A2508 – Powerful Partnerships: Community Building & Professional Development

Instructor: Christina Hough

Christina Hough is a seasoned legal paraprofessional having worked as a senior paralegal on
the in-house litigation team of a Fortune 10 company and a legal secretary on the Business Trials team at an AmLaw 50 firm among prior roles. She has more than 20 years of experience working as a member of pre-litigation and litigation teams at small businesses, large enterprises and law firms of varying sizes and specialties. She has extensive experience in general civil litigation matters, including personal injury, products liability, premises liability, construction defect, pharmacy and administrative law, small claims, and other specialized areas of law. She has also argued in court trials before small claims courts in various jurisdictions throughout the western United States and as a result, has obtained numerous defense verdicts on behalf of a Fortune 10 company.

Christina earned her B.A. in Public Administration from Southern New Hampshire University,
graduating summa cum laude and as a Distinguished Scholar with a 4.0 GPA. She received her
paralegal certificate with honors in Generalist Curriculum from the University of San Diego
Paralegal Program - the very first paralegal program in the U.S. to receive American Bar
Association approval. She has completed all coursework for the e-Discovery Certificate program developed by the EDI (Electronic Discovery Institute) Distance Learning Initiative and is in the process of writing an article for EDI approval. She just completed her first
year of law school at the University of San Diego School of Law.

Christina is a member of the San Diego Paralegal Association, University of San Diego Paralegal Alumni Association, National Notary Association, and other professional and academic associations. She has also published articles discussing continuing legal education opportunities, legal technology, workplace productivity, and human interest stories on LinkedIn and for SDPA's newsletter, Precedents. She recently rece

Instructor: Kristine Custodio Suero

Kristine Custodio Suero is an award-winning legal professional and a highly sought after
speaker in her profession inspiring legal professionals to achieve authentic, purpose-driven
careers and lives. A true servant leader, she has lead the San Diego Paralegal Association and
California Alliance of Paralegal Associations as President and is proud to champion diversity as
the first Filipina at the helm of the statewide professional trade association.

Her passion for service spans into education like her elders including her own mother, Zena (yes, pronounced like the warrior princess). A zealot for higher education and NextGen pipeline development, Kristine teaches legal courses for a local San Diego paralegal program and lends her time as an advisory board member for one of the most prestigious universities in San Diego.

She is most passionate about the innovation economy and dedicates her time to inclusive
economic development projects, including employee ownership, and endeavoring to advance
women in business, especially in non-traditional roles and industries such as STEAM and
construction. Kristine was recently re-appointed as a commissioner and serves as the Chair of the City of San Diego Citizens’ Equal Opportunity Commission advocating for supplier diversity in contracting with the City of San Diego and bridging the rich cultural landscape of her beloved city with opportunities of economic impact to build a vibrant place to live, work and play.

Instructor: Michelle Pendleton

Michelle Pendleton is a seasoned paralegal with more than 20 years of experience working in
law firms of varying sizes and specialties. She is currently a Litigation and eDiscovery Paralegal, working with attorneys in the litigation, land use, environmental, natural resources, and Litigation Support groups at Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP, a California based Am Law 200 law firm. She has significant experience in case management throughout the entire litigation life cycle, discovery, case analysis, legal research, and large-scale document
review. Michelle is also well-versed in professional malpractice, eDiscovery, commercial and
construction litigation, and arbitration. She is committed to strengthening the training, education, and growth to expand paralegal roles in the practice of law.

Michelle received her paralegal certificate with honors in Generalist Curriculum from the
University of San Diego Paralegal Program – the very first paralegal program in the U.S. to
receive American Bar Association approval. She is a Certified Paralegal and a member of the
National Association of Legal Assistants. Michelle is also a member of Women in eDiscovery, a member of Allen Matkins’ Community Outreach Committee, and a project team member with
EDRM. She previously served on the board of the Orange County Paralegal Association.

When not working, Michelle enjoys traveling, reading, spending time with her children, and
barre. She hopes to strengthen, promote, and empower the paralegal profession.