HCBA Lawyer Magazine Vol. 29, No. 4 | Page 35

2018 Outstanding Lawyer Award Presented to Tom Gonzalez at its diversity Membership luncheon in January, HCBa presented its highest annual award, the outstanding lawyer award, to Tom gonzalez of Thompson, sizemore, gonzalez & Hearing, p.a. This award recognizes an attorney who has made a significant difference in the practice of law and the community because of his or her personal and professional ethics and conduct. This year’s recipient, Tom gonzalez, is a shareholder with Thompson, sizemore, gonzalez & Hearing, and regarded as a preeminent expert in the field of labor and employment law. gonzalez is considered in the legal profession to be a brilliant, tough trial lawyer, who advocates tirelessly for his clients. He has tried innumerable cases before the federal and state courts in Florida, as well as the state appellate courts. He also is regarded as a mentor to many in the profession, who have learned how to be a better lawyer and citizen from him. gonzalez Tom Gonzalez receiving the Outstanding Lawyer Award from fellow shareholder Greg Hearing at Thompson, Sizemore, Gonzalez & Hearing, P.A. has always recognized the importance of community service and created a culture of service in his firm. early in his career, he represented indigent criminal defendants in federal court. He also spent much of his career in service to local government entities, including the City of Tampa where he served as City attorney; the Hillsborough County school Board, where he served as the long-time school Board attorney; and the Florida College system risk Management Consortium, where he served as general Counsel. gonzalez has also dedicated his time to the legal profession, serving as president of the HCBa from 1984-1985, and serving on the executive Council of the labor and employment section of The Florida Bar, as well as the Board of governors of The Florida Bar. Congratulations to Tom gonzalez on this well-deserved honor! WELCOME NEW HCBA MEMBERS Lauren Anna Baio John Robert Bello, Jr. Lisa Blake Elizabeth Burchell David T. Cellitti Thania Diaz Clevenger Eric Feld Jeffrey S. Glassman Kezia Hill Claire Howe Ashley Ivanov Allison Jackson Amika Jeffries MAR - APR 2019 | HCBA LAWYER Jennifer Jordan Mark A. Kornfeld Susan Shorter Lopez Andrea Lundy Allen C. Macchiavello Michael Thomas Maguire Dakota Miller McLean Andrew Joseph Mirabole A’isha Muhsin Karen W. Mulroe Edwin Narain William D. Nelson Henry Ortiz Jennifer Lynn Podelco Kevin Barry Reali Matthew Lee Reeder Conor Rigsby Blair Roberts Laura Rybka Jessica Spencer Keebler Straz Beth Ann Tobey Assita Toure James Vazquez Susan Washburn Marcy Wilson 33