Warner Norcross Director Elected President of ALA

GRAND RAPIDS, MI, April 28, 2011

Cheryl Coutchie, director of human resources for the law firm of Warner Norcross & Judd LLP, has been elected president of the Association of Legal Administrators West Michigan Chapter for 2011-12.

Coutchie, who has been active in ALA during her 18-year tenure with the law firm, will serve a one-year term as president. ALA works to promote and enhance the competence and professionalism of all members of the legal management team, improve the quality of management in law firms and represent professional legal management to the legal community and to the community at large. Coutchie is also a past president of the West Michigan chapter.

Coutchie has more than 27 years of professional human resources experience. In her role as director of HR with Warner Norcross, she is responsible for staff recruiting, orientation and training, benefits and compensation, employee relations and communications, and policy and procedure development.

During her tenure with the law firm, she has significantly reduced staff turnover, implemented innovative programs and policies, coordinated cost-effective training programs and aggressively managed health-care costs. Under Coutchie's leadership, the firm has been recognized with numerous HR awards, including the Alfred P. Sloan Award for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility, 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For, Detroit Free Press Top Workplace and Crain's Cool Places to Work.

A certified Kolbe Consultant, she is member of the Society for Human Resources Management, and a graduate of Leadership Grand Rapids and the Institute for Healing Racism. Coutchie is a past board member of the Grand Rapids Ballet Company and a former classroom facilitator for Junior Achievement.

She holds a bachelor of business administration from the University of Michigan and masters of labor and industrial relations from Michigan State University. A native of Muskegon, she now resides in Grand Rapids with her two children.

About Warner Norcross & Judd
Warner Norcross & Judd is a corporate law firm with more than 220 attorneys practicing in six offices throughout Michigan: Grand Rapids, Holland, Lansing, Muskegon, Southfield and Sterling Heights. By providing sound legal advice and alternative fee arrangements, Warner Norcross & Judd forges a better partnership with its clients. To learn more visit wnj.com or follow us on Twitter, @WNJLLP.

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