Attorney Ilten graduated in 1972 from Valparaiso University, Indiana with honors, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering and a Bachelor of Arts in history. He continued his studies at the Valparaiso School of Law and was awarded his Jurisprudence Doctorate in 1975 when he was commended by the International Academy of Trial Lawyers for his proficiency in the art of trial advocacy.

During his legal career Mr. Ilten has served as President of the Portage County Bar Association, as a Portage County Condemnation Commissioner, as a fair hearing examiner for Portage County, and as a member of the District Seven Committee of the Office of Lawyer Regulation. Mark has been a frequent presenter at Mid-State Technical College and past lecturer at the UWSP on the topic of estate planning. He also conducts the semi-annual Sentry Insurance retirement seminar for their employees.

Mark has been active in the community for many years. He is a past President and emeritus Director of the Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin, Inc. and is an active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church where he has served as congregational chairperson. He is currently director of the church’s bell choir. Mark is also an active participant in the Stevens Point City Band, playing trumpet and serving as a trustee and treasurer for over 17 years.

Gerald is an active trial attorney. He has tried over 200 civil trials in state and federal courts, including at least a third of the counties in Wisconsin. His trial experience has included insurance defense, plaintiff personal injury, construction law, employment law and business litigation. He successfully represented a contractor in a seven-week trial involving six parties that rendered one of the larger verdicts in Central Wisconsin at the time. In the area of business litigation, he has handled contested matters between businesses, including contested buy-sell agreements, valuation of business, stockholder actions and real estate issues.

He is a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers and is a Certified Civil Trial Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He has served as President of the State Bar of Wisconsin and Chair of the Litigation Section of the State Bar. He has also served as a delegate to the ABA, as President of the Wisconsin Law Foundation, and has received numerous awards for his activities in the Bar and in the legal profession and several presidential awards for legal excellence. He was appointed by the Wisconsin Supreme Court to serve on the Board of Professional Responsibility (the disciplinary body of the State Bar) and was appointed by the Supreme Court to serve on the Wisconsin Judicial Commission (the disciplinary body for the judicial system).

Gerald has also served in numerous civic matters including appointments by the Governor of Wisconsin to the Wisconsin Public Intervenor Board, and to the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board, where he served as Chair. Locally he has served on numerous boards and organizations.

Thomas W. Bertz joined Anderson O’Brien in 1973 and tried over 100 civil trials in his career. Tom is a 1959 honors graduate of St. Thomas and went on to receive his law degree from Marquette University (J.D. 1962). While at Marquette, he served as the Assistant Editor of the Marquette Law Review. He gained legal experience as the Law Clerk to Chief Justice Timothy Brown, Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Tom’s professional activities include Litigation Section, State Bar of Wisconsin; Wisconsin Supreme Court, Preliminary Review Committee (Office of Lawyer Regulation); Western District of Wisconsin Bar Association, Past President (Federal Bar Association); American Bar Association; Portage County Bar Association, Past President; Board of Governors, State Bar of Wisconsin – Liaison to Professional Ethics Section and Real Property, Probate and Trust Section; Wisconsin Association of Worker’s Compensation Attorneys, President 2006; and State Bar of Wisconsin – Board of Governors 2004-2006.

Tom’s activites include the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Backcourt Club, President, Coach’s Committee, and the Stevens Point Rotary Club – Paul Harris Fellow.

Over the span of his career as an attorney, Maurice Rice has given free legal assistance to those in need. He obtained funding to support pro bono services in Portage County through his work with the Portage County Legal Aid Society. He also served as President and is a past Board member of the Portage County Legal Aid Society.

Maury was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Gaylord Nelson Poverty Warrior award at the 46th annual CAP Services Awards Reception on May 30, 2012 in Waupaca. He received this award for his pro bono efforts. CAP Services is a private, nonprofit community action agency that has been helping low-income people in Marquette, Outagamie, Portage, Waupaca and Waushara counties attain economic and emotional self-sufficiency since 1966.

In addition, Maury was presented with the 2011 John Klismet Justiceworks Award at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Community Celebration on January 17, 2011. The award is presented by Justiceworks, Ltd. in recognition of an individual’s contribution to the justice system and honor volunteers whose efforts advance programs and practices of justice that secure right relationships within communities.

Maury has also served as an elected official and Board member for what is now called the Wisconsin Disability Rights Organization and is a current member of the United States Power Squadron, a non-profit boating education organization.