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Now Tennessee Bar Association members may send information about job changes, awards and work-related news. Send it to The Bulletin Board, c/o the Journal at 221 Fourth Ave. North, Suite 400, Nashville, TN 37219-2198. Submissions are subject to editing. Pictures are used on a space-available basis and cannot be returned.

Aubrey B. Harwell Jr., managing partner of Neal & Harwell, will chair the 31st Annual Human Relations Awards Dinner on May 9 in Nashville along with Dr. John E. Maupin Jr., president of Meharry Medical College. The dinner is presented by the National Conference for Community and Justice and honors selected Nashvillians for their leadership in promoting service, justice and equal opportunity in the community. Harwell recently received the "Nashvillian of the Year" award from Easter Seals Tennessee and has also received the Joe Kraft Humanitarian award from the Nashville Community Foundation and the John Tune Public Service award from the Nashville Bar Association.

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP in Atlanta, announces that Jay D. Mitchell has joined the firm of counsel. Mitchell earned a law degree from the Mercer University School of Law in 1988, and a bachelor's degree from Hampden-Sydney College. Prior to joining the firm, he served for more than five years as litigation and government investigations counsel for HCA Healthcare Corporation

The Knoxville law firm of Kramer, Rayson, Leake, Rodgers & Morgan LLP announces that former U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert P. Murrian has joined the firm as a partner after 24 years on the federal bench. Judge Murrian will focus his practice on mediation, litigation and appellate work. Robert L. Bowman has also become a partner in the firm. He is a 1995 cum laude graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law and is a member of the firm's employment law practice group. R. Jackson "Robbie" Pope has become an associate. He graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2001 and will work in the areas of corporate, business and commercial law.

Shumacker & Thompson PC, a Chattanooga law firm, announces that Karen Foster, Courtney N. Hoss, and Robert D. Philyaw have joined the firm as associates. Foster received her undergraduate degree from St. Mary's College of Maryland and her law degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law. Hoss received her law degree from the University of Memphis and her undergraduate degree from Indiana University. Philyaw holds undergraduate and master's degrees from Christian Brothers University and he received his law degree from the University of Memphis. Prior to attending law school, Philyaw worked as a region manager for Fort James Corporation.

The law firm of Colbert & Winstead in Nashville announces that two associates have joined the firm. Richard Stout earned his law degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law in 1997 and his undergraduate degree from Rhodes College. He previously worked with Baker, Donelson, Bearman & Caldwell for four years. Kent Thomas earned his law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1995 and his undergraduate degree from the University of Tennessee. He has worked for five years as counsel in the entertainment industry.

Phillip E. Walker has joined Waddey & Patterson, a law firm with offices in Nashville and Huntsville, Ala. Walker is a recent graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Law where he received the Greenbaum Doll & McDonald Award for academic excellence. Prior to entering law school, Walker worked as a regional marketing engineer for Trane Inc.

The Knoxville law firm of Frantz, McConnell & Seymour LLP announces that Beverly Dean Nelms has become a partner in the firm and Richard T. Scrugham Jr. joined the firm as an associate. Nelms received both her bachelor's and law degrees from the University of Tennessee; she joined the firm in 1997. Scrugham received his undergraduate degree, cum laude, from Duke University, was in the U.S. Navy for four years as an intelligence officer, and graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2000

Ana L. Escobar has joined the Nashville firm of Funk and Kay as of counsel. She earned her undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University and her law degree from George Washington University in 1995. She is a former assistant district attorney in Davidson County.

Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis announces that James M. Doran, a member of the firm in Nashville, has been named Tennessee state chair for the American College of Trial Lawyers. Doran has practiced law in Nashville for 32 years. He received a bachelor of science degree from Tennessee Technological University and a law degree from the University of Tennessee.

The firm also announces five new members to the Nashville office. Brian R. Browder received his bachelor's degree from Georgetown University and his law degree from Vanderbilt University. He previously practiced law at Burch, Porter & Johnson PLLC in Memphis. Robert A. Guy Jr. received his bachelor's degree from Whittier College and his law degree from Vanderbilt University. He served as law clerk to the Hon. Julia S. Gibbons, Federal District Court for the Western District of Tennessee at Memphis. Lela M. Hollabaugh received her bachelor's and law degrees from the University of Tennessee. Prior to joining the firm, she was a partner at Manier, Herod, Hollabaugh & Smith. MaryEllen Sullivan Pickrell received her bachelor's degree from Williams College and her law degree from Vanderbilt University. She was previously a corporate finance analyst for Salomon Smith Barney Inc. Mike Stewart received his bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania and his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law. He served four years as an intelligence officer for the U.S. Army, with service in Korea and Saudi Arabia.

The law firm of Harris, Shelton, Dunlap, Cobb & Ryder PLLC, announces that Michael R. Parham has joined the firm as an associate and will practice in the firm's Memphis office. Parham earned his law degree from Vanderbilt University and his LL.M. in estate planning from the University of Miami. Prior to joining Harris Shelton, Parham served as associate for Holbrook & Peterson in Knoxville.

Olen G. Haynes Jr. has joined the Johnson City law office of Arnold, Haynes & Sanders as an associate attorney. He received his bachelor's degree, cum laude, from the University of Tennessee and served three years as a prosecutor in the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps.

The Nashville law firm of Boult, Cummings, Conners & Berry PLC announces that five new associates have joined the firm. Tara L. Cleare received her law degree from Vanderbilt University School of Law and her undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University. Joseph G. DeGaetano received his law degree, summa cum laude, from the University of Georgia and his undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from Vanderbilt University. He served as a law clerk to the Hon. Phyllis A. Kravitch of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh District. Eric W. Smith received his law degree from the College of William and Mary and his undergraduate degree from Virginia Military Institute. Joycelyn A. Stevenson received her law degree from Vanderbilt University School of Law and her undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from Howard University. Robert L. West received his law degree from Vanderbilt University School of Law and his bachelor's degree from Duke University.

The law firm of Hunter, Smith & Davis LLP announces that D. Michael Tranum has become a partner with the firm. Tranum graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a bachelor's degree, the University of Tennessee at Knoxville with a law degree, and the University of Delaware Stonier Graduate School of Banking.

Also an attorney with Hunter Smith, Rebecca O. Cutshaw of Greeneville, was elected chairman of the board of directors of the Greene County Partnership for 2002. Cutshaw graduated from the University of Tennessee with a bachelor's degree in education. After teaching for four years, she earned her law degree at the University of Tennessee College of Law. She was in practice in Knoxville for 10 years and was a shareholder in the law firm of Kennerly, Montgomery & Finley PC.

The law firm of Leitner, Williams, Dooley & Napolitan PLLC announces that four attorneys have been named members of the firm: George H. Rieger II and Lawrence W. White (both joined the firm in 1997), and William H. Webb Jr. and Charles W. Poss (both joined in 1995).

Rieger received his bachelor's degree from the University of Tennessee and his law degree from Memphis State University; he practices in the Nashville office. White received his bachelor's degree from Indiana University and his law degree from Memphis State University; he practices in the Memphis office. Webb received his bachelor's degree from Florida State University in Tallahassee and his law degree from the University of Memphis; he practices in the Knoxville office. Poss received his law degree from Memphis State University and practices in the Chattanooga office.

Melissa Kurtz Blackburn, formerly of Rutherford, DeMarco, White & Blackburn, announces the opening of the firm of Blackburn and Associates in the L&C Tower on Church Street in Nashville. Blackburn represents creditors in state, federal and bankruptcy courts throughout Tennessee.

The law firm of Kiesewetter Wise Kaplan Schwimmer and Prather PLC announces that Paul E. Prather has been appointed by the Tennessee Supreme Court to the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization. Prather graduated from Freed-Hardeman College with an A.A. degree in speech communications, received a bachelor's degree, summa cum laude, and a law degree from the University of Memphis.

Osta Underwood, a Nashville estate attorney and retired insurance executive who was an early advocate for women's rights, died Feb. 23 after a long illness. She was 87. Underwood was honored as a legal pioneer in Tennessee last summer by the Tennessee Bar Association and the Lawyers Association for Women. In a video for the event featuring several pioneer women attorneys, Underwood talked about her work to change Tennessee law so that women could serve on juries, noting that at the time convicted felons could serve, but women could not. In addition to her advocacy efforts, Underwood served as president of the National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, and also had been president of the executive board of the Tennessee Baptist Convention and on the board of Baptist Hospital. She was admitted to practice in 1936 and after working in various real estate and insurance companies for most of her career, went into private practice at the age of 65.

Sherri Chafin, the Tennessee Bar Association's customer service representative who also handled accounts receivable for the last two years, has left the TBA to spend more time with her infant daughter, Allison. We'll miss you Sherri!

Pam Johnson is the TBA's new member relations coordinator. Before coming to the TBA, Pam worked for the Bank of America for 16 years.