Steve Hughes is the founder and president of Hit Your Stride, LLC, a communications consultancy that helps attorneys look and sound smart when they talk. He is the author of the book Captivate and his seminars have been featured on NPR, BBC Radio, and Businessweek. Steve is also the proud creator of “International Be Kind To Lawyers Day” (celebrated annually on the 2nd Tuesday in April). Today he works with top-tier clients like Shearman & Sterling, Crowell & Moring, UCLA Law, the JAG Corps, and the Association of Corporate Counsel. Prior to consulting full-time, Steve spent 12 years in advertising and public relations—most recently he was the co-owner of an award-winning 40-person ad agency in St. Louis. He holds a BA in French Literature and European History from the University of Kansas and an MBA in Marketing from Washington University where he won the prestigious Olin Cup.
Laura Todd Johnson, a NACUA member since 2002, is the Senior Vice President and General Counsel at the University of Arizona. Before assuming this role, she worked as a University Attorney for the Office of the General Counsel at the University of Arizona, and as a founding and managing partner of a Tucson, Arizona law firm focusing on plaintiff’s employment litigation. Ms. Johnson also worked as a trial attorney for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, litigating complex class action cases. One of her most experienced practice areas is employment law, and she has provided workshops, training, and classes related to compliance, discrimination, disability, and diversity issues on her campus.
Ms. Johnson is currently Chair-Elect of the NACUA Board of Directors. She served as an at-large member on NACUA’s Board of Directors (Class of FY 2015-2018) and has served on many NACUA committees including as the Chair of the Committee on Strategic Planning. Throughout her 15 years of membership with NACUA, Ms. Johnson has been a frequent speaker at CLE workshops, been a virtual seminar speaker, and co-authored a NACUA pamphlet titled, “What to Do When the EEOC Comes Knocking.”
Ms. Johnson also contributes to other non-profit organizations, including service as a board member of the Arizona Public Media Community Advisory Board. She has held several board leadership positions at the Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault, and has served as a volunteer pro bono attorney at Tucson’s Community Outreach Program for the Deaf. She also served in several leadership positions for the State Bar of Arizona Labor and Employment Section.
Ms. Johnson received a B.A. from the University of Arizona, magna cum laude, and a J.D. from the University of Arizona College of Law, cum laude.
Paul is a national speaker and author. He coaches lawyers how to be more efficient with time management by offering customized workshops. When he isn’t speaking or writing, he is usually performing technology assessments throughout the United States and Canada. Paul began his career working for the Governor of Ohio, and then went on to law school. He practiced law for six years, specializing in litigation and bankruptcy, before starting a legal technology consulting company with partner Barron Henley in 2000.
Paul’s superpowers are cleaning up messes and turning digital chaos into well-organized machines. His favorite part of his job is helping people get organized and focused so they can find more enjoyment in their lives and jobs.
Paul enjoys restoring old homes, gardening, and cooking. He also enjoys long jogs and walks with his life partner, Tishane, and the newest addition to their family, Amenadiel, a fluffy and very clever 80-pound German Shepard.
Don’t be surprised to find Paul in a pair of jeans drinking iced tea on his porch, playing cards, and snacking on his guilty pleasure, a bag of potato chips with a tub of French onion dip.
Francisco Pardo is Assistant Director of Legal Resources at NACUA. He is primarily responsible for planning high quality and relevant programming for NACUA's valued members, particularly for the Annual Conference.
Most recently, Francisco was the Associate Director in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action at Columbia University. In his role at Columbia, he investigated discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct allegations made against faculty and staff, worked to ensure disability access, and promoted diversity and inclusion throughout the institution. He began his legal career as the Complaints & Investigations Analyst for the New York City Campaign Finance Board, where he investigated local political campaigns for City Council and citywide offices to ensure compliance with New York City’s landmark publicly funded campaign finance system. Francisco also has experience with the Racial Justice Project of the American Civil Liberties Union and with the School Board of Miami-Dade County.
Francisco has volunteered his time in the areas of democracy, civil rights, and youth leadership by serving on the Board of Directors of Equal Justice Works, the Executive Board of the Miami-Dade Election Reform Coalition, and the Board of the National Youth Leadership Council.
Francisco received a Bachelor of Arts summa cum laude from The George Washington University in 2009, in addition to enjoying a year at the University of Oxford studying politics, law, and history. He received a Juris Doctor from Fordham University School of Law in 2012 and was awarded the Archibald R. Murray Public Service Award.