It’s Your Business includes Topeka Bar Association and Harvesters

Awards

Warren W. Shaw Distinguished Service Award was presented to Arthur A. Glassman, a fixture in the Topeka legal community since his graduation from Washburn University School of Law in 1965. Glassman joined the law firm of Sloan, Listrom, Eisenbarth, Sloan & Glassman LLC, in 1967, the predecessor to Sloan Eisenbarth Glassman, McEntire & Jarboe LLC. Glassman’s area of practice focused primarily in business law representing business owners throughout Kansas. He has served as the president of the Topeka Bar Association Ethics and Grievance Committee and is the past president of the Topeka Bar Association 1999-2000. For two decades, he directed the Bar Show for the Topeka Bar and he continues to perform in the show. Glassman has been involved in numerous community organizations and community boards, including the Washburn University School of Law Alumni Association, Board of Governors, the American Cancer Society Shawnee County Unit (past president), the Family Service and Guidance Center (past president) and the Topeka Blood Bank. He is a veteran of the United States Air Force. Glassman is married to Carolyn Glassman.

Outstanding Young Lawyer Award went to Jake Holly, who served as president of the TBA’s Young Lawyers division 2021-22 term. Holly was instrumental in bringing back YLD social activities since the pandemic. In addition to socials, he arranged trivia, re-implemented bar prep scholarship, coffee with judges and a golf tournament that had the most attendees in recent memory. His enthusiasm breathed fresh life into the YLD after the pandemic. In addition, he serves on the TBA’s publication committee, editing the monthly briefings. Holly is a member of the Sam A. Crow Inn of Court, serving in a leadership position there. And he published an article last fall in the KBA Bar Journal regarding discretionary trusts. Holly is a member of Foulston’s Northeast Kansas Transactional Team. Based in the firm’s Topeka office, Holly advises clients in the areas of business and corporate, administrative, estate planning and real estate law. Prior to joining Foulston, Holly clerked at the Third Judicial District where he witnessed the resolution of litigation disputes and the procedures and policies behind Kansas Administrative Agency disputes firsthand.

Honorable E. Newton Vickers Professionalism Award went to Danielle Hall, who is executive director of the Kansas Lawyers Assistance Program, a position she has held since 2019. Hall educates attorneys about professionalism and encourages and empowers them to uphold the highest standards of the legal profession. Hall strengthens the professionalism of attorneys throughout the state through efforts that are part of her duties as executive director of the Kansas Lawyers Assistance Program. She is in high demand to teach continuing legal education programs about lawyer well-being, addiction, mental health and ethics issues. Hall serves on the executive committee of the Kansas Lawyer Well-Being Task Force, is chair of the Topeka Bar Association Technology Committee and is co-chair of the Minority Women in the Profession Committee for the Kansas Women Attorneys Association. She also is an active member in the ABA Law Practice Division and has served on several committees. Hall serves as an adjunct professor at Washburn University and Washburn School of Law. She teaches the law school’s Intensive Trial Advocacy Program and Law Office Technology in the Legal Studies Department. She also coaches the law school’s trial advocacy competition teams and runs the undergraduate mock trial program. 

Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, presented the John van Hengel award at the organization’s annual conference to Valerie Nicholson-Watson, president and CEO of Harvesters — The Community Food Network. The award is the highest honor in food banking, a lifetime achievement award intended to be the crowning honor of a winner’s food banking career. The JVH Award recognizes career excellence in leadership, local impact, national influence, commitment and entrepreneurial spirit in the area of hunger relief. “Throughout her distinguished career, Valerie has demonstrated passionate, influential leadership,” said Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America. “She carries a contagious optimism and truly believes in the mission of serving neighbors in need.” Nicholson-Watson has led Harvesters since 2013. Nicholson-Watson will retire from Harvesters on June 30. A search is underway for her replacement.