Owner, The Cicotte Law Firm, PLLC

Number of employees you oversee: 35

Brief background of your business:

My firm was established in the Tri-Cities in 2002. For seven years before that, I practiced with international firms in Washington, D.C., and in Denver, Colorado.

How did you land your current role?

Before becoming an attorney, I practiced as a consulting pension actuary, including for a year here in Kennewick. After becoming a lawyer, the pension and employee benefits field was a natural given my prior experience.

How long have you been in it?

I have been working in the employee benefits space since 1989, for 31 years.

You have advocated for local businesses affected by the pandemic shutdowns. What was it that interested you about this unusual situation?

I am deeply concerned about the federal constitutional implications of shutdowns – in essence I believe the shutdowns may be infringing on several cherished constitutional rights. Moreover, I am extremely cautious whenever an allegiance to alleged “science” is demanded by a government official, especially when the alleged science conflicts with common sense and logic.

What is one characteristic that you believe every leader should possess?

Integrity.

What is the biggest challenge facing the legal industry and small practices?

The ability to maintain a network sufficient to solve client needs in diverse areas where detailed technical expertise is required.

If you had a magic wand, what would you change about your field?

Sitting at a desk would become as thrilling as skiing down a mountain slope.

What advice would you give someone going into a leadership position for the first time?

You are neither too young nor too inexperienced to hold the position you have just earned. Do your best and those you are required to lead will follow and respect you, regardless of differences in experience.

Who are your role models or mentors?

As a lawyer? Other attorneys I worked for early in my career, specifically Franklin Nachman in Denver (now retired) and John Vine at Covington in D.C.

As a human being? My dad.

How do you keep your employees motivated?

Everyone on my team is self-motivated by the work we do.

How did you decide to pursue the career that you are working in today?

When I was 14, I had a summer job baling hay and stacking bales. I realized that summer I did not want to do physical labor that difficult for the rest of my life. At that point I realized a career as an attorney would be a good fit for me.

How do you measure success in your workplace?

Production of quality work product that solves clients’ problems.

What do you consider your leadership style to be?

Laissez-faire.

What do you like to do when you are not at work?

International travel, bike, ski, kayak, boating, and RV camping.

How do you balance work and family life?

I think the better way to say and achieve this is to integrate work and family life rather than balance them. I have continually worked to reduce my commute from 2+ hours per day in D.C. to about 2 minutes per day now. My family knows I work to provide for us all, and my clients know I have a family. Each will infringe on the other’s time sometimes.

What’s your best time management strategy?

Start early and ignore email.

Best tip to relieve stress?

Marry a good wife.

What’s your favorite website?

Probably the Drudge Report.

Do you have a personal mantra, phrase or quote you like to use?

It will all work out.