Last week, we all gathered in the conference room with whispered excitement. Sue’s husband and grandchildren were on the far side of the room. There was a hurried announcement of,” She’s coming!” And when the door swung open we all shouted, “Surprise!”

Sue laughed, sighed, and put her notary stamp away. We had gotten her good.

This ambush celebration was in honor of the fact that our Senior Paralegal, Sue Eggert was celebrating 25years of excellence in the field of adoption.

Sue has worked in the legal field since 1980. She has focused on adoption since 1993 and has been Jeanne’s “right hand” since the inception of the firm with an unsurpassable dedication to her career and the clients we serve.

Sue has been heavily involved in some of the most significant adoption cases in Florida and has participated in over a thousand adoptions.

After everyone had settled down in the conference room, Jeanne read a beautiful letter written by one of our attorneys. Here are a few excerpts.

“I remember when I first walked through the halls at HOA and then up the stairs to your office…I found you sitting at your desk just smiling!  I learned pretty quickly that you were one of the most hardworking, dedicated and detail-oriented paralegals in the adoption field! What I didn’t know then, but have had the privilege to learn since, is now kind, warm, loving and genuine you are.”

“You have shown grace (when I needed it most), patience (when I’m sure you want to pull your hair out!) and encouragement (because some days are just plain tough in this field!). You somehow seem to be able to juggle 5,000 things at once, and make it look easy…. I suppose that what 25 years looks like!”

During Sue’s time in the adoption field, she has been a help to so many staff, legal and social work alike.

“Sue is always available for questions our caseworkers may have regarding the legal process.  She takes new staff under her wing to provide support and guidance.  She has a wealth of knowledge and shares it freely, and with a smile. Her dedication to adoption and the company is unparalleled. “  -Mary Wheatly, Executive Director, Heart of Adoptions, Inc.

Jeanne Tate can’t say enough about the pleasure of creating families with her for a quarter of a century.

“Sue is a consummate professional, a dedicated advocate and a tremendously loyal and hard-working employee. I have been exceptionally fortunate to have her by my side for a quarter of a century creating and preserving families.”

Congratulations on your 25th year anniversary, Sue.