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STAFF ALBUM |
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| About Us
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Julie Osterhout
After receiving her Juris Doctorate from Mercer Law School in 1980, Julie began
practicing law in the Fort Myers area. In 1990, she opened her private practice
concentrating on the laws and issues affecting the elderly. Her practice
includes estate planning, probate, guardianship, asset protection planning, and
Medicaid qualification. Julie is very active in
community activities and championed the formation of the Alvin A. Dubin
Alzheimer’s Resource Center, Inc. and was named Board Member Emeritus in 2004.
Julie has served as the chair of the Elder Law Section of The Florida Bar and
has been a Director of the Board of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.
She was chosen as a Fellow of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys for
outstanding service to the legal community and to seniors. Only five attorneys
in Florida have received this honor. |
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Lance M. McKinney
Lance received his Juris Doctorate with honors from the University of
Florida in 1990. He is a member of the American Bar Association, The National
Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, The Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys, The
Florida Bar, The Lee County Bar Association, and The Florida State Guardianship
Association. Lance is admitted to practice in all courts of the State of
Florida. In June 2005 Lance was board certified as an Elder Law Attorney by The
Florida Bar. His practice concentrates in the areas of probate, guardianships,
wills, and trusts. Lance received formal training in investment fiduciary
responsibility, and earned the AIF® designation from the Center for Fiduciary
Studies through the University of Pittsburgh. Lance served as a barrister in the
Inns of Court and on the Board of Directors of Age Link, an agency that provided
information and referrals to the elderly. |
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Beth A. Prather
After receiving her Master’s degree in Business Administration in 1988 from
Nova University and her Juris Doctorate, cum laude in 1992 from the University
of Maine, Beth returned to her hometown of Fort Myers to practice law. She is
a member of The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, The Academy of
Florida Elder Law Attorneys, The Florida Bar, the Lee County Bar Association,
the American Bar Association, and the Florida State Guardianship Association.
Beth is a current Board member of the Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys.
Beth served as an officer and board member for The Association of Family Law
Professionals and was a member of the Inns of Court. Her practice concentrates
in the areas of probate, guardianship, estate planning, and Medicaid planning.
Beth is certified as a Circuit Civil Mediator and she mediates contested
guardianship cases. In 2006 Beth was board certified as an Elder Law Attorney
by The Florida Bar. She serves on The Senior Friendship Centers’ Board of
Governors. |
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Britton Goodlad Swank
Britton received her Juris Doctorate with High Honors in December 2002
from the University of Florida Levin College of Law and was admitted to
practice in Florida in September 2003. She is a member of The Florida Bar, the
Lee County Bar Association and The Order of the Coif, a national legal honor
society which recognizes outstanding academic achievement for students in the
top 10% of their graduating class. Britton completed an Elder Law Practicum
through Stetson College of Law working with the Guardianship General Master,
and was a participant in a Guardianship, Mental Health, Probate and Trust
Externship at the Thirteenth Judicial Court in Tampa. Britton is a Florida
native, born in Miami, and she attended schools in Hendry County. Britton
serves on the Board of Trustees of The Alvin A. Dubin Alzheimer’s Resource
Center. |
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Paul Bagley
Paul is the Office Administrator at Osterhout, McKinney & Prather. Paul returned to
the SW Florida area from Alabama to accept the position when it was created at
the beginning of 2000. Paul is a 1969 graduate of North Carolina State
University in Raleigh, N.C. and his previous experience includes 30 years as
administrator for various nonprofit organizations.
Paul is an active member of the Association of Legal Administrators, serving as
President of the SW Florida Chapter in 2003-2004.
Paul’s primary responsibilities at Osterhout, McKinney & Prather are handling the human
resource and financial management needs. He also coordinates the firm’s
management committee meetings.
When not at the office, Paul enjoys all types of sports, fishing and playing NTN
trivia.
Contact Paul at (239) 277-1718. |
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Kate Wasserlein
Kate is the probate assistant for the firm. She moved to Lehigh Acres from
Wisconsin in 1982 and began working with Julie in August of 1983. She enjoys
reading, needlework and playing her piano.
Contact Kate at (239)-939-7732 |
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Peggy Polsinelli
Peggy Polsinelli has worked for Julie since 1990. She assists the attorneys
in the estate planning files, and has worked in guardianship and medicaid files
in the past. Peggy obtained an associate’s degree in legal assisting in 1992 and
was certified as a legal assistant by the National Association of Legal
Assistants in 1993. Peggy and her husband Paul live in Lehigh Acres, and in
October, 2003 welcomed their son Michael to their family.
Contact Peggy at (239) 939-7977 |
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Tricia Winterstein
Tricia is a legal assistant in the Medicaid Planning practice area. Tricia
joined the firm in 1990. In 1994, she received her paralegal degree and obtained
a national certification as a Certified Legal Assistant. In May 1995, she
graduated from the University of South Florida with her Bachelor of Arts degree
in business administration. After completing her educational and professional
goals, Tricia married Jeff in April 1996. They are the proud parents of Alex,
born in April 2004. Away from the office, Tricia and Jeff spend their free time
enjoying Alex, and playing co-ed softball and golf.
Contact Tricia at (239) 939-7548 |
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Pam Lahar
Pam is our guardianship assistant and has worked at the firm since January
1995. She enjoys helping families through the complex system of being appointed
as a guardian. She served as the secretary for the Southwest Florida chapter of
the Florida State Guardianship Association from September 2000 to September
2004, and is currently serving as the first vice president/membership chair for
the chapter. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her husband, Bill,
and her animals Red and Lady.
Contact Pam at (239) 277-1722 |
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Debbie Aikens
Debbie has an Associates degree in Paralegal Studies from North Shore
Community College where she graduated with Honors. She was employed as a
paralegal in the Boston area for seven years prior to relocating to Florida in
January of 2001. Debbie works in our guardianship department and handles the
files when a guardian is applying for medicaid. After work, Debbie enjoys being
at home with her daughters, Christie and Melissa.
Contact Debbie at (239) 791-0910 |
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Teresa Smith
Teresa is a legal assistant in the Estate Planning Department. She has
worked for attorneys since 1987 and joined the firm on December 31, 2002.
Teresa is earning her Associates degree, and her long term goal is to become an
attorney. Along with her husband Matt, and two dogs Amadeus and Geisha, Teresa
moved to the Southwest Florida area from New York in 1993. When not attending
night classes and doing homework, she enjoys biking and going for long drives to
explore the area.
Contact Teresa at (239) 791-0883.
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Shirley Petski
Shirley Petski joined the firm in January 2003. Shirley served as the
receptionist for two years, and she currently works part time assisting in the
estate planning and trust administration practice areas. Shirley and her husband
moved to Fort Myers after her retirement from the insurance industry in
Wisconsin. When not at the office she enjoys her seven grandchildren, one
great-grandchild, reading, traveling, playing cards, and the wonderful weather
in Florida.
Contact Shirley at 239-791-0890 |
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Emily Reese, M.A., C.M.C. – Life Care
Coordinator
Ms. Reese has over 24 years of experience in the geriatric care management field
in public non profit and private enterprises. She was formerly the Founder and
President of Aging Concerns, a Cape Coral, Fl. private geriatric care management
firm that was acquired by a national company in April 2005. Certified as a Care
Manager (CMC) by the National Academy of Certified Care Managers, Ms. Reese is a
member of the National Academy of Professional Geriatric Care Managers and the
American Society on Aging. Ms. Reese is a past President of the Florida
Geriatric Care Managers Association and remains active within the professional
community. Ms. Reese was part of the professional team at the University of
Florida that developed a post graduate Geriatric Care Management Certificate
Program. Ms. Reese is a cum laude graduate of the University of South Florida
with a B.A. in Psychology and an M.A. in Gerontology.
Ms. Reese, married, with twin daughters, resides in Cape Coral, Fl. She is
active in her Church and enjoys reading, kayaking and travel. |
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Rosemarie Hemmings, LCSW Life Care
Coordinator
Rosemarie is a licensed clinical social worker with more than 20 years of
experience working with older adults and people with chronic illness.
Rosemarie is one of our Life Care Coordinators and joined our firm in March of
2008. As a Life Care Coordinator, Rosemarie assists our Life Care Planning
clients' in finding and keeping good care for the rest of their lives.
Rosemarie has significant experience in providing counseling and education to
those facing challenging life decisions. Rosemarie obtained her Master's
Degree in Social Work from New York University. Rosemarie has one son and
enjoys traveling.
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Peggy Boucher
Peggy Boucher works in our probate department. Ms. Boucher has an AS Degree
from Kalamazoo Valley Community College, and worked in the legal arena in
Michigan before moving to Florida in 1985. Peggy has over 20 years of prior
experience in law firms and in the private sector, before joining our firm in
July 2007. She resides in Cape Coral with her husband, Vic, and their two
labrador retrievers.
Peggy
can be reached at (239) 791-0881 |
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Christie Claeson
Christie is the Lead Factotum for the firm. She assists all
departments with general organization and file management. Christie is
currently enrolled at Edison Community College and is working towards her
Associates degree and then hopes to obtain her Bachelor's degree in
Business Management. Her long term goal is to attend culinary school and
someday own a bakery. In her spare time, she enjoys baking, reading,
needlepoint and playing Guitar Hero.
Contact Christie at (239) 791-0880
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Susan Mitchell
Susan is the Intake Coordinator for the firm and sets all appointment for
Estate Planning, Medicaid and Life Care Planning. Susan enjoys talking
with our clients and potential clients and asking them questions to help
determine the appropriate type of appointment for them.
Susan moved to North Ft. Myers from Maine in 2006 and began work with
our firm in December of 2006. When not at work, Susan enjoys walking,
biking, swimming, reading, photography and exploring the area. She also
enjoys spending time with her family getting together to play cards and
games.
Contact Susan at(239) 939-4832.
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Jessica Ross
Jessica joined the firm in December of 2007 as the receptionist. She
routes existing and potential clients to the appropriate staff member,
opens and distributes all mail, greets all office arrivals and helps the
attorneys keep on schedule with their appointments. Jessica has over
twenty years in the restaurant business and treats every client like
family. When not working, Jessica enjoys spending time with her animals,
especially her horse Joe, and just being outdoors.
Contact Jessica at (239)939-4888.
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Tim Flynn
Tim works as a Factotum at the firm and assists with filing and file
management. He also assists all the staff at the firm with technical and
administrative issues. Tim is currently a full-time student at Edison College
and is completing his prerequisites toward acquiring his Bachelor's degree in
Political Science. He intends on attending law school and eventually heading his
own firm. Tim spends a lot of time with his friends playing music, video games
and enjoying the simplicities life brings. |
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