Class of 1994

View your classmates' news and accomplishments by selecting your graduation year! The most recent class notes entries appear first on each page. If you have anything that you would like to include as a class note, you may submit a class note online or contact Becky Shepherd.

Sean Pittman, CEO, managing partner and founder of Pittman Law Group and ESPMedia Production Co. in Tallahassee, which were both included on the 2024 Seminole 100 list, ranked 97th and 59th respectively. Posted 3.6.24

 

Sean Pittman, CEO and managing partner of Pittman Law Group in Tallahassee, was recently honored by Florida Trend as one of the top business leaders in the state. Pittman founded Pittman Law over 20 years ago, and he has demonstrated a strong dedication to fostering diversity and inclusion. His establishment of scholarships for minority law students and undergraduates exemplify his commitment to creating opportunities for the next generation of legal professionals. Posted 11.15.23

 

Sean Pittman was recently named to the Board of Directors for the American Diabetes Association. Posted 6.8.23

 

Russell Kent recently joined Citizens Property Insurance Corporation as senior counsel, corporate. Posted 7.14.22
 

 

Judge Suzanne Van Wyk, an administrative law judge with the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings, will take office July 1, 2022, as president of The Florida Bar Foundation, a statewide charitable organization whose mission is to provide greater access to justice. Posted 6.30.22

 

Kelly O'Keefe was awarded Tallahassee Bar Association’s (“TBA”) 2022 Martha Barnett Women Lawyers of Achievement Award. Each year the award honors an outstanding woman lawyer who has achieved professional excellence, served as a mentor, and advocated for the advancement of women in the legal profession. Posted 4.18.22

 

Sean Pittman is the senior partner and chief executive officer of Pittman Law Group, P.L., which was recently ranked 56th on the Seminole 100 list. Posted 3.2.22

Christina Diaz Gonzalez was a recipient of a 2021 Florida Book Award. Selected from more than 130 publications, Gonzalez’s book, Concealed, was awarded the Gold Award for Older Children’s Literature. Posted 3.10.22 

Sean Pittman was awarded the distinguished Joe Lang Kershaw Award by The Florida Conference of Black State Legislators. The award is named after The Honorable Joe Lang Kershaw, the first Black legislator in Florida since reconstruction. Posted 3.1.22

 

Russell Kent is now senior counsel, corporate at Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. Posted 2.14.22 

Kelly O'Keefe was named to the 2022 Best Lawyers in America list in the areas of commercial litigation and litigation - real estate. Posted 8.25.21

 

Sean Pittman has been named to the 2020 edition of The INFLUENCE 100: The Most Influential People in Florida Politics. Posted 10.28.20

 

Kelly O'Keefe was named to the 2021 Best Lawyers list in the areas of commercial litigation and litigation - real estate. Posted 8.31.20

 

Kelly O'Keefe was recognized in the 2020 edition of Florida Trend’s Florida Legal Elite and was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Posted 7.1.20

 

Kelly O'Keefe was honored with a 2020 Tallahassee Women Lawyers Diversity & Inclusion Leadership Award. O'Keefe represents businesses, professional and family member fiduciaries and individuals in trust and estate litigation, real estate litigation and complex business litigation at Stearns Weaver Miller in Tallahassee. She also represents businesses before government agencies and advises candidates regarding campaign laws. Posted 6.16.20

 

Kelly O'Keefe was named a 2020 Florida Super Lawyer. Posted 6.16.20

 

The Honorable Martin A. Fitzpatrick has been appointed as a magistrate judge in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Tallahassee Division. Judge Fitzpatrick will begin his service with the court on April 3, 2020. Posted 3.27.20

 

Robert F. Kohlman moderated a discussion panel hosted by Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC, where he is a shareholder, titled, "Theoretical No More: Blockchain Technology, Cryptocurrencies and the Tax, Legal and Business Implications." Kohlman's practice areas include divorce, paternity, alimony/spousal support and child support, division of marital assets and liabilities, custody issues, modification proceedings, civil litigation, as well as drafting pre- and post-nuptial agreements. You can view a recording of the panel herePosted 2.17.20

 

Burruss_Melvin_web.jpgMelvin A. Burruss was elected to the Virginia State Conference's executive board as an at-large member. The VSC's elected board includes approximately 23 board members serving two-year terms. Board members are elected based on personal talents, experience, and enthusiasm for the work, and the need to represent a broad range of the state branches, and backgrounds among the overall board membership. Posted 12.20.19

 

Burruss_Melvin_web.jpgMelvin A. Burruss has joined the board of directors for the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce in Charlottesville, VA, and will serve a three-year term. Burruss is the producer and host of the award-winning local cable television community program, "The Neighborhood Law Center Inc." He is vice-chairman of the Chamber Business Diversity Council, board member of New Hill Development, and board member of Louisa County Broadband Authority. His practice has focused primarily on personal bankruptcy law. Posted 4.11.19

 

Marc W. Dunbar was interviewed on WFSU News, where he discussed the prospect of legal sports gambling in Florida. Dunbar is a partner at Dean Mead in Tallahassee and an adjunct professor of gambling law at FSU Law. Posted 2.5.19

Pittman_Sean_CollegePlayoff1_web.jpgSean A. Pittman appeared on national television during the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capitol One Orange Bowl. Pittman serves as president and chairman of the prestigious Orange Bowl Committee, which hosts its annual festival and game in Miami Gardens each year. This year was particularly special because of the college football playoff designation. Throughout his tenure, Pittman has directed efforts to fulfill the Orange Bowl’s longstanding devotion to the South Florida community. The Orange Bowl Committee created the Orange Bowl Beigel-Feis-Hixon Valor Award to memorialize fourteen students and the three coaches, Scott Beigel, Aaron Feis and Chris Hixon, who unselfishly gave their lives to protect those around them at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School (MSD), on February 14, 2018. Each year, a $10,000 scholarship will be awarded to a student-athlete in South Florida who displays valor and courage in the face of adversity. During the playoff game, Pittman honored MSD student Travis Julmice as the inaugural recipient for his steadfast resilience during the tragedy in Parkland. Pittman is the senior partner and chief executive officer at Pittman Law Group, P.L., with offices in Miami, Riviera Beach and Tallahassee. Posted 1.18.19

Photo: Pittman (L) presents the winning trophy to Alabama Coach Nick Saban (R). 

 

miller_travis_web.jpgTravis L. Miller, a shareholder and president at Radey Law Firm in Tallahassee, was recognized as one of the 2019 Best Lawyers in America in the area of insurance law. Posted 9.13.18

 

Marc W. Dunbar, a partner at Jones Walker LLP's Tallahassee office, was appointed to the Citizens Property Insurance Corporation Board of Governors. Posted 6.11.18

Sten T. Sliger co-authored the textbook, Hotel, Restaurant and Travel Law: A Preventive Approach (Eighth Edition), in July 2017 with Jane B. Ohlin ('86). They received the 2018 Textbook Excellence Award by the Textbook & Academic Authors Association. Sliger practices at Sliger Law Firm, P.A. in Quincy. Posted 4.12.18

Dena H. Sokolow, a shareholder at Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC in Tallahassee, was selected as one of Tallahassee's 25 Women You Need to Know by the Tallahassee Democrat. She has more than 20 years of experience counseling and defending employers and management on a wide range of labor and employment matters. Posted 3.21.18
 

pittman_sean_web.jpgSean A. Pittman was installed as the Orange Bowl Committee's 80th president and chair on January 22, 2018, at Riviera Country Club in Coral Gables. He has been a member of the Orange Bowl Committee since 2005. Pittman is the senior partner and chief executive officer at Pittman Law Group, P.L., with offices in Miami, Riviera Beach and Tallahassee. The firm specializes in the areas of government, administrative and corporate law. Posted 1.30.18
 

 

kohlman_robert_web.jpgRobert F. Kohlman is now a partner at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC in Miami. His practice focuses on complex marital and family law cases, as well as civil litigation. Kohlman was recognized on the 2016 and 2017 Florida Super Lawyers' Top 100 Lawyers list for Florida and on the 2017 Florida Super Lawyers' Top 100 Lawyers list for Miami. He also was recognized for his work in Florida Trend's 2016 Legal Elite. He serves on the board of directors of KidSlide Miami, a charity devoted to helping children in crisis during family law proceedings. Kohlman was previously a partner at Buckner, Shifrin, Etter, Dugan, Bradfute & Kohlman, P.A. Posted 1.29.18

 

taylor_damian_web.jpgDamian C. Taylor was installed as president of the Collier County Bar Association. He is a shareholder at Coleman, Hazzard, Taylor & Diaz, P.A. in Naples. He represents clients in labor and employment matters, and general civil litigation. Posted 11.14.17

 

Shira R. Thomas is now chief legal officer and general counsel at Florida A&M University. Posted 2.16.17