Ohio State Bar Foundation announces 2025 District and Regional Community Service Award Winners

The Ohio State Bar Foundation is pleased to announce the winners of the District and Regional 2025 Community Service Award for Newer Attorneys. Regional awardees are selected from the district awardees.

This award recognizes attorneys under age 40 or with less than 15 years of practice who dedicate substantial time and effort to local social service, civic, artistic, or cultural organizations. The award focuses on service and must be outside the recipients’ practice of law and provided without compensation. Particular attention is paid to recipients who exemplify the ideals of the legal profession and, through their actions, serve as a credit to the profession.

District and regional awardees were celebrated at the 2025 OSBF All Rise Annual Awards Celebration this past Friday, October 24, 2025, at The Fives in Columbus. Regional winners will be honored once again in May 2026 during the Ohio State Bar Association’s Annual Meeting.

“We are thrilled to recognize these early-career attorneys for their time, energy, and commitment to their communities,” said Laurie Beth Sweeney, OSBF Executive Director. “Their volunteer work with social, civic, artistic, and cultural organizations goes above and beyond their legal practice. These attorneys set a great example of what it means to serve others and make a positive impact. We’re proud to honor their dedication at both the district and regional levels.”

2025 District and Regional Award Winners by Region 

Northeast Ohio
• District 10: Jason Groh, Orrville
Jason Groh is an attorney with Kropf Wagner Law Firm LLP, where he focuses his practice on real estate, civil litigation, corporate and business law, estate planning, probate administration, and family law. He also serves as the Village Solicitor for Smithville and is a licensed title insurance agent with the firm’s title company, Kropf Title & Escrow. Active in his community, Groh serves on the Board of Trustees for Habitat for Humanity in Wayne County, the Board of Directors for OneEighty, Inc. and the Orrville Development Foundation, and the Advisory Board for OrrViews. He is also a member of the Orrville Rotary Club. He earned his law degree from The Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law.

“Jason cares deeply for Orrville and Wayne County,” said Melissa Creamer Smith, Attorney, Kropf Wagner Law Firm LLP, in her nomination letter. “He is always interested in enhancing the lives of those he touches and growing our community.”

• District 11: Samantha Salamon, Akron
Samantha M. Salamon Chief Counsel at Asian Services in Action, Inc. (ASIA). Salamon volunteers with the Cleveland Legal Aid Society and the Ohio Access to Justice Foundation’s Justice Bus. Additionally, she serves as Vice President at the Cleveland Ibn Sina Foundation, focusing on healthcare and education for underserved communities. She is a 2023 OSBF Fellow. Salamon earned her law degree from Cleveland Marshall College of Law.

“Sam's passion to help those in the community is apparent to anyone who meets her. Her main goal has always been to help those that are vulnerable receive access to legal assistance to obtain and know their rights,” said Amanda Smith, Manager, Ahimsa Department, Asian Services in Action, in her nomination letter. “She works closely with the communities she serves so that she can continue to adjust services to help meet the community's needs best. Sam's ability to help many culturally specific survivors providing holistic legal services is incredible.”

• District 12 and Northeast Region: Brandon Wojtasik
Brandon A. Wojtasik is Counsel with Tucker Ellis LLP. Dedicated to strengthening his community, Wojtasik serves on the Board of Directors for University Settlement and the Downtown Cleveland Residents Association. He is an active volunteer with the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, where he has been recognized in the Time Well Spent and Community Commitment honor societies, and he participates in the Cleveland Leadership Center’s OnBoard Cleveland program. Wojtasik is also involved with the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association and the Association for Corporate Growth. He earned his law degree from Case Western Reserve University School Law.

“What sets Brandon apart is the consistency and authenticity of his efforts. Even as he navigates high-stakes corporate transactions for private equity firms and public companies, he never loses sight of his responsibility to those with less access and fewer resources,” said Jayne E. Juvan, Partner and Practice Group Chair, Tucker Ellis LLP in his nomination letter. “Brandon embodies the very best of the legal profession. He leads with integrity, listens with care, and acts with conviction.”

• District 14: Howard Wernow, Canton
Howard Wernow is a partner at Sand, Sebolt & Wernow Co., LPA, where he focuses on patent prosecution and intellectual property litigation. His clients include startups, individual inventors, and large corporations. Wernow frequently lectures and writes on intellectual property topics and is dedicated to promoting innovation through legal protection. Wernow also serves on the Board of Directors for Friends of Stark Parks. He is a 2025 OSBF Fellow. Wernow earned his law degree from the University of Akron School of Law.

“Howard’s passion for leaving the world a better place than he found it resonates deeply in his Service,” said Jan Baughman, Allen & Baughman, Attorneys at Law, L.L.C., in her nomination letter “Whether working within the Ohio State Bar Association to enhance the legal profession or advocating for Jewish communities, Howard embodies the core values of justice, fairness, and ethical leadership. His community service is both legal-related and non-legal, and completely uncompensated, reflecting his dedication to the greater good.”

• District 18: Margaret (Megan) Brunarski, Jefferson
Margaret Brunarski is Director of the Ashtabula County Public Defender’s Office. Brunarski has dedicated her career to protecting the constitutional rights of indigent individuals and promoting equal access to justice. She launched an Intake Program and the “A New Beginning Expungement Clinic” and serves on the Ashtabula County Mental Health Recovery Services Board, as well as advisory committees for specialized docket courts. Brunarski also assists clients charged with felonies in Ashtabula County Common Pleas Court. She earned her law degree from the Cleveland State University College of Law.

“As Director of the Ashtabula County Public Defender’s Office, Megan has shown outstanding commitment to justice—launching an Expungement Clinic, serving on the Ashtabula Mental Health Board, and contributing to local recovery and family courts,” said Tina Scibona, Ashtabula County Public Defender’s Office, in her nomination letter. “She exemplifies what it means to provide quality defense and compassionate service to the community.”
  
Northwest Ohio
• District 3: Elizabeth Bostdorff, Perrysburg
Elizabeth B. Bostdorff is the partner and owner of Bostdorff Legal, LLC. She is a dedicated volunteer who devotes her time to several organizations in Wood County including the Wood County Relay for Life and the Wood County Historical Museum. She is a member of the Toledo Jr. Bar Association, the AG Incubator Foundation, and several Wood County organizations. She is a 2023 OSBF Fellow. Bostdorff earned her law degree from the University of Toledo College of Law.

“Elizabeth is a dedicated community volunteer in Northwest Ohio,” said Sarah K. Skow, OSBF Board President and Partner at Spengler Nathanson in her nomination letter. “She is a member of the numerous Wood County organizations, where she has used her skills to support local initiatives and make a positive difference in her community.”

• District 4 and Northwest Region: Raina Dawson, Toledo
Raina Dawson is a former attorney in the Housing Practice Group at ABLE, where she advocated for residents in the Junction Neighborhood. She is Vice President of the Thurgood Marshall Law Association, Mediation Chair of the Human Relations Commission, and serves as Unity Coalition liaison for the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus. Dawson also sits on the boards of Wholelistics and Self-E.S.T.E.A.M. and was a member of the inaugural class of Engage Toledo. She earned her law degree and MBA from the University of Toledo College of Law.

“Raina is a dynamo and dedicated community volunteer and servant leader,” said Sarah Skow, OSBF President and Partner at Spengler Nathanson in her nomination letter. “Raina is the type of community volunteer and leader who inspires others through her good work to do more and do better for their communities and neighbors.”

Central Ohio
• District 6 and Central Region Winner: Jasmin Hurley, Washington Court House
Jasmin Hurley is Attorney and Owner of JH Legal LLC. She is a U.S. Army Veteran and Bronze Star recipient. Hurley is Secretary of the Ohio Women Veterans Foundation and a board member of the Ohio Women Veterans Advisory Committee. She volunteers with the Legal Aid Society of Columbus’ Eviction Clinic and Operation Legal Help Ohio, providing legal support to those in need. Hurley also serves on the Ohio State Bar Association’s Ohio Lawyer Magazine Content Advisory Board and is an alumna of the OSBA Leadership Academy. She is a 2020 OSBF Fellow. Hurley earned her law degree from the University of Dayton School of Law.

“Jasmin has twice taken a solemn oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. The first time as a decorated officer in the United States Army. The second time as a lawyer admitted to practice in Ohio. In each area of her career, Jasmin has demonstrated the type of leadership required to improve the lives of those in her community and to preserve, protect, and defend our nation and its democratic institutions,” said Michael Flowers, Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Steptoe & Johnson PLLC, in his nomination letter.

• District 7: Brandi Staley-Sladek, Columbus
Brandi Staley-Sladek is a Partner at Kitrick, Lewis & Staley-Sladek, LPA. She serves as Law School Chair for the Women Lawyers of Franklin County and Membership Co-Chair of The Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer Inn of Court. Staley-Sladek is a former Co-Chair of the Columbus Bar Association Young Lawyers Committee and remains active in the Ohio Association for Justice.
   
She volunteers with the Columbus Metropolitan Library and the Columbus Book Festival, and serves as a board member of Slow Food Columbus. She is a 2024 OSBF Fellow. Staley-Sladek earned her law degree from Capital University Law School.

“Brandi gives an incredible amount of time and effort to volunteering,” said Belinda Barnes, OSBF Board Immediate Past President and partner at Gallagher, Gams, Tallan, Barnes & Littrell, LLP, in her nomination letter. “Her commitment extends across both legal and community initiatives, reflecting a genuine dedication to making a positive impact wherever she can.”

South Ohio
• District 8: Baylee Butler, Chillicothe
Baylee Butler is the Managing Attorney of Pro Bono & Community Outreach for Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio, where she coordinates pro bono initiatives and partnerships with private attorneys to expand access to legal services. A native of Ross County, Butler is deeply committed to supporting rural communities and addressing the root causes of poverty through legal advocacy. She has served as a panelist for the Legal Services Corporation’s Opioid Task Force Annual Meeting and has spoken to Ohio Head Start agencies and the Ohio Grandfamilies Association on legal issues affecting kinship caregivers. Butler is a member of the Ross County Bar Association and the Ohio State Bar Association. She earned her law degree from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.

“Although I’ve only known Baylee for a short time, I was immediately impressed by her thoughtful, community-centered approach to legal advocacy—particularly in rural communities like Ross County, where she lives and serves,” said Mindy Yocum, Owner of Yocum Law, in her nomination letter. “Baylee’s passion for giving back to her hometown and her commitment to uplifting families through both legal service and broader community engagement reflect the very best of our profession. She is exactly the kind of attorney this award was meant to recognize: humble, dedicated, and impactful.”

• District 17 and South: Caitlyn McDaniel, Athens
Caitlyn Petti McDaniel is a Staff Attorney at Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio (LASCO), where she represents low-income clients who would not otherwise have access to legal services. She previously served as a Justice for All Fellow at LASCO, implementing Tenant Advocacy Project eviction prevention clinics across Lancaster, Athens, Zanesville, and Marietta. A recipient of the 2020 Peter M. Cicchino Award for Outstanding Advocacy in the Public Interest, McDaniel is committed to expanding access to justice in Ohio’s communities. She earned her law degree from American University Washington College of Law.

“Caitlyn is an exceptional young attorney, based in Athens, Ohio, whose commitment to public service, access to justice, and the advancement of the legal profession in rural Appalachian communities exemplifies everything this award is meant to honor,” said Larry Hayman, Director of Legal Engagement & Pre-Law Program at the Center for Law, Justice & Culture and Career Services at Ohio University and an OSBF Board Trustee in his nomination letter. “She has chosen to root herself in a rural community, to serve people in real and transformative ways, and to use her legal training not for personal prestige, but for the public good. She is a credit to the legal profession and a shining example of its ideals: integrity, service, humility, and justice.”

Southwest Ohio

• District 1 and Southwest Region: Maggie Muething, Cincinnati
 Maggie Muething is a Partner at Taft, Stettinius & Hollister. She is actively engaged in community service, serving on the Board of Trustees for the Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Greater Cincinnati and on the Grow PBPO Advisory Council for the Pro Bono Partnership of Ohio. She previously served on the board of the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company and regularly supports initiatives that expand access to the arts and legal services in her community. Muething earned her law degree from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.

“Maggie has been a dedicated volunteer with Pro Bono Partnership of Ohio (PBPO), consistently demonstrating her commitment to using her legal expertise to uplift nonprofit organizations in our community,” said Erin Childs, CEO of Pro Bono Partnership of Ohio, in her nomination letter. “Maggie’s unwavering dedication, leadership, and service make her a truly deserving candidate for this recognition. She is one of the most humble leaders I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with.”

• District 2: Kara Ruffolo, Dayton
Kara T. Ruffolo is an Associate at Coolidge Wall Co. L.P.A. She is actively engaged in the Dayton community, serving on the Women’s Board of Dayton Children’s Hospital, participating in the Dayton Bar Association Leadership Development Program, and the Dayton Chamber of Commerce Gen D Ignite cohort. Ruffolo also volunteers as a youth soccer coach and has supported programs including Misericordia Heart of Mercy and Girls on the Run-Chicago. She is a 2024 OSBF Fellow. Ruffolo earned her MBA and JD from the University of Dayton School of Law.

“Kara brings a unique blend of skills to serve her clients, attributes that many lawyers of similar age simply do not have,” said Merle Wilberding, OSBF Trustee, in his nomination letter. “She shows compassion for clients but maintains a sharp tax focus to educate and guide clients in ways to satisfy their personal goals with the least tax impact. Even more important, she has brought those same skills and energy to her unpaid contributions to the social services of multiple civic, cultural, and arts organizations in the Dayton area.”

Southeast Ohio
• District 9 and Southwest Region: Jillian Von Gunten, Zanesville
Jillian Von Gunten is an attorney with Allen & Baughman Law Offices. She serves as village counsel for multiple small villages in Perry County. She is actively engaged in her community, volunteering with Legal Aid clinics and serving in leadership roles as President of the Zanesville Community Theatre Board of Directors, Treasurer of the Southeastern Ohio Symphony Orchestra Board, and President of the Zanesville Pride Group, which she helped establish to provide support and safe spaces for LGBTQ+ individuals in Southeastern Ohio. Von Gunten earned her law degree from Capital University Law School.

“I cannot help but marvel at how Jillian has impacted so many lives through her support and mentorship! Across the nation, rural areas face a shortage of attorneys, but Jillian is an exception,” said Jan Baughman, OSBF Trustee and Attorney and Managing Partner of Allen & Baughman Law Offices in her nomination letter. “From the start of her internship, she planned to return to Muskingum County to practice law and serve the community that raised her. Jillian has given her heart and soul to this community, and I give her my highest support for the 2025 OSBF Community Service Award for Newer Attorneys.”

• District 15: Erik Schramm, Jr., St. Clairsville
Erik A. Schramm, Jr. is an attorney with Hanlon, McCormick, Schramm, Bickford & Schramm Co., LPA. He is actively involved in his community, serving as Chairman of the Board of Family Service of the Upper Ohio Valley, a member of the Belmont County Public Defender Commission and Bar Counsel for the Belmont County Bar Association. Schramm also participates in local civic and recreational organizations, including the Estate Planning Council of the Upper Ohio Valley, Circus Saints & Sinners, the Fort Henry Chapter of the West Virginia Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, and the Wheeling Cardinals baseball league, and has coached and refereed youth roller hockey. He earned his law degree from West Virginia University College of Law.

“In every facet of his personal and professional life, Erik demonstrates a deep and unwavering commitment to public service, civic engagement, and the ethical practice of law,” said Brian Conaway, Partner at Kowlton, Bennett, Conaway, & Brown in his nomination letter. “He represents the very best of what our profession can offer - a lawyer who not only serves his clients with integrity but also uplifts his community with energy, empathy, and purpose.”

About the Ohio State Bar Foundation: The Ohio State Bar Foundation (OSBF) is a 501(c)(3) grantmaking organization and the largest bar foundation in the U.S. Through our grants and programs, the OSBF works to educate the public about the rule of law and help build a better justice system. Since 1992, the Ohio State Bar Foundation has awarded over $18 million in grants statewide. The OSBF also hosts an annual statewide awards program to recognize attorneys who give back to their communities through service, as well as a Fellows program, featuring a select group of attorneys who give their time, talent, and treasure to advance the OSBF’s mission.

For more information about the Ohio State Bar Foundation, please visit www.OSBF.org.