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OFFICERS Kimberly A. Spiker President Northern Trust, NA 375 Fifth Avenue South Naples, Florida 34102 239-213-5774 kas15@ntrs.com
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CCWBA HistoryIn the 1980's and early 1990's, Helen Sundgren maintained a listing of all the women lawyers in Naples. Each month Helen Sundgren, Kathleen Passidomo, Brenda Wilson, Jana Jay, and others would meet for lunch with the main location requirement being that the restaurant allowed separate checks. This was the beginning of an informal women’s bar in Collier County. Later, this group joined the Southwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Association of Women Lawyers (FAWL). They tried to bridge the Lee/Collier geography gap with evening meetings held mid-way in Bonita Springs. This did not work very well for attendance; however, it did result in women from both counties recruiting Judge Ellis for appointment to the bench and supporting Judge Ellis when she had opposition for election. In time the meetings of the Southwest Florida Chapter gravitated to Fort Myers and to the noon hour which was not convenient for Collier participation. Another early tradition arose when Helen Sundgren opened her law practice in Naples in 1986. She started a tradition of inviting women lawyers to her office for a holiday party. After Helen closed her office, Vickie Ho picked up the tradition and it evolved into the annual holiday party which is held each year by CCWBA. Sharon Hanlon arrived in Naples in 1992 with a vision of a Collier County women’s bar and the energy to make it happen. Judith McCaffrey was her cheerleader as they pondered what to do about getting to know other women lawyers in town. Judith and Sharon moved to Naples the same month, Judith from Washington, D.C. and Sharon from Michigan. Each had been very active in women's bar organizations in the north. Judith was sharing space at the Vega Brown law firm and had the office next to Sharon. How fortunate for them and us! They both missed the companionship of women attorneys and thought Naples needed a women's bar. Judith provided the encouragement while Sharon organized the meetings. In 1993, Sharon solicited about six women, including Kim Johnson, Meg Steinbeck, Helen Sundgren and Judith McCaffrey, to sign a letter to all women attorneys in Collier County asking whether there was interest in formally organizing a women's bar. The first letter went out in January of 1993 and the first lunch was held in April of 1993. Luckily for us, the Florida Bar Association was holding its May 1993 meeting at the Ritz in Naples. Sharon contacted several women members of the Board of Governors, including Pat Seitz, and asked them if they would meet with the newly formed Collier women’s bar members for breakfast. The three or four women governors met with about 20 Collier women lawyers for breakfast at the Ritz hosted by our Collier County Women's Bar. This event was the kick off of the new Collier County Women’s Bar Association. From that point forward, CCWBA began holding monthly lunch meetings. CCWBA started with about 15 members. In 1993, Sharon received several phone calls from male attorneys asking if men were being excluded. Sharon asked them to join and Ben Parks became the first male member. CCWBA became a member of FAWL in 1994. CCWBA strives (1) to foster relationships among women attorneys; (2) to foster referral sources; and (3) to provide women from different specialty areas a chance to meet other women attorneys. Membership is available to female and male lawyers and law students. CCWBA has a Board of Directors currently comprised of eleven members. Past presidents of CCWBA have included:
CCWBA lunch meetings are held on the 4th Wednesday of each month at noon typically at the Northern Trust Park Shore Office. These meetings feature a variety of speakers and often offer free CLE credit. CCWBA also holds a Holiday Reception in December, at which time we honor a female lawyer with the Woman Lawyer of the Year Award. Past recipients of the award include:
During the 2005 Holiday Reception, CCWBA awarded its first Distinguished Executive Award. The Distinguished Executive Award commemorates the achievements of men and women who lead in the workplace with vision, determination, and compassion, and who create productive working environments for women attorneys. Past recipients of this award include:
CCWBA also holds a joint Fall meeting with the Lee County Women’s Bar Association and works on charitable projects throughout the year.
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