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Biography – Denise McCready

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Denise McCready was born in Chicago and moved to Indiana with her family when she was in high school. She studied business management in college, met Mike McCready (managing partner at McCready, Garcia & Leet) on a blind date, and moved back to Chicago to be with him. The result was atypical of blind dates. The now-married couple is famous, and for an unusual reason. Their 2002 wedding was featured on the TLC’s TV show, “A Wedding Story.” If you ask Denise, she may just be able to dig up the DVD for you.

Denise’s life has been a happy whirlwind ever since. She is very busy at work where she is responsible for keeping the office running like a well-oiled machine. This suits her perfectly because she does not like mess or disorganization, and because she likes being what she refers to as “the office pit bull – but a well-trained one.” Denise does say this with a smile in her voice.

Denise McCready childrenIt is “after hours,” however, when Denise’s attention to detail and ability to stay calm, cool and collected really come to the fore. As she steps through her front door she is greeted by six children (aged 3-to-11) who are all eager for her loving attention. Getting each and every one of them everything they need certainly keeps Denise hopping. Her favorite child activities include taking her youngest son out for pop – he gets his she gets hers – and shopping with her oldest daughter.

Yet, Denise does find time to have adult fun. Her guilty pleasures include reading People magazine, shopping (“What woman doesn’t love to shop? says Denise) and going to concerts with her girlfriends (no men allowed). Pink and the Mexican group Mana are her favorite musical groups. She also sneaks in a bit of TV from time to time, tuning into The Rachel Maddow Show and Chicago Fire whenever she gets free moment or two.

Ever on the lookout for ways to learn and improve, Denise (in her spare time) recently went go back to school, “to see if my brain was still working after being out of college for so long.” Indeed it does, as Denise has now completed her EMT training through Christ Hospital. Denise, however, is most proud that all her children were in attendance at the graduation ceremony.

As for the future, Denise McCready loves to travel. She has been to the Czech Republic, the French Riviera, London, Mexico, Paris, Poland, and Slovakia. She would like to go back to Slovakia because she has family there, and to London because of its atmosphere. She loves the architecture, the vibe and the culture there.

For now, though, Denise is happy to raise her children and continue her work. She enjoys the quick pace of her life, doing what is right and lending a helping hand before whenever she can.

by Michael McCready

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Biography – Edwin Reyes

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Edwin ReyesEdwin Reyes, who likes to be called by his full name (not Ed) was born and raised in Chicago. His family was quite large and his mom was a single parent who worked in a hospital. Edwin ended up spending quite a bit of his youth living at his grandparent’s house and though there was no necessity, they encouraged him to work from the day he moved in. One of his first jobs was as a shoe shine boy on Division Street. When asked if he liked doing that, Edwin will tell you, “It instilled a work ethic in me that I’ll never forget.” That sums up Edwin perfectly – if you add his cool sense of humor and welcoming nature to the mix.

By the time Edwin reached high school he had worked at a printing company, in a hospital and for the Chicago Transit Authority. He also served as a limousine driver for various celebrities. He didn’t always like standing around holding a sign with somebody’s name on it that he had never met, but when he was charged with picking Elle McPherson up at an airport, she greeted him with, “Hi, how ya doin’?” – as if she had known him her whole life. Edwin was thrilled. He loves to tell stories of his early adventures to his friends and colleagues. “You need a good laugh once in a while,” he says, and he provides it.
Another job, however, was to shape Edwin’s future forever, and that was when he began working with a community organization called BUILD (Broader Urban Involvement and Leadership Development). His role for this company involved organizing athletic events (basketball in winter, softball in summer) for street gangs. Edwin loved the job so much that he became determined to pursue a career in social-work.

Edwin ReyesEdwin then went to college and pursued a career that matched that goal, but after five years, he decided he wanted more. His older sister happened to be a lawyer and he figured, “Well, if she could do it so could I.” Right he was. He attended law school in Boston, but could not stay away from the family that had taught him so much. He returned to Chicago and worked hard to unite his passion for helping others with his new knowledge. In the process, he became a founding member of the Puerto Rican Bar Association. To this day he is active in the organization that mentors high school and law students and raises money for the Latino community.

However, Edwin has had to cut back a bit on his volunteer activities over the past decade or so. His wife and two daughters, aged 9 and 11 are now his top priorities. Though Edwin puts in 60 hour work weeks (“I don’t keep track of my hours. It’s a habit to work a lot,” he matter-of-factly states), he loves spending his spare time with his daughters. He takes them to sporting events, the YMCA Princess program, and daddy-daughter dances.

Edwin ReyesThe whole family enjoys going to the lake, swimming, or taking nice long bicycle rides. Edwin also loves to watch and attend sporting events and occasionally watches TV, Game of Thrones and Mad Men being amongst his favorites. Although often soft spoken, Edwin is at his best once he gets to know people. That is why he loves his job so much. He will often go into the office on weekends, perhaps donning a sports jersey, just so he can be in contact with those who don’t have a lot of time to work with him during the week. He may be sitting there dressed in bright colors, and not look at all like what you would expect of an attorney. Yet, he is always thinking about what more he can do, and how he can do it so that everyone around him has some fun.

by Michael McCready

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Biography – Sue Boltz

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Sue BoltzSue Boltz has always lived in or near Chicago. She was born in Worth, and her family moved to Alsip where she has lived ever since. She caught the law bug as a senior in high school when a business law class she took as an elective included a field trip to the local courthouse. “Watching a trial,” Sue reminisces with a lilt in her voice, “sent me over the edge in wanting to do something associated with the law for the rest of my life. It was the most inspiring thing I had ever seen.”

Sue promptly applied to and attended Fox College where she earned her credentials as a legal assistant. She began her legal career immediately after graduation, starting out in a medium-sized downtown Chicago firm. Sue married, had a baby girl, and kept that job for 11 years. Finally, however, the commute just became too much. She needed more time for her family, and to keep up with neighborhood activities and high school and college friends.

Sue took a job at a local mall, but fortunately, that did not last long. She mentioned to one of her friends that she really was not fulfilled at work. That friend knew that there was an opening at McCready, Garcia & Leet and encouraged Sue to apply. The minute she stepped into the office, Sue had a feeling that her new job was going to be a lot better than what she had been doing. Two years after that, Sue’s sister Marilyn Miller joined the firm – icing on the cake.

Red Velvet Cupcakes

Red Velvet Cupcakes

Although her love of the law is strong, her devotion to family and community is even stronger. Sue spends much of her spare time participating in church and neighborhood activities. Many of these are centered around food, and there is a very good reason for this. Though she doesn’t brag about it, Sue is quite an accomplished chef. She loves to cook and bake. If someone at the office has a birthday, you can bet she’ll be bringing a cake to work.  Sue is the driving force behind our postings, “Sweet Desserts.”

On a larger scale, Sue participates in her church’s Community Meals program. When asked where she gets the recipes for her baked goods and meals, Sue did admit that she is a little creative, but pointed to vintage cookbooks as her main source. She collects these with a bit of a passion – she has a shelf-plus of desert cookbooks – and loves to share recipes.

Sue also loves kids. Her giving spirit in this area is a perfect match for what she does with her spare time. Not so much of a TV or movie buff, Sue loves to participate in numerous church- and neighborhood-sponsored events. Both she and her husband are quite active participants in the Vacation Bible school, “Trunk or Treat,” and numerous other ongoing weekly and seasonal activities. Sue does everything from registration and organization to serving as “security” while these events take place.

At work, around the neighborhood, and in the office, Sue is the woman to count on. Yet, she has a quiet sense of humor, which you can see by the little smile on her face. She likes to be prepared, look a bit on the bright side, and spreads a sense of order and calm everywhere she goes. Once everything is in place, Sue feels she can really do her job, which in her words, is “to help those who don’t know what to do or how to get what they need.” At Christmas, Sue helps with the Giving Tree. At all times, Sue is giving her best.

by Michael McCready

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Biography – Yesenia Arenas

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Yesenia ArenasYesenia Arenas is gentle and kind, yet bursting with energy. She loves to stay busy whether she’s at work, at home, or out and about. This may be because she is child number 7 of 10, and in a large household, there is never a dull moment.

Yesenia’s parents were born in Mexico. They moved to the United States after the birth of their fifth child and settled in Chicago Heights. Yesenia’s mom got work as a cashier, and her father landed jobs in landscaping, construction, and machine operation. Both of her parents had a single goal in mind – for their children to attend college.
While in high school, Yesenia wasn’t so sure about that. She thought that perhaps she should first get a job and help her parents; after all, they had struggled to give her everything she had. Yet she noticed a change in her older brothers and sisters as they came home from college, one by one, happier and more confident. She decided she would give it a try.

It did not take long for Yesenia to follow in their footsteps. She attended Saint Xavier University and quickly developed a keen passion for learning. She set goals and dreams of her own, and became a little bit of a perfectionist in the process. She chose to major in criminal justice and decided on a career – one day she would become an attorney.
Yesenia worked the entire time she was in college, becoming a paralegal as soon as she had the requisite knowledge. The birth of her first son did not slow her down, but when she became pregnant for the second time, she decided she needed to take a brief break.

Yesenia ArenasWhen Yesenia re-entered the work force, she did so on a temp basis. Her first assignment was with McCready, Garcia & Leet,and she has been here ever since, feeling a bit lucky to have landed in a place where, “everyone is friendly and the work is interesting.” There are two things in particular that Yesenia loves about her job. One is that she’s getting experience in a field of law that is new to her. The other is that, “People come in and I smile at them and they seem comfortable talking to me about things. That’s what life is all about.”

Although work and her family keep her very busy, Yesenia chips away at a variety of goals every day. She is artistic, so she draws with charcoal. She has always wanted to play the violin, so she is teaching herself how to read music. She’s now got her own home so she’s studying gardening, hoping to plant cucumbers – her oldest son’s favorite. She knows it’s important to relax, so she does a bit of yoga or meditation.

Yesenia likes to be outside as much as possible. She goes to Montrose Park often, enjoying the beach, outdoor concerts, and the city lights. She loves to sightsee and has been on the boat that goes around Navy Pier many occasions, learning something new about the history of Chicago, its people, and everything that surrounds her each time.
Yesenia has quite a future planned for herself. Once her children are older she will attend law school. She hopes to travel, either to Mexico to visit family, or to Egypt to see the Pyramids. In the meantime, you will find Yesenia doing everything and anything she can for those around her, and doing so with a smile on her face.

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Biography – Michael McCready

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Personal Injury & Workers' Compensation Lawyer - Michael McCreadyMichael McCready grew up in Connecticut. He worked his way through college and law school at the University of Richmond. He delivered flowers, arranged landscaping, and even painted parking lot lines. Michael also worked as an on-air DJ at his college radio station. This suited him well, as Michael is quite a music buff.

After spending many years working for others, however, Michael resolved that when he started practicing law he would open his own business. He would help people in his own way, and he would work with individuals, not companies. He also knew would live in or near a big city, but he did not have contacts in any specific location. So, he picked himself up and traveled the country.

After exploring the east coast, the west coast, and some large southern cities, Michael just happened to stop in Chicago. He hadn’t really considered the Midwest as a home, but the minute he arrived he knew he had found what he was looking for. He fell in love with the the friendly, genuine people, and with the diversity the city offered.
Soon after landing in Chicago, Michael also fell in love with a woman he met on a blind date. Denise, who is now his wife, also works at McCready, Garcia & Leet, and she and Michael are the proud parents of six children. When the whole family goes out, they pile into a 10 passenger van they refer to as “The Mystery Machine.” The family does have a sense of humor.

When Michael is not busy at work or enjoying his family, he always finds something to do. “Just because I’m a lawyer doesn’t mean I can’t use my hands,” is what Michael will tell you. Whether it is a fixing a leaky sink or installing a ceiling fan, Michael is not afraid to tackle a new project. It is just his nature to be helpful in any way he can be. He likes to take care of things.

To relax, though, Michael has acquired a few hobbies over the years. He has kept up with his music; in fact, he has over 2,000 vinyl records. His tastes vary from the heavy metal he spun in college to opera, Verdi, Wagner and Puccini heading the list. He is also a wine aficionado – his 250 bottle capacity temperature-controlled refrigerator barely contains his collection. Then, there’s sports. The Bears are his football team, and he enjoys watching baseball and soccer. In fact, he has traveled the world to do so. He went to South Africa in 2010 to see the World Cup. Somehow, he has also found the time to travel to over 25 countries in total.

Michael also loves movies, with his favorites being Goodfellas, The Godfather, and Casino. For actors, his first choice is anything with Leonardo DiCaprio, and now that his oldest son is 11, Michael has a partner in crime for some of his gangster movie watching. Like most well-rounded people, Michael also likes to read. He sticks to business, coaching and self-improvement books, but will indulge in a Dan Brown novel such as The Da Vinci Code.

Denise McCready childrenWhat Michael is proudest of is his family. He would like to be thought of as “Good at a lot of things, but best at being a husband and a father.” For Michael, professional is professional and personal is personal. He is the real deal. He raises his children to understand the values that are important to him. He treats his clients as he treats his friends.

“Over the years, I’ve done a lot and seen a lot and know a lot and am willing to share that with anyone who’s willing to ask or listen.” This statement sums Michael up perfectly. Whether at work or at play, he is caring and intuitive. He listens, he cares, he shares, he enjoys – and he helps everyone around to do the same.

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Biography – Rogelio Garcia

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Personal Injury Lawyer Roy GarciaRogelio Garcia, better known to clients and friends as Roy, is from Chicago Heights. One of 10 children, he learned early to watch, listen, and learn, and then to speak out. To this day, those who do not know him think that he is a bit of an introvert, but the truth is that likes to get the facts before speaking.  This may be because of his training. After high school, Rogelio attended Southern Illinois University and majored in radio and television. His first job was as an on-air radio personality. One of the news beats he covered– for a show called The Chief Judge’s Corner (on AM radio) – took him to the local courthouse on a regular basis. He sat in on criminal cases, became good friends with one of the prosecutors, and got hooked on the law.

Rogelio, however, wanted to branch out. He left the radio station to take a job in the annuity department at an insurance company for a while. This was a great move for him in one respect – he met his wife on the job. After a few years, though, his yearning for keeping up with the news, and his interest in the law, conspired within him and he decided to attend law school. After passing the bar, he worked in the Public Defender’s office, mostly trying criminal cases. From there he went to work in a small law firm where he met Michael McCready.  The firm was originally Michael P. McCready & Associates, but Roy’s dedication and experience allowed him to make partner in short order.  The firm has been called McCready, Garcia & Leet since 2009.

Though he works long hours and has a bit of a commute, Roy finds time to engage in many hobbies. He works out, free weights being his exercise medium of choice. He does this at least two-to-three times a week, and always follows up with a good run. The running is actually a habit he picked up from his daughters, who both engaged in cross-country running in high school. He became so engaged by their activity that Roy put running the Chicago Marathon on his bucket list. It’s no longer there – running the Chicago Marathon is now on the list of Roy’s impressive achievements.

Now that his daughters are college age, Roy has a bit more time to enjoy his other passions, which include keeping abreast of national politics, reading, listening to music, and movie-going. His favorite books include biographies and those in the military action genre. He reads very little fiction, with books written by Robert Ludlum being the rare exception. He also reads anything he can get his hands on that relates to current political events. In terms of music, Roy’s preference is for “oldies” by groups like Kansas, Journey, and The Doobie Brothers. When he’s in the car and just about any “remake” is played, Roy will quickly “name that tune,” and the original artist. Of course, the original is always better. If it’s not music on the radio, it will be NPR.

Roy also loves to watch football, the Dallas Cowboys being his favorite. He has a good reason for spurning the local team in this sport –his parents were both born in Texas and he spent many happy hours rooting for the Cowboys with his dad. When the Bears announced they were playing the Cowboys a few years back, Roy made sure to claim his share (at least) of the office season tickets. Of course, he wore a Dallas jersey to the game, but we excused him.

Roy and his family have traveled all over the country, not only for cross-country meets, but also because Roy’s daughters sang in their school choir. Roy denies that they got their voices from him – he has a wonderful rich baritone – but is glad to have done so much traveling. Because of his love of history, Roy’s future plans include trips with his wife to countries that are steeped in history such as Egypt or Italy.

For now, though, Roy is very happy and very busy right where he is. He loves his work and his friends. He is proud that one of his best friends is a classmate from 2nd grade. Whether on the job or with friends, Roy is always looking, listening, learning and being considerate of everyone around him. He is one of the most well-rounded people you will ever meet, especially considering that he has lived in one area of the country his whole life.

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Biography – Alyssa Velez

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As of spring 2016, Alyssa has been working at McCready, Garcia, and Leet for just about a year now, but we wish we’d found her sooner. Her sarcastic wit keeps us all on our toes and, as the youngest in the office, she consistently offers a fresh perspective on solving everyday problems. As Mr. McCready says, “there’s more than one way to skin a cat.”

A native of the Chicago suburbs, she now lives with her husband just over the border in Indiana. The two fell in love while she was working at her first retail job and after three years of dating, were married on July 7, 2014.Alyssa Velez

Alyssa brings a strong background in retail to the firm. She worked in sales and marketing for nearly four years, calling on companies all over Chicago. She enjoyed the job because of its flexible hours and tendency to introduce her to interesting people. But, after she got married, she wanted a little bit more consistency in her schedule and felt like working with McCready, Garcia, & Leet was the perfect fit. Interestingly enough, she started with us an office temp and was only supposed to stay a month. We are so glad her plans changed!

Currently finishing her degree in public health, Alyssa is beginning to favor the legal life more and more. While she never thought that working at a personal injury law firm would be something she would enjoy, she says that seeing clients rewarded with the settlements they deserve is very satisfying. “People are getting hurt,” she said. “And I just love being a part of the process that helps them.”

Alyssa loves being with her family and having great cookouts at her grandmother’s during the summer. She is a godmother to two lovely kids, one is four and the other two. She has lots of extended family in Puerto Rico and usually visits them at least two or three times each year. While she’s there, she loves participating in water sports like para-sailing and banana boating. She truly likes to live life on the edge.

Alyssa VelezUnfortunately, Chicago’s long winters keep her out of the water while she’s way up north, but even that isn’t enough to stop her adventurous spirit. She also loves skiing (like, really loves it) and visits Lake Geneva to hit the slopes whenever she can. When she has to stay inside, she likes to participate in archery classes. She’s been doing it since high school and particularly enjoys the sport because its solitary nature helps her focus and re-center herself.

Alyssa Velez

It’s not a surprise to anyone who knows her that Alyssa has a large group of friends. She goes out with them at least once a week in search of Chicago’s best places to grab a bite – from sushi to Mexican to pizza and everything in between, they’ve tried it all. Her favorite food, however, is definitely anything cooked on a hibachi grill.

On top of visiting her family in Puerto Rico quite frequently, Alyssa has traveled to Australia, Mexico and Italy – three times! When she can’t make it out of the country, she enjoys taking quick weekend getaways so she can reset before she gets back to work.

Alyssa is an enthusiastic presence here at the firm. She is friendly, professional, and never without her Starbucks Venti Chai Tea Latte with soymilk. If you’re nice to her, she just might bring you one, too.

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Biography – Joan Moss

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If you’ve ever called our office about a case, it’s likely that you’ve spoken with Joan. Her cheerful voice shines through the phone, showcasing her upbeat and friendly personality.

Joan Moss is a paralegal with McCready, Garcia & Leet

Joan has been our Intake Coordinator since December 2015 and our clients love her. She’s very dedicated to customer service and is an easy to person to talk to. After hearing a case, if McCready, Garcia, and Leet is able to take it on, she assists clients with online or in-house signup. Joan is known to take a special interest in each case and ensure every client’s needs are met with a smile. She is definitely a calming presence at the beginning of a personal injury lawsuit.

Working as Intake Coordinator is a perfect fit for Joan because she is such a people person! She loves talking with different people and learning about their lives and experiences. This might be because she has so many exciting experiences of her own!

Joan attended SUNY Albany where she dabbled in pre-law courses, but eventually settled on an English major. She has carried this love of literature with her after college as well, as she is very active in a local book club. They read both fiction and non-fiction, but her recent favorite was The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson about the murderous events surrounding Chicago’s 1893 World’s Fair. It was great to read about a city that she loves so much.

Originally from New York State, Joan moved to Illinois in 1989 and considers Chicago her adopted city. Although she’ll always be a New Yorker at heart, she has even started rooting for our sports teams. She really enjoys everything Chicago has to offer, whether it’s an afternoon at one of its many museums, attending a music festival, or strolling along the lakefront during the summer – she loves it here!

Joan lives near the office, so she is itching for it to be warm out again so she can ride her bike to work. She really enjoys nature and staying active by hiking in the local nature preserves and swimming.

Joan MossShe is married to a Midwesterner and has two college-age children: a son and a daughter. She likes watching British television with her family, like Doctor Who, Sherlock, Broadchurch, and Torchwood. Her son also introduced her to Japanese Anime, so the two enjoy watching it together. They also attend cosplay (costume roleplay) conventions, where they create their own costumes from thrift shop materials and attend the convention dressed like their favorite character. Each outfit can take anywhere from 10-30 hours to create. Now that’s dedication!

Her love of children also shines through in her professional life. Before working at McCready, Garcia, and Leet, Joan worked as a preschool teacher for over 12 years. While there, she actually met Mr. McCready and became the nanny for his children for nearly 2 years. When the Intake Coordinator position opened up, he knew she would be a perfect fit.

Joan loves her rescue dogs. She always adopts from a shelter and considers this essential as there are so many animals in need of a good home. She enjoys having more than one dog at a time, so each of them can have some puppy pals. She hopes to spend more time volunteering at local animal shelters to really make a difference in the lives of these animals.

Joan Moss is a paralegal with McCready, Garcia & LeetShe is also a known baker, famous for bringing cupcakes into the office whenever she feels everyone needs a little treat. Because of this (of much more, of course) Joan is a positive presence in the workplace and we are proud to have her here! She really sees the positives in life and her enthusiasm is contagious.

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Biography – Avilene Colin

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Avilene is a bright spot in our Chesterton office.

Known for being fashion forward, she considers herself very feminine. She enjoys experimenting with the newest beauty trends, so her makeup skills put us all to shame. She also likes sporting fun nail colors from her collection of nearly 150 polishes. Avilene even has a custom stand to display the color-coded bottles – it’s truly a sight to behold! She uses the spare bedroom in the apartment she shares with her longtime boyfriend, Tim, as a closet. As you can tell, she’s very committed to fashion.

After attending community college, she transferred to Valparaiso University where she earned her BA in English in 2013. She loved her time there and studied a wide-range of subjects from adolescent literature to Shakespeare and everything in between. She was very active on campus: she participated in mock trials and in the Student Senate as a Minority Senator, served as the Phi Beta Lambda (Future Business Leaders of America) secretary and LIVE’s (Latinos in Valparaiso for Excellence) event coordinator, and more.

As a former English major, Avilene loves to read. She is currently reading All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, but her all-time favorites are books like The Secret, The Book Thief, and last, but certainly not least, Dracula. She loves it because of the historical aspects and suspense – which is probably why her all-time favorite TV shows are Breaking Bad and Forensic Files. Although she will admit that How to get away with Murder, after having completed a year of law school, can be a little frustrating at times. The rules of evidence in real life don’t work like they do on the show!

At the firm, Avilene puts her legal skills to work by helping Mr. McCready and Mr. Garcia with their cases, making sure there are no outstanding tasks around the office. She checks in with all of our clients to see how their treatment is going and makes sure that their medical records and bills are requested once they are done treating to ensure they are fairly compensated. Avilene is the liaison between our clients and the office.

Avilene is a family girl, through and through. She considers her mother, Veronica, her best friend, and loves the fact that she can talk to her about anything. She has two younger siblings: a brother who is a junior at DePaul University and a 13-year-old sister who is excited to start high school soon. She gets along great with her siblings and cherishes the fact that she can give them guidance as they navigate school and their futures.

Born in Mexico, Avilene moved to Waukegan, IL when she was very little and grew up there. Spanish is her first language, but she caught onto English quickly by taking bilingual classes in elementary school. She keeps close to her Mexican roots by jamming to Romeo Santos on Pandora and constantly craving mango (her favorite fruit) with tajin and lime. She hasn’t been able to find a place that serves this in Indiana – so if you know of one, please tell her!

Avilene is happy to be working a little closer to home. Although she enjoyed her former paralegal jobs, she had a daily commute of nearly 2 hours each way! She loves the atmosphere at McCready, Garcia, & Leet and likes to fill all her newfound spare time with exercise, family, and good food.

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Biography – Ray Riden

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You never know what you’re going to get with Ray. He’s quite the joker and keeps us all on our toes. So, while he may try to convince you that he swam the English Channel in record time or ran last year’s Chicago Marathon backwards, his real-life accomplishments are just as impressive.

Although an elementary school vocational test told Ray he was destined to be a lawyer, he actually didn’t start his law career until a little later in life. He has an undergraduate degree in business and worked full time as a corporate buyer, but wasn’t feeling fulfilled by his work. So, when he was 35, he woke up one day and though “Hey, it’s now or never.” Fast forward a few months and he was still working full time during the week, but leaving for law school at 5AM on Saturday, attending classes for two day straight, and then driving home late Sunday night. He did this for three full years, but all his sacrifices paid off because he got his degree!Ray Riden joking around

During his time in school, he interned for a firm in but knew he didn’t want to spend his career protecting the interests of big insurance companies, so after about two years there, it was time to move on. He eventually found a small personal injury firm in Michigan that he enjoyed, he relocated and settled into work.

Somewhere along the way, he met the girl of his dreams, but she lived near Chicago, so he knew it was time to move again. That’s when he found us! We are thrilled to be working with Ray, and thankfully the feeling is mutual. He insists that he wants to stay with the firm until he retires.

Around the office, Ray handles a lot of the pre-litigation logistics for our clients. He coordinates their care with their doctors, builds cases with the adjusters, and negotiates settlements. He puts in well over 40 hours a week to make sure that our clients receive every bit of the compensation that they deserve. You are in great hands with Ray!

When he’s not working, Ray likes to spend time outdoors. He hunts and fishes when he has the time, and has even backpacked the Grand Canyon and throughout Hawaii. His adventurous spirit led him to obtain his skydiving certification – a feat that required him to jump out of a perfectly good plane 25 times in one summer. He also enjoys paragliding, craft beers, music festivals, and even collecting cigars! He discovered them on a McCready, Garcia, and Leet boat trip and enjoys reading about their complex history and manufacturing methods.
Ray Riden relaxing

Ray and his girlfriend have two dogs: a golden retriever named Bruschetta and a black lab called Angus, both dogs are former “foster dogs” that were adopted after they were only supposed to stay for a short while. The couple also often hosts other foster dogs until they can find a forever home. They have bred Bruschetta (who is a proud mom of 35) and keep in touch with all of her puppies.
Ray Riden

Ray definitely likes to joke around; anyone who knows him shouldn’t be surprised that he is actually a trained stand up comedian. He has performed at showcases in Milwaukee, local clubs, and as soon as he passes the Bar, courtrooms near you!

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