President ' s Message :
The Power of Presence
EMILY C . WARD Continuum Legal Group LLP eward @ continuumlg . com
W ith this edition of The Atlanta Lawyer focusing on Construction and Real Estate Law , I was inspired to reflect on how the foundation of connection within a community can profoundly transform the lives of those within it . Much like a large construction project that takes years to complete and mature into a thriving hub , the connections we build with friends , mentors , colleagues , and even rivals often have long-term ripple effects , many of which we might not realize for years . This " butterfly effect " of connection is something I believe we all instinctively understand , yet it can be hard to work towards this because the result of our effort is often fleeting and hard to quantify . While I honestly cannot fathom what kind of butterfly effects have resulted from any of my connections , I can think of dozens of transformational community connections which shaped my life and allow me the privilege to practice law in this city I love .
When I was 16 , just finishing my sophomore year of high school , my parents announced that we were moving from rural Tennessee to Atlanta . For a nerdy band kid who was finally finding her place in the high school social hierarchy , this was devastating news . Fortunately , my mom mentioned our move to my band director , Mr . Cook . He offered to connect her with one of his college friends , Mr . Starnes , who happened to be the band director at a Georgia high school near my dad ’ s new job — one with an excellent music program .
Fast forward two years and Mr . Starnes had not only helped me find my place at my new school , he also introduced me to Mr . Green , the music director at the University of Miami , who Mr . Starnes had known for years and just happened to be looking for someone to play the oboe in college . Thanks to those introductions , I survived high school , thrived in college , and graduated from college debt-free — a life-changing outcome that continues to influence my career and life to this day .
Even more impressive , the impact of the foundational connections between Mr . Cook and Mr . Starnes doesn ’ t end there . Mr . Starnes has also profoundly impacted my brother ’ s life , helping him navigate his path as a music educator , with my brother eventually becoming the orchestra director at the same high school where Mr . Cook recommended my mom talk to Mr . Starnes decades ago . It ’ s remarkable to think that a simple conversation and the act of picking up the phone to make the introduction set into motion a chain of events that shaped my family ’ s lives in such significant ways , but it did .
With sincere appreciation ,
Emily C . Ward President , Atlanta Bar Association
4 NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2024