Wendy Carpenter
Legal Assistant
Wendy Carpenter has been a legal secretary/legal assistant for attorneys at Monroe McDonough Goldschmidt & Molla since 1999. She has worked in the legal field since 1987 in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Tucson, with experience in many areas of the law, including real estate, business, insurance defense, medical malpractice, personal injury, tax law, estate and probate law, domestic relations, foreclosure, and creditors’ remedies.
She is sought out by firm members, including new attorneys, for her vast knowledge across multiple areas of law as well as civil rules, procedure, general court filing issues, and electronic filing in Bankruptcy, Federal and Superior Courts. Wendy is a member of NALS of Tucson and Southern Arizona and currently holds the position of Secretary for that organization.
Jo Lynn Clapperton, PP
Professional Paralegal
Originally from California, Jo Lynn moved to Tucson in 2004, and began her career in the legal field the following year, assisting a small firm with real estate and contract litigation, as well as personal injury and probate matters.
She has earned certifications as an Accredited Legal Secretary through the National Association of Legal Support Professionals (“NALS”), and as a Certified Legal Document Preparer through the Arizona Supreme Court, as well as becoming certified as a Professional Legal Secretary.
Jo Lynn brings this superior skill, knowledge and competence to Monroe McDonough Goldschmidt & Molla, she obtained her Professional Paralegal certification in Sept. 2009.
Marcella Gutierrez
Collections Assistant
Marcella, a native of Tucson, graduated from Pueblo High School and earned a Computerized Medical Records Degree from Apollo College. She worked with various counseling agencies as a receptionist and then with Raytheon and Burr Brown as a Quality Control Inspector.
Marcella joined the firm in October 2010 and now serves as an assistant in the Collections Department.
Frank W. King
Information Technologies Director
Frank King has worked for the firm since 1994, having initially served as the firm’s legal administrator and since 2000 as the firm’s IT Director. He is a certified Microsoft Technician, and manages the firm’s computer network, including the purchase, building, and management of servers, desktops, software, and network infrastructure.
Barbara Lasky
Real Estate Legal Assistant to Michael J. Monroe
Barbara Lasky has been a legal secretary/legal assistant since 1981. She has also been a licensed Realtor® since 2003 which enhances Mike Monroe’s real estate practice by keeping in tune with the local and national real estate markets, Tucson Association of REALTORS®, the National Association of REALTORS® and the Women’s Council of REALTORS®. She is the 2011 President-Elect for the Tucson Chapter of the Women’s Council of REALTORS®.
Barbara is savvy with social media and, therefore, handles much of the marketing for the firm as well as generating the monthly MMGM Newsletter.
Nancy Monroe
Payroll and Benefits Specialist
Nancy Monroe, originally from New York, has lived in Tucson since 1947 and has worked with the firm, alongside her husband Mike Monroe, since 1972 when she came in on a temporary basis and never left.
Over the years, Nancy has worked as receptionist, bookkeeper, special projects clerk, and legal administrator. She is currently a payroll and benefits specialist.
Nancy attended Salpointe High School and earned her B.A.in Sociology from Mt. St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles. She was a social worker in West Los Angeles for a number of years before returning to Tucson where she was in management with Tucson Gas and Electric before entering the legal field.
Alison Nevil
Legal Secretary
Alison Nevil has been a Legal Secretary with Monroe McDonough Goldschmidt & Molla for over 4 years and has worked in the legal field for 14 years.
Alison’s current position focuses primarily in the areas of business and real estate, corporate law, estate planning and probate, and community association law.
She has strong organizational skills and she also has experience in working with accounts receivable.
Alison attended Arizona State University and the University of Minnesota, where she majored in Graphic Design.
Laura Galland, CP
Certified Paralegal
Laura Galland has worked in the legal field for over 20 years, assisting Negatu Molla with his automotive warranty and products liability pracitice for over 9 years. She graduated from Chapparal College with her Associate’s Degree in Legal Assistant studies.
She has strong research, drafting, and computer skills, and has written database programs.
Susan Smith
Bookkeeper/Receptionist
Susan Smith joined the law firm in 1994, serving as both bookkeeper and receptionist. Susan manages the busy front desk taking care of the phones and all visitors while simultaneously performing all of the day-to-day bookkeeping including the accounts payable, accounts receivable, reconciliation the firm’s client trust and business operating accounts, and client billing.
Having been with Monroe McDonough Goldschmidt & Molla for many years, Susan also serves as its historian, and is able to recall past information for clients, employees, vendors and other professionals that the firm interacts with on a daily basis.
Carrie Valenzuela, CP
Certified Paralegal
Carrie Valenzuela has been a legal assistant with Monroe McDonough Goldschmidt & Molla since 2000, when she first began working in the community association industry. Prior to that, Carrie gained experience in real estate and collection matters through her college internships and time working as the executive assistant to the president of a local collection agency.
Carrie graduated from the University of Arizona and now assists the firm’s attorneys within the areas of community association enforcement and collection.
