SMBA installs 2013 president

Last edited 11:16 a.m., Feb. 6, 2013

The Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association has sworn in its 2013 president, attorney Chip Sheppard.

Sheppard, vice president, shareholder and chairman of litigation/dispute resolution for Carnahan, Evans, Cantwell & Brown PC, becomes the 89th president in the organization's roughly 100 years in Greene County. Sheppard succeeds 2012 President Teresa Grantham, a partner with Carver, Cantin and Grantham LLC, according to a news release.

Sheppard officially took the gavel during the SMBA's 40th annual banquet, held Feb. 1 at Hickory Hills Country Club.

"It’s just very rewarding personally to get involved on a volunteer basis and work with others to make things happen," Sheppard said of working with the SMBA in the November Springfield Business Journal article "A Conversation With ... Chip Sheppard."

During the banquet, the SMBA swore in three other officers and five board members. Dwayne Fulk, a shareholder with Polsinelli Shughart PC, was named president-elect; Bruer Wooddell & Harrell PC shareholder Steven Harrell was selected treasurer; and Catherine Reade of Haden, Cowherd & Bullock LLC was appointed secretary. New board members are:

• Eric Jensen of O'Reilly, Jensen & Preston LLC;
• Branden Twibell, a public defender;
• Doug Harpool, a partner with Baird, Lightner, Millsap & Harpool PC;
• Laurel Stevenson of Lathrop & Gage LLP; and
• Mark McQueary, a partner with Neale & Newman LLP.

In her last act as president, Grantham recognized the SMBA involvement of members Fulk and Michael Cosby of Husch Blackwell LLP, with president awards, the release said.