Officers, Directors and Committees
President and NALA LiaisonHeidi Helstrom Heidi has been a member of STOP since 2008. In 1990 Heidi received an Associate’s Degree in Paralegal Technology from an ABA approved program in Fayetteville, North Carolina. After receiving her degree she worked in Family Law for over three years with a sole practitioner. Heidi also has two years’ experience in Corporate and Securities Law which she earned while working for Wright, Lindsey & Jennings in Little Rock, Arkansas. When Heidi moved to Texas she completed the Paralegal Program at University of Texas, San Antonio. Heidi achieved her Certified Paralegal status from the National Association of Legal Assistants in January of 2010. Since May of 2011 Heidi has been working for Tessmer Law Firm, P.L.L.C. focusing in Family Law, Wills and Estate Planning. Heidi is also a member of State Bar of Texas Paralegal Division, Alamo Area Paralegal Association and Bexar County Women’s Bar Association Paralegal Division. |
President ElectSusi Boss Susi has been a voting member of STOP since 2006. Susi received her Specialized Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies in 2002 from the College of Paralegal Studies. She has been employed in the legal field for over 30 years dabbling in Bankruptcy and Personal Injury before finding her niche in family law with Higdon, Hardy and Zuflacht as a senior paralegal for Charles E. Hardy for the past 12 years. She has previously worked in the financial services and funding services company Advantage MCA. Susi has spoken at numerous continuing legal seminars for the State Bar over the years. She is a member of STOP, AAPA, Paralegal Division of the State Bar of Texas, NALA and the State Bar of Texas Family Law Section. She is also a member of the The College of the State Bar of Texas Paralegal Division and the Pro Bono College of the State Bar of Texas. |
Secretary and Ethics DirectorRene' Daniel Rene' Daniel is a graduate of Virginia College of Austin where she earned her Associates Degree in Paralegal Studies in March, 2010. She began her career at a firm in Austin that practiced in areas of Civil Litigation, Employment Law and Corporate Bankruptcy. She has since relocated to San Antonio and is currently employed by John Lane & Associates, where she continues to work in the Bankruptcy Law in addition to other areas of law. She is also a member of the State Bar of Texas and studying to get her NALA Certification. |
TreasurerFran Coleman-Britsch Fran Coleman-Britsch is a graduate of Angelo State University where she earned her Bachelors of Business Administration degree. She earned her paralegal certificate from Palo Alto College in April of 2006. She spent twelve years in the aviation industry prior to accepting a position as a paralegal with Harland Clarke Corp. (formerly Clarke American Checks, Inc.), drafting client, business to business and endorsement agency agreements and handling intellectual property matters. Fran has been a member of STOP since October of 2006. |
Membership DirectorDiana Olack Diana has been a member of STOP since 2008, and she joined the Board in 2009. She previously served as President for 2011-2013. She graduated from San Antonio College in 2006 with associate degrees in Paralegal Studies, Criminal Justice-Forensics and Criminal Justice-Law Enforcement. She has been a paralegal at Carolyn M. Wentland, P.C., for about six years. Previously, Diana worked as a paralegal for Criminal Defense Investigator James McKay for three years. Working with Mr. McKay gave her the opportunity to work with many criminal defense attorneys in San Antonio. She received the Paralegal of the Year award in 2012.
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Program Director and ParliamentarianDenise Omstead Denise Omstead is a graduate of Simpson University in Redding, California where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Business and Human Resource Management in 2000. In addition, Ms. Omstead also graduated from Shasta Community College where she obtained her Associate of Arts degree in General Education with the majority of her classes focusing on Paralegal Studies and English. Ms. Omstead has been employed in the legal field as a Paralegal for the past 25 years specializing in the areas of civil and business litigation, employment and labor law, workers’ compensation, family law, estate planning, collections, and as the Chief Compliance Officer and Director of Unemployment Claims Management for a nationwide background screening company. Denise has lectured in numerous continuing legal education seminars and workshops and even taught family law at Shasta Community College. Ms. Omstead, who is a native Texan, resided in Northern California for the past 20 years and recently relocated back to her home state of Texas in 2011. Denise is currently employed as a Paralegal with the law firm of John Lane & Associates. She has been a voting member of STOP since October 2012 and is a current member of the Alamo Area Paralegal Association since February 2012. |
Public Relations DirectorTrish Ivey Trish moved from Florida to San Antonio in February 2013. She has been a member of STOP since May 2013 and is a member of AAPA and Bexar County Women’s Bar Association. Trish has 22 years’ experience as a paralegal in Florida, North Carolina, Arizona and Texas specializing in Family and Criminal Law. She was a Teen Court Judge in the Fifth Judicial Circuit of Marion County, Florida for 3 years. A highlight of her career was assisting the Ocala Police Department in creating Domestic Violence Community Workshops, while sharing her story at these and other events. The Community Workshop received a Governor’s Award from then Governor, Jeb Bush; assisting the Marion County Sheriff’s Department in producing a Domestic Violence training video, which was distributed to Sheriff’s Departments nationwide. She also worked alongside Florida Congressman Dennis Baxley and Florida Senator Larry Cretul, in conjunction with the Florida Legislature to increase funds for mental health services, for victims of violent crimes through the Florida Victim Compensation Fund. She is currently a Paralegal for Stephani Walsh. |
Publications DirectorLisa Santos Lisa has been a member of STOP since 2007 and has served on the Board since January 2008. In 1980, she obtained her Associates Degree at San Antonio College in Legal Assisting and began her legal career in the areas of general practice, debt collection, bankruptcy and transactional. Lisa has served on paralegal association boards, has also served and volunteered with District 5 Paralegal Division of the State Bar of Texas, and was the 2004 Co-Chair of the 1st Annual Joint Paralegal Celebration. Lisa is the Volunteer Coordinator for the Community Justice Program - Wesley Clinic. Lisa received the Paralegal of the Year Award in 2010. |
Career Development ChairStacy Mellion Foushee Stacy is graduate of Wayland Baptist University where she earned her Bachelor's of Science in Business Administration. She earned her paralegal certificate from The University of Texas at San Antonio in 2008. She has worked in the legal field for over 20 years as billing clerk, Accounts Receivable Manager, Legal Assistant and Paralegal. Stacy is currently employed with the law firm of Clemens & Spencer. She has been a member of STOP since 2012. Stacy is also a member of Bexar County Women's Bar Association Paralegal Division and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. |
Founding Member and Website ChairCharlene B. Carroll, ACP Charlene is a founding member of STOP, and has been on the Board of Directors since its inception in January 2003. She began her legal career in 1972, and obtained her Associates Degree at San Antonio College in Legal Assisting. She became a NALA Certified Paralegal in 2001, and became an Advanced Certified Paralegal in Trial Practice in September 2007. She has also served as the District 5 Membership Committee Chair of the Paralegal Division State Bar of Texas for the terms 1999 - 2003, and Membership Committee Chair for two terms. She received the Outstanding Committee Chair Award for 2003 – 2004 from the Paralegal Division. She also received the Paralegal of the Year Award in 2009. She volunteers for the Wesley Clinic for the Community Justice Program. She works in litigation. |
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