Directors’ Biographies

2nd Vice President
Programs and Professional Development Chair

I began my legal career in California, also practiced in Arizona, and continue my career here in Missouri. I’ve spent the bulk of my career in corporate law, working in-house primarily for consumer goods corporations. My advanced certification is in real estate and I will begin the Missouri real estate licensure soon.

I currently work for Central Garden & Pet Company, a consumer goods corporation focusing on all things pet and garden, including domestic pets, equine, farm animals, vector control, and agriculture. I was born and raised in California and have been in Kansas City since June of 2019 and am enjoying it greatly.

Secretary
Public Relations Committee

I was a paralegal for 27 years with the Buchanan County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, St. Joseph, Missouri. I retired from that office in 2021. I am now a free-lance paralegal.

I have been a member of MPA since its inception. I have held the offices of Recording Secretary, Vice-President and President. I was also the editor of the MPAlert! for many years and I assist my husband, Bob Wells, with updates to the MPA website.

I believe MPA is truly important to the paralegal profession and have always worked diligently for MPA to that end. I continue to do so and assist MPA in moving forward to represent all paralegals in the State of Missouri. I have also always been active as an MPA member with the MOBAR Paralegal Committee - assisting in filing the Committee's appeal in 2015 to get reinstated by the Missouri Bar.

Treasurer
Budget and Finance Chair

I graduated from Missouri Western State College in December 2003 with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with emphasis on Legal Studies. I also have an Associate’s Degree in Art from Maple Woods Community College. I also have my Paralegal Certificate from Missouri Western.

I have worked at Office of The Chapter 13 Trustee since May 1998. I worked my way from file clerk to my current job, Paralegal Bankruptcy Specialist. I have been a paralegal since January 2004. I have only worked in Chapter 13 bankruptcy law. I am married and have a 5-year-old little girl. I also have a dog and a cat. I like to read, hang with friends, watch TV. I am currently the social media person for the Missouri Paralegal Association. Also, I am currently serving as the Missouri Paralegal Association treasurer.

Outgoing President

I have been a paralegal for 31 years. After graduating from Missouri Western State University with degrees in Criminal Justice and Legal Studies, I began my career working for a solo practitioner. I then moved on to work as a loan closer in the mortgage business, a free lance paralegal doing probate work, and worked as a paralegal for a small litigation firm. These experiences led me to my current job as a Paralegal Bankruptcy Specialist for the Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Trustee for the Western District of Missouri. I have been at my current position for approximately 16 1/2 years.

I have been a member of MPA ever since the organization was created. I have held various positions within the organization including the posts of President, First Vice President, Second Vice President and Secretary. In addition, I have also held various committee chair positions. I am extremely proud to be a paralegal and love my profession. I feel that MPA provides us with a way to share a united voice in issues related to our profession. I am proud to call myself a member and I am excited for what MPA has achieved to date and extremely excited to see where it will go in the future.

MPA President
Membership Co-Chair
NFPA Secondary Delegate

I began working for Williams Law Firm as a paralegal in 2013. I mainly assist with civil litigation, family law and personal injury cases. I have an Associates Degree is Paralegal Studies and am currently working towards my Bachelor’s in Business Management. I am a Core Registered Paralegal (CRP). I am the current president for MPA and secondary delegate for NFPA. I am very excited to represent MPA and hope to provide an outreach opportunity to other paralegals across Missouri.

Public Relations Committee
Newsletter

I obtained a Bachelors in Political Science and a Masters in Legal Studies from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. I began my Paralegal career at HeplerBroom handling asbestos mass tort matters. After two years there, I worked for Kurowski Shults handling asbestos mass tort matters. Deciding I needed change out of the toxic tort world, I worked for Stanton Barton LLC, handling products liability and personal injury matters. I am currently a paralegal at Goldblatt + Singer and couldn't be happier helping clients.

I am active in professional organizations and taking continuing education courses. I love learning and strive to be as educated and informed as possible.

In my spare time, I enjoy St. Louis Cardinals games, St. Louis Blues games, concerts, and my yorkie, Bella.

NFPA Primary Representative
Public Relations Committee
Social Media

Mandy Chapman is employed as a litigation paralegal at Wolff & Wolff Trial Lawyers in St. Louis. She primarily works on medical malpractice, HIPAA, and Worker’s Compensation plaintiff’s cases. Prior to joining Wolff & Wolff, Mandy worked on health law, class action, municipal law, business litigation, eDiscovery, and personal injury (plaintiff and defense) matters. Mandy holds a bachelor’s degree in both Education and History from Missouri Valley College (magna cum laude) and a paralegal certificate from Adams State College (with honors).

In 2011, she earned the Registered Paralegal (RP) designation through NFPA. In 2014, she was honored by the St. Louis Paralegal Association, receiving the Paralegal Legend award. In 2018, Mandy obtained both a certification in Legal Project Management and advanced certification as an LPM Coach. As an LPM Coach, she worked with practice groups to educate and implement project management skills, designed to increase efficiencies, assist with process improvement, and evaluate strategic pricing data.

Mandy is an active member of several professional associations at the local, state and national levels, and has held several leadership positions with the Missouri Bar Association’s Paralegal Committee, the Missouri Paralegal Association and the St. Louis Paralegal Association. She continues to serve as a paralegal mentor to students and junior paralegals and on several Paralegal Advisory Committees for national paralegal education programs. Mandy has published professional articles in the legal industry and regularly presents CLEs on myriad topics. In her spare time, Mandy enjoys kayaking, home remodeling projects, watching Cardinals baseball and Packers football, and eating out at ethnic restaurants.

This position is currently OPEN.

1st Vice President
Professional Standards and Ethics Chair
Membership Chair

Rachel has been a paralegal for the past 11 years. She is currently a paralegal at Jack Henry & Associates focusing on contract and business law. Rachel graduated from the University of Missouri Kansas City with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science in 2008. She received her Paralegal Certification from Johnson County Community College in 2010.

Rachel married and moved to Springfield, MO in 2010. From 2010-2016 she worked as a paralegal at McAnany, Van Cleave, and Phillips specializing in insurance defense. From August 2016 - 2019, Rachel worked as a paralegal at Ellis, Ellis, Hammons & Johnson handling a variety of defense cases. Her hobbies include reading, golf, travel, running after her 18-month-old daughter, and spending time with friends and family. Rachel is involved in a variety of community organizations and she currently sits on the board of the Junior League of Springfield, Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland, and Missouri Paralegal Association.

I began my legal career in 2008 as a receptionist, and I have been a paralegal for 10 years. I have been with Evans and Dixon, LLC in Springfield, Missouri, for almost six years now – working mostly in various types of litigation and insurance defense.

I have been a member of MPA for about a year and I would love the opportunity to become more involved and help to advance and improve the paralegal profession, whether as a director or a member. I love what I do and I’m excited to work with other professionals who enjoy what they do too!

I am originally from Joplin, Missouri, and now reside in Springfield.

I started working for the Juvenile Court in 2015. I graduated from college in 2017 with an Associate’s in Paralegal Studies. In 2019, I graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Criminal Justice.

While completing my Bachelor’s Degree, I was accepted into one of the most prestigious Criminal Law internship programs in Washington, DC. There, I worked as a Criminal Law Investigator and was assigned to the trial division investigating Felony Murders. I co-chair or Social Equity Team and serve on multiple diversity committees and an environmental committee.

This position is currently OPEN.