcommittee
Thank you to these SDCBA members who served on this subcommittee for 2026:
| Rolando I. Gudiel Sanchez - Co-Chair | |
| Jennifer McCollough - Co-Chair | |
| Sarah Garrick - Board Member | |
| Lucas Hirsty | |
| Michael Crowley | |
| Rachel M. Allums | |
| Mark-Robert Bluemel | |
| Joanna de Vos | |
| Tamra Lett | |
| Patrick McGill | |
| Katie Mefford | |
| Megan Moore | |
| Anna M. Romanskaya | |
| Ashley L. Salas | |
| Carrie Stelzig | |
| Taylor Wemmer | |
| Amy West | |
| Amanda-Dawn Natilia | |
| Katie Parker |
The Leadership Academy thanks its generous sponsors for making this program possible.