Two NALS?of Michigan members nominated for Award of Excellence

The Award of Excellence is the highest award given from NALS.

Candidates, who were nominated by their peers, submitted an extensive personal data form listing experiences, qualifications, and accomplishments.

The field was narrowed to three finalists, who will  participate in a personal interview during the NALS 64th Annual Education Conference and National Forum. The finalists will be recognized and the award recipient announced at the Recognition Luncheon on Saturday, Oct. 10.

NALS of Michigan congratulated two of its members for being selected as finalists for the NALS 2015 Award of Excellence:  Kathleen R. Amirante, PP, PLS and Ruth M. Schaub, PP, PLS-SC.

Kathleen R. Amirante, PP, PLS has been a member of NALS since 1990. She has served in numerous chairmanships and offices at all levels of the association, including president of both NALS of Lansing and NALS of Michigan. In addition, she has served the national association as an NEI instructor, Region 3 director, certification director, as a member of the Certifying Board, education director, marketing director, secretary/treasurer, president-elect, and served as 41st president. Amirante received her PLS certification in 1991, recertification in 2003 and 2008, and PP certification in 2004, recertification in 2008.  She was named the NALS of Lansing Legal Professional of the
Year in 1993 and the NALS of Michigan Legal Professional of the Year in 2002.

Amirante has worked for 30 years as branch office manager, paralegal, and legal secretary to John P. Ryan and Richard J. Suhrheinrich at the firm of Kitch Drutchas Wagner Valitutti & Sherbrook in Okemos.

She has been married for 44 years and she and her husband Jim have four children and eight grandchildren. 

Ruth M. Schaub, PP, PLS-SC, AIC, a litigation paralegal from Suttons Bay, obtained an Associates in Claims from the Insurance Institute of America in 1999. She served as a NALS PLSEI instructor in the early 1990’s teaching in Philadelphia and Cincinnati and was presented the NALS Scales of Justice in 2005 and a NALS Foundation Leadership Award in 2006.  Schaub was on the NALS Certifying Board for three years, serving as Certifying Board chair and has been a member of the NALS Editorial Board for the past seven years. She is a regular contributor to the Docket and @Law, both publications of NALS. Schaub has led two presentations in Tulsa at Professional Development Conferences.

She was NALS of Michigan president from 2008-2009 and currently serves as NALS of Michigan Certifying Board chairman. She has held every local office at least once for the Grand Traverse Area Legal Professionals and was named Legal Professional of the Year in 1996 and 2014. Schaub currently is Grand Traverse Area Legal Professionals first alternate director and leads a weekly study group for individuals studying for the Professional Paralegal examination.