YLD
President’ s
COLUMN
A Year to Remember:
Reflections from the YLD President
by Tyler Stall, Esq. Hutton, Dominko & Stall, PLLC
It’ s hard to believe how quickly a year can pass. As I sit down to write this final President’ s article, I’ m reminded of just how much can change in twelve months, especially as my daughter recently turned two! Watching her grow has been a beautiful reminder of transformation, much like what we’ ve experienced this year in the Young Lawyers Division.
This past year has been a testament to perseverance, community, and the unwavering dedication of our board members and participants. As I reflect on our many accomplishments, I’ m filled with deep pride and immense gratitude.
We began the year with some scheduling challenges— our highly anticipated kickoff event was postponed multiple times and finally held in November 2024. But the delay proved worthwhile. The event saw excellent attendance and affirmed that great things are worth the wait. Earlier in the year, we maintained momentum through our Second Thursday Happy Hour at Arts and Central in August, laying a strong foundation for the programming that followed.
One of our proudest collaborations was once again partnering with Sarasota FAWL to host a truly magical Holiday Party at the Sarasota Yacht Club. That evening felt like something out of a winter wonderland, thanks to the hard work of our board and partners who arrived early to transform the venue. Events like this highlight the joy and camaraderie that define our legal community.
In 2025, we continued to uphold one of our most meaningful traditions: hosting the 12th Circuit High School Mock Trial Competition. This event offers local students a unique opportunity to engage with the legal system under the guidance of practicing attorneys and judges. A heartfelt thank you to Cori Coser and her amazing team for organizing this inspiring experience. Watching these young advocates argue their cases with confidence and passion reminded many of us why we chose this profession in the first place.
I could write pages of praise for our Board of Directors, but I suspect the SCBA wouldn’ t give me the space! Still, I’ ll try.
To our newest board members, Rian Davis, Michael Kostruba, Laura Ocampo, and Meghan O’ Connell, thank you for the fresh energy, ideas, and commitment you’ ve brought to our work. You’ ve stepped seamlessly into roles left by outgoing members, and your impact has been immediate and invaluable.
And to our returning board members Cori Coser, Nick Roknich, Forest Sutton, and Natasha Selvaraj, thank you for being the steady hands that
10 | THE DOCKET- AUGUST 2025