FALA Chicago 2015 Officers & Board of Directors Installation

By: Mark Javier

 

On March 12, FALA Chicago formally installed its officers and board members for the 2015 term during a ceremony held at the law firm of Sidley Austin LLP. Congratulations to all those who took the oath of office:

OFFICERS: Jasmine Villaflor Hernandez (President, Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office); Zenia C. Salles (Vice President, Holland & Knight LLP); Christine Bautista (Secretary, Akerman LLP); and Christine A. Pompa (Treasurer, Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery LLP)

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Michael C. Aguhar (A.F.I.R.E. Chicago); Leandro A. Alhambra (Woodruff, Johnson & Palmero); Lesley R. Arca (The Raiz Law Group, LLC); Marjorie Baltazar (Sidley Austin LLP); Jerome C. Barrido (Cook County Public Defender’s Office); Mark J. Calaguas (McDermott, Will & Emery); Rudy A. Figueroa (Mitsui Rail Capital, LLC.); Rachel Mercer (Cremer Spina Shaughnessy Jansen & Siegert, LLC); Mark J. Reyes (Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP); Anna B. Sutti (Jenner & Block); Maricar C. Tinio (NexLP)

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

Mark A. Javier (The Javier Law Firm, PC)

HONORARY BOARD

Dan L. Boho (Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP); Hon. Anne M. Burke Justice (Illinois Supreme Court); Hon. Ruben Castillo (Chief Judge, United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois); Michael P. Chu (McDermott Will & Emery LLP); Hon. Timothy C. Evans (Chief Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County); Hon. Thomas L. Kilbride (Illinois Supreme Court); Hon. Laura C. Liu (Illinois Appellate Court); Hon. Jesse G. Reyes (Illinois Appellate Court).

The evening’s master of ceremonies was Hon. Israel A. Desierto (aka “MC Izzy”), the first Filipino American judge appointed to the bench in the state of Illinois. Hon.Jessica A. O’Brien, the first Filipino American elected to judicial office in Illinois and current president-elect of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, administered the oath to the officers and board members, while incoming president Jasmine Hernandez was sworn in by Chief Judge Evans of the Cook County Circuit Court.

Guests were then treated to an inspiring keynote address by attorney, media personality, and restaurant/nightlife entrepreneur Billy Dec. The Rockit Ranch Productions CEO, ABC 7 Windy City Live contributor, and current White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders commissioner shared stories of growing up as a Filipino American and discussed how a desire to increase the visibility of Fil-Ams in the mainstream media inspired early business ventures like Sunda and still continues to guide his life in the public eye. After Billy finished his speech with an empowering account of his recent experience attending a national roundtable of Fil-Am executives, Judge Desierto adjourned the program with a call to action and implored everyone to deepen their civic engagement on all levels, from the local to the global.

We are grateful to all our supporters who have contributed to this growing organization with their time, talent, and financial resources. Furthermore, FALA Chicago would like to acknowledge the following sponsors for the evening: Sidley Austin LLP, The Law Office of John S. Fotopoulos, P.C.,Hon. Clarence L. Burch (Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County), The Chicago Bar Association, Gene Niezgoda (Administrator to the Presiding Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County).##

From left to right: (top row) Dan L. Boho, Marjorie Baltazar, Anna B. Sutti, Mark J. Reyes, Hon. Laura C. Lui, Leandro A. Alhambra, Lesley R. Arca, Mark J. Calaguas, Maricar C. Tinio, Jerome C. Barrido, Hon. Thomas L. Kilbride (seated) Christine Bautista, Christine A. Pompa, Jasmine Villaflor Hernandez, Zenia C. Salle.