KIM BIXENSTINE
Co-Owner, Bixenstine Resolutions, LLC, CSU|LAW Health Law & Policy Leader-in-Residence
Kim Bixenstine is privileged to serve as CSU|LAW Leader-in-Residence for Health Law & Policy and Chair of the Health Law Advisory Council. Since 2019, Kim Bixenstine has served as a professional mediator and arbitrator with Bixenstine Resolutions, a firm she co-owns with her husband, Barton Bixenstine. Since January 2024 Kim has also served as a Shaker Heights City Council Member. Kim retired from University Hospitals in 2019, where she served as Chief Compliance Officer and, before that, as Vice President & Deputy General Counsel, in charge of claims, litigation and risk management. Before joining UH, Kim was Vice President and Chief Litigation Counsel for TRW, Inc. Prior to that, Kim was a partner in the Jones Day law firm. Kim is a graduate of Middlebury College and the University of Chicago Law School. Kim serves as President of the Board of Great Lakes Theater and as a member of the Judge4Yourself judicial candidate rating coalition. She previously served on the Boards of the Shaker Heights Development Corporation and Cleveland Rape Crisis Center. She has received numerous awards, such as the YWCA Women of Achievement Award, Medical Mutual/Smart Business Nonprofit Executive of the Year award, and the Crain’s Cleveland Business Outstanding In-house Counsel Award. She also enjoys participating in community theater.
BRENT BUCKLEY, CLASS OF 1982
Managing Partner, Buckley King
Brent serves as Managing Partner Buckley King and maintains an active practice representing public and privately-held companies, financial institutions, and businesses. He is nationally recognized for excellence in commercial litigation, business and corporate law, governance, banking, and finance. His business sense and trial experience combine to make a distinctive impact. Brent also represents directors and officers in business and financial transaction matters and is often retained in litigation ranging from corporate and class actions to governance, MDL, and financial matters. He has served as chair of the CSU|LAW Board of Visitors and was recently named to the Cleveland Clinic Board of Trustees. Brent continues to serve on numerous boards, including the Cleveland Institute of Music, Cleveland Ballet, and College Now Greater Cleveland. He has been repeatedly named to Ohio Super Lawyers, Top 50 Lawyers in Cleveland, Top 100 Lawyers in Ohio, and Best Lawyers in America. Brent received Legal Who’s Who recognition as “One of the Nation’s Top Lawyers for Litigation.” He was awarded Best Lawyers’ 2023 “Lawyer of the Year” in Litigation—Banking and Finance, and again in 2024 as “Lawyer of the Year” in Financial Services Regulation Law.
KEVIN BUTLER, CLASS OF 2001
Counsel, McDonald Hopkins, LLC
Kevin Butler proudly joins a number of family members who studied at CSU|LAW, including Dennis Butler ’69, Geraldine Butler ’98, Chris Frey ’87 and Marie Frey ’14, all reputable and distinguished attorneys whose examples have shaped Kevin’s own service to the school as a student and alumnus. Kevin is a member of the public law, litigation and real estate practice groups at McDonald Hopkins, providing counsel to government entities and those doing business before public agencies. He has served as law director of the cities of Lakewood and Brooklyn and as special counsel to many public entities throughout his career, and counsels clients with a particular focus on land use and zoning issues, real estate transactions, public ethics matters, and pragmatic advocacy. Since his graduation, Kevin has been an active supporter of CSU|LAW, serving as a past president, trustee, and life member the CSU Law Alumni Association. He has been involved with the alumni association from the time he was a law student, most recently chairing its continuing education committee for a number of years, and he has always enjoyed the camaraderie shared by so many CSU|LAW graduates in the Greater Cleveland area and beyond.
HON. CASSANDRA COLLIER-WILLIAMS, CLASS OF 1990
Judge, Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
Judge Cassandra Collier-Williams hails from Springfield, Ohio and graduated from Miami University with her BA degree. After graduating from CSU|LAW, Judge Collier-Williams worked in a mid-size law firm before opening her own law firm in 1999. In 2012, Judge Collier-Williams became the second African American (female or male) to be elected to the Court of Common Pleas, General Division, without first being appointed by the Governor, or having served on another judicial bench. She also became just the fourth African American female to be elected to the Court of Common Pleas, General Division, in the history of the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. She is the Chairperson of the Ohio Supreme Court Lawyer’s Fund for Client Protection; Co-Chair of Ohio Black Judges Association, Inc.; Member of the Executive Board of the National Bar Association Judicial Council; and life member of CSU|LAW Alumni Association. Judge Collier-Williams is the recipient of the National Bar Association Judicial Council Chair’s Award for Exemplary Leadership and Service; the Sara J. Harper Humanitarian Award; City of Springfield Alumni of Distinction Award; and was named Notable Woman in Law by Crains Cleveland Business. Judge Collier-Williams is one of four judges who maintain a Commercial law docket.
MATTHEW CRAWFORD, CLASS OF 1994
Chairman & CEO, ParkOhio Industries
Matthew Crawford is a Director and Chairman, Chief Executive Officer & President of ParkOhio, a Cleveland, Ohio based industrial company providing integrated supply chain management services and highly engineered manufactured products in 23 countries. He joined the Company in 1995 as Assistant Secretary and Corporate Counsel, became a Director of the company in 1997, was promoted in 2001 to the position of Senior Vice President, became President in 2003, and was named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in 2019. Along with his duties at ParkOhio, he has also served as President of the Crawford Group since 1995. He has been a member of Resilience Capital Partners Executive Committee (a private equity firm) since 2010 and is a Board Member of Crawford United. Matt’s philanthropic efforts include serving on the boards of the Musical Arts Association (The Cleveland Orchestra) as well as its Audit Committee, University School, Hillcrest Hospital, and Cuyahoga County Bluecoats. He holds a B.A. in Finance from Miami University and his J.D. from CSU|LAW. Matt and his wife, Debbie, have three children and live in Cleveland.
JULIE CROCKER, CLASS OF 2006
Partner, Taft Law
From a young age, Julie Crocker knew she wanted to be an attorney. What she did not know at that time was that CSU|LAW would put her on the path to becoming a successful and experienced litigator. Julie is a Partner at Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, where she has practiced since graduating magna cum laude from CSU|LAW. Julie is a member of Taft’s Commercial Litigation and M&A Litigation groups and specializes in shareholder disputes and M&A-related claims. Julie is also one of the youngest attorneys ever appointed to Taft’s Executive Committee, a group of attorneys who guide the firm’s strategic vision and decision making. This honor resulted largely from her success as a litigator representing global multimillion-dollar companies, as well has her achievements in the community. Julie’s extensive trial experience includes defending some of the largest jury trial cases in Northeast Ohio. Julie is a member of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Council and Ladder Down Cleveland. Julie is a Crain’s Forty Under 40 Honoree, an Ohio Super Lawyers Honoree, an Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Star, and a Best Lawyers in America Honoree.
RONDA CURTIS, CLASS OF 1992
Chief Corporate Counsel (Retired), City of Cleveland Law Department
Ronda G. Curtis retired from the city of Cleveland after more than 30 years of public
service in municipal government. Ronda served the City of Cleveland from 2005-2024,
as Chief Corporate Counsel in the Department of Law. Prior to that, she was Assistant
Director of Law and Acting Law Director for the City of East Cleveland for 13 years. Ronda
graduated from Cuyahoga Community College with an Associate of Applied Business
Degree, and Dyke College with a BS degree in paralegal studies before earning her
JD degree from CSU|LAW. As Chief Corporate Counsel, Ronda supervised four practice
groups within the Law Department that provided legal counsel to various departments
on municipal law matters. Ronda’s career clearly demonstrates her commitment to
public service. In 2023, Ronda received the International Municipal Lawyers Association’s
Brown, Mulligan, Rocha Distinguished Public Service Award. Ronda is a volunteer
mentor in the Community of Hope program which serves young adults who have aged
out of the foster care system. She enjoys spending time with her daughters, the theater,
Zumba, and long walks.
ROSALINA FINI, CLASS OF 1994
Chief Legal and Ethics Officer, Cleveland Metroparks
Drawn to the public sector at an early age, Rose Fini pursued her dedication to good
governance and social justice by serving in the Civil Divisions of Medina and Cuyahoga
County Prosecutor’s Offices and Alcohol, Drug Addiction & Mental Health Services
(ADAMHS) Board prior to her current role as Cleveland Metroparks Chief Legal & Ethics
Officer. In this role, she leads the Legal Department for the entire Park District that includes
over 25,000 acres, nine golf courses, over 300 miles of trails, five nature centers, and the
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. She is a passionate advocate for conservation, influencing
domestic legislation and international policy. She is a demonstrated leader both within
her organization and her profession on issues of diversity, equity, and sustainability, by
authoring strategic plans, policies, and tool kits. Rose served as the 2021–2022 Cleveland
Metropolitan Bar Association President and as a member of the Association of Zoos and
Aquariums delegation team for the United Nations CITES Treaty. She is a Life Member
of the Judicial Conference of the Eighth Judicial District, a Leadership Cleveland Class of
2015 graduate, and the 2014 Crain’s Cleveland Business General and In-House Counsel
Government Award recipient. Rose holds a JD from CSU|LAW and a Bachelor’s Degree
in Political Science from John Carroll University.
FRANK L. GALLUCCI III, CLASS OF 2000
Partner, Plevin & Gallucci Co., L.P.A.
Frank L. Gallucci III, is principal of Plevin & Gallucci Company, L.P.A. After several years of successful practice, Frank partnered with his longtime friend and mentor, Leon Plevin, to form Plevin & Gallucci. Now one of the largest plaintiff firms in the state, Plevin & Gallucci has offices across Ohio, including Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, and Waverly. The firm has obtained billions of dollars in judgments and settlements for plaintiffs and has a fast-growing, statewide, and national client base. Frank practices civil litigation, including matters concerning wrongful death, personal injury, workers’ compensation, medical negligence, industrial injuries, and product liability. Frank is a member and past-President of the Ohio Association for Justice, American Association for Justice, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Ohio State Bar Association, and Cleveland Association of Trial Attorneys, and a Life Member of the 8th District Judicial Conference. Frank currently serves on the Governing Board of Make-A-Wish OKI, the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, and has been appointed by both Governors Kasich and DeWine to the Industrial Commission Nominating Council. He earned a BS degree from Boston College prior to attending CSU|LAW.
MARY GROTH, CLASS OF 1983
Director of Member & Donor Engagement, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
Mary was introduced to the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (CMBA) during her second year as a law student when she was hired as a law clerk. As a young lawyer, she took a full-time position with the CMBA as Assistant Bar Counsel, focusing on attorney grievances and professional ethics. She also directed the Bar’s community outreach programs that work to promote the rule of law, improve access to justice, advance inclusion and provide law-related education. She has been devoted to growing the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Foundation, the CMBA’s charitable arm, and in developing many of the CMBA’s impactful professional and community initiatives including Women in the Law, Justice For All, The 3Rs, Louis Stokes Scholars, and 1L Clerkship programs. She has worked closely with CSU|LAW, engaging law students in CMBA programs and serving as a mentor. She was honored to serve as president of the National Conference of Bar Foundations (2019-20) and to be recognized with the Founders’ Award from the Ohio Center for Law-Related Education and the CMBA’s Living Legacy Award. She retired from CMBA in August 2024.
EDWARD T. HAGGINS, CLASS OF 1966
Owner, Matthew Prison Ministries; Owner, Precious Realty
Edward T. Haggins was born June 19, 1929 in Springfield, Ohio and has lived in Cleveland
since 1952. In 1946, he joined the U.S. Army and rose to the rank of Lt. Col Commander
in 1950. The following year, he attended West Virginia State University, graduating with
a BS. From 1948-1951, he joined Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. as their Chaplain and
worked for Dunbar Life Insurance in Cleveland as a Home Office Auditor. In 1963, Edward
joined Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity International and graduated from CSU|LAW in
He worked for the Internal Revenue Service as a Revenue Officer, received his Tax
Court Certification, and in 1971, his Brokers License, then chartered E&D Realty in the
1980s. In 1991, he started Xtra Title Company. In 1990 Edward turned his life to God and
started his Prison Ministry, became an ordained priest in 2007, and an ordained deacon
in 2010. Today, Edward donates to CSU|LAW, The Cleveland Foundation, the Cuyahoga
Community College Nursing Scholarship- Zella Haggins Scholarship, which he created,
West Virginia State, various Prison Ministries and many, many more. He is a father of
Denise (Earl) Pierce, Danielle (Henry) Gibbs, Lydia (Lenard) Pope and Steven (Darlene)
Davis.
JACQUELINE A. JOHNSON, CLASS OF 1983
First Assistant, Federal Public Defender, Northern District of Ohio
Jacqueline A. Johnson’s parents, Willie and Louise Askew, migrated from Alabama. She
is the embodiment of their dreams deferred as the first female attorney hired by the
Office of the Federal Defender in 1986. A graduate of Wittenberg University, Jaqueline
is a national speaker on federal criminal law and diversity. She mentors students and
was the CSU|LAW Black Law Student Association (BLSA) 2023 Scholarship Keynote
Speaker. She received United States Administrative Office, Director’s Award and
Fellowship 2020, and has served on three Bipartisan Judicial Nomination Commissions.
She was the recipient of the Norman S. Minor Trailblazers Award in 2018, the Cleveland
Metropolitan Bar Association Foundation Public Servants Merit Award in 2017, and The
Honorable William K. Thomas Professionalism Award in 2014. Johnson testified at the
Congressional Hearing for the 25th Anniversary of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
She was Chairperson on the Reappointment of Magistrate Judge Merit Selection panel
and a member on three Magistrate Judge Merit Selection panels. She is a member of the
Federal Court-Northern District of Ohio Advisory Board, Co-Chair of the Criminal Rules
Advisory Board, and serves on the Board of Trustees of the Federal Bar Association of
Cleveland, where she chairs the Diversity Committee. She was Moot Court judge for
BLSA and Trial Advocacy at CSU|LAW and Case Western Reserve law schools. Johnson is
a member of Mt. Zion Church Oakwood Village and Vice President of the Shaker Heights
Interest Group. She and her husband Robert are grateful parents of three adult children.
GERTRUDE BAUER MAHON, CLASS OF 1940 (Deceased)
Former Assistant Prosecutor, Cuyahoga County Prosecutors Office
Gertrude Bauer Mahon was a Cleveland attorney for nearly 50 years, serving 30 years as a member of the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s staff. As such, she represented the State of Ohio in the 1961 Mapp v. Ohio trial, a landmark Fourth Amendment search and seizure case that made its way to the Supreme Court of the United States. She was a member of Kappa Beta Phi, Steuben Society of America, Cuyahoga County Bar Association, and the National Association of Women Lawyers.
HON. NANCY R. MCDONNELL, CLASS OF 1985 (Deceased)
Former Judge, Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
Judge Nancy R. McDonnell was the Court’s first female Administrative and Presiding
Judge, and served nearly 25 years on the bench. She received her law degree from
CSU|LAW in 1985. After graduating from law school, Judge McDonnell served as the
Assistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor in the Criminal Drug Division and the Major Trial
Division. In 1991, she became a magistrate for the Lakewood Municipal Court. Judge
McDonnell joined the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Bench in 1997. During
her tenure as Administrative and Presiding Judge (2006-2009), Cuyahoga County
Common Pleas Court Judges voted on Local Rule 23.1 regarding open discovery,
which mandates that prosecutors share all evidence for and against an accused citizen
in criminal matters. In addition, the Re-Entry Court docket was established in 2007,
and a Commercial Docket was created in 2008. The first Cuyahoga County Drug Court
docket began in 2009. After a decade of planning by other government officials, Judge
McDonnell led the final efforts to select a site for and begin construction on the County’s
Community Based Correctional facility (CBCF). Her efforts secured millions of dollars in
State funding for the construction and continuing operations of the facility. The CBCF
opened in 2011 and the Facility Governing Board for the CBCF voted to name the facility
after Judge McDonnell and today it is referred to as “The McDonnell Center”. Judge
McDonnell also had the opportunity to preside over one of the Court’s two Drug Court
dockets before she passed away on September 28, 2021.
HON. WILLIAM T. MCGINTY, CLASS OF 1979
Judge, Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
Judge William T. McGinty was elected to the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court
General Division in 2019 and is currently in his last year as a member of the bench.
In 2023, Judge McGinty launched, and currently presides over, Helping Others Prosper
Everyday (H.O.P.E) Court, a high-risk drug court that helps to assist and inspire
individuals to overcome and change their lives. A graduate of Padua Franciscan High
School and Ohio Wesleyan University, he attended, and is a proud graduate of CSU|LAW.
In addition to having served as a personal bailiff for Judge Thomas O. Matia and an
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney under John T. Corrigan, Judge McGinty was a practicing
criminal defense attorney for over 37 years. He also was the Assistant Law Director for
the City of Fairview Park, and eventually became Law Director. Judge McGinty is the
middle child of Connie and John McGinty, with two older brothers and two younger
sisters. He and his wife, Mary, have been married for 44 years, and have been longtime
residents of Fairview Park. They have two children, Jack and Libby. For as long as Judge
McGinty can remember, a life within the legal world was always part of his calling. He
is forever grateful that CSU|LAW took a chance on him, and for the opportunity to live
out his dream of being a lawyer and a judge. CSU|LAW also provided him with many
friends, colleagues, and even a brother-in-law!
HON. TIMOTHY MCMONAGLE, CLASS OF 1974
Judge (Retired), Ohio Court of Appeals, 8th District
Judge Tim McMonagle has spent a lifetime in service to the community. He served initially as a combat medic, who after injury, volunteered to serve on medical missions in the villages of Vietnam and as a convoy medic. He earned the Combat Medic’s Badge, and the Army Commendation Medal with first oak leaf cluster. Upon graduation from law school, he first served as a felony attorney with the Legal Aid Public Defender’s Office. Subsequently he engaged in the private practice of law, ultimately leaving for the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas bench, the Mental Health Court, and the Ohio Court of Appeals for a combined 28 years. He was recently inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame.
VICKI PLATA
Budget Director (Retired), CSU|LAW; Associate, Cleveland State University
Vicki Plata began her career at Cleveland State University the day after graduating in 1971 with a BA degree. She worked 15 years in various university offices before coming to work at CSU|LAW in 1986, beginning a 21-year tenure. From her first days on the job, she realized she had come to a special place in the University – that this College was about providing an opportunity to people who might not have become law students. She saw faculty and staff work hard for student success, and the students respond by becoming fervently supportive alumni. As Budget Director, she interacted with all departments and many student organizations and served on several law school committees. As a member of the Art Committee, she found the atrium mobile in pieces in a storeroom and donated the funds to have it restored and rehung in the atrium in honor of her father. Her University leadership included serving as President of the Professional Staff Organization, Co-Chair of the Faculty Staff Fund Raising Appeal, Treasurer of the Howe Mansion Restoration Committee and member of the University Fiscal Officers and HR Liaison Committees. Upon retirement, she and her husband Jack established an endowment to purchase law library materials that later expanded to include support for the faculty research material allowance. In retirement, she has kept her connection to the University through the CSU Retirees Association eventually serving as President, Vice President and Treasurer, and as a 30-year men’s basketball season ticket holder. She also volunteers with the Cleveland Metroparks as a trail ambassador and cantors and sings in the choir of her parish.
CALLISTA PUCHMEYER, CLASS OF 2007
Chief Counsel, Glenn Research Center, NASA
Callista Puchmeyer is the chief counsel of NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, where she provides expert legal advice to Glenn’s center director and other senior leaders. She also manages Glenn’s Office of the General Counsel, a diverse legal staff that advises Glenn clients on a broad spectrum of federal matters. She has over 20 years of professional experience, which includes more than 15 years of legal experience with both private industry and the U.S. government. Puchmeyer has successfully defended a myriad of complex legal matters before federal administrative and judicial bodies. Prior to her current assignment, Puchmeyer served as Glenn’s deputy chief counsel from 2015 through 2018. She came to Glenn in 2011 as an attorney advisor. Before joining NASA, Puchmeyer was an attorney in the corporate and securities group of Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP. A Cleveland native, Puchmeyer earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in political science from Ohio University (magna cum laude, 2004) as well as a law degree from CSU|LAW (cum laude, 2007). She completed the Federal Executive Institute’s Leadership for a Democratic Society program in 2018 and the Diversity Center’s LeadDIVERSITY program in 2017. Calista lives in Westlake with her husband and five daughters. In her free time, she enjoys playing sand volleyball, competing in powerlifting events, and watching her daughters play a variety of sports.
ROB REMINGTON, CLASS OF 1988
Partner, National Litigation Area and Construction Practice Group Chair, Hahn Loeser
Rob Remington is a partner and career-long member of Hahn Loeser. He is the national chair of the firm’s Litigation Area and a long-standing member of the board of directors. Rob founded the firm’s Construction Practice Group, which is recognized by Best Lawyers as a Tier 1 National Practice Group and by the Construction Executive Magazine, a respected industry publication, as a Top 50 Construction Practice Group in the United States. For over 20 consecutive years, Rob has also been recognized as a top construction lawyer by Chambers USA, Best Lawyers, and Ohio Super Lawyers. He maintains a national legal practice with a focus on complex commercial, construction and real estate litigation representing a wide range of clients, including a number of Fortune 500 clients on matters nationally. According to Chambers USA, clients describe Rob as a “class A” trial lawyer. Rob served in the leadership of the American Bar Association, Section of Litigation for over a decade and is the former co-chair of the ABA Construction Litigation and Real Estate Litigation Committees. Rob received his undergraduate degree from Rochester Institute of Technology, and his law degree from CSU|LAW where he was Managing Editor of the Law Review.
DANIEL RICHARDS, CLASS OF 1992
Managing Partner, Weston Hurd, LLP
Daniel A. Richards is the Managing Partner of the Ohio-based law firm Weston Hurd LLP and is a proud graduate of CSU|LAW Class of ’92, where he was co-editor-in-chief of the Journal of Law and Health. Dan has over 30 years of first chair trial and appellate court experience, representing businesses, hospitals, healthcare professionals, attorneys, manufacturers, construction companies, retailers, and the insurance industry throughout Ohio and all over the United States. Within the legal community, he is the treasurer of the Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys (OACTA), former chair of OACTA’s Appellate Section, and former chair of its Medical Malpractice Section. In 2019, Dan was honored to serve as co-chair of the inaugural Ladder Down Cleveland program for women attorneys focused on leadership, business development, and mentoring. An AV-rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell, he is listed in the Best Lawyers in America® and has been named an Ohio Rising Star and Ohio Super Lawyer on numerous occasions. Dan and his wife Amy reside in Solon and are the proud parents of three adult children, Sarah, Ben, and Lily.
REV. DR. STEPHEN ROWAN, CLASS OF 1980
Senior Pastor, Bethany Baptist Church
Stephen Rowan serves as Senior Pastor of Bethany Baptist Church. He succeeded his late father, Rev. Dr. Albert T. Rowan, who served Bethany and the community for 35 years. Located in Cleveland’s Glenville neighborhood, its mission is to be “God’s People, Doing God’s Business, God’s Way.” With a focus on spiritual, emotional, and physical health, Bethany attempts to serve the community through a variety of ministries and partnerships with the help of their storefront resource/referral center “Kingdom Korner.” He is a former Chair of the Board of Directors at The Cleveland Foundation, where he previously served as a program officer. He served Cuyahoga County for 16 years as Deputy Administrator and Director of Operations for the Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging. He is a former partner with the law firm of Ulmer & Berne. Over the years he has served on Hospital boards, and numerous committees and task forces seeking to build and sustain healthy communities. A member of several Ministerial Alliances and Bar Associations, he currently serves on The Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and the Cleveland Clinic Ethics Committee.
ROGER M. SYNENBERG, CLASS OF 1977
Principal, Synenberg & Associates, LLC
Roger committed his career to fighting for the rights of the accused, trying over 100 trials to verdict. Following his service as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, Roger entered private practice at Synenberg & Associates. Every lawyer ever hired by his firm was a graduate of CSU|LAW. Roger’s trial skills were recognized with invitations to be a Fellow of The American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Society of Barristers and the American Board of Criminal Lawyers. He was recognized by his contemporaries in the Cuyahoga Criminal Defense Attorneys Association with the John P. Butler Lifetime Achievement Award, and Scene Magazine chose Roger as the best criminal defense attorney in Northeastern Ohio. During his career he devoted his time and resources to many civic and community organizations, provided pro bono legal services to those in need, and served on several non-profit boards. He also served on the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections for fifteen years, including eight as its chairman. Roger is the proud husband of Judge Joan Synenberg and the proud father of Eric Synenberg, both graduates of CSU|LAW.
FREDERICK WIDEN, CLASS OF 1981
Partner, UB Greensfelder, LLP
A lifetime Clevelander and a 1975 summa cum laude graduate of Cleveland State University, Fred Widen went on to earn his JD from CSU|LAW, magna cum laude, in 1981. Fred concentrates his practice on representing businesses and individuals in taxation, real estate, general business, and succession matters. He is a certified specialist of Federal Taxation Law by the Ohio State Bar Association, and a Fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel. Fred is also a frequent writer and speaker on complex tax law matters. Often honored for his legal skill, Fred has earned recognition from Chambers USA and is ranked in the highest band for Tax. He’s been recognized by Super Lawyers and has been consistently named to The Best Lawyers in America® for Tax Law, Litigation & Controversy–Tax, and Trusts & Estates since 2005. Fred has been actively involved with CSU|LAW since graduating. He was a board member and past president of the CSU|LAW Alumni Association. He currently serves on the law school’s advisory board and is an honorary board member of the Alumni Association. Since 2015, Fred has volunteered as a guest lecturer for a Tax 1 course at the law school.
LEADER ON THE RISE
DREW ODUM, CLASS OF 2010
Senior Legal Counsel – Litigation, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
Drew Odum is Senior Legal Counsel at The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company where he provides litigation counsel. Drew grew up in Cleveland, attended Cornell University, then worked as a fifth-grade teacher before attending law school. In law school, he externed with the Honorable Melody Stewart at the 8th District Court of Appeals. He then worked for Tucker Ellis LLP focusing on product liability, admiralty and maritime law, toxic torts, and general litigation. Drew also serves as an adjunct professor at Case Western Reserve School of Law. In the community, Drew has been a trusted advisor on boards including the Center for Arts-Inspired Learning, co-chair of the Cleveland Early College High School Advisory Board, member of the Cleveland High School for Digital Arts Advisory Board, CSU|LAW Dean’s Advisory Board, CSU|LAW Alumni Minority Outreach Committee, and has served as a 3Rs volunteer. Drew mentors informally and formally through the CSU|LAW Alumni Mentorship program, CMBA Louis Stokes Scholars program, CMBA Minority Clerkship program, College Now Greater Cleveland, and the Legal Counsel on Legal Diversity’s mentorship program. Drew regularly volunteers with his Goodyear colleagues to support Community Legal Aid and the Akron Foodbank