HONORED TO RECEIVE ‘HEART OF BUSINESS’ GOBY AWARD

O’Connell and Aronowitz takes immense pride in announcing the Firm has been named recipient of the ‘GOBY Heart of Business Award’ for an inspired effort by managing partner Pamela Nichols. Presented by The Stakeholders, Inc. an Albany non-profit committed to community service and civic engagement, the GOBY (Get on Board Volunteer) Awards recognize companies, organizations and individuals who have provided exemplary volunteer services in New York’s Capital Region.

Pam’s inspired leadership of a 3-year effort in distracted driving prevention earned this recognition. The campaign, spearheaded by Pam and implemented by 8 volunteer attorneys of O’Connell and Aronowitz, has been presented across 15 counties of New York to an audience of more than 10,000 high school students.

The program was developed by EndDD.org, a national not-for-profit. It is the brain child of The Casey Feldman Foundation, created by Philadelphia attorney Joel Feldman to honor the memory of his daughter Casey, who was 21-years-old when she was killed by a distracted driver.

Attorneys from across the country were recruited to bring this safety message to teen drivers. Pam elected to lead the effort in upstate New York, under what was to be a month-long effort to commemorate National Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April 2012. When she made this commitment, according to attorney Steve Coffey, who practices in the O’Connell and Aronowitz Litigation Group and nominated Pam for the GBOY Award, “They hit the jackpot.”

“Without hesitation or reservation, Pam immediately accepted the challenge knowing full well that the effort would consume a great deal of her personal and professional time,” Coffey explains. “Her energy and devotion to this cause have been remarkable.”

Positive feedback from school administrators and parents encouraged Pam to extend the timeframe to encompass the full academic year allowing a larger audience to hear this critical message. “It soon evolved into a mission,” Coffey explained, “and Pamela Nichols on a mission is something to see.”

O’Connell and Aronowitz attorneys from both the Albany and Plattsburgh offices bring EndDD’s educational message to high schools, colleges, rotary clubs, local libraries and community forums. Expanding to audiences beyond just high schools was in recognition that distracted driving was not a behavior exclusive to teenagers.

“Pam Nichols has played an impressive role in distracted driving prevention in New York,” says Coffey. Steve will join Pam on stage for the GOBY Awards at a gala event to be held on April 23 in the GE Theater at Proctors in Schenectady.

O’Connell and Aronowitz is one of the Capital District’s largest and most diverse law firms. With more than 35 attorneys and offices in Albany, Saratoga, and Plattsburgh, the Firm provides a broad range of legal services to businesses and individuals throughout the State. Pamela Nichols and Steve Coffey can be reached at (518) 462-5601. You can also visit us online at www.oalaw.com.