Tampa attorneys Sarah Balk and Brian Paul recently graduated from Tampa Connection, joining their fellow graduates as part of the Class of 2024.
Tampa Connection is a volunteer-run nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide local business professionals with the necessary tools to become active leaders and volunteers in the Tampa Bay Community. Each year, a select group of applicants are chosen to participate in the Tampa Connection “class.” The year-long program exposes class members to leadership development, social, and community service opportunities while immersing them in the local community. Each year, local nonprofits submit project proposals to the Tampa Connection Board of Directors, with the selected projects to be carried out by the Tampa Connection class during their program year.
Sarah’s team project involved working with Think Big for Kids, a local non-profit (“TBFK”) dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty by providing middle and high school students with career opportunities, mentorship, and job readiness and placement to excel in today’s workforce. Her team helped TBFK with mentor recruitment and improvements to their CRM (customer relationship management) program, as well as creating a comprehensive guide for mentors and the mentees to follow in order to make the most out of their mentorship pairing.
Brian’s team worked with Tampa City Ballet, a local non-profit (“TCB”) dedicated to serving the community by creating unique performances incorporating local culture and history, and providing high-quality arts education to developing young artists. Over the course of his program, Brian’s team developed a customized Playbook that provides detailed strategies for how TCB can continue furthering its strategic marketing and maximizing community engagement efforts in the Tampa Bay area.
About Sarah Balk
Sarah K. Balk is an Associate in the Tampa office of Shutts & Bowen LLP, where she is a member of the Private Client Services Practice Group. Sarah advises clients with regard to wills, trusts, power of attorneys, health care directives, estate and gift tax planning, GST tax planning, planned giving, probate administration, trust administration, business and wealth transition planning. She represents individuals, fiduciaries, and beneficiaries.
About Brian Paul
Brian J. Paul is an Associate in the Tampa office of Shutts & Bowen LLP, where he is a member of the Intellectual Property practice group. Brian is also a registered patent attorney and is admitted to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”). His practice focuses primarily on matters related to technology, patent and trademark prosecution, as well as intellectual property transactions and litigation. He also advises clients on matters related to due diligence, investigations, licensing, and unfair competition.