Taylor English Duma LLP is pleased to announce that partner Michele Stumpe was named the winner of a Gold Stevie Award in the Most Innovative Woman of the Year - Non-Profit category for her role as chair of Children of Conservation. Announced at an awards dinner in New York City on Friday, November 15, 2019, Children of Conservation was the top scoring qualifying entry in the category.
 
“This award is a wonderful honor for Michele and Children of Conservation,” said Marc Taylor, a founding partner of Taylor English. “We are incredibly proud of Michele and the work she has put into developing and growing Children of Conservation. Her commitment to providing clients with outstanding legal services, while working diligently to protect endangered species and support impoverished communities  in developing countries, is a perfect example of what makes the Taylor English model special. She is an essential part of making Taylor English a successful firm.”
 
Stumpe and her husband Kerry, a Senior Licensing Consultant at Taylor English, founded Children of Conservation in 2011. The organization empowers impoverished communities in Africa through conservation and environmental stewardship. The organization currently provides educational funding for more than 300 children of conservation workers in five African countries, has built a school in Zambia, sponsors a lunch program for over 200 kids and  is currently working with the government of Uganda on the completion of a replicable model community that addresses all 17 of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.
 
In addition to chairing the nonprofit, Stumpe is known as one of the top attorneys in Georgia for alcohol licensing, compliance and permits. She remains a trusted adviser to her clients in the hospitality and retail industries, with a stellar reputation for representing them in premises liability, business litigation, hospitality and dram shop litigation, as well as alcohol licensing and consulting.
 
“Taylor English allows me the flexibility to further my legal career while pursuing my passions outside of the legal industry,” said Stumpe. “Because of the firm’s unique business model, I am able to provide creative solutions to improve my clients’ business operations, while pursuing my passion for serving the community and leading organizations.”
 
Hailed as the world’s premier business awards, the Stevie® Awards for Women in Business honor women executives, entrepreneurs, employees, and the companies they run. The awards were created in 2002 to honor and generate public recognition of the achievements and positive contributions of organizations and working professionals worldwide.  In short order the Stevie has become one of the world's most coveted prizes. More than 1,500 entries were submitted for consideration this year.