AFPA Board
David A. Moyer -- President
DAVID A. MOYER is a Freelance Paralegal/Notary and owner of Moyer Paralegal Services (http://www.moyerparalegal.com) in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Mr. Moyer's services include document preparation, legal and Internet research, consumer protection issues, and Notary Public. He has been a paralegal for 13 years and has experience in a variety of areas including Bankruptcy Law, Business Law, Consumer Law, Family Law, and Wills and Probate. Mr. Moyer has appeared as a guest lecturer at the Ursuline College Paralegal Program and the Institute for Paralegal Education. He is an Associate Member (Paralegal Committee) of the Ohio State Bar Association and President of the American Freelance Paralegal Association. Mr. Moyer holds an Associate Degree from Stark State College of Technology, earned his B.A. degree from Walsh University and Paralegal Certificate from the Academy of Court Reporting and Legal Studies. He also is the owner/moderator of the Yahoo Freelance Paralegal Group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/freelanceparalegal/ (with 200 plus members) that serves as a List serve for the Freelance, Independent and Contract Paralegal Small Business Owner.
Marsha Kopan -- treasurer
MKEParalegal was started by Marsha Kopan in 2005. Located in West Allis, Wisconsin (a suburb of Milwaukee), the company provides business management solutions and paralegal services.
In addition to starting MKE Paralegal, Marsha Kopan is the owner of Executive Secretarial Services and Association Management Resources. Prior to starting ESS and AMR in 1998 she owned an alarm company for over 20 years and has had employment in a variety of capacities prior to that. She has a B.S. in English from the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh and also holds a Paralegal Certificate. Other credentials include being a Certified Virtual Assistant and a Certified Real Estate Support Specialist.
Marsha Kopan has been involved as an officer in two associations. She served as Secretary of the Wisconsin Burglar & Fire Alarm Association for two terms; Vice President for one term; President for one term; and Past President for one term ending in 1998. The members of the International Virtual Assistants Association elected Marsha to Vice President of Membership in 1999. She served in that capacity until 2002. She remains active in IVAA’s various committees and was elected Secretary in 2007.
Marsha has also been active in Milwaukee’s PBS Great TV Auction for 30 years, currently serving as a Vice Chair of Retail Acquisition. In 2008 Marsha will have the honor of being the auction’s Co-Chair.
Jeannie S. Johnston - Director
Jeannie S. Johnston is originally from Warner Robins, Georgia. She attended Athens Technical College (ABA Approved) in Athens, Georgia where she obtained her Associate of Science degree in Paralegal Studies. She has worked as a Paralegal for over 15 years, has written articles for Legal Assistant Today as well as The Paralegal Reporter and has spoken at
Paralegal Conferences Nationwide. Additionally, Jeannie is the Founder of
ParalegalGateway.com, the largest Paralegal information portal on the World Wide Web and more recently, MyParalegalSpace - an online social networking
site for Paralegals. Jeannie lives in suburban Atlanta, Georgia with her
husband, Daniel and their four furry children Tricksy (the dog) , Riley (the cat), Carson (the cat) and Mr. Smithers (the cat).
Denise Shears -- recording secretary
Denise Shears is the president of Shears Virtual Advantage. Over the course of years, she has worked as both an office manager for a midsize law firm and a legal assistant. She has also worked in the medical field. She has spent these years acquiring the administrative skills needed to help a businessperson succeed in finding more time in their day to do what really matters most to them.
Denise is an independent business owner that pays her own taxes, provides her own benefits and works from her own office during set working hours. Denise partners “with you”; rather than working “for” you.
Denise is a member of Virtual Assistance Chamber of Commerce and Michigan VA's, and has various Brain Bench certifications.