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Chat with the Chair: Estate Planning

Tell us a bit about your background – education, hometown, current job.

I’m originally from Connecticut. I’ve lived in Ohio for about 11 years and now call Montgomery, Ohio home. I completed my undergraduate degree at the U.S. Air Force Academy and then served in the Air Force for eight years as an officer. Before law school, I worked as a project manager for a Fortune 500 company in the Cincinnati area. For a greater intellectual challenge, I decided to pursue law at The Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law. I’m an attorney in Taft Stettinius & Hollister’s Private Client and Business practice groups.  


When and why did you become involved in the Estate Planning practice group?

When I first started at Taft, a mentor recommended that I become active in the group, and I’ve tried to follow that advice. I’ve been part of the Practice Group Committee for a few years and began a term as the Chair of the practice group earlier this year. I’m excited to be part of a team that plans learning, networking, and development opportunities for our professional community. 


What’s on the horizon/what are your goals in the 2023-2024 bar year for the Estate Planning practice group?

The Practice Group Committee hopes to revamp our group meetings—to offer meaningful opportunities for exchanging knowledge and expertise. The pandemic changed the way many attorneys work and it created challenges for building personal connections within our community of practitioners. Moving forward, we want to focus our regular group meetings on less formal, but still useful, presentations that explore issues that practitioners may encounter. My goal is that these regular meetings become mentorship opportunities where senior practice group members support newer members. We’re also committed to continuing to offer our excellent CLE events like the upcoming Basic Estate Planning & Probate Institute and the Advanced Estate Planning Institute. 


If there was one piece of advice you’d give to someone entering the estate planning field, what would it be?

Being able to bounce questions, issues, and ideas off of other practitioners is invaluable. Whether you’re in a large or small firm, I think it’s incredibly important to build a network of seasoned practitioners who can share their experiences and wisdom with you. Our profession doesn’t always make this easy. We’re all juggling multiple priorities and have time constraints, but I’ve found it incredibly helpful to set aside time to expand my professional-support connections. To the extent any local attorney has struggled to develop a core network—or wants to create an even stronger network—I hope the Estate Planning & Probate practice group can help.

 

What are your hobbies and/or what do you do for fun?

I enjoy spending time with my wife, Sasha, my two daughters, Lydia and Esther, and my dog, Charles. I also fish, garden, and follow the Reds and Bengals for fun. Over the years, I’ve built an extensive collection of daffodils and I love seeing them bloom because it means warmer weather is around the corner. 

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