SIDEBAR Summer/Fall 2020 - 21

MONTGOMERYBAR.ORG

SIDEBAR FEATURE

MBA BIDS FAREWELL TO
LONGTIME EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Nancy Paul
I

n mid-January when Executive Director Nancy Paul first
announced her plans for retirement, terms like global pandemic
and social distancing were far more common in science fiction
novels than in news headlines. Of course, a lot's changed since then,
and to the relief of many, Paul agreeably remained at the helm well
beyond her intended April departure date; through the first wave of
COVID, and until now when a successor for the 135-year-old, 2,000
member organization is ready and able to take the wheel.
The retirement of a 30-year bar exec like Nancy Paul will be widely
felt, but like so many in the year 2020, any plans for a storybook
sendoff will have to wait. Fortunately though for Paul, she'll retire as
she's aspired to - on the best of terms and with the fondest of memories
fully intact. She'll be leaving an organization transformed and
sustainable, with plenty of reason for optimism, energy and growth for
another 30 years. Her legacy will be that of a compassionate, forwardthinking, and progressive bar exec with an exceptional commitment
to service, membership, and fiscal sustainability. Her achievements

for the MBA will not be forgotten, nor will they be for
other organizations she's helped and led along the way.
And while Nancy has maintained a certain glow in recent
months working from the suburbs, the mountains, and
her new house at the shore, she admits missing the good
friends she's been blessed with seeing and working with at
the MBA, and in her various roles with the PBA, CCBL,
CCLJ, ALA, LASP, NABE, and ABA.
Following Nancy's announcement in January,
President Patrick J. Kurtas wasted no time appointing an
ad-hoc search committee to help identify and hire the
MBA's next Executive Director. Aggressively soliciting
applications from associations and prospective candidates
across the country, nearly 50 applicants received initial
consideration, followed by several hours of interviews and
discussion before finalizing a selection. As one member
of the search committee stated, "Finding a great successor
to Nancy Paul we will do, but you can't enter a process
like this expecting to find another Nancy. She's been
very special to a lot of people." Thank you and good luck,
Nancy. You will be deeply missed.

S U M M E R / FA L L 2 0 2 0 2 1

http://www.montgomerybar.org

SIDEBAR Summer/Fall 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of SIDEBAR Summer/Fall 2020