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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFerree,LauraJuly 28, 2011 Barbara Cahill Deputy District Clerk Truckee Donner Public Utility District 11570 Donner Pass Road Truckee, California 96161 Dear Ms. Cahill and Board of Directors: I would like to be considered for the current vacancy on the Board of Directors. I have attached a resume for your review. As a preliminary matter, I am a resident and qualified elector in the District. I believe my education and qualifications would complement and add to the skills of the current board members. I am an attorney and could bring a different type of training and viewpoint than those already represented. Furthermore, before I moved to California, I was an employment defense attorney and am familiar with the typical employment law issues that occur with a large employer. I also note, in light of the recent concerns raised regarding some members of the Fire District board that I am familiar with the duties of member of boards of directors and take very seriously the oversight responsibilities that board members must exercise. I believe strongly in public service and accountability to the community in which we live. I would welcome the opportunity to serve on the PUD board. Although I am a fairly new full-time resident of the Town of Truckee compared to others who may be seeking the appointment, I believe that viewpoint is also valuable as many members of our District are transplants from other areas of California and the country. We are a diverse community, in terms of income, education, and ethnicity and I would bring to the Board my training as an attorney, my work at a local nonprofit, and my experience as a small business owner within the District. I welcome your consideration of my qualifications. Best regards, rauraClauson Ferree Senior Claims Counsel, United Educators Risk Retention Group, Chevy Chase, MD (1995 -1999) • Oversaw the defense of employment and disability discrimination claims and contract disputes filed by faculty, staff and students against colleges, universities and private secondary schools. • Supervised outside counsel in the defense or settlement of such claims. • Attended mediations and determined case strategy. • Authored risk management articles for colleges and universities. Associate Attorney, Steptoe & Johnson, Washington, D.C. (1994 -1995) • Conducted legal research, wrote research memoranda, drafted and responded to written and oral discovery requests, and .performed trial preparation in a series of environmental whistleblower cases filed against the Alyeska Pipeline. Law Clerk, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (1992 -1994) • Assisted the Honorable Joyce Hens Green in researching and writing opinions in federal criminal and civil actions. • Attended multiple jury and bench trials, pretrial and settlement conferences. Police Officer, City of Alexandria, VA (1988 -1989) • Patrolled streets of Alexandria during evening and midnight shifts, responding to emergency and general calls for service. • Worked undercover buying drugs with VICE and Tactical units. • Testified extensively in criminal and traffic courts. Education Juris Doctor, Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, D.C., May 1992 • Magna Cum Laude, Order of the Coif Member of Editorial Board of the Georgetown Law Journal; Editor -in -Chief of the Criminal Procedure Project (800-page yearly summary of federal criminal procedure) Bachelor of Science, Latin American Studies, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, Washington, D.C., May 1988 • Magna Cum Laude • Waterman Scholar/Athlete Award for School of Foreign Service Bar Memberships and Affiliations • President, Board of Directors, Tahoe -Truckee Bar Association • Board Member, Plaza Truckee -Tahoe • Public Member, Town of Truckee Housing Advisory Group • Member, Grants Committee for the Truckee Tahoe Community Foundation • Member, Rural Advisory Panel of the California Bar Association Commission on Access to Justice • Member, Truckee Tomorrow • California Bar Association, December 2008 (inactive in Washington, DC (1993) and Pennsylvania (1992) Bar Associations). Laura Ctauson Ferree 10830 Barnes Drive Truckee, CA 96161 Iferree@mac.com (530) 386-5785 Experience Owner, Ferree Law, Truckee, CA (2010 — present) • Provides family law and bankruptcy legal services to Truckee and North Lake Tahoe residents. • Mediates family law disputes so parties can resolve family law disputes while minimizing legal fees. • Drafts bankruptcy petitions, motions, memoranda of points and authorities, performs legal research. • Appears in federal and state courts for conferences, hearings, and trials. Managing Attorney, Family Resource Center of Truckee, Truckee, CA (2009 — present; volunteer attorney and board member 2008-09) • Manages Community Legal Program by developing policies and procedures that comply with best practices for legal aid program and the California Rules of Professional Conduct • Provides legal consultations in Spanish and English in landlord/tenant law, family law, employment law, and other miscellaneous civil matters. • Supervises Legal Advocate and Mediator and volunteers and trains and supervises Family Advocates. • Writes all grants necessary to fund legal program, Board Member, Family Preservation and Strengthening Services, Vienna, VA (2007 — 2010) • Drafted grant proposals for Northern Virginia nonprofit providing housing assistance and intensive case management to working families in Northern Virginia who are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless. Volunteer Grant Writer, Community Labor United, Boston, MA (2006- 2010) • Edited grant proposals for Boston -area non-profit organization working to unite community - based organizations with labor unions in order to fight collaboratively to improve the lives for lower -income Boston area residents. Court Appointed Special Advocate, Fairfax CASA, Fairfax, VA (1998 - 2005) • Advocated for children involved in the Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court system due to allegations of parental abuse or neglect. • Attended court hearings and wrote reports for the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Judge assigned to each family. • Worked with social workers, parents' attorneys, and guardians ad litem to determine what was in the best interests of the children and to obtain the services needed to ensure the future safety and well-being of the children.