LEADERS IMPROVING OUR FUTURE
Bar Leadership Institute Committee
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Within each of these organizations,
leaders are pursuing a vision of improving
our community’s future.
A
joining BALS, Woltmann’s vision and work developing
t the Bar Leadership Institute’s final three
youth tennis programs in Ghana in the 1970s ensured
modules, members toured the Southwest
the continued mission of the Peace Corps, which he
Florida Water Management District’s
was a member of during a turbulent political climate.
restoration sites, Bay Area Legal Services’
In the 1980s, Woltmann brought his visionary
headquarters, and Tampa International Airport’s
leadership to BALS, where he helps the organization
billion-dollar expansion construction site. Within each
grow to meet our community’s legal needs.
of these organizations, leaders are pursuing a vision
Also during the April module, Alex Srcic, an attorney
of improving our community’s future.
working on the BALS 2017 Veterans Assistance Project,
The Legislature created the Southwest Florida
shared the inspiration she found in the leadership of
Water Manage ment District (SWFWMD) to protect
her managing attorney, Tom DiFiore. Srcic now aspires
water resources, minimize flood risks, and ensure the
to mentor others the way DiFiore has mentored her.
public’s water needs are met. In March, BLI members
Another rising leader,
toured SWFWMD’s
Jennifer Cohen-Deihl,
restoration project
an attorney in the
sites at Rock Pond
Seniors Division and
Ecosystem and
a BLI member, shared
Cockroach Bay. The
that BALS, like
tours showcased record-
SWFWMD, reaches its
breaking improvements
goals by raising aware -
in water quality and
ness and engaging
biodiversity — the
volunteers. Members
result of decades of
learned about the
efforts by SWFWMD’s
variety of volunteer
attorneys, engineers,
opportunities at BALS,
and scientists. The
which can be found
SWFWMD team
online at www.bals.org.
also highlighted the
In May, BLI
significant role
members toured
volunteers play in
Tampa International
SWFWMD’s success —
Airport (TIA), where
raising community
they met with Al
awareness is a key part
Illustrato, executive
of each program.
vice president of
For the April module
planning development,
at Bay Area Legal
and Michael Stephens,
Services (BALS), BLI
general counsel and
members met with
president and CEO
Dick Woltmann. Before
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