Academic Program Officer

Mr. Tepsich is a Juris Doctor candidate at Case Western Reserve University and currently serves as a law clerk for RMS Management Company.  Prior to attending law school, Mr. Tepsich practiced as a corporate in-house paralegal as well practicing in the area of toxic tort litigation with a Cleveland based law firm.  He has extensive experience working with paralegals in a law firm setting as well as corporate settings.    

Faculty

Mr. DiPalma is a partner with the law firm of Cavitch, Familo, Durkin & Frutkin, located in Cleveland, Ohio.  The firm's practice areas include general business, civil litigation and estate planning. Mr. DiPalma’s practice areas include commercial litigation, employment law, civil litigation with trial experience in actions for breach of contract, including employment matters, construction and insurance contracts, actions involving covenants not to compete, various business torts, and claims brought under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Mr. DiPalma is an editor and contributor for Ohio Transaction Guide and he is also an author of an Expert Commentary published by Lexis/Nexis on the reporting requirements under Ohio's new minimum wage law.  
Mr. DiPalma has been an adjunct professor at Kent State University since 2000 and has taught Contract Law and Principles and Practices of Federal Litigation courses for the Program. Mr. DiPalma completed his degree at Case Western Reserve University.

Ms. Henson is with the Division of Community Development Lending and is an Assistant Vice President in that division at Key Bank, located in Cleveland, Ohio. She specializes in complex Tax Credit deals. Prior to joining Key Bank, Ms. Henson was with the Richard E. Jacobs Group, where she had extensive exposure to real estate transactions and was involved with preparation and negotiations of lease terms with commercial entities.  She has been the Chair of the Professional Development Committee for CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women’s Organization) and is currently serving as a board member for this organization. She joined Kent State’s Paralegal Studies Program as an adjunct faculty in summer 2008, teaching Introduction to Paralegal Studies and Laws of Corporations and Other Business Organizations courses for the Program. She completed her degree at Cleveland State University.

Mr. Herman is an Associate with the law firm Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy located in Cleveland, Ohio.  Prior to obtaining his license, Mr. Herman clerked for the firm in its appellate, research and writing department. The firm’s practice areas include personal injury and medical malpractice. His practice at the firm focuses on all aspects of personal injury litigation.  He co-authored an article titled "Hot Topics: Current Trends In Litigating Police Brutality Cases" that was published by the Association of Trial Lawyers of America in its Civil Rights Section magazine. He joined Kent State University’s Paralegal Studies Program as an adjunct professor in summer 2008, teaching Tort Law for the Program. Mr. Herman completed his degree at Cleveland State University.

Mr. Kratcoski is a partner with the law firm Williams, Welser & Kratcoski, located in Kent, Ohio.  The firm’s practice areas include real estate law, landlord tenant law, business law, estate planning, criminal law, family law, and personal injury law; as well as serving local businesses in the metropolitan area. Mr. Kratcoski's practice generally deals with civil litigation matters.  In particular he handles matters related to construction litigation and arbitration, commercial and residential landlord/tenant matters, real estate transaction and domestic relations cases. Mr. Kratcoski has served as an adjunct professor at Kent State University since 1989 and has taught a number of paralegal legal specialty courses for the Program over the years. In addition he has served as the legal advisor for the Kent State University’s Mock Court Team since 1998.  Mr.Kratcoski completed his degree at Ohio State University.

Mr. Manak joined Kent State University’s Paralegal Studies Program in summer of 2009. Prior to Kent State, Mr. Manak was Of Counsel in the intellectual property section of Calfee, Halter & Griswold, law firm in Cleveland for a number of years. Prior to that Mr. Manak was in-house at The General Tire & Rubber Company, Akron responsible for all intellectual property and product liability matters as well as a practicing attorney for the law firm of Squire Sanders and Dempsey. Mr. Manak has published several articles and books, his most recent book is titled: American Freedom, the Fight for People’s Rights from Colonial Petitions to Modern Courtrooms. (1998). Mr. Manak will be teaching courses in Civil Law and Procedure, Tort Law, Family Law, and Administrative Law for Kent State's Paralegal Studies Program.

Mr. Nelson is an in-house counsel with RMS Management Company, located in Cleveland, Ohio.  His practice area includes handling a wide range of business, litigation and estate planning matters.  Prior to his in-house position with RMS, Mr. Nelson was practicing with the law firm of Kahn Kleinman where his practice area included areas such as Estate Planning, Taxation - State & Federal and Trusts. Mr. Nelson has been an adjunct professor at Kent State University since 2003, teaching courses in Estate and Probate Administration and Civil Law and Procedure for the Program. He completed his degree at New York University.

Mr. Weiner practiced law in the Cleveland area for a number of years before beginning a teaching career. His law practice focused on domestic relations, personal injury, criminal, juvenile and bankruptcy related matters. Mr. Weiner has taught paralegal courses at various institutions and has been an adjunct professor at Kent State University since 2003, teaching Legal Research and Writing, Civil Law & Procedure, and Ethics courses for the Program.
Mr. Weiner is also a legal, business and technical writer, currently working as the staff writer for the Akron Legal News. He has also written numerous articles for the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Northern Ohio Live, Crain’s Cleveland Business, and for the M&A Journal. His areas of writing include tax, employment and technology topics.  His legal column addresses topics such as corporate takeovers and international business agreements. He also works on various high-profile appellate briefs. Mr.Weiner completed his degree at Ohio Northern University.