HARRISBURG (June 10, 2015) - Pennsylvania Bar Association President William H. Pugh V has named 11 Pennsylvania lawyers to the 2015-16 class of the association's Bar Leadership Institute (BLI).

"The institute develops the next generation of leaders for the state's largest bar association by giving selected young lawyers an up close look at the PBA's operations, governance and member resources," said Pugh. "During the year-long program, each class member attends a variety of PBA meetings and events and is paired with a member of the PBA Board of Governors who serves as mentor to the participant."

These are the members of the 2015-16 BLI class:

Allegheny County
Katherine P. Berquist, Weinheimer, Schadel & Haber PC, Pittsburgh

Chester County
Patrick J. Gallo Jr., MacElree Harvey Ltd., West Chester

Crawford County
Valerie N. Sylves, The Law Office of Valerie N. Sylves LLC, Meadville

Dauphin County
Aaron N. Holt, Dauphin County Public Defender's Office, Harrisburg
Anthony M. Hoover, McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC, Harrisburg

Lackawanna County
Jennifer Menichini, Greco Law Associates PC, Scranton

Luzerne County
C. David Pedri, Luzerne County Solicitor, Wilkes-Barre

Montgomery County
Patrina A. Ozurumba, Stevens & Lee PC, King of Prussia

Philadelphia County
Tyesha C. Miley, Law Offices of TCM & Associates

Tioga County
Tiffany L. Cummings, Tiffany L. Cummings LLC, Mansfield

York County
Laura L. Smith, York County Bar Association, York

This year's BLI co-chairs are Charles Eppolito III, White and Williams LLP, Philadelphia, and Lisa M. Benzie, Navitsky, Olson & Wisneski LLP, Harrisburg. Both Eppolito and Benzie have served in a number of PBA leadership roles, including terms as chair of the PBA House of Delegates.

The BLI class size was limited to 11 lawyers. To apply, candidates had to demonstrate leadership ability, commit to attendance and participation in the required events, be currently licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania, be a PBA member, and be age 38 years or younger or have practiced five years or less.

The BLI was originally developed by Arthur L. Piccone of Kingston in 1995-96 during his year as PBA president to strengthen the PBA's ongoing efforts to recruit and develop leaders of the association. The first chair of the institute, Gretchen A. Mundorff of Connellsville, re-launched the BLI when she became the 2010-11 president of the PBA.

Founded in 1895, the Pennsylvania Bar Association exists to promote justice, professional excellence and respect of the law; improve public understanding of the legal system; facilitate access to legal services; and serve the 28,000 lawyers who are members of the association.