Officers
Tracy J. BeMent
PRESIDENT
10th Judicial District
P.O. Box 1392
Athens, GA 30603
Tracy "T.J." BeMent is the District Court Administrator for the 10th Judicial Administrative District of Georgia. The 10th JAD covers the general jurisdiction superior courts in six circuits in 21 counties. He was previously the Court Administrator for the Athens-Clarke County Courts in Athens, Georgia, where he worked with all six levels of trial courts in the county. He acts as the primary liaison to the state and county governments and serves as a resource for the judges and judicial staff on many issues. Mr. BeMent administers nearly $2 million in state and federal grants and is a federal grant peer reviewer. He has been working in the courts for more than 15 years. Prior to coming to Georgia, he was the Assistant Court Administrator for the Las Vegas Justice Court and previously the Clerk of Court and Chief Administrative Officer of the District of Columbia's Office of Administrative Hearings. He received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the George Washington University in Washington, DC, and completed his ICM Fellowship in spring 2015.
Kathryn Griffin
PRESIDENT ELECT
45th Circuit Court, St. Joseph County
P.O. Box 189
Centreville, MI 49032
Kathryn Griffin is the Court Administrator for the Circuit and Probate Courts in St. Joseph County, Michigan. She has been Circuit Court Administrator since 2005 and added the role of Probate Court Administrator in 2013. Prior to becoming Administrator she was employed as the Circuit Court Judicial Assistant beginning in 1997. She is responsible for maintaining judges trial docket, caseflow management, reporting requirements to the State Administrative Office as well as all human resources for the courts.
Ms. Griffin is the immediate past president of the Michigan Association of Circuit Court Administrators and served as president from 2011-2017. Prior to becoming president of the association, she was vice president from 2009-2011.
Ms. Griffin attended Kellogg Community College and Glen Oaks Community College. She is a graduate of the National Center For State Courts Court Manager Program. She graduated from the Michigan State Judicial Administration Program in 2013. She currently serves as chair of NACM's Core Committee and vice chair of the Communications Committee. She also serves on the State Association Committee, Conference Development Committee, and Membership Committee.
Jeffrey Tsunekawa
VICE PRESIDENT
Texas Office of Court Administration
205 W. 14th Street, Ste. 600
Austin, TX 78701
Jeffrey Tsunekawa is currently the Director of Research and Court Services at the Texas Office of Court Administration, where he oversees a unit that prepares statistical and data reports, responds to proposed legislation and provides administrative and technical support to courts across the State of Texas. Prior to that, he was the Judicial Operations Manager for Seattle Municipal Court in Washington State, overseeing jury operations, courtroom judicial operations and responsibility for both the digital and paper records of the court. Prior to becoming the Judicial Operations Manager, he was the Senior Executive Assistant to the seven elected Judges and six Magistrates for the Seattle Municipal Court. He previously held positions of similar responsibility at King County Superior Court before joining the Seattle Municipal Court.
Mr. Tsunekawa received a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences from Washington State University in 2007, and a Master’s of Public Administration from Seattle University in 2016. Mr. Tsunekawa was a member of the Washington State District and Municipal Court Management Association, from 2011 to 2018. In 2016, Mr. Tsunekawa became a Fellow of the Institute of Court Management with the National Center for State Courts. He has been a member of the National Association for Court Management since 2007 and has served on multiple committees, including: Ethics, Communications, Nominations, and Membership. He served as a Director for the NACM Board of Directors from 2016-2019, and was elected Secretary/Treasurer in 2019. In addition, he is fulfilling a three-year term on the Joint Technology Committee (JTC).
Rick Pierce
SECRETARY/TREASURER
Administrative Office of the Courts
601 Commonwealth Ave., Ste. 1500
Harrisburg, PA 17106-1260
Rick Pierce, Judicial Programs Administrator of the Judicial District Operations and Programs Department, has served in the field of court administration for the past twenty-nine years. Prior to his appointment at the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, Pierce was the district court administrator for Cumberland County. Prior to his 4 ½ year tenure as court administrator, Pierce was the assistant administrator for the 9th judicial district from 1988-1997.
As judicial programs administrator, he is responsible for implementation of programs and education in court administration at the general and limited jurisdiction court levels.
Pierce served as the President for the Mid-Atlantic Association for Court Management for 2005-2006. Previously he has served on the MAACM advisory board from 1997-2005.
A graduate from Washington and Lee University, Pierce received his Masters in Public Administration from Shippensburg University in 1995. He has been an active member of the Pennsylvania Association of Court Management, (PACM) since its inception in 1989. He has served as a board member from 1994-2001, culminating in his presidency in 2000-2001.
Will Simmons
PAST PRESIDENT
Superior Court of Georgia
6th Judicial District
1220 Pennsylvania Ave.
McDonough, GA 30253
William (Will) Simmons is the District Court Administrator for the Sixth Judicial Administrative District, Superior Courts of Georgia. The district is comprised of 21 superior court judges, 14 counties and 5 judicial circuits. Previously, he served as the Superior and State Court Administrator for the Clayton Judicial Circuit and as Law Library Director and Program Manager for the Cobb Judicial Circuit, both in Georgia. He is a past president of the Georgia Council of Court Administrators and has served on the NACM Board as the Large Court Director and At-Large Director. Will also serves on the Unlicensed Practice of Law Committee for the State Bar of Georgia and the Judicial Workload Assessment Committee for the Judicial Council of Georgia. A member of the Board of Trustees for the Savannah State University Foundation, Will received his Bachelor of Science degree in political science from Savannah State University, Master of Arts in leadership and public administration from Shorter University, Doctorate from Argosy University and his Executive Leadership Certification from Cornell University.
Directors
Charleston L. Carter
2018-21
North Carolina's 26th Judicial District
832 East Fourth Street, Suite 4420
Charlotte NC 28202
Charleston Carter is the Trial Court Administrator for the Superior Court of North Carolina’s 26th Judicial District, Mecklenburg County, where he directs employees in the Trial Court Administrator’s Office and assists almost thirty (30) judges by managing all non-judicial activities: planning, organizing and directing limited and general jurisdiction functions. Prior to becoming the Trial Court Administrator for the 26th Judicial District in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina in 2017, Carter served as the Circuit Court Administrator for the Tifton Judicial Circuit in Tifton, Georgia as well as the Trial Court Administrator for Athens-Clarke County. Overall, Carter has twenty-three (23) years of legal and court administration experience. Carter has been a member of the National Association for Court Management for nine (9) years and has been involved in the National Association for Court Management’s work through its partnership with the Georgia Council of Court Administrators. Carter was a member of the Georgia Council of Court Administrators until he assumed his new role in North Carolina. While in Georgia, Carter served on the Georgia Council of Court Administrators’ Board of Directors for three years, and was the Chair of the Website Committee. Carter received both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Criminal Justice from Valdosta State University and has earned several certifications, including a Master Certificate of Court Administration from Michigan State University and a Certification in Judicial Philosophy from Harvard University.
Jeff Chapple
2019-22
O'Fallon Municipal Court
1019 Bryan Road
O'Fallon, MO 63366
Jeff Chapple is the Court Administrator for the O’Fallon Missouri Municipal Court a Division of the 11th Judicial Circuit of Missouri. He has been in this position since 2004 and has grown the Court to become a leader within the state. He acts as a primary liaison to the state government and serves as a resource for the judges and judicial staff on many issues. Jeff received his Certified Court Administrator (CCA) certificate through Missouri Training Institute in 2007. Jeff earned his Certified Court Manager (CCM) through the National Center for State Courts institute for Court Management in 2016. He also achieved his Advanced Certified Court Administrators (ACCA) certificate through Missouri Court Management Institute in 2017
Mr. Chapple served as a director 2015-2018 on the National Association for Court Management (NACM) Board serving as Membership Chair. He served on the Board of the Missouri Association for Court Administrators 2009-2017 from regional director to President. He has and continues to serve on many local and regional associations staying connected within the communities he lives and works within.
Mr. Chapple received his undergraduate degree from the University of Missouri and Master’s degree from Lindenwold University.
Michelle Dunivan
2018-21
Superior Court of Arizona
620 West Jackson Street
Phoenix, AZ 85003
Michelle Dunivan, PhD, is the Research Director for Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Communication Studies from New Mexico State University, a Master of Arts in Communication from the University of Texas at El Paso, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Communication from The University of Arizona. In her current position, Michelle is responsible for the use of data to answer questions and inform decision-making throughout the Judicial Branch, including work on monthly departmental reports, ad hoc reporting, public records requests, publishing the Annual Report, internal and external surveys, and work on Strategic Projects. Michelle has taught 32 communication courses at colleges and universities, is a certified trainer for Crucial Conversations, and is becoming a certified faculty member the ICM Accountability and Court Performance course.
Dorothy Howell
2019-2022
New Jersey Superior Court, Probation Division
60 Evergreen Place
East Orange, NJ 07018 > Read Biography
Dorothy A. Howell is a 27-year veteran in the State of New Jersey Judiciary. She began her career in 1992 as an investigator in the Probation Division, Child Support unit in Passaic County, NJ. She swiftly ascended through the ranks with an uninterrupted succession to probation officer, senior probation officer and a Court Service Supervisor II. While working in those titles, she was instrumental in the implementation and the execution of several community programs; many of which are still operational.
In 2000, Mrs. Howell was promoted to Assistant Chief Probation Officer as a result of her leadership and creative style of supervision. As an Assistant Chief, she resumed her involvement and enhancement of the Division’s innovative projects and is credited with developing the first Passaic County juvenile “girl’s group” designed specifically to address the unique issues facing female probationers. Additionally, Mrs. Howell helped facilitate the Passaic County Probation Division’s medical visitation program whereby doctors and nurses from St. Joseph’s Medical Center volunteered their time and serve to accompany probation officers on routine home visits.
In 2016, Mrs. Howell was re-assigned to the Probation Division as the Vicinage Chief Probation Officer. As the VCPO in the Essex vicinage, Chief Howell is responsible for over 230 employees in three separate locations. She continues to serve on several committees and enjoys returning to her first love, “Probation Services”.
Dorothy Howell earned her Bachelor of Arts degree at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, and obtained the Certified Court Manager certification and the Certified Court Executive certification from the National Center for State Courts. Dorothy Howell is also an instructor for the Judiciary Court Executive Continuing Education Program (JCECE) in partnership with (ICM) the Institute of Court Management . She currently serves as a Director on the National Association of Court Management’s Executive Board.
Kelly Hutton
2019-22
124 South 4th Street
Grand Forks, ND 58201 > Read Biography
Kelly Hutton has worked for the North Dakota Court System since January 2007 and is currently the Assistant Court Administrator for Unit 1 which is comprised of 13 counties and 11 judges. She has served on local committees and assisted in the implementation of many projects in North Dakota. Kelly currently works with the statewide Caseflow Management Committee, chairs the Digital Recording Workgroup, and the technology sub-group of the caseflow committee, which assisted in the creation of the judicial dashboard that is utilized across the state by judges and court administrators.
In 2015, Kelly completed the Court Management Program and in 2017 completed her ICM Fellowship through the National Center for State Courts (NCSC). Her fellowship paper entitled “Caseflow Management in North Dakota: From Measurement to Management” documented the recent changes in North Dakota rules and policies and discussed recommendations for the future of caseflow management in North Dakota.
Kelly holds a B.A. in Legal Studies from Hamline University, where she also had minors in Economics and Political Science. She is currently working on her Master’s in Public Administration at the University of North Dakota.
Greg Lambard
2020-23
Superior Court of NJ - Middlesex Vicinage
37 Robbinsville Edinburg Rd.
Trenton, NJ 85713
Greg Lambard began his career with the State of New Jersey in 1991 after obtaining a BA in Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland and a MA in Criminal Justice from Rutgers University. He has served in the State Judiciary in various administrative roles and as a researcher/statistician. Additionally, he served two years in the New Jersey Governor’s Office, as Special Assistant to the State’s Chief Information Officer.
He has worked in the New Jersey Judiciary in the Essex County Criminal Division, AOC-Family Practice Division, in the Morris County Family, Operations, and Criminal Divisions (serving as Division Manager in each), in the Burlington County Probation Division as Chief Probation Officer, and currently serves as the Trial Court Administrator for the Middlesex County Superior Court. He is President-Elect of the Mid-Atlantic Association for Court Management, a Past Director on the Board of the National Association for Court Management, a member of the Advisory Committee to the National Center for State Courts’, Pretrial Justice and the State Courts Initiative, and a member of the National Judicial Opioid Task Force.
Tina Mattison
2018-21
Pima County Superior Court
2225 E. Ajo Way
Tucson, AZ 85713
Tina Mattison is the Deputy Court Administrator for the Pima County Juvenile Court, assuming this role in February of 2015. In her position, Ms. Mattison oversees Juvenile Probation, Detention, Children and Family Services, Information Technology Services, Facilities and Security, as well as the budget of $23 million. Pima County Juvenile Court is a general jurisdiction court located in Arizona, with over 425 employees.
Previously she spent 27 years working for the California Superior Court system, in both Orange County and Riverside County. Ms. Mattison was the division manager for Riverside Superior Court where she oversaw the clerk’s office and courtrooms for the Family Law bench. Prior to working in Riverside, Ms. Mattison worked for Orange County Superior Court. She began her career in Juvenile Court, but spent years supervising and managing in the following divisions: Juvenile Courtrooms, Court Reporter and Interpreter Services, and Criminal Courtrooms. Ms. Mattison also worked on national, statewide, and local case management projects. She managed a wide array of special courts, including Drug Court, Co-occurring Disorders Court, Homeless Outreach Court, DUI Court and Domestic Violence Court.
Ms. Mattison earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Masters of Public Administration from California State University Fullerton, and she is a 2012 graduate fellow from the Institute for Court Management. She has published an article on vicarious trauma for court staff entitled “Vicarious Trauma: The Silent Stressor.” Ms. Mattison has been a member of the National Association for Court Management since 1998. She is a member of the Arizona Association for Superior Court Administrators and currently serves on the National Association for Court Management’s Conference Committee. From 2015 to 2018, she previously served on the Supreme Court of Arizona’s Court Security Standards Committee.
Kenneth Pankey
2020-23
Supreme Court of Virginia
100 North 9th St, 3rd Floor
Richmond, VA 23219
Kent Pankey is the senior planner in the Department of Judicial Planning, Office of the Executive Secretary, Supreme Court of Virginia (Virginia’s AOC), where he has worked since 2005. His current duties relate primarily to comprehensive projects involving strategic planning and performance measurement and management. He also staffs commissions and study groups, writes and edits reports and newsletters, and supports educational and technical assistance programs.
Admitted to the Virginia State Bar in 1988, Kent began his career at the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) where he held a variety of positions including staff attorney, departmental director, senior analyst, and head of the institutional review board. He advised judges, court administrators, legislative officials, media representatives. and others on a wide range of issues related to courts and their operation. Kent staffed or directed federally-funded, national-scope research projects on subjects including alternative dispute resolution, court coordination of family cases, the management of budget cutbacks, habeas corpus in state and federal courts, and futures studies and strategic planning in state courts. He was a contributing writer and for several years the managing editor for the annual Report on Trends in the State Courts and also the director of the Survey of Judicial Salaries.
Kent received a B.A. in Political Science from Hampden-Sydney College and a J.D. from the College of William and Mary. He is an ICM Fellow (Class of 1999) and a certified ICM instructor for the courses Accountability and Court Performance, Executive Decision Making, Leadership, Modern Court Governance, and Visioning and Strategic Planning. He has been a member of NACM since 1994 and has been an active member of the Education, Communication, and Membership Committees. Recently, he has been an editor for NACM’s new Media Guide and has authored or coauthored several articles for The Court Manager.
Angie VanSchoick
2020-23
Town of Breckenridge
150 Ski Hill Rd, P.O. Box 168
Breckenridge, CO 80424
Angie VanSchoick is the Court Administrator with the Town of Breckenridge Municipal Court, a position she has held since 2013. In this role, she is responsible for all court operations, including the implementation of policies and procedures, general administration, and jury management. Over the past five years, she has expanded her court presence to include serving on the Board of the Colorado Association for Municipal Court Administration (CAMCA). She currently serves as President of CAMCA, in addition to maintaining their website, serving as a trainer, and providing general oversight.
Ms. VanSchoick is a licensed macro level social worker in the State of Colorado and Michigan, receiving her MSW from the University of Michigan in 2007. Her focus was on Policy, Evaluation, Community Organization, and Community Social Systems, which has provided her with a solid background to assist her Court and CAMCA. As a lifelong learner, she welcomes opportunities to expand her knowledge and knows that serving as a NACM Director will assist in that expansion.