New leaders at the Floyd Skinner Bar Association (from left): President
Alexander Thibodeau, Secretary Brandon Davis, Vice President Ciarra
Adkins and Treasurer Davina Bridges.
The Floyd Skinner Bar Association (FSBA), founded in 1984 by a group of African American attorneys, recently announced the election of its new leadership team. FSBA is the first and only Black Bar Association in Grand Rapids. It is named after Floyd Skinner, a distinguished attorney who played a pivotal role in both the legal profession and the broader community from the 1920s to the 1960s. Over the years, the FSBA has nurtured its members' success, with many of them establishing prominent private practices, serving as judges, and holding key positions in governmental and corporate sectors.
President: Alexander Thibodeau, a litigation attorney at Warner, Norcross + Judd LLP, has a strong track record of leadership, including serving as Senior Leader and Director of the Appointments Division in Governor Gretchen Whitmer's Executive Office. He serves as a Trustee for the Grand Rapids Bar Association, where he previously chaired the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.
Vice President: Ciarra C. Adkins, a graduate of WMU Cooley Law School, has served as the City of Grand Rapids’ first Equity Analyst, focusing on embedding equity into municipal policies and processes. She is the founder and president of AQUME Foundation, Michigan’s first Black community foundation, and operates AQUME Law, PLLC. Her work in DEI consulting and business law has earned her recognition, including the 2020 & 2022 Crain’s Business Journal “40 Under 40” Award and the 2022 GR Chamber of Commerce Young Athena Award.
Secretary: Brandon Davis is a Managing Director for the City of Grand Rapids, overseeing the Offices of Oversight and Public Accountability, as well as Equity and Engagement. With experience as a Senior Assistant Prosecutor in Muskegon County, Davis brings expertise in criminal law, labor relations, and public safety. He is an adjunct professor for Calvin University and has served on the Michigan Community Corrections Board. He has received the 2024 Crain’s Business Journal “40 Under 40” Award and the Muskegon Young Black Professionals Excellence Award.
Treasurer: Davina A. Bridges is a litigation associate at Dickinson Wright, specializing in complex commercial and business litigation across industries such as banking, real estate, and healthcare. Her practice includes advising national banks on regulatory compliance and serving as a negotiator and advisor for educational institutions. Bridges holds a master’s degree from DePaul University in Sociology and a law degree from Michigan State University College of Law.
At-Large members: Michael Adams, Hon. Christina Elmore, and Adam Sturdivant.
The Floyd Skinner Bar Association is also the co-founder of the Minority Clerkship Program, launched in the 1980s in partnership with the Grand Rapids Bar Association and several major law firms. The program aims to attract and retain minority law students in the region through invaluable networking opportunities. In addition, the FSBA hosts an annual fall reception to raise funds for student scholarships.
President: Alexander Thibodeau, a litigation attorney at Warner, Norcross + Judd LLP, has a strong track record of leadership, including serving as Senior Leader and Director of the Appointments Division in Governor Gretchen Whitmer's Executive Office. He serves as a Trustee for the Grand Rapids Bar Association, where he previously chaired the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.
Vice President: Ciarra C. Adkins, a graduate of WMU Cooley Law School, has served as the City of Grand Rapids’ first Equity Analyst, focusing on embedding equity into municipal policies and processes. She is the founder and president of AQUME Foundation, Michigan’s first Black community foundation, and operates AQUME Law, PLLC. Her work in DEI consulting and business law has earned her recognition, including the 2020 & 2022 Crain’s Business Journal “40 Under 40” Award and the 2022 GR Chamber of Commerce Young Athena Award.
Secretary: Brandon Davis is a Managing Director for the City of Grand Rapids, overseeing the Offices of Oversight and Public Accountability, as well as Equity and Engagement. With experience as a Senior Assistant Prosecutor in Muskegon County, Davis brings expertise in criminal law, labor relations, and public safety. He is an adjunct professor for Calvin University and has served on the Michigan Community Corrections Board. He has received the 2024 Crain’s Business Journal “40 Under 40” Award and the Muskegon Young Black Professionals Excellence Award.
Treasurer: Davina A. Bridges is a litigation associate at Dickinson Wright, specializing in complex commercial and business litigation across industries such as banking, real estate, and healthcare. Her practice includes advising national banks on regulatory compliance and serving as a negotiator and advisor for educational institutions. Bridges holds a master’s degree from DePaul University in Sociology and a law degree from Michigan State University College of Law.
At-Large members: Michael Adams, Hon. Christina Elmore, and Adam Sturdivant.
The Floyd Skinner Bar Association is also the co-founder of the Minority Clerkship Program, launched in the 1980s in partnership with the Grand Rapids Bar Association and several major law firms. The program aims to attract and retain minority law students in the region through invaluable networking opportunities. In addition, the FSBA hosts an annual fall reception to raise funds for student scholarships.
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