| 2026 Paralegal Development Conference - Speakers |
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Joy Anderson, Co-Director, Community Justice Worker Resource Center Joy Anderson is a Co-Director for the Community Justice Worker Resource Center, an initiative of the Alaska Legal Services Corporation (ALSC). Previously, Joy served as the General Counsel of the Association of Village Council Presidents, a large non-profit tribal consortium of 56 federally recognized tribes in Western Alaska. Joy is experienced in representing and supporting Tribes and Tribal Organizations, particularly in the areas of corporate governance, Indian child welfare, and rural public safety. She is excited to return to ALSC in a new capacity focused on expanding access to justice, particularly in rural communities. Joy is a graduate of Oakwood University and Vanderbilt University Law School; originally from Alabama, she has lived in Bethel, Alaska for the past twelve years. Elizabeth Dear, NJCP, PaCP, Member NFPA DEI Committee, Senior Paralegal – Office of General Counsel, Nasdaq, Inc. Elizabeth Dear is a Board Member of the South Jersey Paralegal Association (SJPA), serving as the Recording Secretary, the NFPA Primary Representative, and Co-Chair of the Professional Development Committee. Her commitment and dedication to continuous learning and professional advancement has led her to obtain her NJCP credentials, join the Philadelphia Association of Paralegals, and obtain her Pa.C.P. credentials as well. Additionally, she is a member of the Philadelphia Bar Association, including its Philadelphia Bar Association’s Paralegals and Other Legal Professionals Committee. Elizabeth is committed to continuing her service to this incredible group of paralegal professionals and fostering growth both personally and professionally. She looks forward to the journey ahead, getting to know their current local and national members. Jennifer Echikson, Pa.C.P., Chair NFPA DEI Committee Jennifer Echikson has been a paralegal working almost exclusively in family law for 20 years and has been with Materese Family Law since its inception. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Paralegal Studies from Peirce College and holds a Pennsylvania paralegal certification from the Keystone Alliance of Paralegal Associations. Jenn currently serves as Montgomery County Paralegal Association’s Secondary Delegate to the National Federation of Paralegal Associations and is on the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee of NFPA. Jenn is also the President of the Keystone Alliance of Paralegal Associations In addition, is a member of various community organizations, including serving as an Area Leader for Free Mom Hugs of Pennsylvania, as a volunteer with the LGBT Equality Alliance of Chester County, as the Secretary for PFLAG West Chester/Chester County, Secretary of Soroptimist International of Phoenixville, and as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Phoenixville Public Library. Antoinette France-Harris, Professor and Program Coordinator of Legal Studies, Clayton State University Antoinette France-Harris has been a licensed attorney since 1998. She transitioned to academia in 2010, serving as Department Chair and full-time instructor in Paralegal Studies at Atlanta Technical College. In 2014, she joined Clayton State University as an Assistant Professor and has since advanced to Professor and Program Coordinator for Legal Studies. Antoinette is the author of two textbooks: Georgia Wills, Trusts, and Estate Administration (2nd ed., 2025) and Fundamentals of Georgia Family Law (2023). She holds a B.S. from Harvard University, an M.S.W. from Columbia University, and a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. Rashida Forbes, Owner, Stylish Paralegal Rashida Forbes is a New York native, mentor, dog lover, avid traveler and alumna of John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Rashida began her legal career in 2006 as a paralegal, specializing in out-of-state foreclosures. After relocating to Georgia, she transitioned into eviction law, navigating the state's unique legal landscape. Rashida's paralegal journey led her through various legal fields, from civil litigation to construction law and personal injury. Her evolution as a paralegal has been guided by her leadership skills and patience. Jaclyn Foster, Author, Paralegals Should Be Millionaires Jaclyn Foster, author of Paralegals Should Be Millionaires, is a paralegal entrepreneur, educator, and industry disruptor on a mission to expand what’s possible for legal support professionals. She built and scaled a virtual paralegal agency from the ground up to a multi-six-figure business in under three years, ultimately leading the company through a full acquisition—an experience that deepened her perspective on growth, leadership, and long-term value creation in the legal services space. Today, Jaclyn is the founder of The Paralegals in Business Society, a community and education platform designed to help paralegals take ownership of their careers through entrepreneurship, freelancing, and strategic business building. Through her programs, writing, and teaching, she challenges traditional career ceilings and equips paralegals with the tools to build sustainable, independent income streams—inside or outside of law firms. Jaclyn’s work goes beyond career advice. She is focused on elevating the paralegal identity itself—shifting the profession from a support-only mindset to one rooted in leadership, economic impact, and strategic partnership within the modern legal ecosystem. Patrice Givens, Member NFPA DEI Committee Lisa M Lagreca, Pa. C.P., NFPA Certification Coordinator, Silverang, Rosenzweig & Haltzman, LLC Lisa Effrig Lagreca is a Pennsylvania Certified Paralegal through Keystone Alliance. Lisa is a long-standing member of the Montgomery County Paralegal Association since 2016 and have held several positions—board member between 2019 through 2022; their newsletter editor from 2019 to 2022; and student liaison for local community colleges; and is newly appointed the Coordinator of Certification with the National Federation of Paralegal Association assisting the Director of Certification. Lisa has been a paralegal for 9 years and am currently employed at Silverang, Rosenzweig & Haltzman, LLC Her passion for the educational advancement of paralegals began in 2017 when she restarted the Bucks County Community College’s Paralegal Club from reengagement of the club and arranging educational workshops to organizing the first ever mock trial competition. Before graduating with her bachelor's degree, she was a staff editor for the Peirce College Law Journal and had an article published in the 2023 edition of its 1865 Law Journal Lisa has had the honor of being the recipient of various scholarships, including the Mary Dolly Cirillo Scholarship and the Dr. James J. Linksz President Emeritus Scholarship Endowment. She is a member of the Lambda Epsilon Chi National Honor Society. Lisa is a motivated and results‑driven paralegal and notary public with passion, drive, and a commitment to excellence. she is also a paralegal coach and mentor with a background in real estate, land development, municipal/government, estate planning/probate and administration, corporate/business, collections, intellectual property, criminal matters, and litigation support. Lisa Lynch, CRPTM, CEDS, Cushman and Wakefield Lisa Lynch, CRPTM, CEDS currently works as an in-house paralegal for Cushman and Wakefield. Her role focuses on litigation, eDiscovery, and corporate governance. Lisa served on the NFPA Board as the Director of Marketing, Region II Director, President Elect, President and Board Advisor. Lisa is currently a member of the Minnesota Paralegal Association. Lisa was involved with the Dallas Area Paralegal Association (DAPA) for many years. She served as DAPA's President in 2014 and held other positions during her time on the DAPA Board. In 2014, Lisa was presented with the DAPA Paralegal of the Year Award. In 2021, she was presented with the Michele M. Boerder Lifetime Achievement Award. She is also a member of the Paralegal Division of the State Bar of Texas. Lisa obtained her Paralegal Certificate from the Professional Development Institute at the University of North Texas. She holds both a CRP and CEDS. Mary Mayer, Freelance Paralegal in Northern Arizona Mary Katherine Mayer is an Advanced Certified Paralegal in Criminal Litigation, Contract Management, and Trial Practice, and currently is a Freelance Paralegal in Northern Arizona. She has over 30 years' experience in the legal field. Mary is a member of NALA and previously served on different committees. She has been a speaker at conferences, a presenter to paralegal associations, and has written several articles for various Paralegal publications. Mary is passionate about the legal field and helping those in need. When not volunteering or writing, Mary enjoys spending time with her husband and son, and watching sports. Amy McGuigan, ACP, CAS, CEDS, Swanson & McNamara LLP Amy Jo McGuigan, ACP, CAS, CEDS, is a senior paralegal at Swanson & McNamara LLP and an instructor in the paralegal studies program at the University of California, Irvine, where she teaches the legal technology practicum. Swanson & McNamara LLP is a trial and appellate law firm specializing in high-stakes criminal, civil, and regulatory defense and internal investigations. Prior to joining Swanson & McNamara, Amy worked for the Federal Public Defender in the Northern District of California for 15 years, where she assisted in several trials, including four complex death penalty cases, one of which resulted in an acquittal. She is a certified eDiscovery specialist holding multiple ACEDS eDiscovery certifications, as well as certifications in CMFF Cellebrite Mobile Forensic Fundamentals and digital forensics, and has completed over 21 hours of digital forensic training in FTK. Amy is the past president of the San Francisco Paralegal Association, Chair of the Bar Association of San Francisco Paralegal Section, and Assistant Director of the San Francisco chapter of Women in eDiscovery. When she isn’t working, Amy enjoys crafting and spending time with her four dogs. Dr. Alicia Mitchell-Mercer, Chief Operating Officer, Frontline Justice Dr. Alicia Mitchell-Mercer is the Chief Operations Officer at Frontline Justice. A military veteran with over 20 years in the legal field and a decade in project management, she began her career as a paralegal (2004-2012) before transitioning into project management, culminating in her role as the Director of Project Management at Lex Project Management Consulting Group. In that role, she collaborated with corporate legal departments, state agencies, and litigation firms to streamline operations and enhance efficiency. She also serves as a FINRA securities arbitrator. Alicia completed a Doctorate of Public Administration, focusing on public policy, civil access to justice, and regulatory reform, and a Master of Science in Project Management, where she studied the nexus between engineering economics, legal project management, and value-based billing. She is a Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), and Legal Project Practitioner (LPP). Alicia has served on the North Carolina Bar Association's Internet & Regulations Task Force (2016-2018) and the North Carolina State Bar Regulatory Reform Subcommittee (2021-2022). She was a Special Advisor to the North Carolina Equal Access to Justice Commission (2023) and is a commission member (2024-2026). Since 2014, Alicia has championed the rights of abused, neglected, and dependent children as a Guardian ad Litem for the North Carolina Judicial Branch. She volunteers as the Director of Strategic Projects and a Policy Analyst for the North Carolina Justice for All Project (2019-present). Her contributions have been recognized with multiple awards, including the North Carolina Judicial Branch Service Award (2020, 2021) and the North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society (2022, 2023). Nikole Nelson, founding CEO, Frontline Justice Nikole Nelson is the founding CEO of Frontline Justice. Prior to joining our team, Nikole was the Executive Director of Alaska Legal Services Corporation, Alaska’s only statewide provider of free civil aid. During her 25 years in the field, she worked to build community-led, people-centered justice models and expand the scope of who can provide legal help. One of these models is a groundbreaking launch of Partnering for Native Health, a medical-legal partnership involving non-lawyer justice workers, which won the 2019 World Justice Challenge. She also spearheaded the reform of restrictions on the unauthorized practice of law for justice workers in Alaska; these reforms were approved in 2022 by both the Alaska Supreme Court and the State Bar Board of Governors. Nikole is a special advisor to the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defense (SCLAID) and is a member of the Legal Services Corporation’s Rural Justice Task Force. Kenneth Palacios, Member NFPA DEI Committee Tony Sipp, Co-host, The Paralegal Voice podcast; Chair of the Paralegal Studies Advisory Committee, College of the Canyons Tony Sipp is a proven legal leader with 18 years of experience in litigation support, legal operations, and law practice management. An award-winning professional recognized as the 2024 Legal Professional of the Year, Law Practice Management (CLA), Tony has led paralegal departments, redesigned workflows, and supported complex, high-profile matters for clients including Uber, Lime, and government entities. Tony is the co-host of The Paralegal Voice podcast, and serves as Chair of the Paralegal Studies Advisory Committee at College of the Canyons. A former President of the Los Angeles Paralegal Association (LAPA), he is recognized for his work in professional development, legal ethics, and time management. Tony has published numerous articles on legal technology, discovery, and strategic growth in law firms. Lisa Vessels, RP, Duane Morris LLP Lisa Vessels, RP lives in Miami, Florida, and is employed by Duane Morris LLP managing the docketing function and court rules-based docketing software, as well as the court filing automation software PacerPro for her firm's U.S. offices. Lisa also manages a small team of docketing and e-filing professionals dedicated to a large practice group for her firm. She has worked in the paralegal profession since 1992 with experience in commercial litigation, as well as corporate contract law specializing in commercial aviation equipment leasing and sales. Lisa earned her Bachelor's degree in Paralegal Studies from Nova Southeastern University in 2005, and Associate's degrees in Computer Information Systems and Computer Programming (Visual Basic) from Miami Dade College in 2002. She earned the Certified Paralegal® credential in 2005, maintained the Florida Registered Paralegal with The Florida Bar from 2008 to 2018, and earned the PACE® Registered Paralegal credential in 2012. She served two-terms as President of the South Florida Paralegal Association and the Florida Alliance of Paralegal Associations. As an active member in both organizations, Lisa served in many roles since joining in 2005. Ms. Vessels also served as Director of Paralegal Certification for the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) from 2020-2024; Board Advisor from 2016-2018, President from 2014-2016, Vice President and Director of Positions and Issues from 2012-2014, Regulation Review Coordinator from 2009-2012, and was an active participant on the PCC Exam Development Committee from its inception in 2008 through its launch in 2011. Lisa served on Miami-Dade College's Paralegal Studies Program Advisory Board from 2006 to 2012, serving as chairperson from 2010. She has served four, three-year terms as a non-lawyer member of The Florida Bar's Unlicensed Practice of Law Committee for the 11th Circuit in Miami-Dade County, and two, three-year terms on the 11th Circuit FRP Disciplinary Committee for the Florida Bar. She was an adjunct instructor at Florida International University's Paralegal Studies certificate program from 2006 to 2008. Ashley Vincent, Community Justice Worker, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska Legal Services Corporation Ashley has been a Community Justice Worker at Alaska Legal Services since November 1, 2024. Her role centers on assisting underserved individuals through advocacy, support, and resource connection, with an emphasis on the overall wellbeing of the community. Jaclyn Doherty, VARP, Vanderpool, Frostick & Nishanian, P.C. Jaclyn is a senior paralegal and the founder of The Supporting Case, an emerging professional development platform focused on mentoring and supporting legal support professionals. Her work centers on strengthening the paralegal role through practical leadership, clear communication, and guidance rooted in real-world legal practice. |
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