Aurora Austriaco Speaker at the 2021 NAAAP National Leadership Academy

On January 29, 2021 VAB Shareholder Aurora Austriaco was honored to serve as the Day 1 National Board Chat speaker during the 2021 National Association of Asian American Professionals (“NAAAP”) National Leadership Academy.

About the NAAAP

At NAAAP, our leaders are built through professional networking and educational events, trainings, community service programs, and celebrations of Asian American excellence. For 38 years we have inspired, developed, and connected thousands of leaders across 30 chapters internationally with a reach of more than 25,000+ professionals.

About the National Leadership Academy

Our National Leadership Academy is an advanced skills-building boot camp for new and returning NAAAP national and chapter leaders. The interactive program provides workshops designed to reinvigorate, educate, and guide, with opportunities to network and collaborate with current and upcoming leaders as well as National Board members.

Susan Valentine Panelist on Financial Poise Webinar Entitled, "Persuasive Brief Writing 2021"

VAB shareholder Susan Valentine was be one of the five panelists who presented on the subject of persuasive brief writing on Thursday at 1:00 PM CST.

Other panelists included Robert Michaels (Environmental Law & Policy Center); Stephen Brodsky (Kaufman Dolowich Voluck LLP); and Gerald Meyer (MoloLamken LLP).

The Financial Poise Webinar was described as:

“Unclear and unpersuasive legal writing often comes from undeveloped analysis and undisciplined organization. This webinar explores best practices for structuring and organizing briefs, including how to most effectively frame and sequence arguments, use authority, and find a winning theme. It also takes a fresh look at an old law school war horse: I(ssue) R(ule) (A)nalysis C(onclusion) – one of the few rules in life from which there’s virtually never cause to deviate.”

Aurora Austriaco Featured in Jacksonville Daily Record Article on Bar Leadership Challenges in 2021

On January 14, 2021 Aurora Austriaco, VAB Shareholder and President of the National Conference of Bar Presidents, was the virtual guest speaker at joint membership meeting for The Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association and the Greater Orlando Asian American Bar Association.

Her contribution to the discussion on gender and minority equity in the legal profession, as well as her personal background, were featured in a January 26, 2021 article put out by the Jacksonville Daily Record. You can read that article in its entirety here.

In the article, Aurora was quoted several times. Here we’ve highlighted a couple of our favorites:

“Be honest. Be flexible and involve your members to find creative solutions. Face the challenges because another curveball could be thrown.”

“Refer business to each other. That’s the best compliment you can give a colleague,”

Aurora Austriaco Speaker on NCBP 21st Century Lawyer Virtual webinar panel, "A Conversation with Women Bar Leaders"

Valentine Austriaco & Bueschel, P.C. Shareholder Aurora Austriaco will be speaking on the NCBP 21st Century Lawyer Virtual webinar panel, "A Conversation with Women Bar Leaders." Fellow bar leaders and panelists include: Elia Diaz-Yaeger, CK HOFFLER, Karen Morris, Thomasina Real Bird, Patricia Lee Refo, Bonnie Lee Wolf, and moderator Johanna Schiavoni. Join them on December 3rd from noon to 1:30 p.m. Central for a 90 minute conversation where women leaders of seven bar associations will share their personal journeys to leadership, discuss strategies for developing a pipeline of diverse leaders coming up behind them, and provide their perspective on the biggest challenge or opportunity coming in the next six months along with their ideas to meet those challenges and opportunities. We also will provide an opportunity for our bar leader audience to ask questions of these amazing leaders. To register and for other information visit: https://lnkd.in/dTCjCQV

Sandy Morris Co-Hosts DRI Cares Event During Employment & Labor Law Virtual Seminar

VAB attorney, Sandy Morris co-hosted the DRI Cares networking event at this year’s DRI Employment & Labor Law Virtual Seminar. During this event, Sandy and co-host, Fred Mitchell, VP of Development at UNCF, spoke about how the nation’s largest minority education organization fulfills its mission to build a robust and nationally-recognized pipeline of under-represented students and ensure that its network of member institutions is a respected model of best practice in moving students to and through college. Seminar attendees raised more than $2,700 to advance UNCF's important mission.

Shareholder and BEDS Plus Care Board Member, Susan Valentine Featured in BEDS Plus Annual Newsletter

VAB  shareholder and BEDS Plus Board Member, Susan Valentine was featured in the BEDS Fall Newsletter. In it, she explains why the supporters of this non-profit are needed now more than ever during COVID-19. The mission of BEDS Plus is to help vulnerable individuals stabilize their lives through housing and supportive services. If you are interested in learning more about this organization, please visit https://beds-plus.org/

VIDEO: Aurora Austriaco Hosts Fireside Chat with Keynote Speaker Sen. Tammy Duckworth during #NAMWOLFWeek

VAB shareholder Aurora Austriaco was honored to facilitate this fireside chat-style session with Keynote Speaker Sen. Tammy Duckworth at this year’s #NAMWOLF Week Virtual Meeting. This session was a crowd favorite during the week-long event.

Lydia Bueschel co-hosts the Law Firm Cross-Marketing Committee session during #NAMWOLFWeek

VAB shareholder Lydia Bueschel co-hosted the Law Firm Cross-Marketing Committee session during this year’s Virtual Annual Meeting. During the session, members got interact directly with other law firm members, got a quick review of the best practices for cross-marketing at National Association of Minority & Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF) and played a few, fun musical rounds of Legal Shazaam in order to win PRIZES!

VAB Supports NAMWOLF's Virtual Annual Meeting as In-House Cocktail Sponsor

The National Association of Minority & Women Owned Law Firm held their first ever virtual annual meeting this September. It was a huge success. VAB was honored to participate in multiple ways and to support this conference as their In-House Cocktail Sponsor.

Aurora Austriaco Makes the Leading Lawyers Top 10 List

VAB shareholder Aurora Austriaco was included on the Leading Lawyers Top 10 list for Women: Real Estate Related category. #realestatelaw #leadinglawyers #VABulous

Aurora Austriaco Installed as the 71st President of the National Conference of Bar Presidents

On August 27, 2020, shareholder Aurora Austriaco was installed as the 71st President of the National Conference of Bar Presidents (NCBP).

NCBP hosts bi-annual conferences of state and local bar presidents that are held in conjunction with ABA midyear and annual meetings. For more about us, see http://ncbp.org/Purpose.htm

VAB Shareholders Featured in ABA Law Practice Today

Read what #VAB shareholders Susan Valentine, Aurora Austriaco & Lydia Bueschel have to say about the opportunities and challenges facing women in the law today and the potential for positive cultures within firms. Thank you, ABA Law Practice Today, for the opportunity for #VAB to be part of this important discussion with some amazing women leaders! Read here: https://lnkd.in/e_t8-q3

Aurora Austriaco, School Board member of the Maine Township High School District 207, Mentioned journal-topics.com Article About Equity

VAB shareholder, Aurora Austriaco who also serves as a School Board member of the Maine Township High School District 207, was mentioned in an article posted on journal-topics.com which reported on steps the District has taken to emphasize equity and its commitment to identifying and dismantling the structures that permit and contribute to systemic racism and in ensuring students are treated fairly and have the support they need to succeed.

Aurora Austriaco is the 2020 recipient of the Cook County States Attorney's Outstanding Community Leadership Service Awards

VAB Shareholder Aurora Austriaco is the 2020 recipient of the Cook County State’s Attorney Foxx’s Asian American and Pacific Islander Community Leadership Awards in observance of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The Community Leadership Awards honor the accomplishments of outstanding individuals in the Asian American and Pacific Islander Community.

Candidates for the Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Community Leadership Awards must be Cook County residents and are considered using the following criteria:

• Leadership, honor, and integrity

• Community involvement and activism

• Volunteer/ Pro-Bono work

• Youth involvement and/or mentorship programs

We are so proud of Aurora’s continued commitment to the Asian Pacific American community and thank the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office for this recognition.

https://www.cookcountystatesattorney.org/outreach/annual-community-events/asian-leadership-awards

Lydia Buschel Co-Planner of Innovative. On behalf of the NAMWOLF Cross-Marketing Committee Zoom Roundtable

VAB shareholder Lydia Bueschel co-planned an innovative #NAMWOLF solution to #StayingConnected. On behalf of the NAMWOLF Cross-Marketing Committee, Lydia and Amanda Alexander Taylor assisted Jane Kalata of the National Association of Minority & Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF) in developing a Zoom-based roundtable discussion series, that is free and open to all members. The discussions tackle topics like working from home and what the new marketing norms are. The pilot series took place today and yesterday, with more in the works. #vabulous

Aurora Austriaco Co-Host of Two Asian American Executive Network (AAEN) Webinars

#VAB Shareholder, Aurora Austriaco is honored to co-host the 3rd and 4th webinars of the Asian American Executive Network (AAEN) #COVID-19 APA Business Advocacy Webinar series. The 4th of this series taking place on May 20th. These free webinars are open to all. The #AAEN is a volunteer-based network of Asian American Executives and Advocates who come together to support each other and the #APA communities.

Aurora Austriaco Admitted Membership to The Chicago Network

On May 4th, Shareholder, Aurora Austriaco was admitted membership to The Chicago Network. This organization is “comprised of leaders at the forefront of our city’s business, professional, cultural, nonprofit and educational communities.” Their purpose is to “empower women to lead. Our mission is to connect with each other for personal and professional growth, advance our civic, business & philanthropic communities, and inspire and support the next generation.”

Diversity & the Bar Magazine Features State Farm's Rising Star Academy that Included Lydia Bueschel

Shareholder Lydia Bueschel was selected to participate in State Farm’s inaugural Rising Star Academy, which was recently featured in Diversity & the Bar, the flagship publication of the Minority Corporate Counsel association. This academy is part of State Farm’s continued commitment to increasing diversity in the legal profession, and it exposed a talented pool of outside counsel to State Farm’s business and culture while further developing their leadership skills and business acumen.

For the original source of photos and to view the article visit: https://issuu.com/mcca10/docs/db_2020winter_final/76?ff

Aurora Austriaco was named one of the “Top 20 Global Women of Excellence”

Congratulations to VAB shareholder Aurora Austriaco was named one of the “Top 20 Global Women of Excellence” by Illinois’s 7th Congressional District Multi Ethnic Advisory Task Force. A gala was held on International Women’s Day 2020 to honor the awards winners.

Aurora Austriaco and Lydia Bueschel participated in “Advancing Women in the Law Summit"

VAB shareholders Aurora Austriaco and Lydia Bueschel participated in “Advancing Women in the Law Summit,” a daylong summit hosted by the American Bar Association’s Commission on Women and the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois..

From left to right: Jayne Rizzo Reardon, Aurora Austriaco, Chief 7th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Diane P. Wood and Judge Virginia M. Kendall, Mary L. Smith, Chief District Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer, Judges Sara Darrow and Nancy Rosenstengel, Corinne C. Heggie, Kenya Jenkins-Wright, and ABA President Judy Perry Martinez.