Julie A. Schwartz

PRESIDENT

Julie Schwartz is currently employed at the Huerta Law Firm as a Paralegal/Business Development Manager, specializing in Bankruptcy, Criminal and Personal Injury Law. Prior to joining the Huerta Law Firm she worked at The Law Offices of Jeffrey R. Frank, specializing in civil litigation with an emphasis in personal injury law where she assisted in all phases from intake, investigation, property damage (inspection, evaluation, and settlement), coordination with medical providers and other professional/experts, claims presentation and evaluation, pleadings, discovery, law and motion, to ADR, and trial.

Highly motivated and dedicated to academic excellence, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree with a double major in Psychology and Spanish, and a minor in Interpersonal Communication from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 2000. As an undergraduate student, she participated as the Vice President of Phi Chi wherein she actively coordinated campus events and established peer advising/career counseling for Psychology students. Additionally, she conducted and co-authored a research project entitled, “Attributions of Blame toward Assailants and Victims of Rape”, which ultimately received an award of “Best Paper” from the Midwestern Psychological Association. She was also afforded the opportunity to study at La Universidad de las Americas (UDLA), Puebla, Mexico. Upon her arrival to California, she became a Public Notary and completed the Paralegal Certificate Program at Miramar College. She obtained her Real Estate License in 2014 and is a 2016 graduate of the Citizens’ Academy.

A proponent of giving back to the community, from 2009-2010 Julie volunteered at the Center for Community Solutions’ Legal Clinic, assisting victims of Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault. In early April of 2010, she interned at Consorcio para el Dialogo Parlmentario y la Equidad Oaxaca (Consorcio), Oaxaca, Mexico. In 2011, Julie became a Director for the San Diego Paralegal Association (SDPA), wherein she served as the Vice-President of Membership. In 2012 she upheld the dual role of Vice-President of Membership and Vice-President of Programs & Education. In 2013-2014, she served as the SDPA President. In 2015, she upheld a dual role of Vice-President of Membership on the SDPA board as well as a Director on the California Alliance of Paralegal Associations (CAPA). She is a co-founder of North County Abuse Prevention Services (NCAPS), a 501(c)(3) dedicated to the prevention of abuse.

She currently serves as the 2017 President of SDPA, Vice-President of Administration of CAPA, and Treasurer of NCAPS. She is also actively involved with the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego (CASD), San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association (SDLRLA), La Justicia, as well as the annual San Diego High School Mock Trial Competition and Couture for a Cause.

In her free time, she enjoys traveling, learning languages, cooking, running marathons, hiking, practicing her Martial Art, SooBahk Do, as well as spending time with her boys – Curious George and Diego.

Alison M. Greenlee

VP Membership

Alison Greenlee has been working in the legal industry since 2009 and is currently employed as a Paralegal at Troutman Sanders, LLP on the Financial Services Litigation Team. Alison assists the attorneys from "file through trial" in all types of matters, including TCPA litigation, arbitration, and mediation. Alison is passionate about her work in the legal industry and serves as a mentor to her co-workers and colleagues in the legal sector. One goal she would like to achieve this year is bringing the members closer together and uniting the paralegal community.

Alison received her ABA approved Paralegal Certificate from San Diego Miramar College's Paralegal Program where she graduated with honors and is currently working on getting her B.S. in Political Science. She served as SDPA's secretary from 2014-2015 and currently assists the organization as Chair of the following committees: Membership, Sustaining Members, and CAPA Director. In her free time, Alison enjoys cooking, hiking, traveling, and exploring the local San Diego sites and attractions.

Kristine M. Custodio, ACP

VP Programs & Education

Kristine M. Custodio, ACP is a Senior Paralegal/Business Development Director for Butterfield Schechter LLP specializing in ERISA/employee benefits law, business law and civil litigation, where she supports partner Marc S. Schechter in all phases of pretrial litigation and research, employee benefit matters including pension plans, audits, Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) compliance and litigation, stock option plans, tax and corporate law, and estate planning.

Kristine is a servant leader and currently serves as the National Association of Legal Assistants*Paralegals (NALA) Liaison for the San Diego Paralegal Association (and Past President) as well as the Board Advisor Emeritus and Past President of the California Alliance of Paralegal Associations. She is a member of the NALA Professional Development Committee, focusing on the leadership development program (past member of the NALA Continuing Education Council and Ethics Chair). She was a runner up for the 2008 LAT Paralegal of the Year and, in 2009, was a finalist for the San Diego Daily Transcript’s “Top Paralegal” award. She was recently reappointed as a Commissioner and serves as the Chair of the City of San Diego’s Citizens Equal Opportunity Commission. Kristine is a member of the University of San Diego Paralegal Program’s Advisory Board and serves as the Secretary of the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of San Diego County. During her tenure with the Rancho Peñasquitos Town Council, Kristine served as Secretary and Vice President. On February 15, 2011, Kristine was inducted into Lambda Epsilon Chi, the National Honor Society in Paralegal/Legal Assistant Studies University of California San Diego Chapter. On August 31, 2012, Kristine received an award as one of the 100 Most Influential Filipina American Women in the United States presented by the Filipina Women’s Network (FWN) under the Founders and Pioneers category to honor Filipina women in their capacities as the chief executive, president, executive director or founder of a United States based company, community organization, non‐profit, or business venture that they helped start, build or significantly grow category for her work as President of the San Diego Paralegal Association. Kristine has also authored a chapter in a leadership book that was published by the FWN in 2014.

Kristine earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Development from California State University at Long Beach where she was on the Dean’s Honor List. She completed her paralegal studies at UCSD in 2004, became a Certified Paralegal in 2006, and received her Advanced Certified Paralegal (ACP) designation in Discovery (2009), Trial Practice (2010), and e-discovery (2016). Further, in 2006 Kristine obtained her Human Resource Management certificate from UCSD. In July 2009, Kristine was appointed by the President of NALA for a one‐year term as the ethics chair for NALA’s Professional Development Committee and contributed to a bi‐monthly ethics column for the NALA publication, Facts & Findings. Kristine also served as an administrator for her family’s adult residential facility for developmentally disabled adults from 1998 to 2015.

Kristine frequently speaks throughout the nation at various events and paralegal programs. She writes for various publications. She was also an Adjunct Professor at ITT Technical Institute’s A.A. Paralegal Studies program for two years.

In her free time, Kristine enjoys writing, reading, drawing, playing the violin and piano, teaching herself to play new instruments, traveling, and spending time with her friends and family.

Angela DeSaracho

Secretary

Angela DeSaracho currently works with the Law Offices of Michael Pines as the firm's senior paralegal; specializing in personal injury cases. She began her legal career working in San Francisco as paralegal and office manager; where she focused on complex class action civil litigation representing tenants. She then relocated to her hometown of San Diego working as a trial paralegal for an insurance defense firm handling matters including insurance, business, construction defect, wrongful death, medical malpractice, intellectual property, premises liability, elder abuse and product liability litigation. She graduated from San Francisco State University with her Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy with an emphasis in law. Angela thrives on challenge and is passionate, forward thinking, and committed to excellent service for her clients and attorneys. She has been a sustaining member of the San Diego Paralegal Association, and the boards Secretary for 2017 She is excited at the opportunity to serve as a board member in 2018.

In her free time Angela loves to hang out with her friends and family, volunteer for nonprofit organizations in her community, as well as reading and hiking. She also loves attending San Diego International Comic Con annually.

Sheila Grela, ACP

Director

June Hunter

Director

June Hunter has worked for many mid and large sized law firms with her experience beginning in 1990. June has worked in many different capacities during her career which have included legal secretary, Firm Wide Trainer/IT Help Desk, Litigation Support and Paralegal. June’s experience has required her to perform on multiple levels including as an eDiscovery analyst, technological trainer, as well as providing customer support through manning of the IT helpdesk and in the litigation support role during trial.

In her role as a paralegal she has assisted in the preparation of documents for commercial real estate transactions, litigation documents, government RFP’s, multiple environmental actions and assisted with HR and employee related legal issues. June is instrumental in the implementation discovery plans for litigation including assisting with data analysis and setting up the database or other review systems for other legal personnel.

June has experience in many different areas of the law including IP, litigation, corporate, real estate and transactional. June has worked in a training and IT support capacity and provided training firm wide to employees on Microsoft Office products, various eDiscovery platforms and other legal software as well as assist with the management of a Salesforce database.

June currently works at CGS3 as a Paralegal and IT Services professional. She assists the litigation department with their eDiscovery projects and provides IT customer support and help desk services firm wide. June is an adjunct teacher at UCSD Extension in their ABA approved Paralegal Studies program teaching Computers for Paralegals. June also volunteers her time to education other legal professions including teaching classes through the San Diego Legal Secretaries Association.

Jennifer Keating-Wolk

Director

Ellen Zacarias

Director

Ellen Zacarias is a litigation paralegal at The Watkins Firm APC, and assists on cases regarding business disputes, employment defense, and real property. She graduated from UCSD with a Bachelors of Arts in Literature and Writing and earned her paralegal certificate from UCSD Extension. 

Ellen is grateful to all of those who taught and continue to guide her along the way. She volunteers at the San Diego Clean Slate Clinic by helping local participants prepare petitions and declarations in order to expunge their records so that they can regain access to housing and employment opportunities.   

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family, and friends, including her husband and adorable cat. She also enjoys participating in Charity Miles and Donate a Photo, boba, and Azerothian lore. 

Souriya Maniwan, ACP

Director

Souriya (Joe) Maniwan, ACP graduated from The Pennsylvania State University with his Bachelor’s in Law and Society. He also completed the Intellectual Property Program at University of California San Diego Extension and completed the Paralegal Program at University of San Diego. After the Paralegal Program, he became a Certified Paralegal and received his Advanced Certified Paralegal designation in e-Discovery and Contracts Management / Contracts Administration.

His career began at Clements and Knock, LLP, a construction defect litigation law firm. Shortly after, he joined DLA Piper, LLP’s Records Management Department and then supported QUALCOMM Corporate Legal's Contracts Administration. He is currently the Case Assistant for Real Estate & Environmental Law Practice Group at Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves, & Savitch LLP.  

He enjoys serving on SDPA's Pro Bono Committee. As a member of the Pro Bono Committee, he assists with planning and organizing pro bono events. He is also an active volunteer for Veterans Village of San Diego and the San Diego Clean Slate Clinic, an organization that provides free post-conviction legal assistance to individuals who continue to be affected by the criminal justice system.

In his free time, he enjoys running marathons, hiking, photography, and is an automotive enthusiast.