Committees/Specialty Sections

Committee    

Description

Chair/Co-chair

Awards

The awards committee is responsible for the criteria for the various awards given out by PPA.

 Anne Newcomer

[email protected]

By-Law/Procedures Manual

The By-law Committee meets periodically to review the PPA By-laws to see if updates are needed.  

Cindy Wirtz

[email protected]

Christine Boyd

[email protected]

Diana Roth

[email protected]

CLE

This committee is responsible for obtaining CLE approvals from Keystone Alliance and NFPA for the various seminars presented by PPA.  Also responsible for maintaining the CLE database for PPA members.

Virginia Baumgardner

[email protected]

Job Bank

The job bank is a free service for members, as well as potential employers.  Employers may contact our job bank coordinator to post paralegal positions.  PPA Members have access to all posted paralegal positions.  

Bobbi Cramer

[email protected]

Marketing

The Marketing Committee meets about once a month and develops programs to market member benefits to current, new, and potential PPA members.  The Marketing Committee also coordinates the Mentor Program and Vendor Sponsorship packages.  

Anne Newcomer

[email protected]

Cher Morgan

[email protected]@yahoo.com

Michael Vertullo

 [email protected]

Membership Admin

The Membership Administration Committee monitors PPA membership.

Saveria Saunders

[email protected]

Christine Boyd

[email protected]

Anne Newcomer

[email protected]

 Mentoring

 Carrie Cessna

[email protected]

Deb Wallman

[email protected]

Newsletter

Published quarterly, the Parascope contains

information and articles regarding both national

and local news and events. 

Deb Wallman

[email protected]

Ashley Bournias

[email protected]

Carrie Cessna

[email protected]

Nominating

 In charge of sending out the nomination forms and ballots for PPA's Annual Election. They also will count the ballots and announce the results of the election.

Bobbi Cramer

[email protected]

Paralegal Certification Ambassador

The Paralegal Certification Ambassador promotes the PACE® and PCCE^TM exams to paralegals, paralegal educators, lawyers, and the public. The Certification Ambassador can assist with questions on eligibility to sit for certification exams, forming study groups, providing practical advice on studying for and taking a certification exam, and answer questions on maintaining credentials. 

Anne Newcomer

[email protected]

Pro Bono

Pro Bono Committee welcomes you to come and join us as we plan seminars on Pro Bono topics of interest for everyone. Become more aware of and involved with a variety of programs and organizations operating within Pittsburgh and surrounding communities.  Pro Bono opportunities are always changing and evolving into new challenges for you to pursue.

Diana Roth

[email protected]

Cindy Wirtz

[email protected]

Janice Temple

[email protected]

Special Events

The Special Events Committee is responsible for the organizing and planning of all PPA events, including the Pirate Game, Paralegal Day and Holiday Luncheon.

Christine Boyd

[email protected]

Rebecca Faber

[email protected]

40^th Anniversary

Plan and organize events surrounding the 40^th Anniversary of the PPA

Christine Boyd

[email protected]

Carrie Cessna

[email protected]

Cher Morgan

[email protected]@yahoo.com

Anne Newcomer

[email protected]

Mike Vertullo

[email protected]

Student Liaison

This committee is responsible for maintaining communication with the local schools and paralegal programs about PPA and the paralegal profession.

Bobbi Cramer – Chair

[email protected]

Social Media

Responsible for updating PPA's Facebook and LinkedIn pages

Ashley Bournias

[email protected]

 Mentoring

 Carrie Cessna

[email protected]

Deb Wallman

[email protected]

Specialty Sections

Animal Law

 The Pittsburgh Paralegal Association Animal Law Committee provides a forum for education and advocacy aimed at protecting the lives and advancing the interests of animals through the legal system, and raising the profile of the field of animal law.

Stephanie Barber

[email protected]

Estates & Trusts

 The Estates and Trusts focuses on estate plans including Wills, Trusts, Power of Attorney and Healthcare Reform.  The focus of Elder Law is planning for an aging family member whether it is long-term care, home based care, assisted living, guardianship, abuse, neglect or fraud.

Diana Roth

[email protected]

Family Law

Family Law Section- Focuses on continuing education for paralegals in the areas of divorce, child support, custody, adoption and protection from abuse claims.  

Cindy Wirtz

[email protected]

 Litigation

The litigation specialty section focuses on all aspects of litigation.  From civil and commercial litigation to consumer collections and trial preparation, we try to cover it all and are always looking for suggestions.  This group also touches upon general topics that go hand-in-hand with a paralegal duties in the workplace, such as attorneys and stress in the workplace

Stephanie Barber

[email protected]

Carrie Cessna

[email protected]

Vera Mohamed

[email protected]

Deb Wallman

[email protected]

Non-Practicing Attorney/Legal Professionals

Julie Simco

[email protected]

Real Estate

The Real Estate Section focuses on providing education regarding real estate procedures focusing on commercial and residential transactions, contracts, real property, tax laws, and legal documentation.

Diana Roth

[email protected]

Technology

Technology section focuses on providing education regarding recent trends in technology and internet research.

Christine Boyd

[email protected]

Michael Vertullo

[email protected]

Workplace Law

Workplace Law focuses on continuing education for paralegal in the various areas concerning the workplace including employment law and workers’ compensation.

Christine Boyd

[email protected]