Visionary Awards
The Nebraska State Bar Association Visionary Awards are presented to outstanding attorneys for their service to further the mission of the NSBA or their dedication to programs sponsored by the Nebraska Lawyers Foundation. Up to three Visionary Awards are awarded annually. The 2025 Visionary Award winners are Leah Gleason, Kala Mueller, and Erin Artz. See below for their bios. Past Visionary award winners are listed at the bottom of the page.
Leah J. Gleason, Shelton
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Leah Gleason is a partner at FGH Law Office LLC, which has offices in Shelton and Seward, Nebraska. Since becoming an attorney in 2019, Gleason has taken numerous pro bono and low bono family law cases through the Volunteer Lawyers Project. Gleason also takes juvenile and criminal court appointed cases throughout south central Nebraska. Gleason chairs the NSBA’s Solo and Small Firm Management Section and was a leader in the Young Lawyers Section. She was in the inaugural class of the Children’s Justice Attorney Education Program, serves as Treasurer of the Phelps County Bar Association, and coordinates a group of young lawyers in Buffalo County. Her leadership and contributions to the legal community are what make her a deserving recipient of the 2025 Visionary Award.
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Kala M. Mueller, Lincoln
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As the Director of Public Interest at the University of Nebraska College of Law, Kala Mueller has significantly expanded pro bono opportunities for students, organized impactful events like Pizza and Pro Bono, and led initiatives like the Pro Bono Research Fellows Program. Mueller’s passion for justice and her collaborative spirit have made a profound impact on Nebraska Law and the broader legal community, making her an ideal recipient for the 2025 Visionary Award. Mueller facilitated the Pro Bono Summit’s first ever Access to Justice Essay Competition for law students and, in addition to her involvement with the Midwest Innocence Project, worked to fund the newly established Innocence Clinic at Nebraska Law. Mueller’s contributions have created a culture of pro bono service and public interest work that will continue to inspire future generations of lawyers. |
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Erin K. Artz, Omaha
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Erin Artz, an associate at Lamson Dugan and Murray, LLP, has demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment to making legal services accessible to low-income communities. She has accepted more than a dozen cases from the Volunteer Lawyers Project over the past three years, providing invaluable support to clients in need. Artz organized a collaboration between her firm and VLP for an inaugural day of service, where attorneys drafted estate planning documents for low income clients. Her efforts not only benefit individual clients but have also inspired other attorneys to volunteer their time and expertise. Artz’s initiative, creativity, and dedication make her a worthy recipient of the 2025 Visionary Award.
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Past Visionary Award Winners
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2024 Justin M. Daake
Susan Reff Audrey R. Svane 2023 Melodie Bellamy Ross Pesek Ryan Swaroff 2022 Tana M. Fye Catherine "Kate" M. Mahern Ryan J. Stover 2021 Frederick "Fritz" Bartell Mindy Rush-Chipman 2020 Ann Mangiameli Paul W. Snyder Karine Sokpoh 2019 Molly Brummond Terry Grennan Todd Richardson 2018 Ryan Sullivan Jennifer Kearney Brouillette, Dugan & Troshynski Vertical Divider
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2017 Stacy C. Bach
Marsha E. Fangmeyer Steven H. Howard Muirne Heaney 2016 Karisa D. Johnson Omaha Bar Association 2015 Senator Danielle M. Conrad Michael F. Kinney 2014 Fitzgerald Vetter & Temple Michelle M. Mitchell Mark Jacobs 2013 Michael T. Brogan Kim M. Seacrest Margaret M. Zarbano 2012 James E. Schneider Jackson Lewis, LLP 2011 Kutak Rock, LLP Larry W. Beucke |