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Ambassadors

Ambassadors serve as special envoys for the good of Primerus™

Despite today’s uncertain economic backdrop, members of the Primerus™ legal community continue to be among the first and foremost practitioners of the art of giving, whether through their volunteer activities with various charitable organizations or by virtue of their pro bono work. Or, in many cases, both.
Among those who give of themselves for the benefit of others are members of the Primerus™ Ambassadors Board, a seven-member group that believes in the importance of extending the hand of friendship and spreading goodwill to counter the negativity and polarization prevalent in today’s society.

The board includes: Iker Dieguez, of Cacheaux Cavazos & Newton in Mexico City; John R. Brydon, of Demler Armstrong & Rowland, LLP in San Francisco; Dominic Wai, of ONC Lawyers in Hong Kong; Nicole Quintana, of Ogborn Mihm LLP in Denver; Reinier W.L. Russell, of Russell Advocaten B.V. in Amsterdam; and Sima G. Fried, of Thomas & Libowitz, P.A. in Baltimore.

As you can see, it is an internationally diverse group, representing a blend of men and women who are committed to helping Primerus™ members feel a sense of warmth, friendship, and belonging as they become involved in the organization.

I can say unequivocally that it is a welcoming group – one that I am proud to chair as we strive to be a positive and welcoming force that helps define what Primerus™ is all about.

As an introvert by nature, I would seem to be an unlikely choice to chair a group of ambassadors who are assigned the task of being on the front line of cultivating friendships and developing professional relationships. It is not exactly a place that is part of my comfort zone, as I prefer to operate in a one-on-one fashion, far from the hustle and bustle that comes with large crowds and huge public gatherings.

But as a dynamic and growing organization, Primerus™ regularly sponsors a host of meetings, which range in size and scope from half-day local and regional programs to more elaborate three- and four-day national and international events. Whatever the event and wherever the setting, Primerus™ ambassadors invariably are on hand to play an important role in welcoming new members, serving as envoys to promote the mission and to advance the interests of the organization.

As such, we are ever ready to reach out and to shake a hand, helping new and not-so-new members familiarize themselves with the inner workings of Primerus™, while also introducing them to those who have been instrumental in the success of the organization.

Since becoming an ambassador nearly four years ago while attending a conference on behalf of Smith Debnam in Raleigh, N.C., I have found it to be an extremely rewarding and beneficial experience, fostering friendships and expanding my legal contacts to a global degree.

More importantly, however, it has enriched me on a deeper personal level, demonstrating the value of always placing service above self when working for the common good.

Best regards,
Connie Carrigan
Chair, Primerus™ Ambassadors Board