MISSION
The Philadelphia Diversity Law Group (PDLG) is committed to fostering participation of lawyers of varied backgrounds and life experiences in the practice of law in the Greater Philadelphia Region and beyond to make our legal profession stronger, more collaborative and more responsive. To fulfill this mission, PDLG creates innovative programs to enhance recruitment, advancement and promotion of lawyers by law firms and corporate law departments and to build community and connections.
Over the years, PDLG has implemented many programs and conducted many events to accomplish its mission. These programs and events have focused on four areas: lawyer recruitment, student pipeline, legal community education and lawyer retention.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
PDLG Officers
Co-President – W. John Lee, Morgan, Lewis
Co-President –Shelley Smith, Archer & Greiner
Secretary, Ernest Holtzheimer, Eckert Seamans
Treasurer: Emilia McKee Vassallo, Ballard Spahr
Vice President – Melissa Merkel, Aramark
Additional Executive Committee Members
Jerome Maddox, Fox Chase Cancer Center
Raymond Williams, DLA Piper
Shoshana Schiller, Manko Gold
Maria Lewis, Faegre Drinker
Leslie John, Ballard Spahr (Ret’d)
Lois Kimbol, Special Board Member
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Aramark
Melissa Merkel
Archer Law
Shelley Smith
Tanneika Minott
Ballard Spahr LLP
Emilia McKee Vassallo
Albert S. Dandridge, III
Blank Rome LLP
Bridget Briggs
Buchanan Ingersoll
& Rooney PC
Charlene Gedeus
Lloyd Freeman
CHUBB
Ann Rappleye
Cohen Seglias
Lane Kelman
Jennifer Budd
Comcast Cable
Communications LLC
Sohana Sethi
Dechert LLP
Nitya Goyal
Dilworth Paxson LLP
Chris Nana-Sinkam
DLA Piper LLP (US)
Raymond Williams
Jae Kim
Faegre Drinker Biddle
& Reath, LLP
Maria Lewis
Duane Morris LLP
Joseph West
Leah Mintz
Eckert Seamans Cherin
& Mellott, LLC
Ernest Holtzheimer
Min Suh
Flaster/Greenberg P.C.
Jennifer Katz
FMC Corporation
Douglas Gush
Fox Chase Cancer Center
Jerome Maddox
Greenberg Traurig
Vanessa Lowry
Sophia Lee
Hangley Aronchick, Segal,
Pudlin, & Schiller
Peter Keays
Holland & Knight LLP
To be announced
Ikea
Stephani Lewis
Priyanko Paul
Independence Blue Cross
Erin Bender
Jazz Phamaceuticals
Mike King
Kali Wellington-James
Lincoln Financial
Christina Pron
Littler Mendelson, P.C.
Barbara Rittinger Rigo
Manko, Gold, Katcher & Fox, LLP
Shoshana Schiller
Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads, LLP
Layal Issa Ramirez
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
John Lee
Diana Cortez
Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel, LLP
Thomas Wyatt
Post & Schell
Marc Perry
Reed Smith LLP
Nick Rodriguez
Saul Ewing LLP
Igor Pleskov
State Farm Mutual
Automobile Insurance Co.
Amy Loperfido
Tara Thompson
Stevens & Lee
Stacey Scrivani
Stradley, Ronon,
Stevens & Young, LLP
Danielle Banks
Temple University
Cameron Etezady
Anna Oppenheim
Temple University
Health System
John Ryan
Kendra Oxholm
Troutman Pepper
Michael Reed
The Vanguard Group
Rosalynn Cormier
White and Williams LLP
Wesley Payne
Rochelle Gumapac
Special Board Member
Lois Kimbol
Special Board Member
The Hon. Stella Tsai
Special Board Member
Fay Trachtenberg
Special Board Member
Lilton (Tony) Taliaferro
Special Board Member
Leslie John