Tag Archives: saline

“To be understood as to understand.” Simone Mola, 1928-2025

2 August 2025

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Simone Mola, age 96, of Saline, Michigan, passed away peacefully on July 31, 2025. Simone was born in Mola di Bari, Italy.

Simone shared 68 years of marriage with his wife Luci (née Anichini). He was the proud father of Lori (Terry) Compagner and John (Roy Sexton) Mola, and a cherished grandfather (“Nonno”) to Gabby (Avery) Confer and Andrew (Fan Meng – fiancée) Rundall. He was also a dear brother of six.

Simone immigrated to the United States from Italy in the late 1940s, first settling in Chicago. He worked his way through college at the Illinois Institute of Technology, supporting himself through jobs in construction and the applied trades. After earning his undergraduate degree, he met and married Luci Anichini, and together they began a new chapter in Michigan.

Simone went on to build a distinguished career in the auto industry, with early roles at Studebaker Packard and Buick. The couple eventually settled in the Flint/Grand Blanc area, where Simone pursued graduate and doctoral studies in engineering at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

After his tenure at Buick, Simone transitioned into academia, accepting a faculty position at General Motors Institute (now Kettering University) where he served as a full professor for nearly 30 years. His work in automotive suspension design was published in multiple textbooks and remains foundational in the field to this day. Simone guided generations of engineering students many of whom went on to lead and innovate in the automotive industry.

Simone and Luci raised two accomplished children, Lori and John, who followed in their father’s footsteps. Like Simone, both graduated from the University of Michigan and became automotive engineers. Go Blue!

Simone was an avid gardener, wine maker, cat lover, and Andrea Bocelli fan. He was intelligent, introspective, and analytical in nature. This was offset by Luci’s passion for the arts, for creating beautiful spaces as a successful interior designer, and for connecting through conversation with everyone she meets.

Visitation and Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at Holy Name Cedar Lake Catholic Church, 11000 W. 133rd, Cedar Lake, IN. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. CST, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. CST. Interment will take place at Holy Name Cemetery, directly behind the church. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made in Simone’s name to Adopt A Pet of Fenton, Michigan: https://www.adoptapetfenton.com/. Arrangements entrusted to Elmwood Funeral Home Chapel and Crematory- Cedar Lake, IN. 219-374-9300

My mother the car …

28 September 2024

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File under: “search and rescue mission.” I remember when my mother Susie Duncan Sexton bought this Pontiac Grand Am in 1994. I believe it’s the only car in her lifetime that she ever got to special order brand new. She called it her “dead mother car” in her inimitable way.

Yes, she purchased it with cash from her inheritance from my grandmother‘s passing. And in some way, I guess it’s now my “dead mother car.” We are an irreverent family.

Anyway, at the time she really liked this style and she liked what she called its “ice skater butt.” She wanted it to have a spoiler, she wanted it to be green, and she wanted it to have a red stripe. Performance wasn’t necessarily of interest, although there are some side benefits to the package that came with those details.

I remember her also being very frustrated because the actual green she loved – army green – was available the following year, not in 1994 when she received this. She would always say, “damn my time.” Or one could argue she was always ahead of her time.

This car has sat unused for the better part of a decade, maybe two. It is exactly 30 years old now. I guess it’s a classic? It’s a weird feeling for me … and they got it in early October of that year, right around this time. Visiting me at college, having driven this to Crawfordsville, they were so excited about it.

John attended a 1980s/1990s Pontiac car event a few weeks back and suddenly decided it was time for us to make this our project. We both tend to personify inanimate objects – him cars, and me everything else. So there’s a lot of sentimental attachment here, and we look forward to giving this car a new lease on life. Thank you to my dad Don Sexton for letting us take this off his hands.

Happy birthday, John! From me … and Freddie Prinze, Jr.

5 June 2024

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Happy birthday to my dear hubby John! Both Freddie Prinze, Jr., and I bring you glad tidings because … why not? 😅

Hudson and Henry J and I – and our friends and family – are truly fortunate to have such a loving, caring, generous soul as John looking out for us all. 💕

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.

✨

Supermodel (you betta werk)! #targetstyle #pride #lgbtq 🌈✨

18 June 2023

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So in the surreal ebb and flow that is my life, I find myself on the Target website modeling my #takepride gear. I’m #instagram famous. 😅 Thanks, Laura Toledo, for spotting this and sending the last screen grab. Made my day!

#LMA23 … the Aftermath LIVE – with Laura Gassner Otting and Athena Dion – Legal Marketing Coffee Talk 5/19 at 4 pm Eastern

11 May 2023

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Mark your calendars for a VERY special Legal Marketing Coffee Talk on Friday, May 19th at 4 PM Eastern!

On Facebook: https://facebook.com/events/s/legal-marketing-coffee-talk-wi/1580884809069244/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/video/event/urn:li:ugcPost:7062550243493474304/

Nearly a month ago, nearly 1,200 legal marketing professionals gathered in Hollywood, Florida, for #LMA23, and now we’re hitting the highlights (and high notes) with “#LMA23 … the Aftermath LIVE”—Andy Cohen and the Bravo team only wish they could produce a reunion show this juicy and grand!

LMA ‘23 fab keynote speaker – acclaimed best-selling author, catalyst, and executive coach, Laura Gassner Otting – will join us to share her reflections on the event, as well as chat about her background, love of dogs, supportive family, her new book, “Wonderhell,” and… well, any other topic that springs to mind. This is sure to be a joy-filled, funny, candid conversation with host Roy Sexton.

But wait! There’s more! That Greek Goddess, the Queen of Miami, Athena Dion, will be putting in an appearance as well, revisiting that moment this trio stormed the stage in Florida for their definitive, sequin-filled musical statement on the importance of inclusion and community. Don’t miss this episode! 

Leadership Lessons Podcast: Authenticity in Leadership and Marketing … A Conversation with Roy Sexton #lma23 #lmamkt

11 May 2023

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Thank you, Nick! I’m grateful for you and for this lovely opportunity. ✨ Nick writes: “Attention all entrepreneurs, leaders, and marketers! 🔊🎙️ In this week’s podcast episode, I sat down with the remarkable Roy Sexton to explore the fascinating intersection of theatre and business.

“What I found most inspiring about this conversation was Roy’s authenticity and vulnerability as he shared his childhood stories and how they have shaped his leadership style.

“If you’re looking for fresh perspectives and innovative strategies to take your business or career to the next level, you don’t want to miss this episode. Tune in now and join us for a captivating conversation that will leave you inspired and empowered.”

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/13vsmcsDEcxwiAbg2QWolO?si=oSefbW3mQBWbQ0Eup97H2g

Show description: “Welcome back to another episode of Leadership Lessons podcast, where we explore the intersection of leadership, entrepreneurship, business and life. Today, we have a very special guest with us, Roy Sexton, a leader in legal marketing and a great human being. In this episode, we dive deep into the topic of authenticity in leadership and marketing. Roy shares his insights and experiences on how being authentic can impact the success of your business and leadership style. We discuss the importance of understanding and communicating your values, staying true to yourself and your brand, and how to build trust with your audience. Roy shares his strategies for creating a culture of authenticity within his own organization and how it has positively impacted his team’s performance. And we delve into Roy’s childhood stories and how they have shaped his leadership style and marketing approach.

“This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in leadership, marketing, or the intersection between theatre and business. John’s insights and experiences are both inspiring and informative, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy our conversation as much as I did.”

Above The Law: Why Curiosity Is Key For Business Development … Observations from the general counsel panel at this year’s #LMA23

11 May 2023

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Thank you, Jeremy Barker and Above the Law, for this wonderful and thoughtful coverage of Legal Marketing Association – LMA International’s #LMA23, notably our dynamite GC panel, moderated by conference co-chair Jennifer Petrone Dezso with panelists Descartes Systems Group’s Peter V. Nguyen, Bates White Economic Consulting’s Jodi Trulove, and Fender’s Aarash Darroodi. Some great nuggets here for law firm leaders, attorneys, legal marketers, business development pros.

READ HERE: https://abovethelaw.com/2023/05/why-curiosity-is-key-for-business-development/?fbclid=IwAR0mSJdUXabZLnlSmFRhxKi8M4zFxHX9TiR2q4AD3O_MYLSPv5gJUXLvKgo

EXCERPT: Nearly 1,200 attendees packed the Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, Florida, late last month for the Legal Marketing Association’s annual gathering.

The agenda was filled with programs exploring niche areas — ESG guidance for firms, the science behind rainmaking, and DEI communications best practices, to name a few.

A keynote by the author Laura Gassner Otting and networking events like an ’80s dance party helped round out the three days of professional offerings (and good vibes).

“The energy and sense of community at this conference was unique, motivating and palpable,” LMA President Roy Sexton wrote on LinkedIn.

One perennial LMA favorite is the general counsel panel, and this year’s drew inspiration from daytime TV.

Presented on a festival-style stage, “How to Win Big at the Legal Marketing Gameshow” saw Jennifer Dezso of Thomson Reuters leading three GCs through a wide-ranging discussion of what law firms are doing right and what they’re getting wrong.

If there was one clear theme throughout the panel, it’s that private practice lawyers who show curiosity about their clients will score big points with general counsel.

Peter Nguyen, GC of the Descartes Systems Group, described curiosity as the key differentiator in evaluating the law firms he works with.

“I want to have that engagement,” he said. “I want you to really understand — want to understand — what it is about my business that you can help us with.”

This curiosity is often central to the value law firms provide.

That’s because general counsel aren’t looking to just get answers to legal questions. They want guidance based on an organization’s unique goals and circumstances.

“Sometimes lawyers are a little hesitant to actually weigh in and give an opinion on what you should do,” said Jodi Trulove, general counsel at Bates White LLC. “We want you to tell us what you think we should do, but you have to understand us first.”

For law firms looking to demonstrate this trait to potential clients, the RFP process provides one big opportunity.

Fender’s general counsel, Aarash Darroodi, described receiving template-based RFP responses from law firms — an approach he called “fundamentally a mistake.”

Instead, he would like to see a law firm respond to an RFP with an offer to come look at the company’s operations in-depth, gaining a better picture of his organization before a proposal is prepared.

More … https://abovethelaw.com/2023/05/why-curiosity-is-key-for-business-development/?fbclid=IwAR0mSJdUXabZLnlSmFRhxKi8M4zFxHX9TiR2q4AD3O_MYLSPv5gJUXLvKgo

“Tell people what they mean to you in a moment that it will mean something to them.” Thank you, GrowthPlay! #lma23

9 May 2023

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Thank you, Tasneem K. Khokha, Alycia Sutor, Debbie Knupp, Holly Barocio, and GrowthPlay 💕 … I am honored by this inclusion, but even more touched that this is my mom‘s mantra carrying on. Thank you for all you give to our community. Your hearts and brains and beautiful intentions inspire us all. Love you very much!

Original post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/growthplay_growthplay-lma23-recap-activity-7061728398850621440-LLaq?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios

Cloud 9, part two: “Inviting the entire audience into this world …” Laura Gassner Otting, Athena Dion, yours truly, and #LMA23

4 May 2023

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Fate brings people together at just the right time and just the right moment. Laura Gassner Otting is such a gift. This message below had me beautifully gobsmacked. I’m honored and touched – but more importantly I love how she sees our Legal Marketing Association – LMA International community. These are special souls and her message will mean the world to all.

Original post: https://limitlesspossibility23710.activehosted.com/index.php?action=social&chash=85d8ce590ad8981ca2c8286f79f59954.213&s=3ef82bfd6a94cee4147d5a239d5fb85f

She writes …

This past week I keynoted one of the most fantastic events ever. It was the Legal Marketing Association’s annual conference, and while you might think that an association conference could never be exciting or even surprise you… you’d be wrong. Dead wrong.

And here’s why.

Roy Sexton is the chair of the association, and Roy knew his members, and he knew what his members needed: an emotional release, unbridled joy, and amplification of their truest selves after a long few years of taking it on the chin. And, he decided to give them exactly what they needed in the form rainbows, sequins, wigs, and platform heels.

Yes, my friends, there was a drag queen duet to start a conference of 1100 legal marketers. Because why not, right?

My call time for the stage was 9am. At 8:15am the doors opened. All 1100 of the legal marketers in attendance filed in and found their seats. (My parents, who had never seen me speak, were also there and filed in alongside the attendees.) People were subdued, back together for the first time in years, an early morning after late night travel, and while they were excited to see each other, there was a palpable nervousness in the air.

At 8:30am, the room went dark, and Roy, backstage and bejeweled from head to toe in a rainbow-sequined tuxedo tails and silver shirt and pants started singing the opening bars to Born This Way by Lady Gaga. The audience started clapping in time as he came out from behind the curtain and performed the first part of the song.

But, wait! There’s more!

As he began to belt out the chorus, Athena Dion, The Greek Goddess, strode out to join him, and together they sang. The audience was on their feet. The room was pumping. The audience sang and danced as they worked the room like a runway.

The joy was everywhere. (And you can watch the video here.)

Regardless of where you stand on the nonsense fight going on about drag queens — I mean, let’s face it, with the existential climate crisis and rampant mass shootings, don’t we have bigger fish to fry?!? — you can’t help but fall in love with love.

(By the way, if this week’s newsletter offends you, feel free to show yourself out here by unsubscribing. It’s cool.)

Roy wanted to open this conference — the first time they were all back together in three years — with a message: a welcome mat laid out wide, love for all, amplification for every one of us.

Here’s what I know to be true this week: There are million billion miles between being loved and being seen. (Tweet this.)

So many of us feel unseen. Even if we feel loved, we stand nervously on edge, worrying about whether of not people will love the real us when we show them who we really are. Roy blew the doors off of that notion, inviting the entire audience in to his world, and showing them that they could invite him into theirs.

Oh, and, from now on, I’m going to insist in my rider that a drag queen opens every keynote for me.