Michele Bendekovic is the Director of Diversity & Inclusion at Bass, Berry & Sims. In this role she is responsible for assisting firm leadership and attorneys in establishing a diverse and inclusive team in order to provide firm clients with the highest quality of work and service. She leads the firm’s diversity and entry level hiring programs and will focus on new pipeline initiatives for long-term recruiting in addition to supporting the firm’s affinity groups and their initiatives. Michele will also be responsible for the development and implementation of a strategic plan around diversity and inclusion goals.
Prior to joining Bass, Berry & Sims, Michele was the Director of Recruiting and Professional Development at Steptoe & Johnson PLLC in Morgantown, West Virginia. In 2016, Michele was the recipient of the Richard Pearson Award for Professional Development, awarded by the Professional Development Consortium for demonstration of an innovative spirit, a demonstrated commitment to teaching and mentoring, and a passionate, life-long love of learning.
National Association for Law Placement (NALP)
Professional Development Consortium (PDC) — Board Member; Membership and Nominating Committees, Chair; 2010 PDC Annual Conference, Planning Chair
Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
Hotshot Professional Development Advisory Board
Lex Mundi Professional Development Committee
National Legal Mentoring Consortium
Talent Management Roundtable for Mid-Sized Law Firms
Nashville Public Library — Volunteer
Richard Pearson Award for Professional Development (2016)