In my spare time, I thoroughly enjoy the company of my husband and three children and during non-business hours, I can often be found at the Gahanna soccer fields, swimming pools, and dance and gymnastics studios. Having grown up as a competitive swimmer and runner, I remain very physically active with weight lifting and various cross-training activities. My family also loves the outdoors, preferring hiking and camping to less buggy pursuits.

Education and Background
I was born and raised in South Bend, Indiana, and moved to Ohio in 1974. In 1978, I graduated from Miami University of Ohio, with an undergraduate degree in English and Creative Writing. I pursued a very successful career in communications, public relations and advertising, ultimately managing a multi-million dollar communications department for a large health and life insurance carrier. Wanting to pursue work in the legal field, I made the decision to go to law school full time in 1989. I graduated from Capital University Law School in 1992 with academic honors. I have an extremely strong work ethic and put myself through undergraduate and law school by working in retail sales and secretarial positions.

Professional Training and Accomplishments
I have pursued advanced training in collaborative law, mediation, divorce and custody, real estate, wills and estates, public records, open meetings and construction law. I am a co-author of the Home Rule Handbook for Ohio Townships. I am a highly trained and experienced mediator, especially in the areas of families, divorce and custody. I have also been extensively trained in mental health related topics and served as a crisis volunteer for a number of years, helping people deal with substance abuse and addiction, rape, suicide, child sexual abuse, and other personal crises. I have been published in various creative writing magazines and in the Ohio Poet's Anthology, and am a frequent speaker on international adoption.

I was recently inducted into the 2009 Fellows Class of the Ohio State Bar Foundation.  Membership in the foundation is extended only to lawyers whose careers have demonstrated their dedication to the highest ideals of the legal profession and the welfare of their community.  My other professional memberships include the Ohio State Bar Association and its Family Law Committee, the Columbus Bar Association and its Family Law Committee, Columbus Divorce Professionals, Inc. (serving in different capacities on the Board of Directors, including past-President), Ohio Mediation Association and the International Academy of Collaborative Attorneys.  For several years I was on the adjunct faculty of Columbus State Community College and taught Legal Research and Writing.  I have also been a speaker for the local and state bar on collaborative law and alternative dispute resolution techniques in child custody and divorce.

Areas of Practice

• Family Law
• Matrimonial Law
• Domestic Relations Law
• Mediation
• Local Government
• Public Contract
• Real Estate
• Construction Law

Bar Admissions

• Ohio, 1992

Education

• Capital University Law School, Columbus, Ohio
  J.D.
  Honors: Academic Honors
  Honors: Greer Hepburn Award for Composition
  Honors: Dean's List
  Honors: Order of the Curia
  Honors: American Jurisprudence Award for Study of Evidence
  
  
• Miami University of Ohio, Oxford, Ohio, 1978
  Bachelor of Arts
  Major: English and Creative Writing
  
  

Published Works

• Home Rule Handbook, (Co-Author), Ohio Townships

Classes/Seminars Taught

• Frequent Speaker, International Adoption

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Ohio Bar College
  
  
• Ohio State Bar Association
  
  
• Columbus Bar Association
  
  
• Association of Family and Conciliatory Courts
  
  
• International Academy for Collaborative Law Professionals
  
  
• Ohio Mediation Association
  
  
• Central Ohio Parenting Coordinator Project (approved Parenting Coordinator)
  
  
• Collaborative Divorce Professionals, Inc (past President)
  
  
• Women's Sports Foundation
  
  

Past Employment Positions

• Albers & Albers, Partner, 1991 - 1999
• Scioto Valley Mental Health Center, Promotions Coordinator, 1980 - 1983

Birth Information

• South Bend, Indiana, United States of America