CWBA ANNUAL CONVENTION SPEAKERS

May 16-18, 2025

CLE credits to be requested

Click here for our current list of speakers and agenda!

Mary Lathrop Trailblazer Award Honoree

The Hon. Angela R. Arkin 2025 Honoree

The CWBA's prestigious Mary Lathrop Trailblazer Award will be presented during a special reception the evening of Friday, May 16, 2025. Read more about the history of the award and see a list of previous recipients here. 

Own The Room: Building Relationships and Self-Confidence

Strengthen your resilience muscle in this powerful workshop led by Nhi Aronheim, Speaker, Mediator at Mighty Mediator, and Author of "Soles of a Survivor". Resilience is key to building emotional and mental strength, allowing individuals to rise to challenges, persevere, and transform obstacles into opportunities for growth. Resilient people embrace challenges and see constructive feedback as a tool for self-improvement, while others may avoid challenges out of fear of failure.

CRASHING THE GLASS CEILING: A Panel of Firsts

Moderator:

CWBA President Carime Lee

Carime Lee is the first Colombian to serve as President of the Colorado Women’s Bar Association (CWBA). She is a Senior Attorney at the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA), where she advises the home finance business unit in making homeownership possible for Coloradans.

Panelists:

Judge Christine M. Arguello

Judge Christine M. Arguello is the first Latina woman to serve as a federal judge in Colorado. She was appointed to the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado in 2009 by President Barack Obama. Her appointment made history as a trailblazer for both women and the Latino community in the state's judicial system.

Representative Elizabeth Velasco

Enid Wade

Enid Wade is a prominent leader in Colorado and is the first Black woman to serve as General Counsel for Denver Health and Hospital Authority. She has been an advocate for education equity and has worked to improve the educational system for all students in Colorado, particularly for underserved communities. Wade's leadership and advocacy have made her a trailblazer in both the legal and Black communities in Colorado.

Luncheon Keynote: Paula Boggs

American attorney, musician, public speaker, former military officer, and
CEO & Founder of Boggs Media LLC.

Embracing Challenge to Break Barriers:
Protecting What is Ours by Taking Risks and Defending the Rule of Law

Paula Boggs’ journey is a powerful testament to women’s empowerment, resilience, and the courage to shine in one’s truth. From breaking barriers as one of the first women to receive a Congressional appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy to earning her Army Airborne wings and serving as a Regular Army officer, she has continuously defied expectations. Her legal career spans high-impact roles in public service and corporate leadership, including serving as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, a staff attorney on the White House Iran-Contra Legal Task Force, and as a partner at Preston Gates & Ellis, LLP. She later shattered glass ceilings in the corporate world, leading legal teams at Dell Corporation and Starbucks Corporation as Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary. Through each of these roles, she navigated legal, ethical, and corporate challenges while advocating for diversity, inclusion, and principled leadership.

Ms. Boggs learned at a young age the power of taking risk when her mother relocated her family to Germany. Ms. Boggs speaks to the changes she embraced as a young person and how change in one’s environment can inspire a platform for new opportunities and growth. Inspired by her own family’s journey, Ms. Boggs has taken risks in her legal career by challenging herself to pursue and excel in diverse and dynamic positions. Her broad and unique experience in leadership roles offers insight to seeking out change, overcoming adversity, and identifying the barriers yet to be broken.

Calling upon her depth of experience as corporate counsel for major U.S. companies and staff counsel in the White House serving under four different presidents (two Republicans and two Democrats), Ms. Boggs is uniquely situated to speak to the current challenges facing DEI in the law and private sector. Whether you are a litigator, a transactional lawyer, or government lawyer, every lawyer is held to the rules of professional conduct and defending the rule of law. Ms. Boggs will review emerging legal challenges facing corporate America and the legal profession and identify how these issues implicate attorney ethics. This presentation will empower attendees to recognize these challenges and the role of attorneys in protecting the rule of law. This will be an engaging and timely discussion about how each of us “show up” in our capacity as lawyers to defend and protect our own ethics, our clients, and our ability to thrive in the law.

Beyond law, Ms. Boggs has embraced her truth as a musician, proving that empowerment is about embracing all facets of one’s identity. As the frontwoman of the Paula Boggs Band, she has redefined success on her own terms, demonstrating the power of authenticity and reinvention. Her career embodies the message that women in law can lead with purpose, break boundaries, and cultivate passions beyond traditional legal paths. This CLE session will inspire attendees to embrace their unique strengths, advocate for themselves and others, and harness their power to lead in law, business, and beyond.

Courageous Leadership: Bring Your Authentic Self

Join Tara Dunn, entrepreneur and practicing attorney, for an empowering session on how to tap into your intuition, identify your core values, and bring your most authentic and courageous self to your life, work, and leadership.

Building your Influence Legacy: Amplifying your Voice and Presence in the Legal Field

Join Kami Guildner, CEO & Founder of Kami Guildner Coaching and Business Coach for High-Vibe Women Entrepreneurs, for an interactive session where you'll gain insights and strategies to amplify your voice, establish a lasting presence, and expand your impact in the legal profession. Together, we'll explore how to build a legacy of influence by unlocking your unique expertise, shaping how you're seen and heard, and creating a clear path forward that elevates both your career and contributions to the field.

Roundtable Sessions:
How To Be Bright, Build Bridges, and
Break Barriers

Marnie Adams

Session Details Coming Soon!

Katayoun Donnelly

Session Details Coming Soon!

Ashley Fetyko

Session Details Coming Soon!

Amanda Gall

Session Details Coming Soon!

Stand Out and Build Trust: How Storytelling Can Transform Your Legal Practice

In today’s competitive legal world, the most successful attorneys use storytelling to go beyond expertise, highlighting their unique approach to attract clients, build trust, and establish a lasting legacy. Join Melanie Herschorn, Founder and Publisher at Big Impact Books, and expert in strategic storytelling and publishing for attorneys, to discover how sharing your firm’s story can elevate your personal brand, unlock new business avenues, and set you apart in the crowded legal marketplace.

AI roundtable "breaking barriers"

Join Elizabeth Horton, Senior Associate Attorney at Davis Graham, and Christa Melde, AI Sales Lead for Global Large Law at Thomson Reuters, for a discussion on the implementation of artificial intelligence in the legal profession.

Pursuing Your Passions

Join Chris Lamb, Partner at Fortis Law Partners and mediator, for an interactive roundtable discussion on how you can enrich your life by engaging with your passion, whether it’s inside or outside the law. Break out of your regular routine, embrace the unknown, and step out of your comfort zone.

Cultivating Resilience and Community as a Young Lawyer

Starting a legal career can be both rewarding and overwhelming. Join Camille Moore, Staff Attorney at the Community Economic Defense Project, for a presentation that explores strategies for building resilience in the face of challenges, fostering meaningful professional connections, and creating a supportive community. Through real-world insights and practical advice, lawyers will learn how to sustain their passion, navigate setbacks, and thrive in their careers.

From the Courtroom to the Capitol: Running for Office, Leading a Team, and Life as a Legislator

Join Beth McCann, Former Denver District Attorney, for a discussion on running for elected office and managing a large office. Beth will share her insights on criminal law topics as well as what it’s like to be a legislator, offering valuable perspectives on leadership, public service, and navigating the complexities of both the legal and political worlds

Katie McLoughlin

Session Details Coming Soon!

Katherine Otto

Session Details Coming Soon!

Carving Out a Values-Driven Career: Aligning Passion with Purpose

Join Azra Taslimi, Attorney at Rathod Mohamedbhai, for a discussion on how to build a career rooted in personal values, even in the face of obstacles. Azra will share her journey, the challenges she has faced, and how staying true to her values has shaped her professional path.

Colette Tvedt

Session Details Coming Soon!

Nga Vu’o’ng-Sandoval

Session Details Coming Soon!

A special live session of “On What Grounds?” LIVE Leadership Café

Session Details Coming Soon!

Discussion Leaders:

CWBA President-Elect Alison Connaughty

Alison Connaughty is this year's President-Elect of the Colorado Women's Bar Association and will be leading this discussion.

Regan Byrd

Regan Byrd is the Founder and CEO of Regan Byrd Anti-Oppression Consulting

Colorado Diversity Bar Leaders:

Annie Martinez

Annie Martinez is the President of the Denver Bar Association