The June 6 edition of the Charlotte Business Journal featured its 15th annual “40 under 40″ special section, recognizing young people for making strides in their careers and impacting their communities. One of the forty chosen for the 2008 class is Kristi Kessler Walters, a Davidson native who now manages recruiting and retention of women and minorities for the Parker Poe law firm. Kristi is the daughter of Steve and Harriet Kessler of Davidson, granddaughter of Robyn Oldham of The Pines, and sister of Mike Kessler, also a Davidson resident with his wife, Rosie Molinary. More Davidson relatives include Kristi’s aunt and uncle, Margo and Bill Williams.
Kristi is a Davidson College graduate (1991) and Chapel Hill School of Law (1999). She has been as associate with Parker Poe of Charlotte since receiving her J.D. degree and passing the bar exam. The Business Journal states that it is looking for professionals who are guiding the area’s development as a major business center and Kristi “fits the bill” perfectly in her role as Parker Poe’s Director of Professional Development and Diversity. Her goal is to direct and oversee all the professional development activities for attorneys with Parker Poe including training, mentoring and working closely with the committee that evaluates and provides feedback to associates. In Kristi’s own words, “One important goal of my position is to help build a bridge between law school and practicing law. I serve as a sounding board and central contact for our associates to help them transition from law school to practicing law.” In addition, she handles her firm’s diversity initiatives including recruiting and retaining women and minority lawyers.
Seeing the need to work with young attorneys bridging the gap between academia and on-the-job attorney work, Kristi proposed the need for a person at Parker Poe to handle development and diversity about three years ago. As a result she was named to this new position as Director of Professional Development and Diversity in January 2006. She now continues to practice law on a limited basis but finds her time is largely spent on shaping this new role for the firm. Kudos to you, Kristi, on the impact you are having not only at Parker Poe but also in the community at large.
Kristi and her husband, Jerry, live in Charlotte with their Labrador retrievers, Maggie and Emma. Of particular interest to our Davidson readers, Kristi’s bio information for the Business Journal included a note that her grandmother, Robyn Oldham, was her most valued mentor. What a nice honor for you, Robyn!
