Login | October 02, 2026
Akron Bar CEO Cate Kurela reflects on her first year; discusses new initiatives
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: October 2, 2026
Since starting as the new chief executive officer of the Akron Bar Association in September 2025, attorney Cate Kurela has been working to make benefits and services more relevant to members, identify new revenue sources and implement measures to ensure the association’s seamless operation.
“After an initial observation and learning period during which I got to know the staff and their job functions, I decided that we needed a more team-oriented approach to the work we do,” said Kurela.
“Traditionally, every staff member had been responsible for certain duties, which were carried out individually without other members of the staff necessarily knowing what they did or the protocols used to accomplish the work.
“Given that we have a small staff, I wanted to create a safety net so that if someone was out sick or left, other staff members could more easily pick up where that person left off.
“So since early spring, everyone has been documenting their processes for accomplishing their work,” said Kurela. “This will help us to keep things running smoothly, enable staff to help each other more and preserve our institutional knowledge.”
But those are far from the only changes she has made since former CEO C. Allen Nichols retired last October.
“Our longtime finance director left for another opportunity, which allowed me to retool that position into a business manager who will eventually take on some financial duties previously spread among other employees,” she said.
“For example, certain tasks such as bookkeeping and bill payment were outsourced in order for this key position to be retooled.”
In addition, when former bar foundation and community relations director Deb Poland left, Kurela created two part-time positions. Poland had multiple responsibilities, including marketing, communications, event planning and foundation-related duties.
“We now have one person — Jennifer Kernan — in charge of our events and another person — Denise Geisler — handling our communication needs, including media relations.
“Jennifer is also our bar foundation manager,” said Kurela. “We are hoping to make this position full time in 2027, given the large number of events that we hold each year in addition to our CLEs.”
The Akron Bar Association has also partnered with the 7 17 Credit Union, unveiling a new association Visa card for members and promoting the credit union’s other business-friendly financial tools.
“The 7 17 Credit Union is investing heavily in Summit and our surrounding counties, offering many different products and services to people of all ages and status,” said Kurela.
“The credit card, in particular, has an introductory rate of just 7.17% and unbeatable rates thereafter, and 7.17 cents of each participant’s swipe is given to the Akron Bar Association,” Kurela said, adding it is also one of the few credit unions that offer IOLTA accounts, which are “critically important” to many attorneys.
Throughout her first year, Kurela worked closely with now-Akron Bar Association President John F. Martin and immediate past president Brian J. Moore, as well as the rest of the executive committee to ensure the board and staff moved forward with a shared understanding and direction.
Both Moore and Martin expressed confidence in her leadership.
“Cate has jumped into the job and has quickly gotten hold of where we are and where we’re going,” said Brennan, Manna & Diamond Member Martin. “She has outstanding organizational skills and has done a great job in bringing our policies and support documents up to date.
“She is also very innovative and has a number of ideas on how to increase service to our members and generate revenue for the association,” said Martin.
“Cate wisely took some time to observe the existing systems and staff responsibilities and then moved into making or suggesting improvements,” said Moore, a shareholder at Roetzel & Andress. “The benefits are definitely noticeable already.
“She’s creative too, and that’s been valuable as she has identified ways to enhance and create new revenue opportunities,” said Moore.
“She is very adept at dealing with our board members, committee chairs and members in general,” Moore said. “Her people skills are definitely top notch and that is so important when dealing with a membership consisting entirely of attorneys. Of course, it helps that she too is an attorney.”
While she has always kept her law license current, Kurela has spent the bulk of her career leading nonprofit organizations like the bar association.
In fact, she’s now celebrating nearly 30 years in association management.
A native of Berea, Ohio, Kurela received her bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University, where she majored in sport management with a concentration in marketing and promotions.
“I was always interested in law,” said Kurela. “I remember that shortly after U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor was confirmed, my mom asked me what I would want to do if there were no barriers and I said Supreme Court justice.
“For a little while I toyed with the idea of being a sport talent agent,” said Kurela. “I took a sport law class, and talked to a professor about it, but at the time I tended to see where my natural talent, networking and opportunities took me, which was elsewhere.”
While at Bowling Green, she interned at the former Raceway Park in Toledo, serving as publicity coordinator for several months after completing her degree.
She then moved to Cleveland, where she attended the institution now known as Cleveland State University College of Law, earning her Juris Doctor in 1995.
She said she postponed taking the bar exam until the following year to gain additional work experience.
Kurela officially began her legal career in 1996 as an associate at a small firm in Lorain, where she had clerked since shortly after graduating.
“I focused on criminal and civil appeals, and later, due to staff changes, I became a criminal defense associate,” said Kurela. “It was challenging and interesting, but not the right fit.”
As it turned out, she was tapped to serve as executive director of Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity, International, beginning her transition into association management.
“The offer came out of the blue from a colleague I met at the fraternity’s conference two years prior,” said Kurela.
She served in the role for 10 years, before taking on similar responsibilities as executive director of the Education Law Association (ELA). While at the association, she also completed a Master of Public Administration at the University of Dayton.
“ELA is made up of practicing attorneys, law school professors and school administrators,” said Kurela. “We produced educational seminars for school administrators as well as national academic and continuing legal education conferences.
“We also published books and monographs that were often used as textbooks and supplements in undergraduate and graduate coursework.”
When budget cuts reduced the position to part time, Kurela returned to her familial roots, so to speak, as the executive director of the Precision Machined Products Association.
“My maternal grandfather was a machinist, and my dad started out working in a machine shop as a machinist’s apprentice,” she said. “During my undergraduate summers, I worked in a steel mill in Cleveland — as did my brother and sister — so it was intriguing to me to take the position.
“The association is made up of mostly family-owned machine shops in the U.S. and Canada,” she said. “I learned a lot and got the chance to visit shops all over the country, but in the end, I was missing my connection to the law.
“So, when a member of my legal fraternity told me the Akron Bar Association was looking for a new CEO, I applied.”
While her role does come with its challenges, she said overall it’s been a “great” experience.
In addition to overseeing the operations, Kurela supervises 10 full- and part-time staff members.
She is currently working on the launch of yet another project that will provide health insurance brokerage services to members.
“We are partnering with Gallagher, one of the world’s largest insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting firms, to offer concierge services to our members,” said Kurela.
“Whether a firm offers major medical or works with employees through the ACA (Affordable Care Act), Gallagher can find the right package,” she said. “The association will also make a small amount through our marketing remittance program.”
A new rebranded website is also on the horizon.
“We are working with Full Spectrum Marketing, a local firm, on the project, and we will gain input from our members to make sure it is user-friendly for people of all ages and levels of practice.”
Additionally, she said the association continues to look for new sponsors outside of the legal profession to help cover the cost of some of its more than 40 events.
Kurela is a longtime member of the Ohio Society of Association Professionals (OSAP) and is serving her second term on the board of directors. She credits OSAP with her longevity in association management.
“I recently moved to the area from Strongsville, via Lorain County, where I spent most of my adult years, and I am looking to get more involved in my adopted home,” said Kurela. “I think the people here are terrific, and the members of the bar association could not be more supportive.
“I want to be the person who helps the association grow and moves members forward in their careers.”