2023-2024 Board of Directors

---

Stephanie Jones has lived in Columbia, South Carolina most of her life. She graduated from Dreher High School with Honors in 2000 and obtained her Associates Degree in Paralegal Studies from Midlands Technical College. She graduated summa cum laude from South University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. She recently passed the NALS Professional Paralegal exam (PP) in 2021 and is now a South Carolina Certified Paralegal (SCCP).

Stephanie has worked in the legal field since 2004, first as a receptionist and then as a paralegal. In her years of paralegal experience, Stephanie has worked on civil litigation, domestic relations, and criminal defense cases. She has been with the Touma Law Group since November 2023.

Stephanie is currently a member of NALS, the national association for legal support professionals. She currently holds a board of directors position with the Legal Staff Professionals of South Carolina, and is the President of the Legal Staff Professionals of the Midlands. Stephanie is dedicated to assisting organizations that provide for those battling addiction. She also advocates for programs that help inmates reintegrate into society. Stephanie lives in the Columbia area with her three daughters and two four-legged friends. She enjoys reading a good book and doing things outdoors with her family. She is always on the hunt for knowledge and finds comfort in learning from books, media, and talking to people from a variety of cultures. 

Traci B. Wolfe, PP, CDE, CNE, is a dedicated legal professional with a passion for community service and nonprofit leadership. Born in Hickory, North Carolina, Traci has been an invaluable member of the Burnette Shutt McDaniel, PA team since 2007.

Traci's educational journey includes earning her Associates of Applied Science in Legal Support and Services (A.A.S.) with Cum Laude honors from Purdue Global in 2016. Her pursuit of professional development led her to obtain the prestigious Certified Development Executive credentials and Certified Nonprofit Executive designation from the National Association of Nonprofit Organizations and Executives (NANOE) in 2019. In the same year, she also achieved recognition as a Professional Paralegal from the National Association of Legal Secretaries (NALS).

In addition to her work within the legal profession, Traci has shown remarkable leadership in professional associations. She served as the President of the Legal Support Professionals of South Carolina (LSPSC) from 2023 to 2024, demonstrating her ability to inspire and guide fellow professionals. Prior to this role, Traci held consecutive terms as President of the Legal Support Professionals of Midlands (LSPM) from 2021 to 2023.

Beyond her professional achievements, Traci's personal journey is marked by resilience and philanthropy. Following the tragic loss of her 18-year-old son in a vehicle collision, Traci, along with her husband Ken and daughter Ashley, founded and operated a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of teen fatalities for 15 years. Their commitment to making a positive impact in their community showcases Traci's unwavering dedication to serving others.

Recognized for her outstanding contributions, Traci was honored as the 2023-2024 Award of Excellence winner by the LSPSC and as the runner-up by NALS. Her commitment to excellence and service is further evidenced by her early legal career start with Cromer & Mabry Law Firm in Columbia in 2009.

Traci Wolfe exemplifies the epitome of professionalism, dedication, and compassion, both in her legal career and her commitment to making a difference in the lives of others.

Secretary/Treasurer Colleen Qunell has lived in South Carolina most of her life. Colleen graduated Summa Cum Laude from Columbia Junior College in 1999 with an Associate of Science degree in Paralegal Studies.

Colleen has been a paralegal for over 23 years, concentrating her career in civil litigation. She has worked on hundreds of personal injury, mass tort, workers' compensation, and other types of negligence cases and trials.

In her free time Colleen can usually be found reading, knitting, sewing, or painting. She loves playing with (and annoying) her hedgehog, Tillie Two, Electric Bugaloo. Despite living in South Carolina since she was 10, Colleen remains a diehard Chicago Cubs fan. She considers being known as the "crazy aunt" by her nieces and nephews her greatest achievement in life.

Renee Brown is a 21 year veteran on the legal profession, getting her start in 2003 when a job change to work for Motley Rice moved her to the Lowcountry.  During her 13 years in the Lowcountry, she worked not only at Motley Rice, but also a brief stint with the Magistrate Court before going into Family Law, where she really found a passion for the paralegal career.  She moved back home to Columbia in May 2016, and has been in her current position at Turner Padget since September 2016.   

She is the mother to one son, Jones Danny Saylor, a PGA Management/Business Major at Coastal Carolina.  He likes to needle his Momma with the fact that once he gets his Class A PGA card upon graduation, he’ll be able to go to The Masters for the rest of his life.  And the PGA Championship. And The Open Championship.  Nothing brings Renee joy like watching her baby boy tee it up on the links, and she dreams of following him as he plays Augusta in search of his very own Green Jacket. 

A Garnet and Black bleeding Gamecock Alum and HUGE Gamecock Baseball fan (and ex Batgirl), if you can’t find Renee, look first at the ballpark.  She will usually be in her seats, with her Daddy, informing Blue of all the calls he missed, from the 1st row by the Gamecock dugout.  If she’s not still tailgating, and enjoying her bourbon, of course.  All the while wearing her pearls.  As Jackie said, “Pearls are always appropriate”.  

A native daughter of South Carolina, and true to her Pisces nature, the coast calls her daily and she vows to return “home” one day to grow old on her back porch overlooking the Lowcountry marsh, taking in the sweet smell of the pluff mud.  

Maris Cannon is an accomplished professional paralegal at Cannon Law Group, based in Camden, South Carolina. With extensive experience in the legal field, Maris holds the designation of SC Certified Paralegal, demonstrating a high level of competence and commitment to legal support services.

In her role, Maris also serves as the Functional Director of Education for the Legal Staff Professionals of the Midlands, where she is instrumental in developing and overseeing educational programs that enhance the skills and knowledge of legal staff. Additionally, she is an active member of the National Association of Legal Support Professionals, contributing to the broader legal community through her membership.

Maris has taken on leadership roles, such as Chair of the Employment Committee for the Legal Staff Professionals of South Carolina, showcasing her dedication to improving employment standards and practices within the legal profession. Her expertise is further recognized by her certification as a mediator through the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and her training as an Equal Employment Investigator.

She is also an experienced arbitrator, serving in contractual disputes for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and as a volunteer youth arbitrator for the Fifth Circuit Youth Arbitration Program, where she helps guide young individuals through the arbitration process.

Moreover, Maris has a significant role as a United States Federal Government Contractor specializing in mediation, reflecting her exceptional skills and trusted reputation in the field of conflict resolution.

Maris professional journey reflects her unwavering dedication to the legal profession, her commitment to continuous learning, and her passion for serving her community through various legal and arbitration roles.