Tag Archives: David Ackert

“The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness.” – Dalai Lama … National LGBTQ+ Bar Association’s #LavenderLaw conference ’24 + Legal Marketing Association ’25 international board slate #lmamkt #lma24

11 August 2024

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I had a remarkable couple of days in our nation’s capital, visiting our Clark Hill Washington D.C. office and presenting at the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association’s LavenderLaw conference on client value and personal/professional branding. Caught up with some old friends and made some new ones. Grateful for this profession and industry and firm, celebrating our diversity, encouraging our voices, and honoring us all.

More pics here.

Thank you to my Clark Hill colleagues Maram Salaheldin, Mark Ludwikowski, Sally Alghazali, Kelsey Christensen, Kendall Smardzewski, Taylor Tremont, Jennifer Cook, and more for their hospitality and kindness, excellent conversation and commiseration.

Kudos to my dear friend Angelica Crisi of Coston Consulting for organizing such a remarkable panel, facilitating so beautifully, and treating us to an epic Italian dinner. She is a true gem. And not just because she titled our panel after one of my favorite Janet Jackson songs “What have you done for me lately?”

Catching up with my Wabash College Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity brother Marc Nichols in person for the first time in 30+ years (I think?) will be a memory I will treasure a very, very long time. His panel on board governance was required viewing for anybody in this space. Exceptionally well done.

Running into the ever fabulous Lee Ashby Rogers on the career fair floor was an unexpected and delightful surprise. She means the world to me.

And lovely seeing former colleague Elizabeth C. Jeffries who is really lighting the world on fire not to mention meeting her original gay (OG!) “uncle”/mentor Michael R. Komo, Esq. Truly a delightful individual, and I’m sorry he and I didn’t get more time to chat.

Feeling so grateful. ✈️🌈💕

Kudos to these remarkable leaders on their continued journey – Legal Marketing Association – LMA International members please take a moment to review and ratify this slate here: President-Elect Rachel Shields Williams, Treasurer Elect Jessica Haarsgaard, Secretary Diana Lauritson, RLC Chair Morgan MacLeod, Member-at-Large Jessica Aries, and Member-at-Large Amber Bollman. Collectively, these humans have already had such an incredible and positive impact on our profession and industry, and I, for one, can’t wait to see where they take things next!

As immediate past international president of LMA, it has been one of my great honors to help shepherd the nominations process this year, and I want to give special thanks to our 2024 LMA International Nominating Committee for all of their hard work, dedication, insight, and heart: David Ackert, Terra Davis, Emily Schweitzer Hillman, Brenda Plowman, Kate Shipham, and Arthur Uratani. And kudos to LMA CEO Ashley Stenger and LMA Client Operations and Project Management Senior Coordinator Jennifer Weigand for their exceptional support throughout this process. You all should be so proud of the work you’ve done here.

And last but not least, thank you to EVERYONE who expressed interest in these roles and who took time (they likely didn’t have!) to complete the application and interview process. Your commitment and your contributions to LMA are appreciated greatly, and I am personally thankful for all you’ve done and continue to do.

“When we talk about allyship, it means so much to know people are there supporting us, but it even even means more when they are actively clearing barriers for our professional success.” Video interview with Pathmonk “Formulating Strategies for Legal Marketing Success;” Legal Marketing Association DEI Member Resource Group Testimonials; and my talented pals launch their new book “Own Your Story: #EmpoweredWomenAnthology”

12 June 2024

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Thank you, Ernesto Quezada and Pathmonk, for having me on to talk about this wonderful firm Clark Hill where I’m privileged to work with such an incredible Marketing and Business Development team and with such fantastic attorneys and colleagues.

View here.

It’s always a thrill to tell our story, discuss our growth trajectory, and our exceptional culture. Appreciate the opportunity very much! #SimplySmarter

Episode description: Join Roy Sexton, Director of Marketing at Clark Hill, as he delves into strategic legal marketing insights. With over 25 years of experience, Roy discusses branding, communications, and the firm’s 700+ attorneys across 27 [NOW 28 with addition of Boulder!] offices.

Discover Clark Hill’s comprehensive legal services, from labor and employment to banking and finance, all delivered by an accessible team of professionals. Tune in to explore the values driving Clark Hill’s success and learn how they continue to make an impact in the legal industry.

From my time on the international board of the Legal Marketing Association (five years with 2024 being my last!), one of the things of which I think I’m proudest that the organization has put in place would be our DEI Member Resource Groups, a safe space for learning and commiseration, networking and, well, kindness.

More info here.

There have been many leaders involved over the past few years in their creation and maintenance and growth. They all deserve so much praise – a special shout out to wonderful Michelle Turner and David Ackert who keep asking for my thoughts for these lovely periodic summaries they’ve compiled.

My thoughts from our recent allies gathering:

“Our allies conversation this month was so robust and so candid and so essential. We had open dialogue about the difference between good intention and real need and about how those of us in diverse groups may not always crave more ally energy/programming, but rather substantive support in terms of career opportunity. When we talk about allyship, it means so much to know people are there supporting us, but it even even means more when they are actively clearing barriers for our professional success.”

Own Your Story: #EmpoweredWomenAnthology

Received my copy last night and can’t wait to start reading, exploring, learning – kudos to this incredible cohort of leaders/authors/voices on this wonderful milestone!

You can order your copy of “Own Your Story: #EmpoweredWomenAnthology” here.

“[A] treasure trove of authentic and vulnerable stories, each one a chance to learn, to connect, and maybe even find a little piece of ourselves in the process.” – Eugina Jordan, Author of Unlimited

“An inspiring reminder that when we share our stories, we step into our power and claim our worth.” – Alexandra Carter, Author of Ask for More: 10 Questions to Negotiate Anything

“This book, authored by women who are both excellent storytellers and inspiring community leaders, serves as a showcase of their passion, strength, and resilience. Keep shining and sharing your amazing stories!” – Lucy Chen, Author of Build Resilience: Live, Learn, and Lead

Stories have the power to transform: they foster empathy, create connections, and teach us that we are more alike than different. In this anthology, women from diverse backgrounds, lived experiences, professions, and ages share their unique stories. These are stories of growth, change, loss, love, enlightenment, strength, and resilience. Their vulnerability reminds us that authenticity is empowering—and they lead by example.

Empowered and connected, we can create change in our lives and the world. Let’s harness the power of storytelling to empower, connect, and create change.

Foreword: Our Stories Light Fires; They Break Molds by Eugina Jordan

Introduction: The Art of Storytelling by Susan C. Freeman

Finding My Tribe by Cheryl Aufdemberge

A Unicorn in an Ordinary World by Dr. Rebecca Baumgartner, ACC, CDE

Unbreakable by Natalie Altonia Borneo

What I Was Made for by Michelle Bufano

On Hospice: Life After Death by Sarah Burke

Permission to Live Out Loud by Tiffany Castagno

A ‘Yes … And’ Career Model by Gena Cox, PhD

Breaks Don’t Define You, They Refine You by Marcie Dickson

Grateful: A Life Well Served by Jan Anne Dubin, MBA (She/ Her/ Hers)

Grace, Grit, Grind, and Gratitude by Daphne Turpin Forbes

Breaking the Stigma by Susan E. Frankel

Unexpectedly Redirected: Loss to Possibility by Anne Gallagher

The Power of the Girlfriend Brigade by Alexis Gladstone

The Survivor’s Journey by Lindsay Griffiths

Self-Doubt as a Catalyst for Change by Judy Hoberman-CHPC-Exec. Coach-Sales-Leadership-Speaker

A Journey of Resilience and Hope by Homeira İzadi

The Road to Mastering My Voice by Nori Jabba

Follow the Yellow Brick Road by April Joy (Hurst)

The Chariot, The Tower, and The Page by Drew Kramer

Healing Out Loud by Caroline Markel

The 3 Rs of Resilience by Lesley Marlin

The Power of Owning Your Story by Serena Mastin

From Silent Ostrich to Empowered Peacock by Sheila Murphy

Self-realization and Renewal by Jenn Ocken

When Others Can’t Handle the Shine by Sameena Safdar

Innovate & Change to Succeed by Nita Sanger

Great Expectations: A Love Letter to Women by Lauren A. Tetenbaum, LCSW, JD, PMH-C

When Life Throws You a Curve Ball … by Jennifer Marino Thibodaux

Rising Up by Courtney Thomas

Life Is About the Journey by Jing Wang

Words You Keep by Becky Whatley

Learning to Thrive Not Just Survive by Michelle Wimes (she, her, hers)

Afterword: Own Your Story by Lesley Marlin & Jennifer Thibodaux

Right or wrong, we (I) carry a feeling of “otherness” everywhere we go … thank you to the Legal Marketing Association’s #LGBTQIA+ Member Resource Group for providing safe haven … #lmamkt #lma24

14 April 2024

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Thank you, David Ackert , Michelle Turner , Jacob Eidinger , Nathalie Rangel Iovino (she.they) , Craig McCullough , and all involved in the Legal Marketing Association – LMA International DEI LGBTQ member resource group as well as all our resource groups. Such an important and beautiful offering.

I can’t express my gratitude enough for the LGBTQ+ member resource group. It was my safe space last year as LMA International president. I felt like I had a place where I could speak openly and honestly to my unique experiences professionally and personally as a gay man. Being international prez was the honor of my life, but it was also one of the toughest things I’ve ever done. I grew so much from the experience, but it was essential for my well being and mental health to have a group of like-minded, like-experienced colleagues with whom to discuss the balancing act in my life and theirs.

It’s important to note that a very large part of an organization’s commitment to DEI is to understand the seemingly invisible barriers those of us may face. Right or wrong, we (I) carry a feeling of “otherness” everywhere we go, and the pressure and critique we experience when taking on leadership roles can feel magnified. What may seem like an offhand, even well-intentioned comment from a peer can hit us like a ton of bricks based on prior experience. Comments about our attire/appearance, our choice of expression, our visibility, our decision-making processes, and so on. So, selfishly, the LGBTQ+ MRG helped provide me a trusted community to better navigate that – people who did the same work I do, lived a similar life to mine, and carried comparable burdens. It honestly was a beautifully liberating experience to attend the meetings and share our truths.

Thanks, Wabash College … even at this late stage of life, it is still a thrill to see one’s name in the alumni magazine. Grateful for the foundation my college years provided, and the desire instilled in me to keep dreaming, hustling, and learning.

Market Leader’s Podcast Episode 88: “Building Community and Personal Growth: Reflections on the 2023 Presidency of the Legal Marketing Association” with Roy Sexton | PipelinePlus

19 January 2024

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Thank you, David Ackert and Kevin Martin, for this opportunity to reflect on our amazing Legal Marketing Association – LMA International community and on 2023…

Market Leader’s Podcast Episode 88: “Building Community and Personal Growth: Reflections on the 2023 Presidency of the Legal Marketing Association” with Roy Sexton

Market Leader’s Podcast Episode 88: “Building Community and Personal Growth: Reflections on the 2023 Presidency of the Legal Marketing Association” with Roy Sexton …

In this episode of The Market Leaders Podcast, join host David Ackert and special guest Roy Sexton, Director of Marketing at Clark Hill Law, for a conversation that looks back at the industry trends that defined 2023, Roy’s tenure as the President of the Legal Marketing Association, and where the legal marketing industry is heading in 2024 and beyond.

Tune in to hear about:

•Building community and collaboration in and after the pandemic

•Reflections on organizational impact and personal growth

•Exploring unique expression and authenticity in relationships

•Managing challenges and building unity in a diverse community

•The importance of data and accountability in organizational management

•The art of risk-taking in leadership

•And more

P.S. at 2:35 am …

Finally got a chance to listen! (Yes, I know I should be asleep … but I’m still wired from seeing fab musical film Mean Girls tonight!) Thank you, David and Kevin for this therapeutic gift. Means a lot to have this kind of reflective moment and to share it broadly. My mom and I were dissectors after the fact (plays, movies, events … card games 😅), so this dialogue had a comforting, yes, healing familiarity. So thank you.

Thank you also to those who had an important impact on me this past year and beyond. I didn’t get to mention everybody I might have wished but these beautiful folks all get shout outs during the show.

Love you, all: Brenda Plowman , Maggie T. Watkins , Despina Kartson , Jill Huse , Deborah Brightman Farone , Jennifer Manton , Kevin Iredell , John Byrne , Ashley Stenger , Alycia Sutor , Susie Sexton , Don Sexton , John Mola , Nancy Myrland , Gail Lamarche , Heather Morse , Lindsay Griffiths , Laura (Toledo) Gutierrez , Gina Furia Rubel , Renee Branson, MA, CReC, CFT , Lisa M. Kamen, CAE , Athena Dion , Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit , Ronald McDonald House Charities Ann Arbor , Clark Hill. 💕

https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/market-leaders-podcast-episode-88-bui-63308/

Legal Marketing Association Gratitude … #lmamkt #lma23

17 November 2023

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Heartwarming weekend reading. Love this piece on gratitude assembled by our Legal Marketing Association – LMA International DEI volunteer leaders. It’s a beautiful, inspiring read: https://lnkd.in/g_ju7GNm

Love your contributions here, David Ackert, Holly L. Barocio, Ashley Holloway Black, Terra Davis, Tahisha Fugate, Sebastian Gomez, Kevin Iredell, Rafeedah Keys, Tasneem K. Khokha, Ashraf Lakhani, Trish Desilets Lilley, Elissa Meno, David Meyer, Sonali Oberg, Ariel Rivera, Sarah Ryan , Deborah Scaringi, Danielle Smith, Linsey Tolman, Michelle Turner, and Calie Valore. Beautiful souls, beautiful messages all.

My contribution: “I’m grateful for so many things this year. The opportunities that have been placed before me, the friendships that have supported me, the hard work of the volunteers in our LMA family who consistently go above and beyond, our HQ support team who work long hours behind the scenes to make everything happen. But most of all, I am thankful for my husband. This is a big lift to ask of anyone and he has been incredibly supportive the entire year when work and volunteer activities have taken me away from him and our two rescue dogs. He has cheered me on, and has been so enthusiastic as I’ve done one wacky thing after another, and has consistently been in my corner. I am so very grateful for that.”

Glittering unicorns: Expert Webcast’s “CMO Toe-to-Toe” with host Joseph Panetta and guest yours truly #lma23 #lmamkt

22 August 2023

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Thank you, Joseph Panetta and Anna Spektor at Expert Webcast for this opportunity to talk about authenticity, branding, marketing (legal or otherwise), and community. This conversation Friday afternoon sent me into the weekend on Cloud 9. Such a joy to be able to share stories with a friend I love and admire. Joseph, you are THE consummate host – prepared, warm, accessible, kind. Such a welcoming environment. Thank you.

VIEW HERE: https://expertwebcast.vhx.tv/videos/cmo-toe-to-toe-with-roy-sexton-clark-hill

“Roy Sexton, Legal Marketing Association President and Clark Hill Law Head of Marketing, gets up close and personal on our CMO Toe-to-Toe with Joseph Panetta, sharing his non-traditional start in legal marketing; his very personal approach and process for working with partners and teams; and the background on his epic LMA Annual keynote address.”

Shout outs during the show include: Alycia Sutor, Brenda Meller 🥧, Inforum, Alexandra France, Kate Harry Shipham, David Ackert, Athena Dion, Laura Gassner Otting, Rob Kates, Jennifer Weigand, Lisa M. Kamen, Danielle Gorash Holland, Megan McKeon, Susie Sexton, Don Sexton, Jonathan Fitzgarrald, Mary Ann Hastings, Holly Amatangelo, Jennifer Dezso, Lee Watts, Kaitlin Heininger, Edna Duncan, Clark Hill Law, Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit, Ronald McDonald House Charities Ann Arbor, Legal Marketing Association – LMA International, Managing Partners’ Forum, Wabash College, The Ohio State University, Deloitte, University of Michigan-Flint, UM-Flint School of Management, glittering #unicorns, Lady Gaga, The Flash, the movie Michael, Oprah Winfrey, George Orwell, Andy Warhol, Kurt Vonnegut, Madonna, Taylor Swift, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Stephen Sondheim, Barbie, Florida, DEI, LGBTQIA, The Birdcage, Jack LaLane, BornThisWay, Hudson, dogs, branding, authenticity, marketing, legal marketing.

✨

Gail Lamarche and I talk about the power of empathy, authenticity, and family on Legal Marketing Coffee Talk – PLUS one more weekend to “Sing Happy!”

5 November 2021

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VIDEO: https://www.facebook.com/KatesMedia/videos/1499275900428916/


I love my brilliant, kind, creative friend Gail Porter Lamarche. She shared her wisdom and wit with me and a strangely absent Rob Kates on Legal Marketing Coffee Talk today. We discussed the importance of authenticity, the magic of #music and fabulous parenting, the benefit to firms of marketers who engage the community, how much we love Legal Marketing Association – LMA International, the fabulous learning and connection at LMA21, the power of digital thought leadership, how to coach attorneys to network with intentionality, Norman Love Confections, Theatre Nova, taco Tuesdays, beloved furbabies, and more. And how proud we are of ass-kicking Laura Toledo!


Shout outs to beloved family, friends, and colleagues include Nancy Leyes Myrland, Gina Furia Rubel, Heather Morse-Geller, Lindsay Griffiths, Megan McKeon, Kelly MacKinnon, John Byrne, Ross Fishman, Don Sexton, Nancy Slome, David Ackert, Passle, James Barclay, Tommy Franz, Kevin Iredell, Maggie Stuart Watkins, Adrian T Dayton, and more!

LINKEDIN: https://lnkd.in/g4wDRzBT

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/155057871244919/posts/4557471034336892/?d=n

YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/1x1bIcz6X0E

Legal Marketing Coffee Talk is brought to you by: By Aries and Kates Media.

Clockwise from top left: Justin Scott Bays, Roy Sexton, Elizabeth Jaffe, Diane Hill, K Edmonds, John DeMerell, Kristin Clark

Just FOUR more chances to see SING HAPPY! http://www.theatrenova.org … Come hear the music play – through Sunday!

This celebration of the work of Broadway’s famous duo, Kander and Ebb, features a star-studded ensemble of singers, who take the stage with showstoppers from CABARET, CHICAGO, KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, and many others. Directed by Diane Hill, with music direction by R. MacKenzie Lewis, SING HAPPY! is not just a musical revue. It’s a show that ultimately weaves a tale of strength and determination, one we can all relate to in these times.

AUDIENCES AND CRITICS ALIKE LOVE SING HAPPY!

From Pulp Magazine: While the show leads off with the encouraging “Sing Happy” from Flora the Red Menace, the show’s best moments are the wistful, introspective, and sad songs. The singers come and go throughout the 70-minute revue with no intermission. The tentative story they tell is one of guarded hope, which seems appropriate to our current situation.

Photo by Sean Carter

Director Diane Hill keeps it simple and the singers respond with performances that grasp the conflicting emotions that are at the heart of Kander and Ebb songs.

Photo by Sean Carter

John DeMerell brings a meditative quality to his rendition of “I Don’t Remember You,” a song about a once-close relationship that now seems lost forever. Justin Scott Bays brings more heat to a plaintive yearning for a lost love in “Sometimes a Day Goes By.” The two voices sing in counterpointed empathy.

Photo by Sean Carter

Perhaps the best-known song in this mood is the comic sad “Mr. Cellophane” from Chicago. Roy Sexton sings the mournful tale of a man who wonders how invisible he seems to be. Kander’s music is a shuffle and Sexton glides across the stage making like a sad, dancing clown.

Kristin Clark brings that wistful quality to “Colored Lights,” another song about what might have been.

Photo by Sean Carter

K Edmonds brings her big voice and expressive face to a rollicking showstopper from Chicago, “When You’re Good to Mama,” a warning to inmates about how things work on the inside.

Photo by Sean Carter

Elizabeth Jaffe has fun with a sassy celebration of a daytime lover in “Arthur in the Afternoon.”

Photo by Sean Carter

Theatre Nova is alive and it wants to stay alive and offer a chance for everyone to come and see fresh, new, exciting plays at a reasonable price. In the music and words of Kander and Ebb, “what good is sitting alone in your room, come hear the music play, life is a cabaret, old chum, come to the cabaret.”

READ THE FULL REVIEW

From first weekend audiences:


“What a fabulous evening of song! The energy level was high and the numbers flowed seamlessly one to another. I especially enjoyed seeing Kristin and her mom sing together. So great to be back to live theatre, and I appreciate the precautions you’re taking to make everyone feel safe.”

Photo by Sean Carter

“The show was yet another reminder of all the fabulous talent we have in our area. Great Performances, wonderful show.”

“Delightful show! Heartfelt and accomplished singers. Enjoyed every song.”

My dear friends Colleen Fowler and Nikki Horn