By Russ Dempsey, VP & Chief Legal Officer, National Investment Managers, Inc.
January 2011

"I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it."

I selected the Thomas Jefferson quote as the theme of this message after careful consideration. Creating one's own luck was a reoccuring theme at our last educational event, "Trends in the Legal Marketplace and Their Impact on In-house Attorneys." The panelists included, GC at AED, Michael Miller; President at Gnoêsis Group and former GC at Scotts, Dave Aronowitz; and GC at Liebert, Joe Blasko. They each recognized good fortune as contributing to their career success. Michael Miller explained that to develop career skills, one must take on new projects, volunteer for committees, and reach out to business folks to learn from them. By going outside your comfort zone and working hard, you can create your own luck.

Your chapter leaders focus on developing events and opportunities for you to create some luck. In 2011, your chapter leadership plans to further CO-ACC's mission of empowering its members to engage in relevant professional education, networking and community initiatives that increase their strategic value to their corporate clients. In other words, our goal is to help you succeed. We create the opportunities; the rest is up to you.

Chapter educational events offer the chance to satisfy your CLE obligations, get current information on relevant topics and network with other in-house colleagues. Our sponsors are planning some exciting social events with CLEs, including a Columbus Blue Jackets game (part of the Porter Wright event on February 9) and a Columbus Clippers game (part of the Jones Day CLE in July).

For those of you interested in networking, I cannot over emphasize the networking opportunities there are at chapter events. Networking has become the primary way many companies hire. As the career coach Karin Combs stated at our last CLE, 85 percent of professional positions are not posted on a company's website or job board. Recruiters are using their networks to find qualified candidates. To be in the right place at the right time, you have to be some place. Attend a chapter event and grow your network.

In closing, I reflect on 2010 and think ahead to the remainder of 2011. As a chapter, we had a strong year in 2010 in furthering our core purpose of providing quality legal education and strengthening CO-ACC through a disciplined strategic planning process. A special thanks to the efforts of the Immediate Past President, Andrea Kirsh, in making 2010 a success. Your chapter leadership is looking forward to advancing the quality of events and opportunities for members in 2011. Please welcome your 2011 chapter officers: Vice President, Eric Henricks; Program Chair, Michelle Krall; Membership Chair, Katie Russell; Treasurer, Pete Krier; and Secretary, Matt Luntz. I encourage you to send me an email to let me know how we are doing and what we can do better.