Executive Consultant Appointed to Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania

(Lemoyne, Pa.) - The Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania announces the addition of Mr. Douglas Leonard, Senior Executive Consultant with Strategic Solutions International, Inc (SSI), to the Disciplinary Board.

The Disciplinary Board is an independent agency funded by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. It consists of 16 members, of whom 14 are attorneys and two are non-lawyers, from across the state. The Board assists the Supreme Court in carrying out its exclusive jurisdiction over the licensing and discipline of attorneys in Pennsylvania. The members meet regularly to decide cases, policies, and board administrative matters.

Leonard is one of the two non-lawyers serving on the Board. Leonard’s knowledge of client services brings a fresh perspective to the Board. His client experience ranges from large-scale project and employee management in both the public and private sectors to entrepreneurship and new business ventures. “As companies merge and businesses grow, I provide guidance on how to integrate business strategies, as well as new cultures and identities into the organization,” stated Mr. Leonard. Always looking for the unique abilities and passions within each person in an organization, Leonard, brings a keen sense of service to the Disciplinary Board. 

Prior to joining SSI, Leonard served as the Court Administrator for the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County for six years. Leonard also served five years on the Board of Directors and one year as President for the Pennsylvania Association of Court Management (PACM). Leonard’s legal background includes his work with the Pittsburgh based law firm of Mansmann, Cindrich and Titus where he served as the Legal Administrator for three years.

Leonard holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Management and Economics, and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. In addition, he is a certified mediator. In 2001, he co-authored a Sports Performance Profile based on the Birkman Method, and in 2003 Leonard was certified as a Sports Counselor through the National Institute of Sports Professionals.

About the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of PA
The Disciplinary Board’s goals are to protect the general public, maintain a high standard of integrity in the legal profession, and safeguard the reputation of the courts of Pennsylvania. The Disciplinary Board was created by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to review conduct and assure compliance by all attorneys to the Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct. For more information about the Disciplinary Board please visit www.padb.us.

For more information regarding this press release, please contact Megan Kurtz at Megan@TheSuasionWay.com or 717-432-2468.

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Living Well With A Disability Welcomes CBS 21 News Anchor, Tanya Foster as Spokesperson

(Camp Hill, Pa.) - The Center for Independent Living of Central PA (CILCP), a nonprofit organization which serves people with all types of disabilities in Dauphin, Cumberland, Perry, Mifflin and Juniata Counties is pleased to announce CBS 21 News Anchor, Tanya Foster is the spokesperson for its Living Well With A Disability program.

The Living Well With A Disability program is a one-stop resource for anyone with any type of disability - and it’s free. It connects the individual with a qualified Living Well specialist who will work with the person to identify his or her needs and goals, and develop a plan for meeting them. To begin, the individual will call the Living Well hotline (1-877-TO-LIV-WELL). A specialist will meet with the person to conduct a 25-point lifestyle assessment, which includes questions about the individual’s needs as well as their interests, hopes for the future, goals and dreams. From achieving a small task to accomplishing a life-changing goal, Living Well With A Disability is designed to help people with disabilities exceed their lifestyle expectations through one point of contact. 

“I can’t describe how thrilled I am to be part of such an incredible and important cause.  As the daughter of a mother who is Deaf, I know first-hand how important it is for those with disabilities to know what’s available to them.  What’s equally important, is educating everyone about the importance of sensitivity and empathy.  Together, CILCP and CBS 21 News, will be able to make tremendous strides for those with disabilities in Central PA.  It’s going to be a journey I will truly cherish in my heart,” stated Tanya Foster.

In October, Ms. Foster joined CILCP in celebrating its 20th anniversary by emceeing the organization’s benefit dinner. As spokesperson for Living Well With A Disability, she will continue to be a part of the organization’s events, educate the community, raise awareness of the program, and inspire people living with disabilities in Central PA to live their goals and dreams.

Executive Director of CILCP, Theo Braddy added, “We are blessed to have Tanya as our spokesperson. She truly understands the challenges that exist. She has a passion for building awareness, educating and opening the doors for people with disabilities. Our organization welcomes her with open arms. We are thrilled to have her represent this program.”

About Center for Independent Living of Central PA
The Center for Independent Living of Central PA (CILCP) is a consumer controlled, cross disability organization dedicated to assisting people with disabilities to achieve and maintain independent life styles. CILCP provides a one call, countless resources, endless opportunities service through the Living Well With A Disability program. Through this program CILCP serves its mission to advance the rights of persons with disabilities through the elimination and prevention of barriers that people with disabilities experience. The organization serves Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry, Mifflin, and Juniata counties. To learn more about CILCP’s mission and services, visit www.cilcp.org, and to learn more about the Living Well With A Disability program, visit www.livingwellwithadisability.org.

For more information regarding this press release or organization, please contact Megan Kurtz at 717-432-2468 or email Megan@TheSuasionWay.com.

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Suasion Brings Wake-Up Call to Harrisburg

Recently, downtown Harrisburg experienced an educational wake-up call concerning people with disabilities.  Derived from the extensive planning of an innovative team, Suasion organized a public awareness campaign for the Center for Independent Living of Central PA (CILCP) to educate people on what life is like for people with disabilities.  After months of preparation, an inspirational campaign was launched.

The campaign was a result of unique and out-of-the-box thinking. The goal of the campaign was to create a shock-factor due to the secrecy of the launch.  Without warning, the people of Harrisburg went to work on the morning of October 20th expecting the usual, only to be stopped in their tracks by posters, postcards, table tents, and Braille cards fluttering the high-traffic areas of 2nd street.  Posters were displayed in business windows; table tents stationed on bank coffee tables; Braille cards rested on restaurant tables; and postcards stacked on information desks – just a few of the locations where campaign materials appeared.

The unique design of these materials demonstrated Suasion’s out-of-the-box thinking.  A series of distinctively crafted pieces were formed around three specific disabilities. On each piece, a question was asked, but composed in a way that it could be modified for any location. The questions included: How would you ________ if you used a wheelchair? How would you ________ if you were blind? How would you _________ if you were deaf?

As Suasion posted the materials around the city, the team filled in the blank, based on the location of the poster, post card or table tent. Questions such as, “How would you fill out a deposit slip if you were blind?” and “How would you get to the second floor if you used a wheelchair?” are only two of the many strategically designed pieces that grabbed an onlooker’s attention.

The team at Suasion developed all aspects of the campaign - from the idea of launching an educational campaign to composing the news release that attracted media attention. In addition, Suasion’s team made countless phone calls to the businesses, restaurants, and organizations that displayed the materials in the city.

To increase the impact of the campaign, Suasion obtained media exposure by developing effective news releases and coordinating interviews with television news reporters. Both NBC affiliate, WGAL8, and CBS affiliate, WHPTV-21 conducted interviews with CILCP’s Executive Director and highlighted the unique campaign.

The campaign proved to be a great success. It not only created a lot of exposure for the Center for Independent Living of Central PA, but it also caused people to take a step back and look at life from a different perspective.

Disciplinary Board of Pennsylvania Provides New Tool For Understanding Attorney Disciplinary System

(Lemoyne, Pa.) - The Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania recently released an informational video, posted on its Web site (www.padb.us), entitled Assuring the Citizen Access to the Commonwealth’s Legal System. The video provides an overview of the Disciplinary Board and the activities that occur within the organization. It’s been designed to simplify what is a complex process, and to make it easy for both attorneys and consumers to understand the policies and procedures within the Disciplinary Board.

Led by a host and narrator, the viewer is provided a step-by-step understanding of the structure, various office locations, and rights afforded to the citizens of the Commonwealth when filing a complaint regarding the performance of an attorney. Of particular interest is the set of the video, shot primarily within the Chambers of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, which is located within the State Capitol building in Harrisburg.

To access the video from the Disciplinary Board Web site, enter the consumer or attorney section and click on “Overview Video” located under the About Us menu. By selecting the “Overview Video,” it will automatically download and begin running – lasting approximately ten minutes.

DVD copies of the video are available on special request from the Disciplinary Board by contacting the main administrative office in Lemoyne. It is suggested that groups or organizations request the DVD when downloading and watching the video online is not feasible. To obtain a DVD copy, contact the Disciplinary Board office at 717-731-7073, or by fax at 717-731-7080.

The Disciplinary Board’s goals are to protect the general public, maintain a high standard of integrity in the legal profession, and safeguard the reputation of the courts in Pennsylvania. The Disciplinary Board was created by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to review conduct and assure compliance by all attorneys to the Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct. For more information about the Disciplinary Board, please visit www.padb.us or contact Megan Kurtz at 717-432-2468 or Megan@TheSuasionWay.com.  

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