HOUSTON PARALEGAL ASSOCIATION

 

Our Beginning

Houston Paralegal Association (HPA) begin as an idea among several NALA-certified paralegals in the Houston area who felt that their professional needs were not being met by the local paralegal associations. Those paralegals, including Ruth Silva [Conley], Rannie Kelly, Barbara Howell, Sheilah Taylor, Lu Poole, Patti Gunning and Adele Spivey began networking with other paralegals about forming a new paralegal association dedicated to providing affordable continuing legal education and networking opportunities.

In July 1999, these paralegals scheduled a meeting, held at Birraporetti’s Restaurant in downtown Houston, with the intent to form a paralegal association that was sponsored by Firehouse Records Company. The group was small, but the enthusiasm was gigantic. In August, a meeting was held to adopt bylaws and to officially elect officers. That meeting, held at Massas Restaurant, was sponsored by IKON Documents, which not only paid for the dinner but brought champagne for the special occasion.  HPA decided to not assert affiliation with a national paralegal association at that time and to spend the next couple of years growing the association. Officers elected were: Ruth Silva [Conley], President; Rannie Kelly, 1st Vice President (Programs); Sue Smith, 2nd Vice President (Membership); Lenore Millspaugh, Recording Secretary; Sheilah Taylor, Public Relations; Patti Gunning, Parliamentarian, and Lu Poole, Historian. Later, Nancy Turner was added as Treasurer.

The first official HPA Board meeting was held in November, 1999. In addition to minor revisions to the bylaws, officers voted on several projects, including a seminar which would award CLE credits and a charity event which would be held in conjunction with a Holiday social in December.


About HPA

Since that time, HPA has grown into the leading paralegal association in the Greater Houston area.  In October 2004, HPA was the first Houston paralegal association to be affiliated with the National Association of Legal Assistants/Paralegals. HPA members have held positions on various NALA Committees and five HPA Presidents were chosen to participate in LEAP, NALA's leadership training program that was offered from 2007 - 2014. 

HPA has the most affordable membership fees of any local paralegal association and has only raised membership fees once in its 20-plus year history.

HPA offers free CLE opportunities every month and hosts a CLE Conference in Galveston every Spring. We also provide a minimum of four networking socials per year, in February (Go Texan Social), April (CLE Conference Social), June (Summer Social), and December (Holiday Social).

HPA strives to assist paralegals reach their certification goals. We hold a yearly CP Exam Study Group/Review course that is open to all paralegals across the state.

Our Presidents  

1999-2000
Ruth A. Silva (Conley), ACP 
2000-2001
Rannie Kelly, TBLS-BCP
2001-2002
Lu Poole, CP
2002-2003
Terri Matthies, CP
2003-2004
Charie Turner, CP, TBLS-BCP
2004-2005
Ruth S. Conley, ACP 
2005-2006
Gina Shannon (Holder)
2006-2007
Gina Shannon (Holder)
2007-2008
Charie Turner, CP, TBLS- BCP
2008-2009
Ruth S. Conley, ACP 
2009-2010
Ellen Roth
2010-2011
Rhonda Harshbarger, CP 
2011-2012
Rodolfo “Rudy” Cuellar, Jr.  
2012-2013 Christina C. Ladyman, CP
2013-2014 Carla Valenzuela, CP
2014-2015 Gina Holder
2015-2016 Montye Holmes, TBLS-BCP, ACP
2016-2017 Stephanie Rodriguez, ACP, TBLS-BCP
2017-2018 Montye Holmes, TBLS-BCP, ACP
2018-2019 Linda Carrette, TBLS-BCP, ACP
2019-2020  Sharon Jones, ACP
2020-2021  Ruth S. Conley, ACP
2021-2022  Linda Carrette, TBLS-BCP, ACP
2022-2023 Phillip Webb
2023-2024 Gina Holder





 

Houston Paralegal Association

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