DRI’s Annual Professional Achievement and Service Awards celebrate and honor outstanding performance by state and local defense organizations (SLDOs), DRI law firms and individual members.
These awards identify peers who deserve recognition either for their professional contributions to, and achievements on behalf of, the defense bar and the civil justice system or their involvement in community and public service activities that have a positive impact on society at large. Recognition enhances members’ personal growth and accomplishments, provides us all with role models and strengthens members’ images in the legal and business communities and with the general public.
Winners will be announced at the Celebration of Leadership on Friday, October 15, held in conjunction with the 2021 DRI Annual Meeting in Boston, MA from October 13–16.
The 2021 award recipients are as follows:
LOUIS B. POTTER LIFETIME PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AWARD
John C. Trimble, Indiana
DRI FOUNDATION COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD
Melissa K. Roeder, Washington
TOM SEGALLA EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION AWARD
Stephen O. Plunkett, Minnesota
DAVIS CARR OUTSTANDING COMMITTEE CHAIR AWARD
Tracey L. Turnbull, Commercial Litigation Committee
KEVIN DRISKILL OUTSTANDING STATE REPRESENTATIVE AWARD
Michael D. Carter, Oklahoma
ALBERT H. PARNELL OUTSTANDING PROGRAM CHAIR AWARD
Gary L. Howard, Diversity and Inclusion Seminar
SLDO DIVERSITY AWARD
Canadian Defence Lawyers (CDL)
RICHARD H. KROCHOCK AWARD
Shannon M. Nessier, California
VETERANS NETWORK MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD
Clint V. Cox, Texas
DRI SLDO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AWARD
Lynette D. Pitt, North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys
FRED H. SIEVERT AWARD
D. Cameron Beck, Jr., Virginia
RUDOLPH A. JANATA AWARD
Georgia Defense Lawyers Association (GDLA)
G. DUFFIELD SMITH OUTSTANDING PUBLICATION AWARD
Michael J. Ruttinger, FTD July 2020
To learn more about the awards and to view past recipients, visit our awards brochure (PDF).