NFPA Press Release
Elva Gonzalez
Vice President and Director of Membership
Membership@paralegals.orgApril 15, 2003
DYNCORP AND NFPA HONOR MASON AS OUTSTANDING LOCAL LEADER
DynCorp, a Computer Sciences Corporation company, and the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) are pleased to announce the selection of Karen M. Mason of the Illinois Paralegal Association (IPA) as 2003 Outstanding Local Leader. Mason is an intellectual property paralegal for Altheimer & Gray in Chicago. Presentation of Mason's award was made by a DynCorp representative at NFPA's annual convention in Newport, Rhode Island.
In IPA's nominating letter, IPA President Mary Kay Lieberman listed the many contributions Mason has made to IPA since she joined in 1980. Among these are creating and chairing geographical sections as well as chairing several committees, reinstating the annual board retreat, obtaining the governor's proclamation of an annual paralegal day, and representing IPA before the Illinois Supreme Court Rules Committee. Beyond her two terms as president, Mason currently serves as a director on the IPA Board, IPA's secondary NFPA representative and chair of pro bono.
Mason teaches paralegal students about patent law, presents seminars, and trains new associates at her firm on paralegal utilization. She is recognized as a mentor for new paralegals, and she was instrumental in improving IPA's web site. "Whether Karen meets a student, member, vendor, or educator," notes Lieberman, "she always makes a pitch for IPA and the significant contributions that paralegals make to the legal team."
Previous winners of the award are Margaret S. (Mickey) Dick of New York, Pat Coleman of Illinois, Deborah Baer McKinney, RP, of Ohio, Karen Belcher, RP, of Tennessee, Lesley Cox, RP, of Indiana, Kimberly Nichols, RP, of Ohio, and Sybil Taylor Aytch, RP, of Arizona.
About DynCorp/CSC
DynCorp/CSC's participation in this prestigious award reflects its continuing interest the enormous contributions made by paralegals. DynCorp/CSC's employs several hundred paralegal professionals in US Attorney Offices across the USA.About NFPA
NFPA is a not-for-profit association with the largest number of individual paralegal members in the nation. NFPA is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. NFPA is the national voice and the standard for excellence for the paralegal profession through its work on the issues of regulation, ethics and education.
