2024 Your Honor Awards
Ignite, Inspire, Achieve: Going Beyond the YHA
Tuesday, October 15th | Noon - 6 p.m. CT
We are excited to announce the return of the Midwest Region’s Your Honor Awards (YHA) program, recognizing LMA Midwest members for creativity, execution, achievement, leadership, service and overall excellence in legal marketing across several categories. And the best part – we will recognize the honorees in a first of its kind in-person program, which will be hosted in Chicago in October. Not only will we honor great work throughout the region, but there will also be opportunities to learn about the latest trends and topics in legal marking. It’s the best of both worlds – education AND recognition! Designed to showcase the best ideas and projects from our 600 Midwest members, the awards will recognize member firms that illustrate excellence in marketing and business development strategies.
The submission portal is open and we encourage members across the region to submit entries in categories that align with LMA’s Body of Knowledge. Winners will be recognized in Chicago on October 15, as well as included in all LMA Midwest communications. Join us in Chicago! Register today!
To apply for the 2024 Midwest Your Honor Awards and view more information about this program, please visit the 2024 Midwest Your Honor Awards webpage.
AGENDA - Session Speakers to be Announced Soon!
12:00 PM – Registration + Lunch session + YHA Finalist Educational Presentation
1:30 PM – Ignite + Awards Presentation (Business Development)
Ignite Growth: New Frontiers in Business Development
Discover how to transform your business development approach with insights from DCM’s study and practical advice from industry experts. Learn about the "Activator" role and how it can drive growth through commitment, connection, and creation.
Our Speakers:
Ted McKenna
Founding Partner
DCM Insights
Ted McKenna, a Founding Partner of DCM Insights, is a co-author of the upcoming book The Activator Advantage: What Today's Rainmakers Do Differently as well as the bestselling book The JOLT Effect: How High Performers Overcome Customer Indecision. He is now the CEO of SellingInnovations, a DCMi spin-off that provides research-based training, enablement and advisory support to business-to-business commercial organizations and previously held leadership roles at Russell Reynolds Associates, (CEB (now Gartner) and Tethr. An accomplished researcher, he is a sought-after speaker and advisor to business development, sales and customer experience teams around the world.
Jill Forbes
Managing Director, and Client Development
DCM Insights
Jill Forbes is the Managing Director of Client Development at DCM Insights, bringing 20 years of experience in research-backed business development and go-to-market strategies. She spent 15 years at CEB (now Gartner) in leadership roles, helping enterprise clients implement Challenger Selling and develop high-performing sales teams. Jill also worked at TrialGraphix, supporting litigation teams with trial preparation services. Known for her strategic and client-focused approach, Jill received Built In's 2023 Moxie Award for top female talent in tech.
Linda Moss
Dykema
In her nearly 30 years of experience in the professional services industry, Linda Moss has learned what it takes to drive revenue growth in the legal industry. Through a variety of firm-wide positions at industry-leading firms, Linda has developed a deep understanding of business development, knowledge management, process design, technology enablement, competitive intelligence, change management and team leadership. Drawing upon this cross-functional experience, she has designed and implemented firm strategies to develop market reputation and improve service to clients. At Dykema, Linda leads a professional team that has earned top marks and industry recognition for outstanding work and innovation. Linda leverages her valuable expertise to lead her team, and Dykema, to success. She has overall responsibilities for business development, brand management, marketing, media relations, and content programs.
Joanna Becket
Sheppard Mullin
Joanna is the Director of Business Development Training at Sheppard Mullin, where she leads the firm's business development and marketing training programs. She helps attorneys meet their goals, win new business, and maintain high client service standards. With over 25 years of experience in the legal industry, Joanna has worked with lawyers across various practice areas. She is also a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach® (CPCC), dedicated to helping others reach their full potential. Joanna is a strong leader with a talent for setting priorities, creating plans, and managing resources.Her focus is on driving growth and innovation for Sheppard Mullin and its clients.
2:30 PM – Inspire + Awards Presentation (Technology)
Inspire Innovation: Tech Trends Transforming Law Firms
Unleash the power of technology and AI to revolutionize your law firm. This session delves into practical applications of artificial intelligence, showcasing how leading firms are leveraging AI to enhance client experiences and boost efficiency.
Our Speakers:
James Keuning
Director of Innovation
Taft
James Keuning is the Director of Innovation at Taft. James focuses on the development and implementation of cutting-edge solutions that help Taft stay ahead of the curve and stay competitive as the Modern Law Firm. James works to find new and innovative ways to serve Taft’s clients and drive growth through the adoption of new technologies, the development of new service offerings, and the creation of new business models.
Rebecca Holdredge
Rebecca is a seasoned strategic problem-solver with a unique blend of legal, actuarial, and technological expertise. With over two decades of experience, she has a proven track record of turning vision into actionable goals. As a strategic leader, Rebecca excels at integrating people, processes, and technology to achieve business objectives. Her passion for knowledge-sharing and innovation has led to the successful implementation of cutting-edge technology solutions in various organizations. With a deep understanding of artificial intelligence and machine learning, Rebecca provides valuable insights into AI-enabled products and their applications within law firms. Her expertise drives efficiency, innovation, and profitability.
Scott David
Director of Legal Project Management and Process Improvement
Vorys Legal Counsel
Scott is the head of Vorys Project Management Office. He has spent more than 25 years working as a project manager in a variety of industries. At Vorys, Scott has managed a variety of legal project management and process improvement projects focused on creating efficiencies. He holds a Project Management Professional certification from the Project Management Institute and is certified in Lean Six Sigma. Scott is also Prosci Change Management certified. He is a frequent speaker on legal project management.
3:30 PM – Achieve + Awards Presentation (Communications)
Achieve Excellence: Mastering Effective Communication in the Legal Realm
In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, effective communication is more critical than ever. This session will explore how AI is reshaping content strategy and the implications for law firms. Learn how to navigate the shift from SEO to AI-driven content creation, identifying content formats that excel in the new search environment.
Our Speakers:
Sarah Collins
Director of Digital & Analytics
GreenTarget
Having started out bringing newsrooms onto digital channels, Sarah Collins knows that nothing engages audiences better than a great story. And having worked as a business reporter for Crain's Chicago Business, Billboard and The Chicago Sun-Times, she is uniquely able to uncover those stories and get them to the right people.
Joe Eichner
Associate VP, Content & Editorial
GreenTarget
Joe brings creativity, intellectual curiosity and a passion for language to his work crafting content for Greentarget clients.Joe has spearheaded some of Greentarget’s best content, including an award-winning cybersecurity research report, op-eds for the Washington Post, Financial Times, and USA Today, and a leading consultancy’s owned digital magazine. Joe knows what makes a good story and how best to tell it – in ways that connect with specific audiences, in whichever style suits it best.
Nathan Kamradt
Associate Vice President of Research & Planning
GreenTarget
Nathan leverages data to build credibility, complement expertise, and communicate complex ideas. At Greentarget, Nathan uses qualitative and quantitative methods to uncover key issues. He helps professional services firms develop authoritative research reports, gaining visibility among clients and media. Nathan leads Greentarget’s SEO capabilities and AI team. He holds a B.A. in Communications and a minor in Statistics from the University of Michigan. He is certified in AI growth strategy and SEMRush SEO, and is a member of the QRCA.
4:30 PM - Happy Hour Networking
6:00 PM – Event Concludes
LMA Body of Knowledge: Technology Management, Marketing Management & Leadership, Business Development, Communications
Location:
The Reserve | 3rd Floor - Accenture Tower
500 West Madison St.
Chicago, IL 60661
Costs:
Award Submission: $100 for first submission and $50 for additional submissions
Submit Here
Event Registration:
LMA Members: $100
Prospective LMA Members: $200
PLEASE NOTE: REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR THIS EVENT. WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE "WALK-IN" REGISTRATIONS. THANK YOU!
Group Registration—If you are interested in registering a group, please email LMAMidwest@legalmarketing.org.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
Support the Midwest Region through your sponsorship of 2024 YHA! Please contact Jennifer Novotny, jnovotny@ennisbritton.com, & Alyson Fieldman, alysonfieldman@gmail.com for more information.
For questions or concerns about your event registration, please contact lmamidwest@legalmarketing.org.