History of CMCP
Since 1989
In 1989, California Minority Counsel Program (CMCP) was established to address the under-representation of minorities in the legal profession compared to their proportion in the overall state population. Since then, CMCP has been working tirelessly to create opportunities for minority attorneys to showcase their skills and connect with business decision-makers.
CMCP Founders
DENNIS W. ARCHER
Archer led the ABA commission that launched the Minority Counsel Demonstration Program. He served as a justice of the Michigan Supreme Court and as Mayor of Detroit (1994–2001), and in 2003 became the first African American president of the American Bar Association.
DRUCILLA "DRU" STENDER RAMEY
Executive Director & General Counsel, Bar Association of San Francisco (1985-2002)
In 1989 Ramey partnered with Wells Fargo and Pacific Telesis to create CMCP. A former MALDEF civil rights litigator and the first woman to chair the ACLU of Northern California, she later served as dean of Golden Gate University School of Law. CMCP’s Majority-Owned Law Firm Award bears her name. She passed away in August 2026.
GUY ROUNSAVILLE, JR.
Executive Vice President & General Counsel, Wells Fargo Bank (1969-1998) and Visa International (2001-2006)
Rounsaville brought companies into CMCP letter by letter and urged their leaders to commit to diversity. He chaired the CMCP Board in 2002, received the State Bar of California’s Diversity Award in 2005, and is a namesake of the In-House Counsel Award.
I can say without fear of contradiction that Guy’s work has changed thousands of lives for the better.
Drucilla Stender Ramey, on co-founder Guy Rounsaville, Jr. · California Bar Journal, 2005
Milestones
From a five-company coalition in San Francisco to a statewide community of corporations, law firms and public agencies.
CONTEXT
1986
The American Bar Association creates its Commission on Opportunities for Minorities in the Profession, chaired by future CMCP founder Dennis W. Archer.
context
1988
The ABA Commission launches the Minority Counsel Demonstration Program, chaired by Archer, to encourage corporations to retain lawyers of color as outside counsel.
founding
1989
CMCP is founded. Dru Ramey, Executive Director of the Bar Association of San Francisco, partners with Wells Fargo and Pacific Telesis to create the program, which starts with five major businesses. Karen L. Hobin becomes the first Executive Director.
Leadership
1990
Rena Wheaton becomes the first Chair of the CMCP Board of Directors.
recognition
1993
Wells Fargo Bank receives the first CMCP In-House Counsel Diversity Award.
Programs
1997
CMCP holds its third annual meeting in Los Angeles, alongside the State Bar’s statewide conference for minority attorneys.
Recognition
2002
CMCP becomes the first recipient of the State Bar of California’s Council on Access & Fairness non-profit Diversity Award. The Majority-Owned Law Firm Award is presented for the first time.
Growth
2005
Co-founder Guy Rounsaville, Jr. receives the State Bar’s Diversity Award. CMCP has grown from five businesses to a coalition of more than 350 corporations, law firms and bar associations.
Anniversary
2009
CMCP marks 20 years with its “20/20 Vision” Annual Business Conference in Los Angeles.
Recognition
2012
The California Association of Black Lawyers presents CMCP with the David Cunningham Community Service Award.
Anniversary
2014
CMCP turns 25. The three founders co-chair the Annual Business Conference in San Francisco, the Diversity Leader Hall of Fame inducts its first class, and the State Bar honors CMCP with its Diversity Award a second time.
Recognition
2015
CMCP and Kaiser receive the National Bar Association’s Pinnacle Award for Collaboration.
Anniversary
2019
CMCP turns 30. The Annual Business Conference brings together more than 500 business attorneys from across California and the nation.
Anniversary
2024
CMCP celebrates its 35th anniversary at the Annual Business Conference at UCLA’s Luskin Conference Center, with Seyfarth Shaw as the 35th anniversary sponsor.
Recognition
2025
The California Lawyers Association presents CMCP with its Diversity Award for Organizations.
Board Chairs & Executive Directors
Chairs, Board of Directors (1990-Present)
| Year(s) | Chair Names & Organization |
|---|---|
| 1990, 1991 | Rena Wheaton |
| 1992 | William Hastie, Arnelle & Hastie |
| 1993 | Richard Odgers, Pacific Telesis Group |
| 1994 | Thomas Unterman ,Times Mirror Company |
| 1995 | Lloyd Johnson, Jr., Aguirre & Associates |
| 1996 | D. Terrell Sherman, Chevron Corporation |
| 1997 | Vilma Martinez,Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP |
| 1998 | Paul Richardson ,Times Mirror Company |
| 1999 | Bruce Worthington, Pacific Gas & Electric Corp. |
| 2000 | Ronald ,Beard Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP |
| 2001 | Linda Williams, Chevron Corporation |
| 2002 | Guy Rounsaville, Jr., Visa, Inc. |
| 2003 | Peter Bewley, The Clorox Company |
| 2004, 2005 | James Potter, Del Monte Foods |
| 2006, 2007 | Dennis Stryker, Rick Engineering |
| 2008 | Dennis Herrera, San Francisco City Attorney |
| 2009 | Maki Daijogo, Daijogo & Pedersen, LLP, Garner K. Weng, Hanson Bridgett LLP |
| 2010 | Deborah J. Broyles, Reed Smith LLP and James D. Nguyen Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon |
| 2011 | Deborah J. Broyles, Reed Smith LLP and Mark Zemelman Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. |
| 2012 | Mark Zemelman, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. and Anna Segobia, Masters Winston & Strawn LLP |
| 2013 | Anna Segobia, Masters Winston & Strawn LLP and W. Davis (Dave) Smith, San Diego Gas & Electric Company |
| 2014 | W. Davis (Dave) Smith, San Diego Gas & Electric Company and Dale W. Lum, Sidley Austin LLP |
| 2015 | Dale W. Lum, Sidley Austin LLP and B. Michael Bennett, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. |
| 2016 | B. Michael Bennett, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and Laura J. Maechtlen, Seyfarth Shaw LLP |
| 2017 | Laura J. Maechtlen, Seyfarth Shaw LLP and Kate Duchene, RGP |
| 2018 | Kate Duchene, RGP and Camilo Echavarria, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP |
| 2019 | Camilo Echavarria, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP and Sharon L. Tomkins, Southern California Gas Company |
| 2020 | Sharon L. Tomkins, Sempra Energy and Marissa M. Dennis, Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP |
| 2021 | Marissa M. Dennis, Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP and Tiffany Renee Thomas, Genentech, Inc. |
| 2022 | Tiffany Renee Thomas, Genentech, Inc. and Eric Casher, Meyers Nave |
| 2023 | Eric Casher, Meyers Nave and Christophe Mosby, HP, Inc. |
| 2024 | Christophe Mosby, HP, Inc. and David Ammons, LTL Attorneys LLP |
| 2025 | David Ammons, LTL Attorneys LLP and Kerry McLean, Intuit |
Executive Directors (1989-Present)
| Years Active | Name |
|---|---|
| 1989 - 1993 | Karen L. Hobin |
| 1994 - 1996 | Lovely A. Dhillon |
| 1997 - 1998 | Geetanjali K. Dhillon |
| 1999 - 2000 | Carol Leah Rogers |
| 2001 - 2007 | Tania P. Shah |
| 2008 - 2009 | Tara G. Bedeau |
| 2010 - 2015 | Marci Rubin |
| 2015 - 2023 | Robert White |
| 2023 – Present | Tracey Broadhead |
From the Archives
Recognize someone who is not identified in the photos? Please let us know!
CMCP Awards
Since 1993, CMCP has honored the companies, firms and attorneys advancing diversity in California’s legal profession. Two awards carry the names of our founders: the John Essex and Guy Rounsaville, Jr. In-House Counsel Award and the Drucilla Stender Ramey Majority-Owned Law Firm Award.
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