ALA Gateway: Message From the President - November 2026

Posted by admin on Jun. 22, 2026  /  Subscribe 0

Fall always seems to arrive at full speed. Calendars fill up, the pace picks up and, if we’re lucky, there’s at least one meeting with something warm and seasonal nearby. For me, it’s also one of those natural moments to look back and realize just how much we’ve packed into a few short months, and how much of it has happened because our members and Business Partners keep showing up.

When I introduced “Lead Forward” earlier this year, I didn’t want it to be just a theme that looked good on a slide. I wanted it to give us a simple direction for the year: make meaningful connections, create opportunities to learn and grow, and find ways to make an impact together. Seeing those ideas come to life has probably been one of my favorite parts of serving as President so far.

And leadership doesn’t have to come with a title. Sometimes it looks like sharing an idea, welcoming the person who doesn’t know anyone in the room yet, raising your hand to help, asking the question everyone else was thinking, or simply making something easier for the next person. Those are the moments that have built our chapter, and I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have seen a lot of them lately.

And speaking of a lot... we have been busy! The past few months have taken us from education and professional development to Play-Doh, golf, community engagement and plenty of networking in between. Through it all, our members and Business Partners have continued to turn connection, development and impact into more than words. So, before the calendar gets even fuller, here’s a little look at what we’ve been up to…

CONNECTION IN ACTION
Business Partner Showcase
Our annual Business Partner Showcase, Mash, Mold & Mingle, brought members and Business Partners together in September for an afternoon built around creativity, conversation and connection. Teams mixed across firms and industries for a Play-Doh challenge before continuing the conversation over food, drinks and networking, creating an easy, memorable way to learn more about one another and the resources our Business Partners bring to the legal community. The event put “Connection in Action” in very literal form: participants molded something together while strengthening the relationships that support our members and Chapter throughout the year. Special thanks to our Main Event Sponsors, Office Essentials and IT Solutions, and our Networking Sponsors, Beacon Hill Legal and The Bremer Group, for helping make the event possible.

DEVELOPMENT THAT MOVES US FORWARD
Educational Programming
Women Who Lead in Law – Discovering the Meaning of Success | July 8
We kicked off our summer programming on a high note with our annual Women Who Lead in Law event at Husch Blackwell. Jennifer Belmont Jennings, co-author of Women in Law: Discovering the True Meaning of Success, led an engaging and candid conversation about redefining what success looks like, recognizing the value in the work we do and giving ourselves a little more credit along the way. It was a thoughtful reminder that success does not always follow a straight line, and sometimes we need to pause long enough to recognize how far we have already come.

And because some of the best conversations happen after the program ends, we kept things going with a social and networking reception. Members and guests had the opportunity to continue the discussion, make new connections and enjoy time together outside of the formal program. A special thank you to our sponsoring business partners, SecurIT360, Thompson Flanagan, an NFP Company, and JurisTalent, for helping us extend the evening and creating even more opportunities to connect.

The Changing Reality of Law Firm Operations | August 19
In August, we were happy to welcome Haley Revel, Managing Director at Calibrate Consulting, to discuss something affecting us all in the changing reality of law firm operations. Haley offered a market-informed look at how changing talent models, client expectations, technology investments and the continued professionalization of business services are shaping firm decisions heading into 2027. The discussion gave members a practical framework for connecting process discipline, role clarity and operational strategy to stronger performance and sustainable growth.

What They Don’t Teach You in Law School: From Law School to Legal Practice | September 30
To cap off September, ALA Gateway brought associates and legal administrators together for a candid conversation about the things they really don’t teach you in law school, with a little help from Ronnoco coffee to get the morning started. The panel tackled practical early-career challenges, from workloads, deadlines and billable expectations to feedback, firm resources and sustainable work habits. Special thanks to LexisNexis for sponsoring the program and Jessica Kirchner for moderating a cross-firm discussion that offered valuable perspective from both sides of the practice experience.

A CHAPTER THAT MAKES AN IMPACT
Service and Community Engagement
Tower Grove Pride | September 27
If we are going to spend a weekend doing anything, it will always be to support our communities. Several ALA Gateway members joined up with our legal community partners to walk in the TGPRIDE 2026 Parade at Tower Grove Park, bringing a little legal flair to the parade route in our judge-and-jury attire.

The event brought our Chapter into the broader community through a visible show of inclusion, engagement and partnership, while giving members another way to connect around values shared across the legal profession. The effort also reflected meaningful collaboration among our DEIAB, Community Connections and Strategic Alliance teams, with participant shirts and branded giveaways along the parade route. Special thanks to Bowers & Associates for the fantastic shirt donation. 

WELCOMING NEW CONNECTIONS
New Member Event
Tee Up Your Next Connection | October 8
We started October with a hole in one, welcoming new members and Board members to Five Iron Golf for Tee Up Your Next Connection. Our annual new member event is all about making those first Chapter connections a little easier, and a few swings, friendly competition and casual conversation did just that. New members had the chance to mingle with Board members, learn more about ALA Gateway and find ways to get involved, all without the pressure of a formal networking event. Because sometimes the best way to grow your professional network is simply to have a little fun together.

Looking Ahead

Save the Dates

Ready to connect, learn and get involved? View upcoming ALA Gateway events and register.

Wednesday, November 4, 2026 | 5:30pm to 8:00pm CT

Join us for some frightfully good networking with a haunted house ghost tour, dinner and drinks. It promises an evening of ghosts, gatherings and good spirits, all while keeping it professional. View event details and register.

ALA/LMA (Joint Regional Meeting): The Rankings Reality: What’s Worth Your Time, Money & Sanity

Wednesday, November 18, 2026 | 3:30pm to 5:30pm

The ALA and LMA chapters of Chicago, Kansas City and St. Louis are coming together for a Joint Regional Meeting. Each city will host a viewing party for the virtual program, “The Rankings Reality: What’s Worth Your Time, Money & Sanity?” We will take an honest look at law firm rankings, share practical insights and then enjoy some networking while we get a little of that sanity back.

St. Louis viewing party: Growe Eisen Karlen Eilerts, 120 S. Central Avenue, followed by snacks and beverages at High Bar Clayton. The St. Louis happy hour will continue until 6:30 p.m., allowing time for the one-block walk to High Bar. Members are encouraged to invite marketing professionals from their firms.

Holiday Luncheon

Tuesday, December 8, 2026 | 11:30 am

Save the date to join us for our Holiday Luncheon at The London Tea Room. Keep an eye out soon. Registration information will be shared through email communications.

Reminder: Member Benefits and ALA Resources

Looking for additional ways to maximize your membership? The Gateway Chapter’s Resources page offers a central starting point, and the tools below are especially helpful for staying informed, finding solutions and continuing your professional development.

     o    Legal Management Magazine: Explore practical content across ALA’s five knowledge areas: Legal      Industry/Business Management, Human Resources Management, Financial Management, Communications and Organizational Management, and Operations Management.

     o    ALA Online Community: Compare notes with peers, ask questions and learn how other firms are approaching shared challenges. Gateway members can also review the Chapter’s guide for connecting locally by clicking here.

     o    ALA Career Center: Access career-development articles and the Job Bank for employers and job seekers.

     o    ALA Legal Marketplace: Search for solution providers serving the legal management industry. Search for an ALA Business Partner to address the needs of your firm and begin receiving exclusive member discounts through ALA’s Value in Partnership (VIP) program.

    o    ALA Gateway Business Partners: Get to know the local Business Partners whose support helps the Chapter provide strong education, community programs and social events. It is because of the support of these Business Partners that we can provide top notch education and other community and social events to our Gateway members. Please familiarize yourself with our local Business Partners and reach out to them for any of your firm’s needs. 

A Final Note

As we continue to Lead Forward this year, I hope each of us will look for one more way to connect, grow and make an impact. Attend a program. Introduce yourself to someone new. Share an idea. Volunteer for something that stretches you. None of these things feels monumental on their own, but each one creates momentum, and that momentum is how we move ourselves, one another and our Chapter forward.

Thank you to the volunteers, speakers, Business Partners and members who help make each gathering meaningful. The photos throughout this newsletter capture only part of the energy and engagement these events created.

I hope to see you at an upcoming event, and if I can ever be of service to you, please do not hesitate to reach out!

Casie Galczynski

2026-2027 ALA Gateway President

[email protected]

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