Sanchez-Medina presents President’s Awards of Merit
Alice Sum and Roland Sanchez-Medina
During the General Assembly June 27 at the Annual Florida Bar Convention in Boca Raton, outgoing President Roland Sanchez-Medina, Jr., honored the following lawyers with President’s Awards of Merit:
- Alice Sum, a member of the Board of Governors and an attorney with the SEC in Miami.
Sanchez-Medina said Sum has provided leadership on numerous Board and Bar committees, tireless contributions to the legal profession, and willingness to assist with several time and work intensive special committees.
“For those that don’t know Alice, she has a special personality, the very definition of candid, dedicated to always doing the right thing.”
Sum thanked Sanchez-Medina for being the "quiet leader” we needed this year.
“Thank you for being the leader who taught us that listening is very important,” Sum said, “and for the example he provided to all of us to give us the space to do the work that needs to be done, to do the work the court expects of us to be done and to handle our regulation of lawyers that has both teeth, but also the balance that needs to be provided to our members.”
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Monica Vigues-Pitan and Roland Sanchez-Medina
Monica Vigues-Pitan, who served as a Board liaison this year and “was a wonderful addition to the Board of Governors.”
“She was always prepared, insightful, and engaged, and always did it with a smile,” Sanchez-Medina said.
As CEO of Legal Services of Greater Miami, he said Vigues-Pitan provided the Board a unique perspective of a legal services provider.
Vigues-Pitan said serving on the Board of Governors has been a privilege.
“In the legal aid community, we are deeply committed to access to justice, and it has been both energizing and inspiring to see how far the leadership is also deeply committed to that value,” Vigues-Pitan said.
Marshall Cassedy Award
Lauren Baugh
Sanchez-Medina also presented the Marshall Cassedy Award to Lauren Baugh, executive director of the Lee County Bar Association.
The award is presented to a local bar, a Bar executive, or to staff members who have provided extraordinary service to the Bar or to a local bar. It honors the legacy and attributes of Marshall R. Cassedy, Sr., who served as executive director of The Florida Bar from 1961-1980.
Sanchez-Medina said Baugh's unwavering dedication, tireless efforts, and exceptional leadership have made LCBA a standout voluntary bar organization in Florida.
"Lauren has demonstrated unparalleled commitment to fostering positive relationships with advertisers, members, the judiciary, and voluntary bar associations throughout the state," Sanchez-Medina said. "It is truly remarkable how Lauren has cultivated a vast network of lawyers and community business owners, engaging with them in ways that strengthen the LCBA and its impact."
Baugh's contributions extend beyond LCBA, as she has played an instrumental role in organizing the Voluntary Bar Leaders Conference for The Florida Bar. Her vision and dedication have made her an invaluable asset not only to LCBA, but also to the broader legal community, Sanchez-Medina said.
Kirk Haas Award
Mike Tanner
Sanchez-Medina also presented the G. Kirk Haas Award to former Bar President Michael G. Tanner for meritorious service to the legal profession.
The award recipient is selected annually by the Bar president, and the recipient then selects a Florida law school and a scholarship is awarded to a second-year student who demonstrates an exceptionally high degree of integrity, ethics, professionalism, and a concern for others.
Kirk Haas was a member of The Florida Bar who practiced law in Miami until his untimely death in 1987. He was recognized by many for his humanity and legal ethics as well as his skill and professionalism. The G. Kirk Haas award was established in 1998 by then-Bar President Edward R. Blumberg, to recognize a Florida Bar member for his or her meritorious service to the profession.
Sanchez-Medina said Tanner is a dedicated public servant constantly modeling stellar ethics and impeccable professionalism — whether debating on the Board of Governors, in the courtroom, or serving as a missionary.
Sanchez-Medina said professionalism was a primary focus during his term as president and he appointed a special professionalism committee "whose recommendations resulted in lasting positive changes to the Bar and the legal profession."
Tony Boggs Excellence in Discipline Award
Donald A. Workman
This year’s Tony Boggs Excellence in Discipline Award was presented to Board of Governors member Donald A. Workman for his years of exemplary leadership and dedication to the Disciplinary Review Committee.
Sanchez-Medina said Workman, an out-of-state member from Washington, D.C., rarely misses a meeting, always reads all the materials, asks pertinent questions, and routinely participates in case discussions.
Sanchez-Medina said Workman is an incredible public servant using his eye for detail and skill to identify the nuance in an immense volume of material and his work has improved the Bar and the legal profession.
"Thank you, Don, for all you have done for the Bar and the lawyer discipline system," Sanchez-Medina said.
