Features February 2021

Melissa Díaz Artavia – Holcim Costa Rica

Est. reading time: 4 mins

The cement industry isn’t always perceived as environmentally benign, but Melissa Díaz Artavia is quick to emphasize the sustainable aspects of her employer’s business model. As she tells Vanguard, the Costa Rican division of Swiss-based building materials and aggregates company, LafargeHolcim, seeks to develop sustainable projects to optimize its production while engaging in a coprocessing […]

Liz Bartlett – Independent Care Health Plan

Est. reading time: 4 mins

If you are a Wisconsin resident who’s fallen on hard times due to health issues, your whole world might fall apart. If you’re late with the rent, you could even face eviction—which could hurt your health even further. But through Milwaukee-based Independent Care Health Plan “iCare”—now a wholly owned subsidiary of Humana Inc.—innovative programs are […]

David A. Hitchens – JLL

Est. reading time: 4 mins

David A. Hitchens has been through industry downturns before, having joined the legal staff of JLL in the midst of the Great Recession. By revenue, the Chicago-based JLL is the world’s second largest commercial real estate company, and its properties endured higher vacancies and lower leases as so many industries cut back between 2007 and […]

Jason Pollack – Christie’s

Est. reading time: 5 mins

Evening sales at Christie’s in New York City are not to be missed, a highlight of the social calendar where billionaires are ready to raise their paddles and bid on rare and obscure objects—art by DaVinci or Picasso, jewelry, and recently, an artifact from the Jurassic period. But all that changed in 2020 when the […]

Kindel Nuno – Mattress Firm

Est. reading time: 4 mins

Kindel Nuno vividly remembers the day she interviewed for the general counsel role at Mattress Firm in 2012. Despite her extensive legal background, former CEO Steve Stagner worried that she lacked the needed business experience. Still, as Nuno walked out the door of his office, Stagner told her, “We’ll take a chance on you.” By […]

Vanessa Manrique – GE Healthcare

Est. reading time: 4 mins

The lack of life-sustaining ventilators became obvious in 2020 with the onset of COVID-19, launching General Electric on a mission to produce and distribute the much-needed devices to hospitals worldwide. It’s been a challenge, to say the least, says General Electric Healthcare Mexico Senior Legal Counsel Vanessa Manrique—noting the trade war going on between the […]

Lisa A. Gok – Cetera Financial Group

Est. reading time: 5 mins

  She calls it SEC speech—and there are no Rosetta Stone classes to learn it. Lisa A. Gok picked it up during her 11 years as an assistant regional director for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in Los Angeles and it has served her well in subsequent jobs. Maybe especially so at Cetera Financial […]

Sean Dennison – CenterCal Properties LLC

Est. reading time: 5 mins

No single project can make a career for a real estate attorney, but each can end one. Sean Dennison kept this in mind as his company embarked on the first phase of the massive mixed-use redevelopment in the Seattle suburb of Kirkland, Washington. The Village at Totem Lake it’s called, and since commencing in 2015, […]

Jimmie Strong – Rosmar USA Inc.

Est. reading time: 4 mins

Though the timing is ideal, there’s not an hour—much less a day—to waste. So emphasizes Jimmie Strong in January while speeding from his Memphis home to Nashville. It’s in Music City where he’s grooming the U.S. affiliate to a Mexican manufacturer of industrial and personal sanitizing solutions and wipes. The need for such wares has […]

Brandon Fairless – CHS Therapy & Rehab

Est. reading time: 4 mins

Brandon Fairless remembers a teambuilding exercise in his first two weeks at CHS Therapy & Rehab. The CEO asked her executive team: “What do you rebel against?” For Fairless, the answer was easy. It was complacency. Since his arrival five months ago at the post-acute therapy organization, he has gotten to work as its first […]

Testimonials

The piece highlighting my company, Bob Baker Enterprises, Inc., came out fabulous. Our company is in the new and used car sales and service industry. Everyone was great to work with and extremely professional. They produced a high-quality product and have provided expert assistance and guidance post-production of the article.
– Wade Poulson, General Counsel, Bob Baker Enterprises Inc.
As promised in advance, my feature in Vanguard has increased my visibility within the profession and prompted more than a few people I have not communicated with recently to reconnect. One of the Italian law firms I have used in the past is now in the process of interviewing me for an article on their website and tweeting out the feature story. Activity and the number of people connecting with me on LinkedIn has soared, which is great. The Vanguard writers and editorial staff were great to work with—highly professional and made the effort to make the experience both fun and rewarding (they were also respectful of the time pressures and demands all lawyers face). I was very pleased with the experience and the final outcome. Needless to say, I have been very pleased. All in all working with Vanguard has been a very positive experience which generated good publicity for both Shawcor and myself. My sincere thanks.
– Tim Hutzul, General Counsel, ShawCor Ltd.
I was honored to be the subject of an article. I enjoy reading Vanguard articles and seeing how other attorneys got to their positions and see their jobs. It's also interesting to see how different law firms partner with the subjects of the articles.
– Henry Marquard, in-house counsel, Stanley Consultants Inc.
It was a great honor to be featured in Vanguard Law. Working with every member of the team, from the initial interview with Erin Clark, through production with Victor Martins, writing the article with Taryn Plumb and creating the final content with Dave Gushee, was a true pleasure. Everyone was very professional, enthusiastic and supportive, and their creative approach and positive attitude clearly came through in the final product.
– Kevin C. Rakowski, Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, Compliance with Radian Group Inc.

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