Helping Women Succeed is an Everyday Mission for LLW Attorney Kathryn Rossmell
September 17, 2021
September 17, 2021 – When it comes to inspiring and supporting women in the workforce to achieve their full potential, Kathryn Rossmell makes that mission an integral part of her professional and personal life every day.
That deeply embedded commitment has now brought Rossmell well-deserved recognition as a finalist for the 2021 ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches. The award celebrates emerging women leaders 40 years of age or younger who excel in their profession, help improve the lives of others in their community, and serve as a role model for young women both personally and professionally.
A Creative and Resourceful Leader
Rossmell practices environmental, land use and local government law at Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A. She brings creativity to her approach to problem-solving for clients, including helping to develop a highly successful grant program to aid small businesses struggling to survive COVID’s economic impact.
As a leader within her firm, Rossmell promotes high practice standards and equitable promotion of attorneys, with a sharp eye for policies and practices that can unintentionally hinder women. As an example, she proposed and oversaw the transformation of an annual client development golf tournament into a miniature golf event so that LLW’s female attorneys could participate equally.
As an active member of her profession and the larger business community, Rossmell always tries to lift others up. For example, in response to her own struggles after having a child, she developed a series of productivity strategies to help her successfully navigate her career while protecting her quality time with her son. She developed this into a presentation, which she has delivered to various statewide professional audiences, including at two Florida Chamber of Commerce conferences.
Rossmell’s creativity and resourcefulness have earned her many professional awards and recognitions, including being designated a Rising Star by Florida Super Lawyers in 2020 and 2021 and being awarded the President’s Service Award from the Florida Association of Environmental Professionals.
An Advocate for the Community
In her personal life, Rossmell has no shortage of passions and commitments that fill her hours. She and husband Adam are parents to a newly minted kindergartener, Ethan. She is also an avid runner, baker and pet-lover. Nevertheless, Rossmell carves out time to give valuable service to improve the quality of life in her community.
She is passionate about environmental education, and has been an active leader on the Board of the Florida Atlantic University Pine Jog Environmental Education Center, serving as Secretary and then moving into the Vice Chair/Chair-Elect position this year. In her Board work, she focuses on keeping Pine Jog moving forward in its mission to develop educational programs that foster a greater understanding of the natural world. Because of her dedication to this cause, Rossmell was named the FAU Pine Jog 2020 Young Professional of the Year.
Rossmell’s community involvement also includes pro bono and volunteer work for a wide spectrum of professional and charitable nonprofit organizations. Of special note is her service on the Board of the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, which appointed her to a separate committee that evaluates and funds candidates for public office based on how well they promote the quality of life within the region. In this role, she is often the only female and youngest voice in the room, allowing her to bring a much-needed perspective.
A Mentor Who Inspires
Mentoring and supporting other women is part of Rossmell’s DNA. She actively seeks out and assists organizations that address women’s and children’s issues, including Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies of Palm Beach County, Easter Seals and The Women’s Foundation of Florida. In these experiences, she strives to advance strategies that empower women and girls to be leaders.
In her pro bono role as General Counsel for Leadership Palm Beach County, she asks to mentor at least two professionals each year through that organization, requesting that at least one of those mentees be a woman. Rossmell has also informally mentored professionals who are new moms, paying forward the kindness shown to her.
A small but meaningful example of how much community service and mentoring are blended into Rossmell’s life can be found on the youth soccer field, where she coached her son’s team. She routinely gave away hair ties to the little girls who forget them, hoping to encourage them to see that women can be athletes and coaches too.
According to Robert P. Diffenderfer, shareholder at LLW in West Palm Beach, Rossmell’s latest recognition is well deserved.
“There’s an old saying: if you want something done, ask a busy person,” he said. “That really captures Kathryn’s approach to integrating her professional, community and personal commitments. She is a dynamic leader and change agent who brings immense value to our firm, our clients and the broader community.”
That deeply embedded commitment has now brought Rossmell well-deserved recognition as a finalist for the 2021 ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches. The award celebrates emerging women leaders 40 years of age or younger who excel in their profession, help improve the lives of others in their community, and serve as a role model for young women both personally and professionally.
A Creative and Resourceful Leader
Rossmell practices environmental, land use and local government law at Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A. She brings creativity to her approach to problem-solving for clients, including helping to develop a highly successful grant program to aid small businesses struggling to survive COVID’s economic impact.
As a leader within her firm, Rossmell promotes high practice standards and equitable promotion of attorneys, with a sharp eye for policies and practices that can unintentionally hinder women. As an example, she proposed and oversaw the transformation of an annual client development golf tournament into a miniature golf event so that LLW’s female attorneys could participate equally.
As an active member of her profession and the larger business community, Rossmell always tries to lift others up. For example, in response to her own struggles after having a child, she developed a series of productivity strategies to help her successfully navigate her career while protecting her quality time with her son. She developed this into a presentation, which she has delivered to various statewide professional audiences, including at two Florida Chamber of Commerce conferences.
Rossmell’s creativity and resourcefulness have earned her many professional awards and recognitions, including being designated a Rising Star by Florida Super Lawyers in 2020 and 2021 and being awarded the President’s Service Award from the Florida Association of Environmental Professionals.
An Advocate for the Community
In her personal life, Rossmell has no shortage of passions and commitments that fill her hours. She and husband Adam are parents to a newly minted kindergartener, Ethan. She is also an avid runner, baker and pet-lover. Nevertheless, Rossmell carves out time to give valuable service to improve the quality of life in her community.
She is passionate about environmental education, and has been an active leader on the Board of the Florida Atlantic University Pine Jog Environmental Education Center, serving as Secretary and then moving into the Vice Chair/Chair-Elect position this year. In her Board work, she focuses on keeping Pine Jog moving forward in its mission to develop educational programs that foster a greater understanding of the natural world. Because of her dedication to this cause, Rossmell was named the FAU Pine Jog 2020 Young Professional of the Year.
Rossmell’s community involvement also includes pro bono and volunteer work for a wide spectrum of professional and charitable nonprofit organizations. Of special note is her service on the Board of the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, which appointed her to a separate committee that evaluates and funds candidates for public office based on how well they promote the quality of life within the region. In this role, she is often the only female and youngest voice in the room, allowing her to bring a much-needed perspective.
A Mentor Who Inspires
Mentoring and supporting other women is part of Rossmell’s DNA. She actively seeks out and assists organizations that address women’s and children’s issues, including Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies of Palm Beach County, Easter Seals and The Women’s Foundation of Florida. In these experiences, she strives to advance strategies that empower women and girls to be leaders.
In her pro bono role as General Counsel for Leadership Palm Beach County, she asks to mentor at least two professionals each year through that organization, requesting that at least one of those mentees be a woman. Rossmell has also informally mentored professionals who are new moms, paying forward the kindness shown to her.
A small but meaningful example of how much community service and mentoring are blended into Rossmell’s life can be found on the youth soccer field, where she coached her son’s team. She routinely gave away hair ties to the little girls who forget them, hoping to encourage them to see that women can be athletes and coaches too.
According to Robert P. Diffenderfer, shareholder at LLW in West Palm Beach, Rossmell’s latest recognition is well deserved.
“There’s an old saying: if you want something done, ask a busy person,” he said. “That really captures Kathryn’s approach to integrating her professional, community and personal commitments. She is a dynamic leader and change agent who brings immense value to our firm, our clients and the broader community.”
Contact:
Kellie Erlacher, Director of Marketing
kerlacher@llw-law.com, (904) 353-6410
