Third Thursday & Board Elections
Thursday, Nov. 19
BookPeople (603 N. Lamar Blvd, Austin)
7 – 8 p.m.
Voting for the annual WLT Board Elections will close this Thursday after the Third Thursday meeting, so don’t forget to get those votes in! You can vote online or come to the meeting and vote there. We have five members running for board spots, three of which are running for re-election and two, Nina Godiwalla and David Furlow, are brand new to the board. Learn more about the election and the candidates on the WLT website. Here’s a spotlight on the members running in the election.
Nina Godiwalla is the author of forthcoming Suits: A Woman on Wall Street, a literary memoir about her experience at Morgan Stanley. Currently she is the CEO of Mindworks, which trains corporate and organizational professionals in meditation and stress management. Nina has been a WLT member for over a year and is eager to help grow and strengthen this incredible network of writers. She is excited to bring her marketing and administrative knowledge she has gained through her corporate and nonprofit experience to the Writers’ League.
David Furlow is senior partner of Thompson and Knight LLP in Houston. As he says, “I want to serve on WLT’s Board of Directors for several reasons. First, I can provide marketing, a commitment to increasing WLT’s profile in Houston, and a large law firms sponsorship. Second I can share my experience as Chair of the A.B.A Tort, Trial and Insurance Practice Section’s Media, Defamation, and Privacy law committee and as Vice Chair of the section’s Intellectual Property committee. Third I have unique experience in publishing nonfiction.”
Laura Castro, Rick Guzman, and Karen Trikilis are running for re-election:
Laura Castro is a writer and media relations expert with more than 25 years of professional experience in journalism, strategic communications and public relations. She works for the University of Texas at Austin as director of media relations for the School of Law and as an adjunct professor in the School of Journalism. Castro has worked as a journalist at national news organizations including The Wall Street Journal, New York Newsday, and CNN for more than a decade before earning a law degree from the University of Texas in 1997.
Rick Guzman is a former Army artillery officer with a solo general law practice in Williamson County. He is a former board member of the City of Round Rock Community Development Commission and the Round Rock Ranch Homeowner’s Association. Rick is a longtime member of WLT and has published ten books with his co-author and wife, Lila Guzman. Rick is the current Treasurer and wants to continue on the WLT board and focus on administration.
Karen Trikilis graduated from the University of Texas with a Liberal Arts degree in English and History. For 35 years Karen has worked for a criminal and civil law firm, where she works with clients with unique legal problems. Karen is an avid read and long time book club member. She is a past member of the WLT Board of Directors and currently serves as the Secretary.
