Support Staff
Beth Reynolds
Firm Administrator
One of the keys to success for The Law Group is qualified, effective and efficient firm administration. Beth Reynolds has filled this role since December, 1987. Beth came to the firm in June, 1977, after her graduation from Patricia Stevens College in St. Louis, Missouri. She supervises all administrative matters for the firm, including management reports, personnel, timekeeping, permanent client history data, billing, supplies, payroll, and accounting.
A graduate from Farina LaGrove High School, Beth and her husband, Paul, live in St. Peter. They have two sons and six grandchildren.
Abby Hartke
Assistant Firm Administrator
Abby rejoined the Law Group in May of 2024 after receiving her Master Degree of Art in Studio Art from Eastern Illinois University. After serving as a file clerk at the Law Group from 2020 to 2021, she now assists both the firm administration department and the title insurance department. Outside of her office hours, she also serves as a part-time instructor at Lake Land College.
Abby currently resides in Effingham, Illinois.
Misty Griffith
Title Assistant
Misty joined The Law Group in April of 2020. Misty assists the attorneys of The Law Group with real estate transactions including deed preparation, title searches, title insurance commitments and policies. She also conducts real estate closings out of the Effingham office.
Misty is a graduate of Danville High School and holds an Associate Degree of Applied Science in Business and a Certificate of Entrepreneurship. She and her family currently reside in Toledo.
Josie Byers
Title Assistant
Josie joined the Law Group in July 2022. Ms. Byers started as a Legal Assistant and subsequently moved to the title department as a Title Assistant. She now assists all of the attorneys of the Law Group with real estate transactions and title insurance work.
Josie currently resides in Effingham with her daughter, Harper, and two dogs, Harley and Mila.
Tanya Bray
Title Assistant
Tanya joined the Law Group in May of 2023. She assists the attorneys of the Law Group with deed preparation, title searches, title insurance commitments, and title policies.
Tanya currently resides in Farina with her husband, Jason. They have two sons, Landan and Haden. Tanya loves spending time with her family and her animals. In her spare time she enjoys repurposing old furniture.
Shelby Wilkinson
Title Assistant
Shelby joined the Law Group in April of 2024. Shelby is responsible for various aspects involving title insurance and real estate transactions. Shelby graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a bachelor’s degree in history and minored in premodern global studies and anthropology.
She currently resides in Effingham with her two cats, Fleetwood and Franklin.
Kyra Willenborg
Legal Assistant
Kyra Willenborg joined the Law Group in May of 2001. Kyra prepares motions, jury instructions, and settlement brochures for personal injury and workers’ compensation cases. Ms. Willenborg is also responsible for preparation of marital dissolution and child custody documents such as petitions, marital settlement agreements, judgments and orders of protection.
Kyra currently resides in rural Vandalia with her husband, Brian, and their son, Brock.
Erin Fearday
Legal Assistant
Erin joined the Law Group in April of 2019. Erin is responsible for preparing estate planning documents such as wills, codicils, trusts and power of attorney. Erin also prepares contracts and related documents, and files documents relating to probate including petitions, notices and inventories.
Erin resides in Neoga with her husband Jacob and their three children.
Brenda Will
Legal Assistant
Brenda joined The Law Group in August of 2020. Brenda is responsible for preparing estate planning documents such as wills, codicils, trusts and power of attorney. Brenda also prepares contracts and related documents, and files documents relating to probate including petitions, notices and inventories.
Brenda and her husband Frank reside in Sigel. They have two daughters, Shelby (Will) Montgomery and Kaitlyn.
Kendra Lorton
Legal Assistant
Kendra Lorton joined the Law Group in October of 2022. Kendra is responsible for preparing annual meeting minutes and filing annual reports for corporate clients. She also prepares various estate planning documents.
Kendra currently resides in Ramsey, Illinois with her husband, Jerad, and their two children Abigail and Andrew. She loves spending time with her family and animals. In her spare time she enjoys riding with her family on their side by side.
Michaela Engel
Legal Assistant
Michaela Engel currently assists attorney Meeker with the preparation of various legal documents and the filing of litigation matters.
Michaela resides in Kinmundy, IL. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in business administration and a minor in management.
Molly Roedl
Legal Assistant
Molly Roedl currently resides in Vandalia, Illinois with her husband Nathan and their three children. Molly loves spending time with family and friends. In her spare time she likes to read and crochet.
Nikki McCombs
Legal Assistant
Nikki McCombs joined the Law Group in June of 2023. She prepares various legal documents, including pleadings, motions, and correspondence in criminal cases, guardianships, evictions, land and business disputes, and other civil litigation matters. Nikki also assists with propounding and answering discovery as well as preparing cases for trial. She graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Colorado Technical University in February of 2021.
Nikki currently resides in Vandalia, Illinois.
Kayla Ellis
Legal Assistant
Kayla joined the Law Group in September of 2024 and is assistant to attorney Jared N. Schwarz and Karson E. Pruemer. Kayla is primarily responsible for preparing various estate planning documents, probate documents, and scheduling appointments for both attorneys.
Kayla currently resides with her family in Altamont.
Felicia Connell
Legal Assistant
Felicia Connell began working for the Law Group in August 2023. She is primarily responsible for the filing and keeping of records for the firm at the Vandalia office location.
Felicia currently resides in Vandalia, Illinois with her two daughters Jordyn and Olivia.
Lyndsey Walk
File Clerk
Lyndsey Walk began working for the Law Group in September of 2024. She is primarily responsible for the filing and keeping of records for the firm at the Effingham location. Lyndsey is a graduate of Teutopolis High School. She also graduated from Lake Land
College with an Associate’s Degree of Applied Science in Administrative Assistance.
Lyndsey currently resides in Effingham, Illinois with her son, Wilson, and her cat, Ruby. In her free time, Lyndsey enjoys spending time outdoors and with her family and friends.
Madison Willms
File Clerk
Madison Willms began working at the Law Group in September 2024. She is responsible for document filing and various other tasks as needed at the Vandalia office location. Madison currently resides in Vandalia with her husband, Bryant, and their two dogs.
She is currently a full-time student at Kaskaskia Community College with future plans to transfer to a university to study psychology.
Keri Kistler
Receptionist
Keri is currently the Vandalia office receptionist. Her duties include answering the telephone, opening case files, updating client information, and the performance of other various tasks as needed.
She resides in Vandalia, Illinois with her husband. They have two sons and one grandson.
Makaela Bushue
Receptionist
Makaela A. Bushue joined the Law Group in December 2023. Makaela currently resides in Effingham, Illinois with her two children Esmee and Arthur, her husband, and their four cats. Ms. Bushue graduated from Effingham High School in 2015 and pursued a career in administration two years later. In her free time Makaela enjoys reading, camping, hiking, and spending time with her family.