My BarStory S03E04 - Matt Besser, Nick DiCello, Gabrielle Kelly and Chris Schmitt

03/12/25 • 37 min

In 2025, the CMBA has issued a number of statements regarding the Rule of Law and why defending it is the very foundation of this organization. So why do we do it? Why do we take public opinions on issues that might be controversial? Let’s hear it straight from the CMBA’s leadership. In this edition of My BarStory, CMBA President Matt Besser, President-Elect Nick DiCello, and Vice President of Inclusion and Diversity Gabrielle Kelly as they talk with CMBA CEO Chris Schmitt about how we make the tough calls.

Previous Episode

My BarStory S03E03 - The Cleveland Legal Collaborative Fellows - The New Class

Last year, we introduced you to the first cohort of Cleveland Legal Collaborative Fellows. These new lawyers were filled with passion for serving those who can’t afford market-rate legal services. Now, it’s time for the new class! Freshly arrived in 2025, Aireus Johnson, Ange Mastandrea, and Josh Selby are already working to help the Cleveland Legal Collaborative to reach even more people in need of legal assistance. Interviewed by first-generation Collaborative Fellow Abby O’Leary, you’ll hear their determination to make a positive difference in this week’s My BarStory podcast.

Next Episode

My BarStory S03E05 - Raising the Bar for Women in Law

Did you know that women are more than 50% of law school graduates, but have only 20% of senior management positions in U.S. law firms? That's just one of the compelling issues facing women in law. In this episode of My BarStory, we look forward from International Women's Day with a powerful discussion including new data from an Ohio state-wide survey of attorneys. These four accomplished women share their own stories of microaggressions and disrespect in the courtroom and the boardroom. Most importantly, they give us strategies for dealing with it.

Speakers:

Bethany Studenic
Of Counsel, Sobel, Wade & Mapley

Kami D. Brauer
Employment Law Partners, LLC
Ann-Marie Ahern
Co-Managing Principal, McCarthy Lebit
Kelley Barnett,
Senior Vice President, Senior Managing Counsel
AmTrust Financial

My BarStory - My BarStory S03E04 - Matt Besser, Nick DiCello, Gabrielle Kelly and Chris Schmitt

Transcript

Chris Schmitt (00:00):
Hello, and welcome to our latest edition of my bar story here at the CMBA. I'm Chris Schmitt, and it's my honor to serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the CMBA and the Foundation. And today we have an awesome panel of some of our leadership here at the CNBA to talk more about a few statements that we've put out recently and about the whole process that goes into when the bar speaks up. So, with that, I'm gonna turn it over for just quick introductions. Matt, do yo