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MARK R.T. STEPHENSON

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STRAFFORD, MO 65757

CELL NO: 417-***-**** E-MAIL: acuuea@r.postjobfree.com EDUCATION

Southeastern Paralegal Institute, Dallas, Texas

Accreditation by the American Bar Association, certificate May 1994, 4.0 G.P.A. Graduated second in class with highest honors

Awarded the Lawyers Cooperative Publishing Award of Excellence for Legal Research & Writing West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia Bachelor of Arts in English with Journalism minor, December 1984 Seeking paralegal position that will fully utilize my strengths in Legal Research, Legal Writing and Investigation

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

March 2003 – November 2015 Reliable Chevrolet, LLC [Berkshire Hathaway Automotive], Springfield, Missouri Customer Services Director / Compliance Officer / Paralegal

• Develop, Draft & Implement dealership policies, procedures and protocols

• Audit & Enforce local, county, state & federal laws & regulations for compliance by all staff members

• Train dealership employees on dealership policy and legal compliance requirements

• Provide internal and informal opinions on legal matters facing dealership

• Respond to BBB, attorney, and Attorney General inquires and correspondence

• Represent dealership interests in small claims matters, work with dealership local and corporate legal counsel on litigation and workers compensation matters

• Responsible for receiving and seeking out customer concerns and providing resolution

• Supervise all dealership employees in providing customer service & ensuring customer satisfaction

• Duties Performed for Reliable Chevrolet, Elite Mercedes-Benz & Infiniti of Springfield August 2001 – March 2003 Joe Myers Ford, Inc. [Van Tuyl Enterprises, Inc], Houston, Texas Customer Relations Director / Paralegal

• Responsible for receiving and seeking out customer concerns and providing resolution

• Train & Supervise all dealership employees as their actions relate to providing customer service

• Monitor customer satisfaction survey indexes and report on problem trends

• Provide internal and informal opinions on legal matters facing dealership

• Respond to BBB, attorney, and Attorney General inquires and correspondence 2

March ’99 – June ’01 Stevens Financial Group, Inc., Springfield, Missouri Bankruptcy & Litigation Manager

• Responsible for reviewing, forwarding & negotiating settlements on collection matters for multi-million dollar automotive sub-prime lending company conducting business in 40 US states

• Supervise Bankruptcy Clerk and resolve legal concerns arising from bankruptcy matters

• Assist General Counsel and outside counsel in legal research, legal writing, corporate compliance and corporate litigation

• Review consumer accounts for charge off

• Respond to questions of law and procedure concerning day-to-day collections operations

• Answer to General Counsel and Executive Staff

• Provide monthly reports on litigation and collections progress

• Worked under direct supervision of General Counsel September ’97 – March ’99 Project: Paralegal, Springfield, Missouri Self-Employed Paralegal / Investigator

• Provide legal support services to Springfield area attorneys and law firms

• Emphasis of paralegal practice in legal research and legal writing

• Provide additional legal support services including witness interviews, site surveys, investigation, and trial assistance

November ’95 – May ’97 Reynolds & Conway, P.C., Springfield, Missouri Paralegal / Investigator

• Perform legal research, prepare pleadings and manage discovery

• Responsible for conducting investigations, interviewing and preparing witnesses, conduct photo site surveys, provide trial preparation and perform trial assistance

• Firm’s primary areas of practice are in insurance defense, contract law and real estate law July ’94 – August ’95 Jackson & Kelly, Charleston, West Virginia Legal Assistant

• Perform case management duties including discovery management, calendaring pleadings, scheduling depositions and preparing deposition summaries

• Conduct initial client interviews and witness interviews

• Firm’s practice is insurance defense

Internship May ’94 Dallas County District Attorney’s Office, Dallas, Texas Fulfillment of required internship for Southeastern Paralegal Institute

• Perform data entry for criminal processing and intake

• Observe and assist prosecutors in trial proceedings 3

December ’92 – June ’94 Central Printing, Dallas, Texas Customer Service Representative

• Customer account representative for litigation photocopy service serving Dallas area attorneys, law firms and governmental agencies

August ’90 – November ’92 Westcott Communications / Automotive Satellite Television Network, Dallas, Texas Regional Sales Manager / Client Support Representative

• Started as Client Support Representative responsible for customer contact and responding to customer assistance requests on utilization of Automotive Satellite Television Network (ASTN) systems and services to automotive retail clients

• Promoted to Regional Sales Manager responsible for marketing ASTN to automotive retailers in California, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico

July ’88 – August ’90 Reliable Chevrolet, Inc, Springfield, Missouri Customer Relations Manager

• Develop and implement team oriented program for resolving customer concerns at multi-franchise auto dealership

• Track customer satisfaction index scoring trends and report areas for improvement to dealership management

• Assist in marketing and public relations efforts of dealership November ’86 – May ’88 Currey Communications, Charleston, West Virginia Account Representative / Technical Writer

• Assist in writing publications, brochures and press releases for chemical industry and automotive retail clients

• Registered Lobbyist to West Virginia Legislature reporting legislative actions that may affect the business interests of firm’s chemical industry clients March ’86 – November ’86 Fresh Aire Marketing, Charleston, West Virginia Self-employed Advertising and Marketing Advisor

• Assist small businesses in creating, implementing and managing advertising campaigns suited to their budget needs

• Serve as advertising liaison between advertising account executives and Fresh Aire clients 4

ACTIVITIES, AWARDS AND PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Earned Lawyers Cooperative Publishing Award of Excellence in Legal Research & Writing Authored articles appearing in Missouri Lawyer’s Weekly and Legal Assistants of West Virginia Newsletter Past Member of the National Federation of Paralegal Associations Past Member of the Southwest Missouri Paralegal Association Past Member of the Legal Assistants of West Virginia and served a term as the Charleston Regional Membership Coordinator

Attended various CLE seminars and workshops presented by the Missouri Bar Association Attended various CLE seminars and workshops presented by the Legal Assistants of West Virginia and the West Virginia Trial Lawyers Association

CCAR / S/P2 Supervisor Certification for OSHA and EPA compliance Certificated in dealership operations for Finance & Insurance, Van Tuyl Automotive Group, (Berkshire Hathaway Automotive Group)

Active Notary Public

HOBBIES AND INTERESTS

Fan of classic cars, especially Corvettes. I currently own a 1972 Corvette that is about 85% restored. Coins and precious metals collecting

Gun collecting and target shooting

Classic and contemporary jazz music fan

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