H C B A P R E S I D E N T’ S M E S S A G E A m a n d a U l i a n o – L a w O f f i c e o f A m a n d a M. U l i a n o
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made it surprisingly easy to become professionally isolated without even realizing it.
I’ ve come to believe something over the years: our careers are built through relationships.
Every opportunity I’ ve been given has come because someone believed in me, encouraged me, challenged me, or simply took the time to make an introduction. The same is true for most of us. Think back to the people who shaped your own career. Perhaps it was the attorney who gave you your first opportunity. A judge who offered encouragement at just the right moment. A mentor who answered your questions. A colleague who became a trusted friend. Those relationships didn’ t happen by accident. They happened because someone made the choice to connect. That is what the HCBA has always represented to me. Yes, we provide exceptional CLE programming, leadership opportunities, networking events, and meaningful community service. Those are important, and they are part of what makes our Association so strong. But they are not our greatest strength. Our greatest strength is each other. Because the strongest legal community isn’ t built by programs. It’ s built by people. As we begin this bar year together, I hope you’ ll think about what reconnecting means for you. Maybe it means attending your first HCBA event in years. Maybe it means joining a committee you’ ve always considered but never quite had time for. Maybe it means introducing yourself to a lawyer you’ ve seen across the room but never met.
Maybe it means inviting a younger attorney to lunch or reaching out to someone who once mentored you simply to say thank you.
HcBA’ s newly installed officers and board of directors gathered at the Barristers’ Bash on June 4.
Imagine what our Association could become if every member made just one new connection this year. Imagine if every experienced lawyer intentionally encouraged one newer lawyer. Imagine if every first-time member walked into an
HCBA event knowing someone would welcome them.
Imagine the friendships, referrals, mentoring relationships, leadership opportunities, and sense of belonging that would grow from something that simple.
That is the vision behind this year’ s theme of
Reconnecting. Not simply reconnecting with an organization. Reconnecting with one another. Because when lawyers reconnect, we strengthen not only the Hillsborough County Bar Association, but the profession we love and the community we are privileged to serve.
Years ago, I walked through the doors of the HCBA looking for my next opportunity. What I found was a community that changed my life. My hope is that, whether you’ ve been a member for thirty years or athirty days, you’ ll discover that same sense of belonging this year. Welcome home. Until next time, I hope you’ ll choose to reconnect. n
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