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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Lisa LaVigne

Senior Counsel, CVS Health

Dear ACC Charlotte,

I hope you are each preparing for a wonderful holiday season and celebrating all that you have accomplished this year. As I reflect on my past year, I am filled with gratitude. I truly believe we have one of the best chapters and it has been one of the biggest honors of my career to be able to serve you. Thank you for placing your trust in me and for all of your encouragement and support this year. It was my honor to serve with an amazing team of Board Members and with Jane and Kathleen who set the gold standard for ACC chapter administrators.  

In October, several Board members, along with many of our members, traveled to Nashville for the ACC Annual Meeting. We thoroughly enjoyed representing ACC Charlotte and meeting new friends from the global ACC network. We also enjoyed meeting many wonderful sponsors and having an opportunity to get to know them in several exciting social settings. Next year’s Annual Meeting will be held October 19-22 in Philadelphia, PA. The ACC Annual Conference was one of the best I have ever attended. There is a good mix of interesting CLEs, tons of networking, and top-notch events at fantastic venues. I hope you will consider adding this to your calendar in 2025 and meeting us there! 

ACC Charlotte wrapped the last quarter with several fantastic events. We hosted a GC roundtable event, a professional development event, a manufacturing affinity event, a women’s event, a social event, a community service event, and a new member lunch to name a few. We also hosted our ACC Charlotte Annual Meeting and Member Appreciation Event on December 4 at the Hamilton where we thanked our outgoing board members and committee leaders and celebrated our incoming board. We also awarded some fantastic prizes. You, the members, are the reason our chapter is so successful. I want to thank each of you for supporting our chapter this year by attending so many of our in-person and virtual events this year. Thank you, also, to the staff of the Hamilton for providing a warm and welcoming setting for our chapter to gather for our monthly meetings this year. We look forward to returning to the Hamilton in 2025.    

Congratulations to Heyward Bouknight on becoming the 2025 ACC Charlotte President. I have enjoyed getting to know Heyward better this past year and know he shares my passion and eagerness to serve our community. I am excited to support Heyward and know he will make each of you proud.   

Thank you, again, for the opportunity to serve as your President in 2024. I remain committed to the success of ACC Charlotte as I move into my new role as Immediate Past President for my last term on the ACC Board.  

I hope you each have a fabulous holiday season and get to take some time to enjoy the fruits of your labor and the ones you love. Best wishes for a happy and prosperous new year. See you in 2025!

Congratulations to our newly elected 2025 Board of Directors!

President: Heyward Bouknight, Deputy General Counsel, National Gypsum

President-Elect: Mary-Karen Bierman, Director-Senior Counsel, Wastequip, LLC

Secretary: Megan Scholz, Senior VP & Associate General Counsel, Bank of America

Treasurer (2-year term): Tim Lendino, Managing Legal Counsel, Compass Group, USA (2nd Year)

VP Sponsorship/Program (2-year term): Alysja Carlisle, VP, Legal Counsel, Belk (1st Year)

Past President: Lisa LaVigne, Senior Legal Counsel, CVS Health

New At-Large Directors (3-Year Terms)

Anna Blackwelder, Head of Legal North America, SGL Carbon

Burgin Hardin, Corporate Counsel, National Gypsum

Drew Slabaugh, Senior Legal Counsel, SERC Reliability

New At-Large Director (2-Year Terms)

Kerry-Ann Archer, Senior Counsel, Wells Fargo

Keith Atkinson, Division General Counsel, Nuveen

Welcome ACC Charlotte New Members!

October 2024 - Present

Rahwa Theodros, Legal Counsel, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

Deidra Penny, Sr. Corporate Counsel, Discovery Education

Jake Wasserman, General Counsel, Honeywell International Inc.

Kathryn Purdom, Deputy General Counsel, U.S. Bank

Carrie Simenson Clemens, Assistant General Counsel - Executive Director, Wells Fargo

Christopher Sacco, Vice President & Assistant General Counsel, Wells Fargo

Brent Ylvisaker, Senior Counsel - Senior AVP, Wells Fargo

New Member Lunch

Sponsored by Parker Poe - 12/6/24

All 2024 New Members were invited to a luncheon at STIR Charlotte where we connected with each other and welcomed them to the Chapter. Thanks to all who joined us, and welcome again to ACC Charlotte!

Thank you to Parker Poe for joining us for this New Member lunch.

If you haven't already, please like and follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Sponsorship Appreciation Event

11/18/24 - Lenny Boy Brewing

Thank you to all our Executive Board, Committee Chairs, Committee Members and Chapter Members for gathering with our 2024 Law Firm Sponsors to thank them for another great year. Without these firms, we could not provide such incredible opportunities for networking, CLE, and community service and we are so thankful for their sponsorship this year. We had a great time catching up at Lenny Boy Brewing over delicious food and drink!

Annual Meeting & Member Appreciation Event

12/7/24 - The Hamilton

Thank you to all our Executive Board, Committee Chairs, Committee Members and Chapter Members for joining us to thank our 2024 Law Firm Sponsors for another great year. Without these firms, we could not provide such incredible opportunities for networking, CLE, and community service and we are so thankful for their sponsorship this year. We had a great time catching up at Lenny Boy Brewing over delicious food and drink!



GC Roundtable: Adapting to the Post-Pandemic Evolution of Employment

Sponsored by Bradley - 11/7/24

The dramatic change in the work environment, triggered by the pandemic, accelerated many trends that had been plodding along for decades and added complexity to addressing employee and workplace matters. Issues that were once considered “fringe” like flex time, remote working, secretly working two jobs simultaneously, have all become commonplace. Additionally, many HR and Legal Departments face increasing complexity over issues concerning independent contractors, multi-state workforces, employee turnover and union activity. These changes have not only impacted many areas of Employment Law but also rippled workplace-adjacent areas, including real estate (company footprint), transportation, and ESG. 

In the face of these changes and trends, ACC Charlotte General Counsels and Bradley attorneys participated in a roundtable discussion at Myers Park Country Club about preparing for and addressing the ramifications of these fluid employment relationships and their ripple effects. The group also touched on the dynamic employment environment, adapting to the employment law changes and impacts, and preparing for the resulting longer-term impacts on business operations. 

Thank you to Bradley for sponsoring this GC event.



Social Event | Taco Tuesday

Sponsored by Fox Rothschild - 10/29/24

ACC Charlotte members and Fox Rothschild attorneys gathered at Southbound for a fun Taco Tuesday where they connected over great tacos and margaritas!

Thank you to Fox Rothschild for sponsoring this Social event.

Social Event | Puttery

Sponsored by Kilpatrick - 11/14/24

ACC Charlotte members and Kilpatrick attorneys had a blast at The Puttery, an immersive mini-golf experience with incredible food and cocktails. Attendees polished up their golf skills and competed for a chance to get the highest score. Thanks to all who joined us!



Thank you to Kilpatrick for sponsoring this Social event.



Community Service | Humane Society of Charlotte

Sponsored by Poyner Spruill - 11/19/24

ACC Charlotte members and Poyner Spruill attorneys worked together on a heartwarming community service project at the Humane Society of Charlotte. Attendees toured this fabulous new $21M facility, saw lots of sweet dogs and cats, and made treat bags, blankets, and toys for them. Thank you so much to all who joined us for this thoughtful project! We enjoyed spending time with you and serving this special organization together.

Thank you to Poyner Spruill for sponsoring this Community Service event.



New to In-House Event | The Wonderful Thing about You:

Wisdom Sharing and Learning “What’s my Communication Type?”

Sponsored by Parker Poe - 10/17/24

Our New to In-House Affinity Group traveled with Parker Poe attorneys through the 100-acre wood to learn all about our different communication styles! Some of us are Poohs, Tiggers, Rabbits, and Eeyores around the office. Attendees learned each personality type plays an important role in getting things done and keeping things moving at our respective companies.

Thank you to Parker Poe for sponsoring this New to In-House event.



Manufacturing Affinity Event | Sustainability in Action:

How Charlotte is Closing the Loop on Waste and Innovation

Sponsored by Shumaker - 10/22/24

ACC Charlotte members and Shumaker attorneys got an up-close look at innovative recycling initiatives through a guided tour of The Innovation Barn, Charlotte’s living lab for the circular economy. The Innovation Barn is a hub for sustainability and innovation, featuring projects like aquaponics, a mushroom garden, and a black soldier fly composting facility. Attendees heard from CT Anderson, Founder of Springclean (repurposing textile materials), and Sam Fleming, Co-founder and Acting Director at 100 Gardens (aquaponic gardening). Shumaker also treated members to cocktails during the tour and great food following.

Thank you to Shumaker for sponsoring this Manufacturing Affinity Group event.



Professional Development | Hands-on Coaching Workshop for In-House Counsel

Sponsored by Winston & Strawn - 10/24/24

ACC Charlotte members and Winston & Strawn attorneys met at their office for a lunch-and-learn workshop that focused on practicing key coaching skills. Coaching is a process of both transformation and empowerment. It helps corporate professionals identify and crystalize goals, pinpoint the gap between where they are and those goals, brainstorm strategies to close that gap, and test out and get feedback on their approach. It can be impactful for personal or professional goals but also for more effectively managing others. Because coaching is always goal-focused, one of the important skills to master is helping people clearly articulate what they want to accomplish. This one-hour workshop built on the two coaching skills that were introduced in the previous session last year—active listening and inquiry—and introduce tools for effective goal setting. 

Thank you to Winston & Strawn for sponsoring this Professional Development event.



Human Resources, AI & the Law

Sponsored by Littler - 10/2/24

Speakers:

Matthew S. Brown, Littler Mendelson PC

Kellen M. Shearin, Littler Mendelson PC

From navigating employment law nuances in AI-driven hiring, to ensuring ethical AI practices, this session explored the delicate balance between AI technology, human resources processes, and legal compliance. This session dives into the evolving landscape where artificial intelligence, HR, and legal considerations converge.

Thank you to Littler for sponsoring this CLE.

Annual Charlotte Ethics Program | Electronic Era Ethics

Sponsored by McGuireWoods - 10/3/24

Speakers:

Thomas E. Spahn, Counsel, McGuireWoods LLP

This interactive discussion used hypotheticals to highlight the dramatic effect that email, texts and other electronic communications can have on lawyers’ ethics duties. The program followed the lifespan of an attorney-client relationship, examining the ethical implications of potential scenarios along the way such as creation of the relationship, ethical propriety of electronic communications with clients, communications with adversaries, dealing with third parties, discovery, jurors’ research and communications, Judges’ research and “friending” of lawyers, and termination of attorney-client relationships.

Thank you to McGuireWoods for sponsoring this Ethics CLE. 

You’re Not in Kansas Anymore, Tarheels:

Navigating the Complex Landscape of Privacy Law

Sponsored by Troutman Pepper - 11/6/24

Panelists:

Kim Pham, Partner, Troutman Pepper

Josh Davey, Partner, Troutman Pepper

Lissette Payne, formerly AVP, Associate Counsel Privacy, LPL Financial

Matt Mrkobrad, Associate General Counsel, Wells Fargo

Panelists provided an insightful discussion on the evolving landscape of privacy law. They delved into the latest regulatory developments, compliance challenges, and best practices for safeguarding personal data. Attendees gained valuable insights into the implications of existing law, such as the GDPR and CCPA, as well as recent legislation, and explore strategies for mitigating risks in an increasingly data-driven world. As in-house counsel, this presentation equipped attendees with the knowledge to navigate the complexities of privacy law effectively.

Thank you to Troutman Pepper for sponsoring this CLE. 

WEBINAR | 10 Things Every In-House Attorney Should Know About Commercial Real Estate

Sponsored by Fox Rothschild - 11/12/24

Speakers:

Jeff MacHarg, Managing Partner - Charlotte, Fox Rotshchild

Diana Palacek, Partner, Fox Rothschild

Every in-house attorney needs to understand the basics associated with commercial real estate transactions, including how they can go wrong. Fox Rothschild Real Estate and Litigation attorneys shared their decades of experience in navigating the weird and wonderful world of real estate law / the intersection of real estate law and litigation in an interview-style presentation.

Thank you to Fox Rothschild for sponsoring this CLE webinar.

WEBINAR | Who You Callin’ Crazy?!

Sponsored by Bradley - 12/10/24

Speaker:

Juliet Kuehnle, LCMHCS, Sun Counseling and Wellness, Therapy

Talking about mental wellness does not have to be taboo. We ALL have mental health and deserve to be prioritizing it. More people have bought into this idea (especially on social media) since the pandemic, but what do all these mental health buzzwords biopsychosocial What do they truly get to look like as we go about our daily lives, personally and professionally? Juliet Kuehnle, board certified licensed mental health therapist and mental wellness consultant (@YepIGoToTherapy) is on a mission to normalize and elevate the way we talk about mental health and this event brought our members into that conversation. This presentation was a deep dive into distinguishing mental health from mental illness and how to gauge how your mental health is doing, specific to the pressures of being in-house counsel in a high pressure career. Attendees learned practical strategies to use to reduce stress, maintain boundaries, and avoid burnout. Attendees also learned the difference between adaptive coping strategies (i.e. healthy processing of emotions) and maladaptive coping strategies (i.e. substance abuse) to gain insight into the biopsychosocial factors that impact mental wellness.

Thank you to Bradley for sponsoring this Professional Well-being CLE webinar.

WEBINAR | Be Reasonable! Accommodation Obligations

and Managing Tricky Leaves of Absence Situations

Sponsored by Ogletree - 12/12/24

Speakers:

Kelly Hughes, Shareholder, Ogletree Deakins

Liz Gift, Shareholder, Ogletree Deakins

This presentation began with an overview of the federal laws requiring reasonable accommodations, including leaves of absence, and discussed the interactive process analysis employers should undergo as well as logistics, documentation requirements and limitations, and related requirements. Next, the speakers discussed best practices and guidance on managing complex leaves of absence issues, such as situations involving individuals who are unable to return to work after extended leave.

Thank you to Ogletree Deakins for sponsoring this CLE webinar.

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