Page 14 - FDCC Flyer Spring 2022

Leadership
Candidate for Secretary/Treasurer Heidi G. Goebel Candidate’s Statement
Heidi G. Goebel
Goebel Anderson, P.C.
The Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel – Defense Lawyers. Defense Leaders.
The FDCC is an organization based upon Fellowship, Knowledge and Justice. I am honored to be considered to
serve as the next Secretary/ Treasurer of the organization. I feel like the best thing I
can do with my candidate
for me and putting his reputation on the line to open an opportunity for a younger lawyer. (Having served on the Admissions Committee now for more than 10 years, I still remain amazed that I was admitted and can only believe that the committee trusted Rich’s gut.) Once admitted, Rich went out of his way to invite me to lunch, or dinner, or cocktails with folks he had known for years, and my little circle began to grow through these meetings. He was a wonderful advisor and friend to the end. Even when we would chat when he was going through chemo, he was more interested in me and my hurdles than his own.
The next is Cooper Thurber. Cooper was the Chair of the Admissions Committee, and when I took over a spot that was vacated mid-term, Cooper went out of his way to welcome me and to ensure that I had a group
of dinner companions, as Admissions meets early
in the week of the conventions when there are fewer people around. That act was the turning point for me, when I understood what makes the FDCC special and differentiates it from the other organizations.
Next is the continually expanding group of people
who allowed me to serve as their new member hosts. (OK, they really didn’t have a choice, but they’ve all been gracious enough to engage with me once the assignment was made.) I’ve been blessed to meet some of the most fantastic people through this process, many of whom have taken an interest not only in the organization, but in me and my life. I’d encourage each and every one of you, if you haven’t served as a new member host at one of our meetings, please do. It gives you the opportunity to meet and get some nice one on one time over dinner with some of the best and brightest the bar has to offer.
I draw attention to these people because they each illuminated for me the best way to approach the FDCC. It is in developing relationships with the fantastic people who make this organization what it is. This
is a collection of great lawyers who are even better people, and while I am continually amazed by the
statement is to share with you what makes the organization special to me.
Fellowship
It’s hard to believe that it was 16 years ago when I joined the FDCC. I was young, I believe the youngest member of the organization at the time, at 33 years old. I remember vividly the feeling of apprehension that settled deep within my gut as I steeled myself to enter the opening cocktail party in beautiful Banff. I was grateful to my new member host, who kept an eye out for me and made sure that I never was lost on the sidelines of the tide of long-time friends excitedly hugging and catching up.
The first few meetings were a challenge for me. I was significantly younger than most of the people in the group, and there were far fewer female attorneys than there are in our ranks today. It took me a couple of meetings to find my groove, and I have myriad people to thank for guiding me. So many people took a chance on me and gave me the opportunity to grow as a lawyer and a person through this organization. There are a few I’d like to discuss in detail.
The first is Rich Hall, who was my nominator. Rich
and I met randomly at a dull, dry panel counsel meeting at a DRI Annual Meeting which, fortuitously, immediately preceded an FDCC cocktail hour. He drug me along with him, and a long term friendship blossomed right then. I’m grateful to Rich for vouching
11 spring | federation flyer
www.thefederation.org