MEET THE BOARD

Bridjette Hairston currently serves as Staff Attorney to the Honorable Stephen L. McIntosh at the Franklin County Common Pleas Court where she manages the civil docket of 300+ cases on a regular basis. Prior to the Court, Bridjette held legal positions at the Ohio Attorney General's Office, Franklin County JFS, the Legal Aid Society of Columbus, and the Ohio Civil Rights Commission. 

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Bridjette is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University School of Law and earned her J.D. with a concentration in Litigation/Alternative Dispute Resolution.  She is licensed to practice law in the State of Ohio and is admitted in The United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.

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Bridjette is actively involved in her local community, passionate about mentorship, and engaged in Diversity & Inclusion initiatives. 

Sara Valentine, a native of Zanesville, Ohio, is a Principal Member at Sitterley, Vandervoort & Nixon, Ltd. She focuses her legal practice in numerous areas as both plaintiff and defense counsel, including property disputes, consumer sales violations, fraud, construction litigation, trade secrets and non-competition litigation, medical malpractice, insurance litigation, personal injury, product liability, and complex litigation.

Sara received her B.A. from The Ohio State University while working for numerous local elected officials. She earned her J.D. from Capital University Law School by completing the evening program, working as a full-time employee during the day, and attending Capital University Law School classes during the evening hours. In addition, Sara worked as the Legal Research & Writing Teaching Assistant during each year of law school. She was a Capital University Law School Mock Trial team member and the Capital University Law Review.

Erica Arras is an Associate at Ice Miller LLP, practicing in the firm's Litigation Group and focusing on complex commercial litigation and business disputes as both plaintiff and defense counsel in a wide variety of industries and fields. She is licensed to practice law in the State of Ohio and is admitted in The United States District Courts for the Southern and Northern Districts of Ohio. 

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Erica received her B.S. from The University of Akron, followed by obtaining her J.D. from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. She has been an active member of WLFC since being selected as a law student liaison in 2019. A native of Youngstown, Ohio, she regularly returns to her hometown to visit friends and family. As a first-generation lawyer, Erica is passionate about being involved in the legal community and mentoring law students and junior attorneys as they begin their careers. 

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Gina began her law career managing the family firm Piacentino and Piacentino Co. LPA in Marion, Ohio. Gina was then approached by O’Connor, Acciani, & Levy, a Cincinnati-based partnership with no Central Ohio presence, to create and establish its Columbus office. Under her leadership and skill, the office quickly grew to have a reputable presence.

In 2014, Gina opened her own firm, bringing her considerable experience with litigation, particularly in personal injury, to guide and assist clients in her practice. Gina continues to be very active in both the Columbus and Marion communities. A past president of WLFC, she continues to remain dedicated to the organization by being a Trustee on the Executive Board. She has presented in several professional venues, speaking by invitation on a wide variety of topics including subrogation, ethics, client management and business ownership.

Personal experiences further bridge Gina’s depth of understanding and empathy so that she serves her clients to the highest and best of her abilities. Gina is a graduate of Miami University and the University of Akron School of Law.

Stephanie Hanna is a Staff Attorney at the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas; Owner of The Other 85, a business dedicated to helping attorneys take the work out of networking; and co-hosts the Capture Your Confidence Podcast.  She is passionate about re-entry, meeting people where they are, and working to make our community a better place.  She is married, has two step-kids, two kids, and a dog named Bugsy.