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
WelcomeHome: reconnectingwithYourHcBa
When I accepted the privilege of serving as President of the Hillsborough County Bar Association, I knew installation night would be memorable. What I didn’ t expect was that one of the most meaningful moments would happen after the speeches were over.
Like many lawyers, I’ m comfortable speaking in front of a room. Give me a microphone, a podium, and an audience, and I’ m usually right at home. But this speech was different. For the first time, I shared a part of my professional journey that I had never shared so publicly.
Years ago, I unexpectedly found myself without a job. Like so many lawyers who experience an unexpected turn in their careers, I questioned what came next. I wasn’ t sure where I fit or what direction my career would take. Then an opportunity with the HCBA came along. At the time, I viewed it as a chance to get back on my feet.
What I found wasn’ t simply my next job. I found a community that would shape the rest of my career.
Working at the HCBA gave me a perspective I had never had before. Before joining the staff, I was an HCBA member who attended events and appreciated the organization. But working alongside our volunteer leaders, committees, sections, and members allowed me to see firsthand the extraordinary impact this Association has on lawyers, our profession, and our community. It also changed me. When my time on staff came to an end, I knew I didn’ t want my relationship with the HCBA to end with it. I wanted to continue serving the organization that had invested so much in me. That desire led me to serve as Chair of the Solo & Small Firm Section for three years, then to the HCBA Board of Directors in 2018, and ultimately to the incredible privilege of serving as your President today.
Looking back, I realize that accepting that position with the HCBA didn’ t simply change the direction of my career. It changed the way I thought about service, leadership, and
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