Officers and Directors 2011-2012 Term

President:  Dianne Carns

Dianne Carns is a Senior Paralegal with Tuthill & Hughes LLP in Denver, specializing in estate planning, tax, probate administration, trust administration, formation of family businesses and family foundations, and has been a paralegal for over 25 years.  She has been a member of the Rocky Mountain Paralegal Association (RMPA) since 1994 and has been Co-Chair and Chair of the Probate Section of RMPA since 1997.  Dianne served two terms as VP of Policy; one term as President-Elect and this is her second term as President.

Dianne received her B.S. in Business Administration from Regis College and an Associates Degree in “Paralegalism” from the Community College of Denver. 

Vice President of Development:   Kim Major

Kimberly Major is a Commercial Paralegal with MillerCoors LLC in Golden, specializing in marketing/promotion and intellectual property and has been a paralegal for over 22 years.  Kimberly volunteers numerous hours with several local agencies and programs, including a role of a Victim Advocate with a local police department, Emergency Response Team member, Project Homeless Connect, Relay for Life and the Susan G. Komen Foundation.  She has been a member of RMPA since 2008. 

Vice President of Membership and Director at Large (2010-2012 term):    Nora Ablutz

Nora Ablutz is a Senior Paralegal with Holme Roberts & Owen LLP in Denver.  She has over 20 years experience as a paralegal in a wide variety of practice areas and has been a voting member of RMPA since 1990.  In the early 1990’s, Nora served several terms on the RMPA Board in various positions.  Since May of 2010, Nora has been serving as a Director-at-Large and was appointed during the 2010-2011 term to fill the vacancy in the VP of Membership position.

Vice President of Administration:  Ann Woodley

After graduating from the University of Northern Colorado in 1997 B.A. in Sociology with an emphasis in Criminal Justice Ann worked for two years in the private sector of probation and decided to attend the Denver Paralegal Institute to obtain her Paralegal Certificate in 2000.  Upon graduation from the Denver Paralegal Institute she was hired by Steenrod & Associates n/k/a Steenrod, Schwartz & McMinimee and has been employed by the firm since 2000.  Her areas of expertise are in estate litigation, estate and trust administration and income tax preparation.  This is her second term as Vice President of Administration.

Treasurer:  Janice Lancaster

Janice Lancaster grew up in Tampa, Florida, and moved to Colorado in 1978.  A 1975 graduate of the University of South Florida with a degree in English, she saw a monetary need to further her education and attended the Denver Paralegal Institute, graduating in 1981.

Following a month-long intern position, Holme, Roberts and Owen, LLP offered her a job in their trusts and estates department, where she has been ever since.  Although she swore after high school that her math days were over, Janice is responsible for trust accounting and reporting, as well as extensive tax return preparations. 

Janice has previously served as Treasurer and VP of Membership.

Director at Large (2010-2012 term) (elected) and CBA Representative (appointed):  Kim Marie Smith

Kim Marie Smith is a paralegal in Faegre Baker Daniels' Denver office. She focuses her work on real estate matters and has been with the firm since 1994, first as a legal administrative assistant and then as a paralegal.  She has worked in the legal field since 1989 and has extensive national experience in the real estate, oil and gas, corporate and health care/nonprofit areas.

Kim has been the Colorado Bar Association Representative for the Rocky Mountain Paralegal Association since 2010, and is a Director at Large for RMPA for the 2010-12 term.In May of 2009, Kim was the recipient of the Pro Bono Paralegal of the Year award, and enjoys spending time on pro bono and charitable activities.and the My Hope Chest Foundation.

Director at Large (2011 - 2013 term):  Dee Roberts

Dee Roberts she has been a paralegal for approximately 9 years.  She received her paralegal certificate from Arapahoe Community College in 2003 and her MBA from University of Phoenix in 2005.  Ms. Roberts received her PACE, RP designation in 2008.  She started her career working in the 18th Judicial District Attorney's office in Castle Rock, then moved into the private sector focusing on legal malpractice.  Ms. Roberts has been with RMPA for three years and serves as co-chair of the Education Committee and the lunch 'n learn coordinator.   

NFPA Primary:  Mianne Besser

Mianne L. Besser is a native of Colorado and has been a litigation paralegal convening her 14th year of paralegal service beginning in 2010.  She is currently a senior litigation paralegal at Otten Johnson Robinson Neff & Ragonetti P.C., located in Denver, Colorado.  Mianne is also an adjunct instructor in Paralegal Studies for Kaplan College, Denver Campus.

Mianne graduated from the University of Phoenix with a Bachelor of Arts in Management and Business Administration. In 1996, she earned her paralegal certification from the Denver Paralegal Institute.  Mianne's current practice area is Real Estate and Transactional law; however, she has experience in Plaintiffs Personal Injury as well as Products Liability; she also has experience in the areas of Family Law, Foreclosure, and Defense / Construction Defect. 

Mianne has previously served the Association through the elected positions of President, NFPA Secondary and Director-at-Large.