President

Hello Barristers!

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It has been my true privilege to serve our bar association as President-Elect this past year, and as Treasurer in the three terms before that.

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I was first introduced to Barristers while participating in RCBA’s New Attorney Academy.  I have found in Barristers a warm welcome and engaging membership.  I have always tried to pay that welcome forward, whether to our member attorneys, other legal professionals, or law students.

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An integral part of the Barristers identity is networking and shared experiences, always with an eye toward fun.  I look forward to strengthening that identity in the 2023–2024 term with our incoming board, which will draw from a strong pool of nominees.

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As always, I look forward to seeing you soon!

This Candidate is running for both Secretary and Member-at-Large

Secretary:

I am honored to have been nominated for the 2023-2024 RCBA Barristers Secretary position. I had the privilege of serving as a Member-at-Large this past year with a wonderful group of board members who share the same passion for building and serving our Riverside community. Through serving with RCBA Barristers, I have seen first-hand the positive impact RCBA Barristers have had through connecting and serving new attorneys and community members.

If elected Secretary, I will work to fulfill the responsibilities and duties required of me to help RCBA Barristers continue its mission and the undeniable impact it has in our community. Above all, I hope to be able to contribute to the mission and vision of RCBA Barristers, in whichever role and capacity.

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Member-at-Large:

I am honored to have been nominated for the 2023-2024 RCBA Barristers Member-at-Large position. Having served as a Member-at-Large this past year has only increased my desire to serve our members and Riverside community. As young professionals, new attorneys need a community with which to connect and grow, and the RCBA Barristers provides that and so much more. I hope to continue to contribute and serve in any and every way possible, and work together with my fellow board members to reach and provide support and guidance to other new attorneys and community members in the Inland Empire. My hope is to continue the legacy of the RCBA Barristers, which remains a positive legal force in Southern California and beyond.

Member at Large

Hi Everyone,

I am running for Member-at-Large. I have been very fortunate to have been a part of the last few Barristers Boards. Each of them, equally amazing. I am hoping to be a part of the next board because, every year, Barristers provides guidance, help, and friendship to new attorneys in the Inland Empire.

This upcoming year, I am hoping to continue this tradition of helping new attorneys, providing a community for new attorneys, and connecting new attorneys to amazing opportunities that will give back to our Inland Empire community while also giving each one of us the opportunity to learn about different areas of law (expungement clinics, etc.). I am also on the Board of APALIE and HBAIE.

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Thank you, 

Alex

Member at Large

John "Jack" Rafter is an associate attorney at Varner & Brandt, LLP, where he has been working for the past year. He started his legal career as a research attorney at LexisNexis, specializing in collaborations with law schools and large law firms with over 100 attorneys. In 2018, Jack graduated from Western State College of Law where he met his incredible fiancée.

Jack is an energetic and outgoing person, who brings with him a wealth of knowledge about planning and running events, from his 12 years of experience running banquets at the Disneyland Resort. He recently graduated from the New Attorney Academy and hopes to be an active member of the RCBA and Barristers for years to come.

Member at Large

My name is Ellen Peng and I am running for Member-at-Large. I have been involved with the Riverside Barristers since I was in law school. As a law student, I was overwhelmed by the presence of so many amazing attorneys but the more I got to know everyone, I learned that Barristers is an amazing support system. Now as an attorney, I am happy and proud to stand with the ones who supported me. I hope to pass along what I’ve gained and grow this community even more. 

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Thank you, 
Ellen Peng

President-Elect

Even though I have only been a practicing attorney since December 2018,  I have been involved in the Inland Empire’s legal community for 18 years.

It all began in June 2005 when I started working at a law firm in San Bernardino as a part-time office services clerk (while I finished my bachelor’s degree at the University of Redlands).  Thirteen years later, I had worked my way from office services clerk to office manager and legal assistant to the managing partner of the firm’s litigation department. It was then I realized two things: (1) I wanted to go to law school and be an attorney; and (2) after I passed the bar, I wanted to be a part of the Barristers (with the hope of being President one day).  

Accordingly, I started law school at Western State College of Law in August 2014, graduated in May 2018, and thereafter was hired as an attorney at Stream Kim Hicks Wrage & Alfaro, PC in Riverside—where I have been ever since.  From there, I began attending the Barristers events and had the privilege of serving on the 2022-2023 Barristers Board as a Member-at-Large. And now I have the honor of being nominated as President-Elect for the 2023-2024 Barristers Board of Directors.

This Candidate is running for both Secretary and Member-at-Large

Secretary:

Excited to be working again in the downtown Riverside area so that I can continue to be involved with RCBA Barristers! I had the honor of being the Barristers Secretary for 2016-2017, 2017-2018, and 2022-2023 terms, and enjoy giving back and making a difference in the community. I love the close-knit, collegial, and supportive atmosphere of the Riverside legal community and would be honored by the opportunity to serve as the Barristers Secretary once more!  Thank you for your votes and consideration of me for this position of Secretary.  I strongly believe in the impact and importance of the Barristers Board so I would also be honored to contribute to the Riverside legal community as a Member-at-Large.

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Member-at-Large:

Excited to be working again in the downtown Riverside area so that I can continue to be involved with RCBA Barristers! I had the honor of being the Barristers Secretary for 2016-2017, 2017-2018, and 2022-2023 terms, and enjoy giving back and making a difference in the community. I love the close-knit, collegial, and supportive atmosphere of the Riverside legal community and would be honored by the opportunity to serve as the Barristers Secretary once more! Thank you for your votes and consideration
of me for this position of Secretary. I strongly believe in the impact and importance of the Barristers Board so I would also be honored to contribute to the Riverside legal community as a Member-at-Large.

Member at Large

Dear Barristers, 

My name is Nolan Kistler, and I am extremely honored and grateful to have been nominated for the Member-at-Large position. 

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I am motivated to play a larger role as a Barrister because I have had the privilege of enjoying the community events offered, such as the RCBA Elves Program, happy hour events, and other community events. After participating in these events, I realized that the Barristers organization truly has such a positive impact on the community of Riverside, our legal community, and the lives of Barrister members. 

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Assuming that I am fortunate enough to be elected as a Member-at-Large, I will dedicate my efforts to ensure that Barrister events continue to benefit our community.  

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Thank you for your consideration, 

Nolan B. Kistler
 

Member at Large

It’s an honor to be considered again for the 2023 to 2024 Board, and congratulations to all who have been nominated. It was a pleasure serving on the Board for 2022 to 2023, and, during my tenure, I gained valuable knowledge, insight, experience, and feedback while serving Barristers. If reelected, a couple of areas I would like to focus is community outreach and increasing member participation. I would like to create events and offer opportunities to our members, sharing their talents and time with under-served members of our community.

I also want to offer a greater variety of events as inclusive experiences to current and future Barristers members. As a Member-at-Large for the 2022 to 2023 Barristers Board, I hoped I served our members well by providing an inclusive environment and safe space, and I hope to carry that into the upcoming year if reelected. I made amazing friends in Barristers while serving as a Board member, and I hope to give the same to current and future members.

Thank you!

Treasurer

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