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Alumni spotlight
As we celebrate 90 years of McNees, we are proud to recognize the many alumni who have carried forward the values of our firm in their careers, communities, and leadership roles. Their work in business, law, government, and nonprofits has left a lasting mark, and we are grateful for the role each of them has played in our story.
To honor these contributions and strengthen the connections that make McNees unique, we created the Alumni Program. This initiative is designed to keep former colleagues connected to the firm and to one another, offering newsletters, networking opportunities, CLE programs, and updates on milestones within our community.
Donna Kreiser, champion of connection
The Alumni Program exists today because of the vision of Donna Kreiser. A longtime leader at the firm, Donna established the program to honor our past, preserve our culture, and foster ongoing connections. She continues to serve as Alumni Program Champion and reminds us that “Our people are at the core of what it means to be McNees. It is our strength and what makes us different.”
Carrying forward the McNees spirit
McNees alumni have taken what they built here and expanded their impact in countless ways.
David Kleppinger, McNees Chair Emeritus
David spent his entire career at the firm in energy law and became one of its most visible leaders. Known for welcoming new hires with a handshake and a pen, and for remembering the families of his colleagues, David exemplifies the culture of connection at McNees. Today he serves as Chair of the Penn State University Board of Trustees. As he shared,
“There’s a lot of pride associated with being a McNees attorney. When you say you are an alum of the firm or the chair emeritus, it is significant.”
Laura Williams
Laura joined McNees in 1999 and became a partner leading the Financial Services Group. She later held senior executive positions with Keystone Financial and Ahold USA, managing complex business and legal projects, and went on to serve as president and CEO of Team Pennsylvania Foundation. Today she is Associate Dean at Penn State Dickinson Law, mentoring the next generation of lawyers. Reflecting on her journey, Laura said,
“I never felt like I was leaving McNees. Although I was doing something different, I always felt like my McNees colleagues were behind me propping me up along the way.”
Tim Deckert
Tim spent 18 years at McNees practicing corporate law, handling mergers and acquisitions, securities, and nonprofit tax matters. He is remembered for his humor and creativity, including his annual role as the “Mayor of Brackettville” running the firm’s NCAA pool, and contributing to the legendary Dinner Dance skits. Tim left private practice to serve as General Counsel at AAA Mid States and today is General Counsel at Martin’s Famous Pastry Shoppe. He explained his ongoing connection simply:
“I still refer to McNees as ‘we’ eight years later. I think that reflects the kind of place McNees is — I still think of it as family.”
Geoffrey White
Geoffrey spent more than seven years in the Intellectual Property Group at McNees focusing on patent law. Since then, he has become a leader in innovation and technology. Today he serves as COO of Advanced Construction Robotics, where he helps commercialize robotic equipment for the construction industry, and as CIO and General Counsel of Grouse Ridge Capital. He also continues as General Counsel and board member at SilcoTek Corporation. Outside of business, Geoffrey has a passion for the arts and serves as board president of Keystone State Music Theater. Speaking about his career path, Geoffrey noted,
“The biggest takeaway from McNees is how to benchmark value and efficiency. That mindset has shaped every leadership role I have taken on since.”
Our alumni stories show how relationships built at McNees extend far beyond the office. They reflect the values of collaboration, service, and leadership that continue to define our firm today.
If you are a McNees alum and are not receiving our updates, please reach out at alumniconnect@nullmcneeslaw.com so we can add you to the Alumni Program community.
Share your #McNees story
Whether you’re a current McNees’er, former colleague, client, or friend of the firm, we’d love to hear from you. Share your favorite McNees memory, photo, or milestone on LinkedIn or Facebook using the hashtag #McNees as we celebrate 90 years together.
Explore the McNees history book
Dive into the full story in our commemorative history book, highlighting key moments from our founding in 1935.
