Topic: Weekend Trip to Greer, Arizona - Naples, Phoenix and Tucson Summer Associates (June 6-8, 2008)

My wife and I had a wonderful time at the summer associate retreat at Greer.  The long trip to and from Greer turned out to be a great team building experience for the entire Naples group.  Getting to know the summer associates from the Arizona offices was a lot of fun.  Most of all, it was nice to get out of the office and spend a few days in the great outdoors.  All in all, it was a memorable experience.
-- Marshall Bender / Naples Office (The University of Florida Levin College of Law, Class of 2009)

Wow, Arizona is beautiful!  As a Florida girl, I was overwhelmed by the spartan scenery and the giant cacti all along the road from Phoenix to Greer.  I loved seeing somewhere that was so different from home.  I think the best part of the weekend for me was realizing that our summer associate class is as wonderfully diverse as our respective office geographies- we have people from all ages and backgrounds (and countries).  That kind of variety could lead to divisions, but in Greer it was clear that we all had something to contribute to the team- be it horseback riding skills, disc jockey experience, karaoke talents, fishing tips, storytelling flair, astronomy knowledge, Catchphrase mastery, or a knack for the electric slide.  The organizers did a great job putting together a weekend that really reminded us all that we’re one firm family in several towns, rather than separate firms that happen to share the same name.  I feel lucky that the Naples office was included in all the fun, and I look forward to keeping in touch with all the great people we met out west.
-- Kim Bevis / Naples Office (The University of Florida Levin College of Law, Class of 2009)

   
(Brian Booker and Brad Vynalek in Greer.)                                    

My weekend in Greer was one of the best weekends I have had in a long time.  The outdoor activities and weather were optimal.  The scenic desert drive, the mountains reflecting off of the fishing lake and the innumerous stars at night were all such a fine sight to see.  It was a pleasure to meet (and sing with) the Phoenix/Tucson crew.  The interaction was not that of business colleagues, but that of friends.  I hope we have a chance to bring them out to Naples and hope that we can show them as great a time as they showed us.  So until we make that happen, we'll send our love along the wire.
-- Phil Bresson  / Naples Office (The University of Florida Levin College of Law, Class of 2009)


Greer was a perfect getaway weekend for everyone to get to know each other better!  I carpooled up with three of my fellow summers and we had a blast just getting to know each other on the trip up. Molly Butler's was a hit with everyone - great food and drinks to put everyone in a good mood after a long week!  On Saturday, I tried my hand at fishing with a little help from Brian Booker, John Craiger, and Brad Vynalek, but I appear to be missing the fishing gene. That's ok though, because we didn't have to count on catching fish for dinner that night!  CatchPhrase was the highlight of the weekend for me - it was an intense, fun-filled screaming match of wit and speed that was certainly a bonding experience for everyone involved! Greer was definitely an event not to be missed...
-- Kerryn Moore / Phoenix Office (Arizona State University, Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, Class of 2009)


(Kimberly Bevis fishing.)

Amid the aspens and pines in the Arizona mountains, as we summer clerks fished for trout and rode horses, one thing became clear: We should stick to our day jobs. Fortunately for Quarles & Brady, it won't lose any of its current summer clerks to careers as fly-fishing guides or cattle ranchers. A few of us can dress like we're from the rugged part of the West, and many of us can eat like it, but the rest of our skill sets — well, they leave a lot to be desired. We emerged from the weekend saddle-sore and short on trout, but we also emerged grateful for the chance to better acquaint ourselves with other summer associates and some of the attorneys at Quarles & Brady.
-- Scott Simonson / Tucson Office (The University of Arizona Rogers College of Law, Class of 2009)