Meet Our 2023 IBF Board of Directors
Every year ushers in a new Board of Directors who represent the diverse and thoughtful leadership of the Illinois Bar Foundation. Follow along as we introduce our 2023 Board of Directors.
JUDITH E. CONWAY
YLD Liaison
Cooney & Conway
Chicago, IL
Q: Judy, what made you interested in joining the Board of Directors of the IBF?
A: The IBF is known for being such an instrumental force for good across the state of Illinois, I couldn’t stay away. Part of being a Plaintiff’s lawyer is fighting for equal access to justice for my clients, and through the Board of Directors, I’m able to further equal access to justice through a variety of programming and expand my reach and impact.
Q: What do you hope to accomplish in your time on the Board?
A: I hope to make the IBF more commonplace in the mouths of lawyers and the people of Illinois. I want our donor and volunteer base to grow and our imprint on the people in Illinois to expand.
Q: What are you most excited about at the IBF in 2023?
A: Honestly, everything. One of my favorite things is learning about the growing impact our programs have and how many people they reach. It’s nice to put numbers to work, and realize what the time and effort that goes into the IBF Board. I love learning about grantees and partner organizations, and hearing stories and feedback from those utilize our various services.
Q: Tell us about a highlight of your time on the IBF Board or in the IBF community.
A: I’ve only been on the board for about 7 months, but I’ve already been involved in so much. I really compliment the board for sincerely hearing and valuing my contributions. I’d say my highlight so far was watching my father win the Honorary Champion Award at the Champions Breakfast. It was extra meaningful to be there as a colleague, a member of the IBF Board, and proud daughter.
BERNARD G. PETER, JR.
2nd District
Maduff & Maduff, LLC
Arlington Heights, IL
Q: Bernie, what made you interested in joining the Board of Directors of the IBF?
A: I am a member of two Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) Sections Councils, and as the head of the Pro Bono Committee for one of them, I am always looking for Pro Bono opportunities. For the past three years I have led an effort to have each member of these two Sections Councils make a contribution to a Section Council gift of $1,000 to the Illinois Bar Foundation (IBF). Perry Browder was at one of my Section Council meetings and mentioned to me that I should consider applying to join the IBF Board of Directors because of my interest in raising funds for the IBF.
Q: What do you hope to accomplish in your time on the Board?
A: I hope to persuade all members of the two ISBA Section Councils of which I am a member, as well as other ISBA members, to become Champions. It seems to me that the $100 yearly contribution to become a Champion is something which most ISBA members can handle, and in addition, it gives them a good feeling by providing assistance to Pro Bono organizations throughout Illinois and fellow lawyers experiencing difficulties.
Q: What are you most excited about at the IBF in 2023?
A: I am excited about trying to get one or more Illinois corporations to become IBF donors and sponsors.
Q: Tell us about a highlight of your time on the IBF Board or in the IBF community.
A: Since I am an employee benefits/ERISA attorney, the highlights of my Pro Bono work was obtaining pensions for two participants who had tried for a long time with no success to obtain their pension. In one case, the participant worked for a company that had ceased to exist in the early 1980’s. Through my experience in working with the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation for many years, I was able to obtain his pension. In the second case, the pension of the participant had been given to another person with the same name. The plan in which the participant had a benefit had been transferred to an insurance company. I contacted the insurance company and provided evidence that the person was entitled to a benefit and he received his pension.
RICHARD L. TURNER
2nd District
Turner Law Group
Sycamore & Geneva, IL
Q: Rick, what made you interested in joining the Board or Directors of the IBF?
A: Mary Petrucius, the outgoing Board member for our 2nd District, contacted me and asked if I was interested in the position. I had been following what IBF was doing and liked how IBF provided support for local legal organizations across the state, as well as supporting our colleagues and families who have fallen on hard times, so, I said yes.
Q: What do you hope to accomplish in your time on the Board?
A: My goal is to continue to try to expand the reach of individual attorneys who have yet to become Champions or who need to consider upgrading their support; and, to do more outreach for corporate/firm level support by establishing relationships between IBF and corporate/firm partners.
Q: What are you most excited about at the IBF in 2023?
A: In 2023, I look forward to new fundraising events and opportunities.
Q: Tell us about a highlight of your time on the IBF Board or in the IBF community.
A: Site visits have probably been the most impactful part of my term on the Board – seeing where we are helping and what the community-based legal services are doing has been eye-opening.
SONNI CHOI WILLIAMS
ISBA 2nd Vice President
The City of Lockport
Lockport, IL
Q: Sonni, what made you interested in joining the Board of Directors of the IBF?
A: My personal perspective of growing up poor has shaped my passion and drive to help those who are without means to obtain legal assistance in gaining safety, shelter, food, and family stability. From a professional perspective, our calling to the profession of the practice of law comes with our obligations to help those in the practice who are suffering and in need of our assistance. As a board member, it has been a privilege to help raise funds and decide how the funds would be used to assist those in need both in our community at large and in the legal community.
Q: What do you hope to accomplish in your time on the Board?
A: I hope that we will increase the number of participants in the Champions program and reach our fundraising goals, because the need for those funds is certainly there.
Q: What are you most excited about at the IBF in 2023?
A: Now that we have the pandemic mostly behind us, I am excited to return to holding fundraising events in person and being together to accomplish IBF’s mission.
Q: Tell us about a highlight of your time on the IBF Board or in the IBF community.
A: For me, the highlight has been visiting, albeit virtually during the pandemic, the various programs that the Foundation provides grants to. I have learned that there are so many great programs and people behind those programs providing assistance and care to those who are in such vulnerable situations. Those site visits have made me proud to be a lawyer and proud to serve on the IBF Board of Directors.
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