CMPA Board
President (Acting), Vice President and NFPA Primary
SUSAN C. DUSSAULT is a paralegal at the law firm of Mirick, O’Connell, DeMallie & Lougee, LLP in Worcester, Massachusetts where she works with the Trust & Estates and Intellectual Property groups. Ms. Dussault received a B.S. in Liberal Studies and Certificate in Paralegal Studies from Assumption College in Worcester. She joined Mirick O’Connell in 1985 and began working as a paralegal in 1997. Ms. Dussault sits on the Advisory Board for Paralegal Studies at Assumption College and the Paralegal Curriculum Committee for Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE). She previously served on the Paralegal Advisory Committee for Bay Path College. She has served on the CMPA’s Board of Directors since 2002.
Treasurer/Membership Director
MELANIE A. ELLS is a Corporate Paralegal who has been with the law firm of Fletcher, Tilton & Whipple, P.C. in Worcester, Massachusetts for the past ten years. She deals in simple and complex business and corporate matters including business start ups, financing and mergers and acquisitions. She attended Quinsigamond Community College and received her A.S. in business studies and her Paralegal Certificate from Northeastern University. She has been a member of the CMPA since 2000 and previously served on the Board as Membership Director.
Clerk
TINA GIAKOUMIS has worked as a paralegal since 2000. She joined the Office of the General Counsel at UMass Memorial Health Care, Inc. in 2005 as an in-house paralegal. At UMass Memorial she assists with a variety of tasks, including corporate governance issues, contract review, patient care issues and legal research. Prior to joining UMass Memorial, she worked for CRICO/Risk Management Foundation in Cambridge, MA as a litigation paralegal for 5 years. Tina received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Siena College in Loudonville, NY; her Associates Degree in Baking & Pastry Arts from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI and her Paralegal Certificate from Northeastern University.
Professional Development and Programs Director
CHANDA KELLEY is a senior litigation paralegal at the law firm of Bowditch & Dewey, LLP in Worcester, Massachusetts and has worked there since 2002. Prior to joining Bowditch & Dewey, Ms. Kelley worked as a litigation paralegal at the law firm of Strasburger & Price, LLP in Dallas, Texas. Ms. Kelley received a B.A. in Psychology, cum laude, and an A.S. in Paralegal Studies, with honors, from Wichita State University. Ms. Kelley first began serving on the Central Massachusetts Paralegal Association's Board of Directors in 2010.
Fundraising Director
Barbara Bancroft
Newsletter Director
Diane Cook
Student Liaison
Katerina Kilmonis
Job Bank Director
DAWN L. MICHAUD has been with UnumProvident Corporation, Worcester, MA, since 2001. Dawn is a paralegal in the Law and Regulatory Affairs Department. She routinely deals with civil litigation, and specializes in insurance defense law. Dawn is a graduate of Mount Wachusett Community College, Gardner, MA, where she earned an associate’s degree in Liberal Arts. She also graduated from Notre Dame College, Manchester, NH, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Paralegal Studies. Dawn has served on the Central Massachusetts Paralegal Association’s Board of Directors since 2001.