Kimberly Stogner Elected NCBA President-Elect
Kimberly H. Stogner of Womble Bond Dickinson in Winston-Salem was elected to serve as president-elect of the North Carolina Bar Association on Friday, June 23, at the NCBA Annual Meeting in Wilmington. She will serve in 2023-24 as president-elect of the NCBA and the North Carolina Bar Foundation and will chair the Audit & Finance Committee of both organizations, and she will be installed at the 2024 Annual Meeting as the 130th president of the NCBA.
Stogner is a 1986 graduate (cum laude) of Wake Forest University and a 1994 graduate (cum laude) of Wake Forest University School of Law, where she was editor of the Wake Forest Law Review. She has practiced with Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP and its predecessor, Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP, since 2009. She is a partner with the firm, leader of the Trusts and Estates team and a member of the Wealth Management Industry team. She is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law.
Stogner served as a personal trust officer for two national banking organizations prior to attending law school and earned the Certified Financial Planner designation. She began her legal career with Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton (1994-2000) and later practiced with Vaughn Perkinson Ehlinger Moxley & Stogner, LLP (2001-2008).
Stogner has held many roles within the NCBA, including service as chair of the Estate Planning & Fiduciary Law Section (2009-10). She served on the NCBA Board of Governors and the NCBF Board of Directors from 2010-13 and was a member of their executive committees throughout her tenure. Stogner has also served as co-chair of the Legislative Advisory Committee (2018-22), as a member of multiple committees, and as a charter member of the NCBA Health Benefit Board of Trustees, serving from 2002-09.
NCBA Past Presidents applaud President-elect Kim Stogner as she addresses the NCBA Annual Meeting.
Stogner is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and is currently serving as State Chair for North Carolina. She is a Trustee of the Southern Federal Tax Institute. and serves on the Board of Visitors for Wake Forest University Law School. She is a member of the Forsyth County Bar Association and the Winston-Salem Estate Planning Council.
A 2009 recipient of the NCBA Citizen Lawyer Award, Stogner has devoted volunteer service and leadership to numerous organizations, including Reynolda House Museum of American Art, Salemtowne Retirement Community, Forsyth Technical Community College Foundation, Hospice Foundation, Winston-Salem Arts Council Endowment Fund, Datamax Corporation and Foundation, Winston-Salem Downtown Rotary Club, United Way of Forsyth County and the United Way of Forsyth County Foundation, Crisis Control Ministry, Crosby Scholars Program, the Children’s Museum of Winston-Salem and the Winston-Salem Foundation.
She is married to R. Stuart Stogner, and they have resided in Winston-Salem since 1990. They have two adult children, Camille Stogner and Tess Stogner.
Her name was placed in nomination by Immediate Past President Jon Heyl, who served as chair of the NCBA Past Presidents’ Council which annually nominates the president-elect. Seconding speeches were provided by Cynthia Rothschild and Scott Schaaf.
Following her election, in keeping with NCBA tradition, Stogner was ushered to the stage by the NCBA past presidents, who remained on stage as Stogner delivered the following acceptance address:
To stand before you on this podium today is a distinct honor that evokes both humility and gratitude.
First, Gratitude
Thank you to my dear friend, Cindy Rothschild, who traveled more than two hours to be present for me today.
Cindy was a summer associate my last year with Kilpatrick Stockton. Although we never enjoyed practicing together, she has been a wonderful, close friend and exercise buddy for many years. She is a member of “The Buds,” my sweet support friend group.
Also, sincere thanks to my valued law partner and friend, Scott Schaaf, a leader and servant of the NCBA, and to my firm, Womble Bond Dickinson, for their enthusiastic support of my serving in this role.
Past Presidents of the North Carolina Bar Association, thank you. I am so appreciative of your confidence in me and your support. It is incredibly meaningful, as you have served in this role and identified me as a worthy candidate.
To my husband, Stuart, thank you for being my biggest fan, a constant source of encouragement, a steadfast presence and a true equal partner.
And, to my dear daughters, Camille and Tess, I am thankful for the myriad of ways you inspire me, teach me and make me a better person. I am grateful.
Gratitude and Humility
Over the decades, many others at this same moment, in this same position, have said, ‘I stand on the shoulders of those who’ve come before me.’ I too, acknowledge the debt I owe to those who have paved the way and shaped my path. I have no more poignant feeling as I take on this role. Many individuals come to mind. I will acknowledge a few who have had a direct influence on me:
Professor Rhoda Billings (also known as Chief Justice Billings)
At Wake Forest Law School, I was fortunate to be taught by the first-ever female President of the North Carolina Bar Association. Professor Billings was so formidable that years later, while I was serving as a member of the Board of Governors of the NCBA, despite her insistence, I could never bring myself to call her by her first name, “Rhoda,” and even today … it’s not happening.
Robert C. Vaughn Jr.
I’m here today in no small part due to the example set by my mentor, Bob, not only in the practice of law, but also in his commitment to the profession, and in particular to this Bar Association. At the beginning of my career, Bob encouraged me to be active in the Bar Association. His philosophy of life was to be generous with time and people in “giving back.”
Bill Womble Sr.
An icon of this Bar, Mr. Womble passed away only months shy of his 100th birthday, and thanks to his continued commitment to the Bar into his 80s, I got to know Bill as we carpooled together to Cary, to serve on the Development Committee for the NCBF. He had stories to tell. He was an incredible inspiration for me before I ever had any inkling that I would join the law firm bearing his family name.
Betty Quick
For the past fifteen years it has been my privilege to practice alongside Betty, who has been a true trailblazer for women in the practice of law here in North Carolina. The first time I met Betty, I was a new trust officer with Wachovia Bank and Betty was a guest speaker to the training program, presenting on trust administration issues. She was amazing in her ability to communicate and command the attention of the room. She was also very pregnant at the time. She has been a role model for me my entire career.
NCBA Board of Governors 2010-13
And finally, the members of the class of Board of Governors of the NCBA that I had the privilege of serving with during 2010-2013. So many of whom have preceded me in this role. I aspire to meet the high standard you have set. I am humbled.
Historically, a mission statement of this Association has been: “With justice for all.” This vision helped to inspire many, if not all of us, to pursue the practice of law.
The North Carolina Bar Association exists because together, and alongside our predecessors, we all share this vision.
We understand that a just society does not come easy. We agree that we will never arrive at that final, ideal destination.
However, I believe we also agree that it‘s still worth the effort: eminently, absolutely, unequivocally, worth the effort.
Within this common cause, as we work together, of course, reasonable minds may disagree on how we achieve that goal.
But, given our heartfelt, stated commitment to our mission statement of “the highest standards of integrity, competence, civility and well-being of all members of the profession,” we will prevail together in our common cause of justice for all.
With gratitude and humility, to this end, I pledge my best effort and devoted commitment to this leadership role. Thank you.
Russell Rawlings is director of external affairs and communications for the North Carolina Bar Association.