Awardees, New Officers Announced

Terry Votel, an insurance defense lawyer with Farmers Insurance Group based in St. Paul, accepted the gavel from outgoing President Leo Brisbois in ceremonies June 24 at Target Field.  Votel took office July 1 as the 113th president of the MSBA.  (Although the MSBA was founded in 1883, prior to 1901 only three presidents served).

Also effective July 1: Brent Routman of Merchant & Gould, Minneapolis, became president-elect; Robert Enger of Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota, Bemidji, became treasurer; and Phil Duran, of Outfront Minnesota, Minneapolis, took office as the new secretary.

Two of MSBA’s most prestigious awards were presented at the Target Field festivities.  This year’s Professional Excellence Award went to the Minnesota attorney members of the 34th “Red Bull” Infantry Division of the Minnesota Army National Guard.  Members of the division recently returned from a year of service in Iraq.  The President’s Award was presented to attorney Kevin Dunlevy, an attorney with Beisel & Dunlevy in Minneapolis, who was recognized for his outstanding service at the legislature, explaining and promoting MSBA legislative initiatives especially in real property law.