Attorneys awarded GPSolo Difference Makers Award

Artika R. Tyner and Eileen Sullivan received 2017 Difference Makers Awards at a luncheon during the GPSolo 2017 Solo & Small Firm Summit on Friday, Oct. 20, in St. Paul, Minn. The Difference Maker Award, presented by the American Bar Association Solo, Small Firm and General Practice Division, recognizes an individual who has made a difference in the local community.

Tyner is an educator, author, speaker and advocate for justice. At the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Tyner serves as associate vice president of diversity and inclusion. She is committed to training students to serve as social engineers who create new inroads to justice and freedom.

She earned a bachelor's degree from Hamline University in St. Paul, and a master's degree and doctorate from the University of St. Thomas.

Tyner provides leadership development and career coaching for young professionals, and has developed leadership educational materials for K-12 students, college and graduate students, faith communities and nonprofits. Tyner also teaches leadership courses on ethics, critical reflection and organizational development. Her research focuses on diversity and inclusion, community development and civil rights. She has presented her research and conducted leadership training programs both nationally and internationally.

Sullivan was born in New York City and grew up in Scottsdale, Ariz. She received her bachelor's degree from Arizona State University and her juris doctor from The John Marshall Law School in Chicago.

Sullivan is the owner of Sullivan Law Firm, specializing in criminal and family law. Before going into private practice, she was a government attorney, beginning her legal career as a deputy Maricopa County public defender, representing indigent defendants in felony cases. She transferred to the Maricopa County Legal Advocate's Office juvenile unit and was appointed guardian ad litem in dependency and severance cases.

Active in the legal community, Sullivan currently serving as president of the Arizona Asian American Bar Association. She served on the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association as Southwest Regional Governor. Sullivan serves on the Arizona Women Lawyers Association's steering committee and is co-chair of the judicial appointments committee. She serves as diversity chair for the ABA Solo Small Firm and General Practice Division, and is on the book publications board, the magazine board and the membership board. Sullivan is also a fellow of the American Bar Foundation.

Sullivan is dedicated to the community, currently serving on the Child Crisis Arizona board of directors. She previously served on the Phoenix Children's Museum board of directors and served two terms as secretary. Sullivan also previously served on the board of directors of the Child Crisis Center. She is a city of Phoenix commissioner, serving on the Pacific Rim advisory council and previously served on the art and culture commission.

Published: Fri, Oct 27, 2017