President’s Message: Excited!

Mon., June 3, 2019 \ by Anthony F. Sos, Esq.\ Articles, News 

President’s Message // “Excited!” by Anthony F. Sos, Esq. // The Briefs, June 2019 Vol. 87 No. 5. //

I am very excited about the upcoming bar year. The opportunity to write this message and serve as the Orange County Bar Association president is an absolute honor and privilege. Having been born and raised in Minnesota, as a first generation American and the first attorney in my family, where I am the youngest of four children, serving as the president of the OCBA was not on my radar growing up or when I was a younger lawyer. I am mindful of the great presidents who have served before me, and I hope to build on the incredible work they have done for the bar. On that note, I want to take a moment to specifically congratulate Richard Dellinger on an excellent past year. Here is what I know for certain about the upcoming year. We have a dedicated Executive Council, and we will work very hard to properly represent the interest of our members.

Vision for the Coming Year

Leading up to this year, many people have asked what my vision is as president of the OCBA. My mind continues to return to the same thought: The bar is here to provide opportunities to enhance your practice and, in turn, hopefully, help make your lives better.

As attorneys, we are often tasked to help clients who are dealing with emotionally charged situations. As I once heard from past president extraordinaire, Liz McCausland, there is, indeed, such a thing as compassion fatigue. Lawyering can be a very stressful profession. We often have demanding clients, demanding schedules, and overall just demanding pressures. To combat these daunting burdens, the bar will be mindful to provide a variety of social, networking, and educational events, as well as community outreach programs and charitable opportunities. I hope to continue many of our wonderful programs while maintaining a sharp focus on the changes happening in our profession so that we can continue to deliver exceptional benefits to our members.

Changes at the OCBA

Speaking of change, everyone always says that your year as president will never go as planned. They say things will happen during your year that will require you to change course. So, I was ready. I was expecting the unexpected, but I had no idea these changes would occur on my first day. As you all know by now, Kim Homer resigned as executive director of the OCBA. We are sad to see her leave the bar. She is passionate, bright, trustworthy, and a great human being. I will miss working with her very much.

Welcome Jennifer Brown

Thankfully, with Richard Dellinger at the helm of our search committee for a new executive director, we hired a very talented replacement, Jenny Brown. I am dedicating a portion of this “President’s Message” to sharing a short Q&A session I had with her at my office one early Friday morning before she officially started. Let’s get to know Jenny and welcome her with open arms.

Tell us about yourself!

If I were to describe myself, I’d say I’m very driven and hardworking, but I often balance that with plenty of humor and fun. I think at the end of the day we’re all humans before we’re workers, and humor allows you to connect with people in more meaningful ways. I’m also passionate about working for a cause, which is one of the reasons I was drawn to the OCBA and all the wonderful work being done through the Legal Aid Society of the OCBA.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Boise, Idaho. It’s beautiful and offered easy access to the great outdoors and all that comes with it. Lots of hiking, rafting, and camping. A kid’s dream, really!

What is the biggest difference between Idaho and Florida, besides the weather?

The thing I most appreciate about Central Florida (other than the lack of snow, of course) is that it’s rare to find someone who is originally from the area. Because of that, you have the pleasure of getting to know people from a wider variety of backgrounds here. There is also a much broader assortment of entertainment and restaurant options. And, no one consistently mistakes our state for another state (i.e., Idaho, not Iowa).

Tell us about your family.  

I’m happily married to my college sweetheart, Scott. We have two boys, Colton (5) and Hudson (2). They are little bundles of energy and mischief! They definitely keep us on our toes and laughing every single day.

What is your favorite hobby or what do you like to do for fun?

My happy place is to be active and outdoors – I enjoy running, kickboxing, fishing, and spending time at the beach. I love food and cooking. I’ve also recently started dabbling in canvas painting for fun. I wouldn’t say I’m the next Picasso, but it’s a great outlet for creativity and stress management.

We know what an MBA is, but you also have a CAE. Tell us what a CAE is and how that relates to this position.

The CAE (Certified Association Executive) credential is administered by the American Society of Association Executives and involves a significant amount of continuing education, association work experience, and the successful passing of a written examination. You can think of it a bit like board certification for association professionals in that it signifies that a person has demonstrated a wide range of knowledge essential to managing an association. There are also maintenance requirements, which allow me to continue on a path of lifelong learning – continuously bringing new ideas and best practices into the mix at the OCBA.

How is it you developed an affinity for working for association and membership organizations?

I’ve always known that I wanted to work in the nonprofit sector, but I happened to fall into a career involving membership organizations. I’ve worked with various professional groups – K-12 teachers, nonprofit professionals, optometrists and vision scientists, and now legal professionals. Through this work, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for the considerable role that associations play in moving a profession forward through knowledge, exchange, advocacy, and community. In many ways, associations are the catalysts that work to improve various services provided to the public. It’s really a noble and worthy pursuit, and one I’m pleased to be a part of.

Is there anything you would like to share with our members about yourself?

Just that I’m thrilled to be a part of this organization and that I’m looking forward to meeting and working with our members.

And of course, last but not least, what is your vision for the bar?

I have the fortune of succeeding Kim Homer, who has done wonderful things for the organization, allowing me to step in only to continue to build on our successes. I look forward to exploring ways we can add value for our members, improve the public perception of the profession, and ensure a more diverse and inclusive bar. 

Anthony F. Sos, Esq., is a partner at Dellecker, Wilson, King, McKenna, Ruffier & Sos, LLP. He has been a member of the OCBA since 2005.