Spring Conference 2023

AGENDA | Download ⤵


Main Sessions

 
Jim Priest: Ethics

Bio:

Jim Priest is a recovering attorney, author, speaker, executive coach, and “people developer,” He currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Goodwill Industries of Central Oklahoma and brings a long-standing commitment to helping vulnerable and disadvantaged people.  A trial lawyer for over 34 years, Jim represented many municipalities across Oklahoma in police misconduct and employee related issues and trials.  He has also consulted with city and town officials on sensitive and politically charged investigations.  He worked extensively for many years with the Oklahoma Municipal Assurance Group on litigation matters.

Jim has written and spoken on the topic of Ethics in a wide variety of settings, serving as a founding board member of the Oklahoma Business Ethics Consortium and received the organization’s highest honor, the Executive Pilot Award.  His most recent presentation to OK Ethics, Leadership is An Inside Job, can be viewed here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6LPpRO3JV8

Jim likes to read, write, run, hike, and serves on several civic boards in his spare time. He’s written four books including his latest release titled “Leadership is an Inside Job” about the importance of character in leadership. 

Jim is married to his wife of 45 years Diane. They have two adult children, one namesake grandson named James and he is owned by two dogs, one called Oakley and one called Jeter named after retired Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter.

PRESENTATION ⤵

W.R. Moon Jr: Tends in Litigation Against Municipalities

Bio:

Michael Vanderburg: Legislation of Interest

Bio:

Craig Keith: Project Delivery in Construction Contracts

Roundtable Sessions

 
Table 1: Julie Lombardi - Public Construction Projects Bonds
 

Bio:

Julie Trout Lombardi received her degree from the University Of Oklahoma College Of Law in 1986 and has practiced in the areas of civil litigation, employment, constitutional and municipal law.  She has been the City Attorney in Owasso since 2005.

Bond Maintenance ⤵
Bond Performance ⤵
Bond Statutory Payment ⤵
Construction Bonds ⤵

Table 2: Beth Anne Childs- Animal Welfare & Control
Table 3: Ambre Gooch - Helping Cities & Towns Minimize Police Department Liability
 

Bio:

Ambre Gooch is Associate General Counsel at OMAG.  She joined OMAG in August 2021. Prior to joining OMAG, she was in private practice for 25 years where she defended municipalities and municipal employees around the state in federal and state court.  At OMAG, she provides guidance to municipalities regarding risk coverage and municipal risk issues.

This includes investigating Tort Claims, assigning defense counsel to municipalities when litigation ensues, overseeing that litigation, reviewing potential claims, reviewing personnel/employee policies, procedures, and handbooks, reviewing law enforcement claims and actions, reviewing potential personnel actions, and addressing issues that arise under the Open Records Act, the Open Meetings Act, and other municipal based statutes. 

Table 4: Leslie Myers - Tips for Reviewing Municipal Contracts
 

Education: 

  • Oklahoma State University, B.S. 1981

  • University of Oklahoma, J.D. 1984 

  • Experience: 

  • Private Practice – October 1984 – July 1985

  • Assistant District Attorney, 9th District, Stillwater, OK– August 1985 – March 1994

  • Assistant City Attorney, City of Broken Arrow, OK – September 1995 – August 1997

  • Assistant City Attorney, City of Tulsa, OK – August 1997 – November 2001

  • Chief Public Defender, City of Tulsa Municipal Court – November 2001 – October 2006

  • Assistant City Attorney, City of Broken Arrow, OK – October 2006 – December 2018

  • Assistant City Attorney, City of Tulsa, OK – January 2019 – Present 

Bar Memberships:

  • Oklahoma – October 1984

  • Oregon – 1995 (inactive)

Table 5: Jon Miller - Hot Topics in Planning & Zoning
 

Bio:

Jon was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1959. He was raised on a family dairy farm and beef ranch. Jon attended Oklahoma State University and graduated with a B.S. in 1981. He attended the University of Oklahoma College of Law because OSU did not have a law school. He was a member of the Order of the Coif and an Editor of the Law Review and graduated in 1984.

Jon was admitted to practice in Oklahoma in 1984 and is also admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the United States District Courts for the Western, Eastern and Northern Districts of Oklahoma, the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, and the Oklahoma Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and District Courts.

Jon is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association and the Canadian County Bar Association and served as past President of the Canadian County Bar. He has been the City Attorney for the City of Mustang since 2005.

Jon has been married to his wife LaWanda since 1988. They live in Piedmont, Oklahoma, and have two children and two grandchildren. Jon and LaWanda attend the First Baptist Church of Piedmont, where Jon serves as a Deacon and a Trustee.

Table 6: David Weatherford - Working with Councils & Boards
Table 7: Julianne Burton - Prosecution Update
Table 8: Monica Coleman - Employment Law Update
 

Bio:

Monica Coleman is an Associate General Counsel/Director of Personnel Services for OMAG.  Prior to joining OMAG in 2018, Coleman was an Assistant Municipal Counselor and Assistant Personnel Director for the City of OKC.

Ms. Coleman received her Juris Doctorate from Oklahoma City University and a B.S. in Business Administration from Oklahoma State University.  A member of the Oklahoma Bar Association, she is admitted to practice in the Western District of Oklahoma and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Table 9: Michael Vanderburg - House Bill 2259