YOUR VOTE COUNTS!
SLATE OF OFFICERS FOR
THE 2014-2015 TERM
As required under the South Florida Paralegal Association By-Laws, the Nominations and
Elections Committee introduces the Slate of Officers who are duly qualified and seek your vote to
represent you as your Board of Directors for the upcoming 2014-2015 term. To cast your vote, you must be
in attendance at the election on March 25, 2014 or submit your Absentee Ballot no later than March 20,
2014. You are highly urged to be present and elect the officers whom you feel will best represent you in the
next year.
Office of President
Candidate: Nora Portuando, CP, FRP
Office of Vice-President
Candidate: Mayda Nahhas, CP
Office of Treasurer
Candidate:
Janet Betancourt, CP, FRP
Office of Secretary
Candidate: VACANT (Nominations from the
floor will be accepted)
Office of NALA Liaison
Candidate:
Arturo Rodriguez, CP
Candidate:
Liana L. Tommasi, CP
Office of NFPA Liaison
Candidate:
Mary Ann Myskiw-Jones
Please see the following biographies which provide professional information on each candidate.
SLATE OF OFFICERS’ BIOGRAPHIES FOR 2014-2015 TERM
Candidate for President
Nora Portuando, CP, FRP
Nora E. Portuondo is Florida Registered Paralegal who is employed with the law firm of Shuts & Bowen LLP
in the firm’s litigation practice group. She received her certificate in paralegal studies from Florida
International University and obtained her national certification through NALA. She has served on the SFPA
Board as NFPA liaison and Vice President. Nora currently serves as SFPA President and FAPA
Delegate. Nora volunteers annually for the Humane Society/Cat Network’s free spay and neuter weekend in
South Dade, Florida and contributes to organizations with missions to reduce animal overpopulation and
improve animal welfare.
Candidate for Vice-President
Mayda Nahhas, CP
Mayda Z. Nahhas, CP, is a senior litigation paralegal for Kluger Kaplan Silverman Katzen & Levine, P.L. Ms.
Nahhas been a paralegal for over 17 years and participates in all aspects of trial preparation and participation.
She currently serves as the Employment Chair for the South Florida Paralegal Association Ms. Nahhas is also
currently the adjunct professor teaching the Legal Assistant course for FIU's Legal Studies Institute and enjoys
mentoring future legal professionals.
Candidate for Treasurer
Janet Betancourt, CP, FRP
Janet Betancourt has worked at Aballi Milne Kalil, P.A. since 1999. Janet earned the Certified Paralegal credential from
NALA in 2008. She has served the SFPA over various terms since 2009 in the capacity of Elections Committee Chair
and Ethics Chair on the Board of Directors. Janet helps the paralegal community in any way she can, and has mentored a
few people who were looking into the profession. Also, she has taught review courses in FIU for the SFPA’s CLA
Study/Review Course.
Candidate for Secretary
VACANT – NOMINATIONS FROM THE FLOOR WILL BE ACCEPTED
Candidates for Office of NALA Liaison
Arturo Rodriguez, CP
Arturo Rodriguez is a paralegal clerk with the Office of Firm Counsel at Greenberg Traurig, P.A. After several years in
the hospitality industry, Arturo returned to F.I.U to complete the Paralegal Certificate Program in 2009. In 2012, Arturo
ran for SFPA’s NALA Liaison chair, which he won. While learning the ropes of SFPA and what NALA was all about,
Arturo had to coordinate and run SFPA’s NALA CP Review and Study Guide. Simultaneously, he himself took the
Review and studied for the NALA CP exam, which he successfully passed. After membership renewals, SFPA’s NALA
CP Review and Study Guide is SFPA’s main source of income.
Based on comments and feedback from previous students of our Review, Arturo has tweaked the program and
consistently promoted the Review. SFPA has a record number of enrollees for the current session. Arturo is also looking
into expanding our Review into Broward County. Arturo has embraced email and social media as means to disseminate
important and relevant information for CPs.
Liana L. Tommasi, CP
Liana L. Tommasi is a Certified Paralegal at TotalBank. She has been working at TotalBank since 2013 in the
Debt Restructuring and Special Assets Departments. She works in conjunction with the banking officers in the
foreclosure process and the closing of the bank’s REO properties.
She has over 25 years of experience in the legal field as a paralegal, speaker, and trainer, in the areas of real
estate law, corporate law, bankruptcy law and litigation. Ms. Tommasi has authored training manuals in the real
estate practice for new associates.
She holds an Associates in Arts in Paralegal Studies from Miami Dade Community College and a Real Estate
Broker License. She is a member of the South Florida Paralegal Association and the National Association of
Legal Assistants. She also participates in civic activities by co-chairing an annual funding raising event in her
community and teaching children on a volunteer basis.
Candidate for Office of NFPA Liaison
Mary Ann Myskiw-Jones
Mary Ann Myskiw-Jones is a paralegal in the Gang Unit of the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office since 2010.
She graduated Miami Dade College’s Paralegal program in 2010. She is currently on the SFPA board as
secretary and NFPA primary. She is a member of LEX Paralegal Honor Society and is a member of the
Paralegal Advisory Committee at Miami Dade College.