"Striving for Excellence"
Stafford, Owens, Murnane, Kelleher, Miller, Meyer and Zedick, PLLC Associate Attorney Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA and Au Sable Forks, NY Age: 33 Education: St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia 2011, Duquesne University School of Law 2016
Maggie returned to the North Country looking to find the right place to build her life. Landing at one of the most prestigious law firms in the region, she brings the right balance of smart, funny, hardworking and can-do. Recently married, Maggie and Mark (Mergs) — affectionately referred to as M&M look to explore all upstate New York has to offer.
How does company culture impact you and what do you do to contribute to your company culture? I am fortunate that I have a number of experienced attorneys and paralegals I work with and learn from at the Stafford Law firm, both professionally and personally. The collaborative atmosphere has taught me how to interact with clients, when a problem is too big to solve alone, and when to ask for help. Having a well-rounded life is an important part of our company culture I greatly appreciate. I contribute to company culture by looking at issues and opportunities from a different perspective.
Tell us about your community involvement: I volunteer with the North Country Underground Railroad Historical Association which runs the North Star Underground Railroad Museum near Ausable Chasm. I also enjoy supporting local events, like those hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and local arts organizations.
What is the biggest risk you have ever taken? Going to law school was a big leap of faith for me. I knew very few people in Pittsburgh, despite the fact that I had lived there until I was 10 years old. While I knew that I wanted to get a legal education, and my mother is an attorney, I was not sure what my life would be like for the following three years or after I graduated. Like all experiences, I found law school to be an opportunity that I got out everything that I put into it. Not only did I grow professionally, but I had a number of life changing experiences and grew more confident in myself.
How can the North Country improve its Gen IQ? Learn from those with experience. In this changing world we tend to want to do things in a new fashion or a quicker way. Sometimes innovation and change is the way of the future, but we can forget the basics and make things harder on ourselves when we try to recreate the wheel. Always including those with experience in conversations about reforms and new opportunities is important to ensure that the essentials are not lost.
It is also important to think about how the community – in workplaces and other spaces – can include individuals who have been marginalized or disadvantaged, as these resilient individuals span all ages and abilities and make our communities stronger.
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