2025-2026 ADTA Officers, Executive Council and Awards Announced

The ADTA held its 84th Annual Meeting in Lexington, Kentucky. If you could not make it, you missed an exceptional CLE Program with some very moving presentations. Ask your friends about them. Our tours offered extensive knowledge of Bourbon making history along with up-close encounters with many legendary horses, hearing their history and the history of the horse industry. We had some rain which allowed for extra time in the infamous Hospitality Room to mingle with old friends and make new ones.

Going forward you will see on our social media platforms, and thru various messages to you, the photos from our super-fun events at The Old Courthouse, The Hill at Keeneland and the Saturday night gala. All, so very different, offering once in a lifetime experiences.

The ADTA Annual Meeting for 2026 will be held in Costa Rica on April 21-25. It was also announced that the ADTA will be headed to Key West in 2027.

Immediate Past President, Dyan Ebert conducted the general meeting along with the Saturday Business Meeting. Past President Jim Craig, Chair of the Nomination Committee, led the Business Meeting at which time the new slate of 2025-2026 Officers and Executive Council were presented and voted upon.

President: 
Amanda Cialkowski 
Nilan Johnson
Minneapolis, MN

President Elect: 
A. Johnston Cox, Gallivan White and Boyd, P.A., Columbia, SC

Vice President: 
R. Bruce Barze, Jr., Barze Taylor Noles Lowther LLC, Birmingham, AL

Treasurer:
Ronald Austin, Jr., Grant Law, LLC, Chicago, IL

Secretary:
Jeanne Loftis, Baker Sterchi Cowden Rice, Portland, OR

Immediate Past President:
Dyan Ebert, Quinlivan & Hughes, P.A. St. Cloud, MN

Assistant Secretary:
Peggy L. Schultz, ADTA, New Port Richey, FL

Class of 2028

Eileen Buholtz, Connors Corcoran & Buholtz PLLC, Rochester, NY
Rose Marie Joly, Sulloway & Hollis, PLLC, Concord, NH
Christopher Morris, Lewis Reed and Allen PC, Kalamazoo, MI

Returning Classes:

Class of 2026

Kelly Brilleaux, Barnes and Thornburg LLP, Dallas, TX
David Lauritzen, Cotton, Bledsoe, Tighe & Dawson, P.C., Midland, TX
Bharat Varadachari, HeplerBroom, St. Louis, MO

Class of 2027

Laura K. Beasley, Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice LLC, Belleview, IL
Steven A. Dix, Dix and Associates, PLLC, Murfreesboro, TN
Natalie M. Leon, Forbes Chochla LLP, Toronto, ON

AWARDS

2025 "Strubinger" Award Recipient

James (Jamie) B. Hood, The Hood Law Firm, LLC received nominations from Jim Craig (twice), Rose Marie Joly, Evelyn Davis, Self-Nominated for referrals to Matt Bailey (twice), James Holland, and Tom Schultz.

Congratulations Jamie!

There were four additional finalists receiving recognition:

DeeDee Gasch
Tom Hurney, Jr.
Wayne H. Maire
Bill Pollock

We are thankful for each of their efforts in making very worthy referrals. This is what ADTA is all about.

Thanks to each of you.