Podcasts about federal bar

 ALPS CEO David Bell discusses navigating the 2020 pandemic, embracing change, fostering a resilient company culture, and exciting future initiatives in an insightful conversation with Rio Laine. This is the first in our new quarterly thought leadership series, ALPS In Brief: The Deep Think.   — Transcript:  Rio Laine:  Hello and welcome. I'm Rio Laine, the Bar Partnership Strategist at ALPS Insurance. And today I have a chance to sit down with our CEO and fearless leader, David Bell, and we'll be talking about what's happening at ALPS, how the last year has gone, our vision moving forward, and also talk about how far we've come since the 2020 pandemic. Hello, David. Welcome.  David Bell:  Thank you, Rio, for having me on.  Rio Laine:  Yeah, thanks for joining me. It's always a pleasure to get a chance to sit down and talk with you.  David Bell:  For me too. I look forward to the conversation.  Rio Laine:  100%. Fabulous. So do you want to take a minute, David, to just tell the audience a bit about yourself, how you came to be at ALPS, a little bit about your background.  David Bell:  Sure. Well, I've been in the insurance industry my entire career since college. I joined Chubb Insurance and was with Chubb for a number of years. And then in the wake of 9/11, Chubb AIG and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners formed a joint venture, and I went with Chubb's Capital to help start at an organization called Allied World, AWAC. And so over the course of a decade living in Bermuda, we built that business up, ultimately took it public.  And then skipping a few chapters of this book, ultimately, my wife and I decided to come back to Montana where we first met three decades ago, where she is originally from and where we both went to college. And coming back to Montana, I had the opportunity to take the helm at ALPS. And it has been a true blessing for a dozen years to work alongside the men and women at ALPS and doing what we're going to talk about today.  Rio Laine:  Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. And so you've been at the helm of ALPS for about 12 years now. And during that time it seems that you've steered the company through a lot of really exciting changes and transitions and also perhaps some uncertainty, probably most notably like the 2020 pandemic. I think we can all agree that was a very interesting time all around.  So I'd like to start with talking about the years since the pandemic and the last time we sat down with you, which was in 2020. Now, obviously ALPS is still here and thriving, but I'm curious to know what is something that you feel that you could point to that was the most important factor in helping us navigate that time and also what was something that helped our insureds navigate that time as well?  David Bell:  The pandemic time?  Rio Laine:  Yes.  David Bell:  Certainly just solidarity. I think as a country we came together, as a world, in a lot of cases, we came together. And at ALPS, that was particularly true. To be fair, ALPS has employees in a dozen states, but the nucleus of the organization is in the home office in Missoula, Montana. And Montana did not have a number of the challenges that the larger cities had, particularly with population density.  When you have a global pandemic and airborne transmittable viruses, not having the same type of population density did help us. But everybody at ALPS really rose to the occasion. Our technology was ready to allow people to be working remotely. We were also able to bring people back into the office much, much earlier than I think larger cities were able to do.  But most importantly, I think people rose to the occasion. They understood that they had the need to balance the challenges and the opportunities that they had confronted at home, and then also the responsibilities that we continued to have at the office. And I was so proud of everybody. It was week by week.  We were intensely communicative, always together, always talking about what our objectives were, people socializing what some of their challenges were, whether they were uniquely related to the pandemic or just in general. And I think we worked through those, and I think we taught ourselves a lot of valuable lessons during the time of the pandemic that have proven very useful in the months and years that have followed.  Rio Laine:  Yeah, absolutely. What is a lesson that comes to mind that you feel was maybe an important one for you as CEO of ALPS? Was there something that you learned that maybe you didn't expect to learn or that really helped you guide the company through?  David Bell:  Sure. Well, I think one of the most critical ingredients for any organization is for it to evolve and improve. And that requires change. And people, humans are just change resistant. It's in our nature. We love what we're familiar with. And what the pandemic did was it forced all of us into a period of change. And so as we were able to adjust to those changes and in many cases, adopt new technologies and processes, I think it opened people's minds to doing things differently.  And we were able to leverage that in the years that have followed the pandemic to constantly revisit the way we do things, to bring more and more efficiencies, to make the customer experience better, easier, faster, to make the experience of being an employee better and the experience of being an employer from a managerial and overall organizational perspective better as well.  And so the pandemic was incredibly difficult. But like most tragedies, most challenges, there are silver linings. And I think there were a number of silver linings for us coming out of the pandemic that have allowed ALPS to succeed even more than we would have frankly, had we not all endured that challenging time together.  Rio Laine:  Yeah, absolutely. And I think that time really inspired people to become very resilient and push themselves to do things and accept realities that maybe they couldn't have been able to before or were less willing to, particularly with adopting new technologies and things. So do you think that our ability to adjust and adopt that change supported our insureds through that time as well?  David Bell:  I do, yes. I think by committing ourselves to allowing our insureds to keep their policies and keep them timely and seamless, and also our insureds were having a lot of structural changes forced upon them from the pandemic. They were generally not working in the office. And so the exercise that they had historically gone through for years related to their malpractice and other insurance coverages was done in the office and through a certain process in the office.  That needed to be overnight and without warning changed to being done from home. Some of them relocated, some permanently, some of them went on the move and started to become a mobile lawyer. And so we needed to adopt our processes to accommodate all of the various iterations that our policyholders had to undertake. And I think by doing that, it also prepared us to just be more adaptable in general and things unrelated to COVID contingency plans.  Rio Laine:  Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. And I feel like that's a really good thing for us to carry forward is that adaptability.  David Bell:  Yes. And as you said, I think resiliency was a critical ingredient. I think a lot of us, and this is probably a general observation as well, the pandemic acquainted us with fear in ways that I think a lot of people had not really been acquainted with before. And it taught us a lot about ourselves, some great and some not so great, but we all learned from the experiences no matter which side of the ledger it rests.  Rio Laine:  Yeah, absolutely. And I think that that was a very shared collective experience, feeling that fear and uncertainty. And despite there being a lot of maybe tension at times, I think we all came through that having experienced something that, I mean, arguably changed us, but also made us stronger as a result.  David Bell:  And when a team endures a challenge together, whether that team is a company or a country or humanity, we do come out the other end of it with a better sense of resiliency and camaraderie. And so there's a lot of things to worry about in the future, but there's also a lot of things to celebrate and take comfort in.  Rio Laine:  Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. And I mean, I've been at ALPS now for about a year and a half, and I will say that the camaraderie and that kind of team element that I feel at the company, it's very obvious that everybody is really, I guess, happy to be working together and it has maybe come through a difficult thing and are stronger because of it. And so I feel like that really permeates and is very obvious too when I think about working at ALPS and also how our customers see our dynamic and how we approach things now.  David Bell:  Absolutely. I mean, in my role playing a part of the equation of trying to create and help foster a certain type of intentional company culture, making sure that people feel safe and heard is really the only path to give people that will allow them to unleash their own sense of creativity. If they don't feel valued and heard and they don't feel safe as though...  In some organizations, unfortunately, people are constantly not sharing their thoughts and their ideas for fear that they will be rejected or that it will put somebody off or whatever. I think one thing that we've really tried to do, and we're not perfect in this or anything else, but I think we have been largely successful is assuring people that as a company and that for the people around everyone else, we are for you and we want you to participate in helping make us better.  And you're heard. It doesn't mean that we adopt everybody's ideas. That's not realistic. But if people feel they've genuinely been heard and that their idea has been genuinely considered, there's a real sense of teamwork that goes into that.  Rio Laine:  Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. And that has certainly been my experience. It's quite refreshing actually to be able to be given the space to have an idea and also to be wrong and it's not the end of the world, right? It's like, yeah, because you tried and it could be great, and maybe it's not, but the fact is that there's space to try. It's an important part of culture, I think.  David Bell:  Absolutely. And culturally, we're a risk-taking organization. Any organization should be comfortable permitting people to experiment with ideas, spend time, spend money, and make mistakes. And what we do is try to make our mistakes original and not repetitive, but only through those iterative processes of trying, failing, trying again, improving do we come out with some of the great ideas.  Almost none of the cool things that we have going on at ALPS right now were top-down edicts. They were bottom-up, organically drawn ideas that started out with experiments. They were in the company of a bunch that ended up in the dustbin, but the good ones emerge. And that's I think how an organization thrives and I'm really proud to just be a part of that kind of ecosystem.  Rio Laine:  Yeah, absolutely. So let's shift our focus and talk about some of those cool things that are happening at ALPS. So what are some of the initiatives that are going on that you are excited about personally for the next upcoming year or two?  David Bell:  Sure. Well, we've transitioned our positioning. It's less of a transition of what we do and more of a transition of how we are intentionally portraying ourselves to our customer base. Traditionally, ALPS has been known as the largest direct lawyers malpractice carrier in the country. And we were and are and will remain that. But what we also are is the largest retail broker for solo practitioners and one of the largest retail brokers for law firms in general in the country.  And that makes us a more holistic solution provider, both to place the lawyers malpractice policy many times very often with ALPS, sometimes for various reasons not with ALPS, but we have the capacity to place it with whatever carrier is the best fit for whatever reason, even if that's not ALPS.  And then there are also a lot of other coverages that law firms need, some of which they currently buy and are increasingly interested in buying through us, workers' compensation, general liability, non-owned auto, BOPs, business insurance policies. And so those are all coverage lines that we can help place for them, thereby becoming the holistic solution provider for all risk transfer products for a small firm.  It can seem subtle, but it's not really how we've branded ourselves externally for the more than three decades that we have been a direct carrier. So I think that is a really exciting evolution that makes us much more of a comprehensive partner for our firms. There's a lot of things that I'm excited about, but that's one of the most important structural evolutions that are occurring right now.  Rio Laine:  Right. And can you just tell me a little bit about how being able to be that holistic provider is a good thing for our insureds? How is that really supporting them in running their law firms?  David Bell:  Sure. Well, first and foremost, there are lots of great insurance agents and brokers all around the country. The vast majority of them, they do a whole bunch of different type of industries and a whole myriad of different types of coverages. And a lot of them are jack of all trades and master of none. And that's not a bad thing because they serve a lot of different industry verticals.  This is all we do. All we do is law firms and small ones in particular, but really firms in general. Nobody knows the needs, the challenges, what's on the horizon for law firms like ALPS does. One of the value propositions that we bring is a really deep understanding to what type of risk transfer, risk mitigation tactics and insurance policies they need.  What we find oftentimes is as we discuss with a firm, whether it's a solo practitioner or a five or 10 person firm, when we discuss with them what type of insurance needs they should consider based on the very specific profile of where they are, how large they are, the type of coverages, type of areas of practice that they're engaging in, it's oftentimes revealed that what they have is not ideally what they should have, and it's not what their peer group is generally buying.  And so that helps inform them to make the decision on whether or not or to what extent they want to expand it. And then we bring not just the institutional expertise of this profession, of this industry, but we bring a steadfast commitment to ease. Our mantra is easy. We want to take the unnecessary friction out of the insurance purchasing process.  The operational process of buying an insurance policy has been largely unchanged for a hundred years, save PDF emails that might be a little bit more recent, but those are all deeply in need of evolving. And we've brought some of the most technologically sophisticated processes to our customers that helps them appreciate that we understand that time is literally money for small firms. And any hour spent working on this is one less billable hour they can spend serving their own customers. So we are committed to that approach.  Rio Laine:  And it sounds like we're really well-placed to support particularly solo and small firms because they obviously have limited resources, but that we're really well-placed to be able to advise them on the type of coverage they need so then they can in fact just step away and it's covered. They don't have to worry. If there's an issue, it will be dealt with. But otherwise, they can focus on running their practice.  David Bell:  That's right. I think one mistake that many brokers and agents make is an overgeneralization of solo practitioners. They see a solo as a solo as a solo. And we see if we've met one solo, we've met one solo. They're very different. And with those differences really necessitates different types of approaches to a certain type of insurance and different types of insurance that they should consider.  It doesn't have to be a complicated process, but you really need a partner who understands and can simplify that for you. And that's the value that we bring, which is why we ensure so many thousands, so many tens of thousands of solos all across the country from coast to coast.  Rio Laine:  Yeah, absolutely. And I suspect they all really appreciate that viewing them as unique individuals. I mean, I don't know, I like to say that law firms are kind of like snowflakes. They're all unique. And it's very nuanced. Their needs are all different. So yeah, I think that's a really excellent way that we're able to support them.  David Bell:  Absolutely. And there are profiles of solo practitioners and firms in general that inform the type of risk experiences that other firms from all around the country have had. And when you have a company like ALPS that only does law firms and focuses so steadfastly on solos, we can help a lot of firms see around the corner by sharing experiences that their contemporaries have had locally or in states far away that can help them mitigate the risk that they might have by learning from the experiences that other firms have had in other places. You can only do that if you have a pretty significant portfolio of the same type of risk that can arm us to share that information.  Rio Laine:  Yeah, absolutely. Again, I feel like any leg up is a good thing for a solo. Absolutely. Okay, we've talked about some of the exciting things that have been going on or shift to being more of an agency model. Let's switch it up and talk about some of the challenges that maybe we've had in the past year or so.  David Bell:  Sure. I'd say for us, the biggest challenge that we have is a byproduct of the biggest opportunity that we have. We are America's solo solution. We are America's solo insurance company. There is a other edge of the sword for an insurance company as it relates to solo practitioners, and it's really as follows. If you go to medical school, you're probably going to be a doctor.  And when you end that lengthy expensive experience, you're probably going to employ, probably, that medical degree to become a physician, and that will be your profession for your career. A law degree is much more versatile. It's highly portable into areas that are very different from the private practice of law. And so what we find, and this is particularly true in the solo practitioner community, nowhere else more true than the solo practitioner community, is what we label the leading private practice.  People who are solos and for one reason or another elect to no longer be a private practice solo practitioner. They join a school board. We have lots of our policyholders become judges, interestingly enough. There's a lot of different places that they go. None of them are bad. But for the broader insurance index, you can lose a piece of business because they retire or because a competitor has taken them. Just to put some data behind it, at least on a historical basis, our loss business for a policyholder having left private practice is two and a half times the rate of retirements.  Rio Laine:  Oh, wow!  David Bell:  Now, that has started to compress a little bit over the past year or two as the baby boomer generation moves further and further along. But the transient nature of solo practitioners is a significant operational challenge because these policies are low premium, and so they're very operationally intensive.  And our need to bring ease to the customer experience also is a need for us to bring operational efficiency into the approaches. So that is a significant challenge. We spent a lot of time, we spent a lot of money, we built a lot of technology to try to wrestle with that dynamic in this profession.  Rio Laine:  Yes, absolutely. That's a really interesting challenge because it seems like it's made up of a lot of different factors too that influence that and how much of a challenge it can be.  David Bell:  That's right. Being a solo practitioner is hard, and it's not for everyone. And it's not uncommon for folks to go into the profession and then go out. But what we can also do in having journeyed with so many different solos through that experience, we can help share best practices that will better empower a solo to be successful and to take some of the challenge and risk out of that experience. And if we can help tamp down the transient nature of people leaving the profession even just a little bit, then it's a win for us.  Rio Laine:  Well, absolutely. And if anything, it's also a win for not just the legal profession, but consumers, people needing legal services, because there is a major gap in access to justice and a lot of that has to do with people leaving private practice in rural communities, et cetera. So yeah, I do agree with you. I mean, being able to provide that kind of support, particularly to a solo who we know tend to be quite isolated, they tend to feel quite alone in their struggles and their challenges, I think that's a win for everybody really it seems like.  David Bell:  Absolutely.  Rio Laine:  So we've reflected on the past five years, we've talked about this year what our challenges were, what some of the things we're excited about. So is there anything else in this coming year that you are particularly looking forward to that you feel is going to be an interesting challenge for us to navigate? Tell me what your thoughts are for the next couple of years where you see things going, where you'd like them to go even.  David Bell:  Sure. Well, we have grown the business doing what we've done historically, but doing it better and better each year. It's really been satisfying to be a part of a team as you're refining your skill and you're trying to be better. And in the process of being better, you're becoming more successful. And being more successful, at least as I measure it, is in the terms of the role that I have in the organization and the success measurement for the organization overall.  There are external metrics for that. I mean, we have new endorsements that have come online that are exciting. Because when an endorsement comes, then those endorsements are leveraged for success in the future, whether it's the Federal Bar endorsement, whether it's GIRL ATTORNEY, a 37,000 strong network of female legal practitioners, and those aren't the only ones.  Those are just recent endorsements to add to the repertoire of so many state and regional endorsements that we enjoy from state bars all over the country, regional bars, affiliate bars. So I think those create an exciting environment. And they also double down on external validation of the ALPS value proposition because bars that endorse us generally don't unendorse us.  And they aren't endorsing us for the money, they're endorsing us for the partnership and because we're mutually aligned. Also, one of the external validations that I think is so critical is our Trustpilot reviews. Trustpilot as a disinterested third party that sends a survey inquiring about the experience and is trusted nationwide and not just in this industry, in certainly all industries. And we have at this point, thousands of Trustpilot reviews.  And one of the favorite parts of my job is to see the... It's not just the rating. So many of our policyholders take the time to specifically comment, call out the name of their account manager or their business development representative, and reflect on how easy they made this experience and how refreshing it is, particularly for our new customers to have moved from the experience that they had been having into the ease of the experience and the knowledge and the experience that they're having with us.  That's great. The other side is internal validation because we serve customers, prospects, and we especially serve policyholders, but we also serve employees because we are an employer. In 2024, we won again a statewide employer of choice, Employer of the Year Award, that is not industry specific. It's across all line. We've won those from an industry perspective nationally.  We've won them from a local community perspective, and now we've won it from a state process. Again, those are done through anonymous surveys of staff. They do really provide a pretty accurate metric of how your staff feels and how they feel valued and how much they trust and enjoy the experience that they have working for the company. I think that's validating and it helps prepare us to launch into the success for 2025 as well.  Rio Laine:  Yeah, absolutely. And I feel like it must feel good for you to see that feedback and know that you're on the right track because employees are happy and coming up with good solutions for customers. I feel like that would be a good thing to see.  David Bell:  Absolutely. I mean, culture building, culture maintenance is beyond just ensuring the financial health of the organization, and that we have the financial strength to fulfill the promises that we're making. I mean, that's one of certainly my core responsibilities, but a very... I don't know if I call it close second. It's probably an even because you can't do any of that well unless you have a vibrant, healthy culture.  People ask about corporate culture. It's almost kind of a cliche at this point because it's bantered about so much. And I say to a lot of people, you can have statements about the ethos or the company cultures, values, and those are great, and we have those. And it's important to have them, and it's important to constantly remind yourself and others what they are, but they can lull you into a false sense of security if they're not being practiced.  Rio Laine:  Absolutely.  David Bell:  And so what I tell folks is, if you want to really get a sense of the company culture at ALPS, just walk around the office, observe how people are engaging with one another. You can tell whether two people are talking purely business. You can tell in the inflection in their voice and their way that they're carrying themselves that there's trust between the two people.  You can tell whether they enjoy being around one another. I think you can have a better, more successful professional experience from your employees if you create an environment where they enjoy being around the people who they work with, they trust the people who they work with, and they trust the leadership who they work for and the messages that they're hearing.  If there's one key ingredient to how we've been as successful as we've been, it's that. Because all of the other stuff, including the financial success, flows downriver from that. That is, I think, the headwaters of our success and I think organization success in general.  Rio Laine:  Well said, David. I would agree with you. Well, this has been a fantastic chat. So is there anything as we wrap up that you would like to share you'd like our audience to know? Any parting words of advice you'd like to offer?  David Bell:  I think you asked about solos in particular, and we serve law firms of all shapes and sizes, but we are America's solo solution provider. And I think what's interesting is we really understand solos in what might broadly be called their three stages of life. The dawn of the solo. It's amazing how many calls we field from people who are in a multi-member firm and considering going out on their own or with somebody else to be a one or two person firm, and they just don't know.  They've had an office manager who is taking care of them out practice. They have no idea what it costs. They have no idea some of the basic elements of setting up a law firm, from law practice management software to renting space. We've become very consultative to that group of folks. Because if you don't know how to be a solo, even if you've been an incredibly successful member of a multi-attorney firm, we can help do that. That's kind of like the dawn of the solo.  And then when solo is in its prime, that's where we're providing that expertise and ease to make sure that you have not only your malpractice, but all of your other business insurance coverages in there. And then there is the twilight of a professional life, and we are seeing that more and more as the baby boomers increasingly transition towards retirement. I mean, the demographics of the legal profession is not unlike the broader labor force demographics.  And there are a lot of people who are at and approaching retirement age and how a small firm or solo practitioner winds down their practice is really important. And so we're here for the entire life cycle of a solo practitioner, and I think that's one of the things that makes us so uniquely focused as being America's choice for solo practitioners.  Rio Laine:  Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. Wonderful. Thanks so much, David. That was really great to sit down and chat with you and get to learn about all the great things we have going on at ALPS. And yeah, I hope that our audience enjoys the rest of their day and enjoyed our conversation.  David Bell:  Thank you, Rio. I appreciate the questions. I appreciate the opportunity to have this conversation. Look forward to another one.  Rio Laine:  Yes, absolutely. Me too.   

Divorce may be a difficult and stressful experience for anybody. But with the correct strategy, you can manage the process to avoid friction and increase your chances of a good ending. A range of tools and approaches are available to assist you in achieving your objectives and moving ahead in your life, ranging from collaborative divorce to postnuptial agreements. Andrea Vacca is the founder of Vacca Family Law Group and a collaborative divorce attorney and mediator. She shares what collaborative divorce is and its importance to people undergoing a divorce—the benefits of mediation and collaborative approaches for wealthy clients, especially with finances. She also talks about her thoughts on positive psychology and how it relates to divorce, which can be a valuable tool for helping individuals cope with the emotional challenges of divorce and move forward positively. Tune in to this episode for valuable insights about collaborative divorce! Topics Discussed Andrea's definition of collaborative divorce and its importance Benefits that mediation and collaborative approaches can offer to wealthy clients Andrea's thoughts on Positive Psychology and how it relates to divorce Should women file quickly for divorce or not What is a postnuptial agreement, and can postnuptial hurt a marriage Advice if you are considering divorce About Andrea Vacca Andrea is a collaborative divorce attorney and mediator; she's been practicing law for about 30 years and lives in Manhattan, New York City. She is a founder of a firm called Vacca Family Law Group, which is exclusively a firm that only works with couples who want to stay out of court. They helped them through collaborative divorce, mediation, and negotiation. Their whole goal is to help couples come to agreements that speak to what's important to them and do what's best for their children so they can move on and have the best life they can have on the other side of their marriage. Andrea graduated from SUNY College at Buffalo with a B.A. in Journalism and received her J.D. from Albany Law School of Union University. She was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1993 and the Federal Bar, N.D.N.Y. in 1994. She earned a Certificate in Positive Psychology in 2013. Connect with Andrea Website | www.vaccalaw.com Instagram | @vacca_familylaw Linkedin | www.linkedin.com/in/andreavacca and www.linkedin.com/company/law-office-of-andrea-vacca About The Podcast This podcast invites highly sought-after divorce professionals to share their guidance with all women listening. The intent is to share tips that affluent women can use to maintain their lifestyle during and post-divorce. Hosted by Olivia Summerhill, a Certified Financial Planner, Divorce Specialist, and Money Coach who discreetly helps high-net-worth women in divorce with their financial questions. Website | www.summerhillfirm.com LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/oliviasummerhill Keywords: Divorce collaborative divorce mediation collaborative divorce process Attorney Positive psychology Postnuptial

We got the opportunity to sit down and talk with Judge Keith McGrath at the roundtable. Here's what you need to know about him. Judicial ExperienceJudge, Tenth District Court of Appeals, Appointed by Governor DeWine in April, 2022  Education1992 Juris Doctor, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, Columbus, Ohio 1989 Bachelor of Arts, Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia 1984-1987 United States Coast Guard Academy, New London, Connecticut  Bar MembershipsAdmitted to Ohio Bar, November 1992 Admitted to Federal Bar for the Southern District of Ohio, January 1993 Admitted to The Supreme Court of the United States of America, May 2000  Previous Non-Judicial Work Experience1997-1998, 2002-2022 Franklin County Prosecutor's Office - Senior Assistant County Prosecutor Senior Trial Staff, Floor Leader, Member of Vehicular Crimes Unit Special Prosecutor for Clark, Montgomery and Muskingum Counties 2012, 2018, 2021 1998-2002 Contract Attorney, Washington D.C. 1993-1997 Columbus City Attorney's Office, Prosecutor's Division, Assistant City Prosecutor  Military Service1984-1987 United States Coast Guard Honorable Discharge April 10, 1987 Received honors for Unit Commendation Medal for extremely meritorious service in support of Coast Guard operations  Professional and Community ActivitiesMentor: The Supreme Court of Ohio Lawyer to Lawyer Mentoring Program 2022 Instructor: Law Enforcement classes in ARIDE and DICE 2012-2022 Member: Charity Newsies, Columbus, Ohio 1997-present Instructor: OPATA, Accident Reconstruction 2012-2018 Coach: Pee Wee Division, Whetstone Soccer League, Columbus, Ohio 2013-2014 Recipient: 2011 Award of Excellence presented by MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) Judge: University of Maryland Regional Trial Competition 1999-2001 Instructor: The Columbus Bar Association Homeless Project, Columbus, Ohio 1995-1998 Instructor: The Ohio Center for Law Related Education, Columbus, Ohio 1994-1998 Instructor: Martin Essex School for the Gifted Mock Trial, Columbus, Ohio 1995-1998 Judge: Michael F. Colley Trial Competition, The OSU College of Law, Columbus, Ohio 1997 Judge: The OSU College of Law Herman Moot Court Competition, Columbus, Ohio 1993-1996 Submit your questions to http://www.lawyertalkpodcast.com/ (www.lawyertalkpodcast.com). Recorded at Channel 511, a production of 511 South High Media LLC. Stephen E. Palmer, Esq. has been practicing criminal defense almost exclusively since 1995. He has represented people in federal, state, and local courts in Ohio and elsewhere. Though he focuses on all areas of criminal defense, he particularly enjoys complex cases in state and federal courts. He has unique experience handling and assembling top defense teams of attorneys and experts in cases involving allegations of child abuse (false sexual allegations, false physical abuse allegations), complex scientific cases involving allegations of DUI and vehicular homicide cases with blood alcohol tests, and any other criminal cases that demand jury trial experience. Steve has unique experience handling numerous high publicity cases that have garnered national attention. For more information about Steve and his law firm, visit https://www.ohiolegaldefense.com/ (Yavitch & Palmer Co., L.P.A.)  You can also find Lawyer Talk on these platforms: Rumble: LawyerTalkPodcast Brighteon: LawyerTalkPodcast Gab: @LawyerTalkPodcast GETTR: @LawyerTalk Copyright 2022 Stephen E. Palmer - Attorney At Law

This week we cover our costumes, the costumes we wish we had thought of ahead of time, the fall of Kanye, Dia de los Muertos, and review Black Adam! Got a comment or question? Send it to: toliveandtryinlapodcast@gmail.com Follow us on: Instagram: @toliveandtryinlapodcast Twitter: @toliveandtrypod

Don't be lime green jello and miss the second all new episode of your Boo Crew this week! We take at trip to Devil's Kettle with our good friends, Erick Wessel and Kiko Bailey! They operate a collection of shops and event spaces on Magnolia blvd here in Burbank that are the very heart of LA's horror community, including Camp Horror, and the Mystic Museum. August 5th at the Federal Bar in North Hollywood, they are putting on a club night themed to the movie Jennifer's Body called HELL IS A TEENAGER! It's a ONE NIGHT ONLY 21 & over event from 9:30 to 1:30am, with live music, DJs, Jennifer's Body themed drinks, photo ops, and exclusive merch with a portion of the proceeds going to mental health charities and organizations in support of women rights! Cosplay is welcome! Tickets are available at www.themysticmuseum.com. Event is Sponsored by Liquid Death and The Boo Crew. We'll be hanging out there - we are SO excited for it! Kiko and Erick will be hanging out to celebrate our love of the movie. Hear about all the surprises in store including an appearance from the voice of Low Shoulder, Ryan Levine, AT the event and so much more! Episode 336 is now slaying! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Richard Hall is the founder of BottomLine Lawyers, PC. He has a unique breadth of experience which has enabled him to meld technology, sophisticated legal analysis, “outside the box” strategies and a collaborative style to create innovative solutions with his clients. Richard attended law school at the University of La Verne and was admitted to the California Bar in 1988 and the Federal Bar in 1989. Many lawyers come to the law without any practical business experience, and few come with significant management experience. Through serendipity rather than design, Richard is an exception. His prior business experience afforded him a fast track to complex civil trials and the opportunity to work closely with business clients. Richard is also a licensed California Real Estate Broker and has performed feasibility analysis of investment projects, including historic preservation district qualified buildings.  Richard performs pro bono services for several Northern California judicial districts, is a Past President of the Auburn Chamber of Commerce, former Board member of the Downtown Business Association, and member of: Rotary Club of Auburn, Placer County Bar Association, Sacramento Valley Bankruptcy Forum, National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (NACBA) and American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI). He has also served as California Director for a nationwide bar review and as a lecturer focused on Professional Responsibility. Before attending law school Richard was an executive in the photographic and real estate industries and he conducted performance and budget analysis for the US Government's Amraam missile project. Richard has also served his country and is a veteran of the United States Air Force. What you will learn in this episode: How fear and overwhelm tend to affect small business owners at a higher rate  Encouragement and advice for type-A personalities that struggle with perfectionism  How the elephants of fear and overwhelm grow when they are not addressed The necessity of earning trust before helping someone address their own elephants Why Richard has adopted the term “Action kills fear” and how it has helps him stop feeding this elephant Some practical ways you can declutter your mind and prioritize your tasks Resources: Website: http://www.bottomlinelawyers.com/ (www.bottomlinelawyers.com) Twitter: @bottomlinelaw   https://twitter.com/bottomlinelaw (https://twitter.com/bottomlinelaw) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BottomLineLawyers/ (https://www.facebook.com/BottomLineLawyers/) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bottomlinelawyerspc/ (https://www.instagram.com/bottomlinelawyerspc/) https://www.amazon.com/Change-Die-Three-Keys-Work/dp/0061373672 (Change or Die by Alan Deutschman (recommended reading from this episode)) This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

Comic Christine Fekete tells us about her new comedy special What The Fekete?!, working as an actress under Covid protocols and getting out of toxic relationships. She and Sally are the same age so they talk a lot. Come see Porn Mom this week at the Comedy Chateau, The Federal Bar or Tao Comedy Studio.

Co-Managing Partner of Riker Danzig in Morristown, NJ, Mike O'Donnell provides a range of commercial litigation services to clients, particularly title insurance companies and financial institutions. His work includes title disputes, mortgage fraud claims, lender liability claims, loan work-out, commercial foreclosure and evictions, judgment collection, fraud and fraudulent transfer claims, defense against RESPA, TILA and other consumer protection laws and class action defense for the banking and title insurance industries. Mike believes in working with his clients to set end goals at the inception of any matter and striving to get there in the most efficient manner without ever sacrificing flexibility needed for changing circumstances. Mike has represented every major title insurer including Chicago Title Insurance Co., First American Title Insurance Co., Fidelity National Title Insurance Co., Old Republic National Title Insurance Co., Stewart Title Guaranty Company, Westcor Land Title Insurance Co., North American Title Insurance Company, WFG Title Insurance Company and Connecticut Attorneys Title Insurance Co., as well as their insureds. He has served as coverage counsel for title underwriters on numerous wide-ranging real estate frauds, some of which losses exceeded $45 million. Finally, he represents title agencies in similar matters. As to lending clients, Mike has represented most of the major financial institutions such as Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and JP Morgan Chase, as well as smaller regional banks including Investors Bank, Carver Federal Savings Bank, Lakeland Bank and Manasquan Savings Bank. He also represents Simon Property Group in commercial litigation and rent disputes in New Jersey and New York. Mike has tried to verdict a wide range of commercial cases from lender liability claims, boundary-line disputes, to a 31-day dispute among the members of a family-owned real estate business valued at over $50 million. He has also litigated numerous class actions from the overcharging of recordation fees to funds availability practices. When he is not practicing law, Mike is active in the community. He currently is a member of the Board of Directors of Zufall Community Health Centers. He served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Colonial Symphony in Morristown, as well as teaching CCD and Pre-Cana classes in his parish. Mike is also Past Chair of the District XB Ethics Committee. Mike is a Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. He is a member of the American Bar Association (TIPS Title Insurance Committee), Title Counsel Section of American Land Title Association, the Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey, New Jersey State Bar (Banking, Real Estate and Federal Bar Sections) and Morris County Bar Association (Financial Services Committee). Finally, Mike had the honor of serving five years in the United States Marine Corps. riker.com Follow us on Instagram: @TheMorningSpotlight Email us at: themorningspotlight@gmail.com www.themorningspotlight.com For title insurance inquiries contact Mike at michael.ham@ctt.com Buy Mike a Coffee!

Today on the Rarified Heir Podcast we are talking to Morgan Margolis, son of Mark Margolis aka Salamanca in Breaking Bad aka The Shadow in Scarface aka Mr. Shickadance in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. Morgan was our very first interview, done within the hallowed halls of The Federal Bar, which he runs as one small part of The Knitting Factory Entertainment where he is CEO. This is another episode taped in person, pre-Covid and we talk to Morgan about his time as a child growing up on the Lower East Side of Manhattan and his days skateboarding at the base of the World Trade Center in the 1970s. We hear all about his parents hippie existence putting on productions on the east coast in a VW van, his father's psychedelic awakening as a parent early, his lean, early years acting in small films and TV shows, waiting for his break while waiting tables and his first role on film in an adult film. Ahem. Morgan also waxes philosophical about his days acting in television, his own days waiting tables that led him to his current gig and his motley ‘crew' of friends who all went on to fame in acting, music and business. Curious? You won't be. Answers are coming up next on the encore episode of the Rarified Heir Podcast. Everyone has a story.

This week I sat down with Hannah Rose to talk about what it was like moving as a teenager from Denver, CO to Los Angeles, CA and how she navigated stand up mics as one of the only women in the room. We also talk about her improv experience with the team Mamabird at the Pack Theatre. Hannah is a comedian, improviser, vlogger and photographer. You can find her on IG at @thefakehannahrose. Also, CUM to my stand up show Thursday, November 5 at The Federal Bar in North Hollywood. Doors open at 7 pm. Buy your $15 tickets at the door (cash/credit OK) ! My mom, Ruth Brandt, will also be performing!

In today’s Episode Ingrid assesses a current issue she is facing with a woman who has been attacking her, harassing her, copying her and using her criminal past to SLAPP her with a faulty cease and desist in an attempt to SILENCE HER ! Ingrid’s guest Chandra Justice is a FEDERAL CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY & Simply Inulin adept CHANDRA JUSTICE. They discuss the illegality of using legal tactics and someone’s criminal record to silence them, intimidate them, and harass them. They discuss the anti-slapp laws & freedom of speech protected under the 1st amendment. Ingrid & Chandra discuss women empowering women, by helping them rise and speak up. Owning your narrative and not letting anyone use your past to question your Present actions, integrity and ethics. Chandra Justice as practiced law as a criminal defense attorney for over a decade. Prior to joining the group, Chandra was employed as an Assistant State's Attorney, a member of the National Crime Prevention Council, and a contract Assistant Public Defender. Chandra has successfully handled multiple high profile criminal cases, including robbery, weapons, drug cases and the like over the past decade. Chandra has had the role of Lead Attorney in murder cases that she has single handedly won at jury trial. Chandra was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2000 and the Federal Bar in 2002. You can follow Chandra on Instagram : Instagram.com/JusticeLaw . Follow Ingrid on Instagram at instagram.com/Ingriddelamarekenny Follow today’s guest Trish Jacob on Instagram at Instagram.com/TrishyJacob Purchase Ingrid’s COOKBOOK SIMPLY THE BEST in hardcover or softcover book.themethodmc.com Get our new revamped FUCKING BEAUTIFUL SIMPLY L’Huile de Rose Rose Oil from Morocco and the NEW TO GO vials beauty.themethodmc.com Get Ingrid’s Moroccan AMBER ROCKS Simply Parfum d’Ambiance to transcend your home with the smell of French aristocracy meets orient warmth and sexy Arabian moroccan night’s lifestyle.themethodmc.com The EXTREMLY IMPORTANT PERSON program EIP - 3 months of Simply INULIN auto-ship and Luxe Box delivery go here http://tiny.cc/EIP Watch Ingrid cooking class “THE RETREAT EXPERIENCE” how to make her Moroccan kefta style meatballs on our YouTube channel here https://youtu.be/UOqlm7hVZjc Watch Ingrid’s BREAKFAST & BEAUTY EVENT, the retreat experience at Grand Hotel du Cap Ferrat, and find out her favorite skincare, beauty routine and make-up all unsponsored - on her YouTube channel here https://youtu.be/0f0QBguG9J8 Follow THE METHOD® Instagram.com/themethod.mc Follow our product line SIMPLY GANGSTER CHIC Instagram.com/simplygangsterchic Find our Simply INULIN by THE METHOD®|THE BODY - INGRID’s SIMPLY THE BEST E-COOKBOOK & SPICE, and THE NEW PURE PROBIOTIC Simply Kefir Champagne Lacté at shop.themethodmc.com For our amazing FREE GUT HEALTHY FLAT TUMMY Simply Inulin chocolate chip cookies á la fleur de sel and GANGSTER CHIC BRIÔCHES simplyrecipes.themethodmc.com For more info about our transformation retreat go to retreat.themethodmc.com Do THE METHOD Free FLASH WORK-OUTS — no equipment needed Flash-Workout # 1 https://vimeo.com/250033415/a161c4a0f9 Flash-Workout #2 https://vimeo.com254216501/8983e725b8 You can workout with THE METHOD ORIGINAL MASTER SESSIONS from the comfort of your home ANYWHERE ANYTIME by subscribing to the monthly membership at virtual.themethodmc.com The RETREAT EXPERIENCE 50 min workout master session is currently available and newly released.

LAMBDA LIT FEST PANEL: 9/27/19  Masonic Lodge Hollywood Forever, 6000 Santa Monica Blvd Los Angeles 7 p.m.    RAISING HELL 9/30/19 The Federal Bar in NOHO Doors: 7:30p.m.   Entry $16 Ticket Link Pop up strip club.  Bring $$ for tips and lap dances.   IG Links: @antoniacrane @thequeenofsexy @prettyboygirl @little_4leaf   Patreon: @therealprettyboygirl --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

For the 12th episode of Private Parts Unknown, your hosts Courtney Kocak & Sofiya Alexandra welcome another duo of female filmmakers — Dionne van den Berg & Pooja Tripathi — who created, wrote & star in the upcoming web series Amsterdam Ave about following your dreams, especially if they take you abroad (aka international apartment swapping between New York & the Netherlands!!!), loosely based on their friendship & real-life experiences. We get into how their meet-cute at a club in Saint-Tropez turned into a long-distance friendship before evolving again into a creative partnership, their cosmic pizza connection, bullshit cultural stereotypes (plus some that kinda hold up) & dating as 20-something women in NYC & around the world — plus the beauty of not having time for anything but your career & your ride or die BFF. For more Dionne van den Berg & Pooja Tripathi: Watch the Amsterdam Ave teaser on YouTube Check out their website for more info on screenings amsterdamave-theseries.com Follow the show on Instagram @amsterdamave.theseries Follow Dionne on Instagram @dionnevandenberg Follow Pooja on Instagram @winne_thepooj Private Parts Unknown is a proud member of the Pleasure Podcast network. Buy tickets to Soldiers of Pole's RAISING HELL event on September 30th at The Federal Bar in LA. Sign up for the EarBuds Podcast Collective, a weekly podcast recommendation newsletter with five episodes based on a different theme and guest curated by a different person each week. If you love this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating & sexy review! xo

3 Ryan's Align on this week's episode as actor and comedian Ryan Stevens joins us. He talks about doing psychedelics in the Red Light District, his troubles with having a way more successful sister, getting pulled over/getting out of it and sparks a divisive debate about his dislike for Detective Pikachu. You can see both Ryan G and Ryan Stevens this Thursday July 11th at The Federal Bar at 8:30 pm. You can also see him in I Know What You Did Last Summer Musical at Three Clubs in Santa Monica every Friday and Saturday until July 28th! Follow his social media @ryanstevensdotcom for more information.  For more information on the podcast follow @tequilasunrisepod and like and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. 

Soraya & Jeff are joined by friends Dean & Joy to discuss their love of Permanent Green Light and the live show experience from Feb 10, 2019 at The Federal Bar, Los Angeles, CA.

This month we kick back at the Federal Bar and Grill for an American-style brunch. We talk about the history of this long-time Denver establishment and play some board games.

This week we chat with Actress Michelle McGregor Michelle is an L.A.based actress, comedian, singer, and producer. She has an MFA in acting from the Yale School of Drama, has studied improv and sketch at the Upright Citizen's Brigade, and currently studies acting with Stephen Book in Improvisation Technique. Michelle performs stand-up comedy at The Comedy Store, The New York Comedy Club, and at The Federal Bar in NoHo where she produces and hosts Get Riffed, a music and comedy show with LA musician Nick Liberatore. A lover of music, she currently fronts an AC/DC tribute band (The ACBGs) and has been known to hop up on the drums on occasion. While she loves performing all genres, she has a not so secret passion for horror. Michelle also hosts and performs at 'Get Riffed,' a unique music and comedy show created by Michelle and Nick Liberatore taking place at North Hollywood's Federal bar. An unforgettable night of entertainment featuring some of L.A.'s best performers. Veterans include Kevin Nealon, Joe DeRosa, Bonnie Root, and Jodi Miller. The next show is September 6th and features Mary Lynn Rajskub, The AC/BGs, Krista Allen, and more. All profits from ticket sales go directly to every performer. Grab yours now at www.getriffed.com.  For questions or booking inquiries contact sweetbearprodudtions@gmail.com Website: www.kmichellemcgregor.com facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michelle.mcgregor.50 instagram: https://www.instagram.com/k.michellemcgregor/?hl=en Enjoy! Questions or Comments? Reach out to us at contact@bonsai.film or on social and the web at https://linktr.ee/BonsaiCreative #MAKEIT   Links:   Links: Website FaceBook Acting in Film by Michael Caine (book) Screen Actor's Guild (SAG) Tom Waits (actor) Actor's Access Backstage  

Federal Bar Associate president-elect Maria Vathis talks with Kathryn Rubino about her goals and special projects while acting as President of FBA. Maria also shares strategies for younger associates to create balance between work and life. Episode Resources http://www.fedbar.org/Leadership/Board-of-Directors/Officers/Maria-Z-Vathis.aspx https://www.bryancave.com/en/people/maria-z-vathis.html   Episode Highlights How the Federal Bar Association is different than other associations.   Why Maria was interested with FBA. Her goals as President of FBA. Strategies for younger associates to create balance for work and life. Why she decided to go to law school. FBA's outreach project. Maria's focus on increasing diversity within FBA. Challenges Maria has faced as a young female attorney. Why young associates should consider finding a mentor and sponsor.   Subscribe, Share and Review To get the next episode subscribe with your favorite podcast player. Subscribe with Apple Podcasts Follow on Spotify Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

htcod on the move, podcasting from Federal Bar in Noho, LA night are always fun!!

Mel takes Fear Based Life out on the road. Recorded live at the Federal Bar in North Hollywood CA on 10/12/17

Rick Sterger aka “the immigration guy” is an attorney practicing immigration law with an emphasis on removal defense. Rick brings broad professional experience to his immigration practice having worked developing business strategies for some of the world's largest corporations: Samsung, Motorola, Sprint, and Dell.   His career pivot came at the convergence of a failing economy, a failing marriage and a plunge into a dark abyss of self-sabotage. It led him to a new and awakened approach to life, business, service, and relationships resulting in a rise to the top of his pivot profession as an immigration attorney. A graduate of Antioch University, Rick holds a J.D. from the University of Minnesota, and is admitted to the Minnesota Bar, The Federal Bar and the Eight Circuit Court of Appeals. He is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and a multi-year recipient of the California State Bar award for pro bono service to indigent clients. From his offices located in San Diego California, Rick serves clients throughout the U.S. and the world.

Rick Sterger aka “the immigration guy” is an attorney practicing immigration law with an emphasis on removal defense. Rick brings broad professional experience to his immigration practice having worked developing business strategies for some of the world's largest corporations: Samsung, Motorola, Sprint, and Dell.   His career pivot came at the convergence of a failing economy, a failing marriage and a plunge into a dark abyss of self-sabotage. It led him to a new and awakened approach to life, business, service, and relationships resulting in a rise to the top of his pivot profession as an immigration attorney. A graduate of Antioch University, Rick holds a J.D. from the University of Minnesota, and is admitted to the Minnesota Bar, The Federal Bar and the Eight Circuit Court of Appeals. He is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and a multi-year recipient of the California State Bar award for pro bono service to indigent clients. From his offices located in San Diego California, Rick serves clients throughout the U.S. and the world.

Bobby V. grew up and still resides in Palmdale, California. You can see him perform regularly at the Sycamore Tavern and the Federal Bar as part of the Rebels of Comedy series. You can also follow Bobby on Facebook and Instagram @bobbbyv. On this episode of Popography, I talk with Bobby about trying to make it on the Los Angeles stand up scene, how comedy changed his life, and how we can all be more positive. This conversation was recorded at my apartment in Los Angeles on May 24, 2017.

On today's episode of Dining with Dills, it's National Brisket Day! Peter plays an audio clip from the 80's for a chance for a listener to identify and win Angels Tickets, Milton is the Engineer du Jour, Paul tries his hand at the phone lines, and Chef Tee from The Federal Bar guests.

DJing alongside Frank Munstah (Tall Robot) as part of his monthly Eclectic Selections at The Federal Bar in Long Beach, CA =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Claude Larson, Extra Dimension, Scenes And Images - Developing Underlays Vol. 2 The ORF Orchestra Conducted By Karel Krautgartner, Little Prince, Music In The Air Volume 4 Mladen Franko, Back From Wonderland, Amazing Space Vol. 1 Giovanni Cristiani, Dancing For Diletta, Alpha Percussion Asha Puthli, Space Talk, The Devil Is Loose John Forde, Atlantis, Atlantis Jinny And The Flamboyants, Serenade to Cripton, Cumparsita Dance Gian Piero Reverberi, Windy Wendy, Stairway To Heaven Andy Bey, Celestial Blues, Experience And Judgment Ananda Shankar, The River, Ananda Shankar And His Music Cesar Mariano & Cia, Litoral, São Paulo . Brasil Mladen Franko, Alexandra, Amazing Space Vol. 1 Ju-Par Universal Orchestra, Mocha Velvet, Moods & Grooves Gianni Safred & His Electronic Instruments, Jazz Computer, Futuribile (The Life To Come) John Keating, I Feel The Earth Move, Space Experience Roger Manning & Brian Reitzell, Metromorphoses, Music Library Nick Ingman, Trip Wire, Big Beat Leon Lowman, Fluorescent Funk, Liquid Diamonds Radiance, You're My Number 1 (Dub mix), You're My Number 1 Terry Burrus And Transe, Love Rockin' (Dub Version), Love Rockin' Felix & Jarvis, The Whip, Felix & Jarvis Christy Ogbah, Advice, Advice The Chuck Davis Orchestra, Spirit of Sunshine (Long version), Spirit Of Sunshine Ambros Seelos Band, Space Race, Space Race / Cap Canaveral Jean-Claude Pierric & Daniel Janin, Shine, Sun, Shine, Velvet Dreams Azoto, Rainfall, Music Makers Ltd Roy Ayers, Programmed For Love, Programmed For Love James Mason, Up Jump, Recollection ∈ Echo Hiroshi Sato, Kaze Kiharu, Orient P.-A. Dahan - S. Pezin, Slim Bertha, Neo Rythmiques Dave Sarkys, Andre Perry, Canadian Colours (Theme 4 & 1), First Encounter

Leddie Garcia's s musical history includes touring across the US with Poi Dog Pondering for over 10 years.  Some of the artists he has played and recorded with include Santana, Gladys Knight, Liquid Soul, John Cruz, Ramsey Lewis, Cyndi Lauper, Eric Benet and Barry Manilow. His musical affinity crosses all music borders from Pop Music to Jazz Fusion, with Brazilian, South Pacific Rhythms and Latin influences. Leddie’s adaptive approach to performing is a worldly hybrid of percussion styles blended into one. Since moving to LA, he has been a fixture in the music scene. He is the bandleader of Poluma a jazz fusion instrumental project, Soukie a retro funk soul band, and Leddie Garcia Friends a rock, jazz, rb project. His ongoing residencies are with Jason Joseph and The Spectaculars at Hotel Café, The Federal Affair at the Federal Bar and The Lexington Social Club.  Leddie performs with Hadrian Feraud Band, Adrian Hibbs Band, The Endangered and Ruslan Sirota Band. At the 2011 and 2012. Namm Show he played in legendary Leo Nocentelli’s band The Meters Experience with bassist Billy “Buddha” Dickens, keys Bernie Worrell, drummer Stanton Moore.

Have you been a victim of IdentityTheft? Are you concerned about all the reports of personal information being stolen from corporate data bases?Today's guest, Steve Weisman, a lawyer and member of the Massachusetts Bar and Federal Bar, is one of the country’s leading experts on scams and identity theft. He writes about identity theft for USA Today and has been featured on Nightline, CBS News, ABC, CNBC, among others and quoted in numerous publications including The Associated Press, The Boston Globe, Barron’s, The New York Times, Money Magazine, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal.  Steve has authored eight books, including Identity Theft Alert: 10 Rules You Must Follow to Protect Yourself From America’s #1 Crime (2014) and The Truth About Avoiding Scams (2008).Today, Jim and Steve will discuss what you need to know about identity theft and what you should be doing to minimize your risk of becoming a victim. 

How safe is it to shop online? Identity theft has become a major concern of consumers who are questioning the security of online shopping sites.Today's returning guest, Steve Weisman, a lawyer and member of the Massachusetts Bar and Federal Bar, is one of the country’s leading experts on scams and identity theft. He writes about identity theft for USA Today and has been featured on Nightline, CBS News, ABC, CNBC, among others and quoted in numerous publications including The Associated Press, The Boston Globe, Barron’s, The New York Times, Money Magazine, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal.  Steve has authored eight books, including Identity Theft Alert: 10 Rules You Must Follow to Protect Yourself From America’s #1 Crime (2014) and The Truth About Avoiding Scams (2008).Join Jim and Steve in a discussion about how to shop safely online

Today's returning guest, Steve Weisman, a lawyer and member of the Massachusetts Bar and Federal Bar, is one of the country’s leading experts on scams and identity theft. He writes about identity theft for USA Today and has been featured on Nightline, CBS News, ABC, CNBC, among others and quoted in numerous publications including The Associated Press, The Boston Globe, Barron’s, The New York Times, Money Magazine, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal.  Steve has authored eight books, including Identity Theft Alert: 10 Rules You Must Follow to Protect Yourself From America’s #1 Crime (2014) and The Truth About Avoiding Scams (2008).Join Jim and Steve as they discuss what steps you should take if you become a victim of identity theft.

Have you been a victim of IdentityTheft?Are you concerned about all the reports of personal information being stolen from corporate data bases?Today's guest, Steve Weisman, a lawyer and member of the Massachusetts Bar and Federal Bar, is one of the country’s leading experts on scams and identity theft. He writes about identity theft for USA Today and has been featured on Nightline, CBS News, ABC, CNBC, among others and quoted in numerous publications including The Associated Press, The Boston Globe, Barron’s, The New York Times, Money Magazine, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal.  Steve has authored eight books, including Identity Theft Alert: 10 Rules You Must Follow to Protect Yourself From America’s #1 Crime (2014) and The Truth About Avoiding Scams (2008).Today, Jim and Steve will discuss what you need to know about identity theft and what you should be doing to minimize your risk of becoming a victim.