Annette Michelle (Shelli) Willis is a partner at the law firm Troutman Pepper practicing in the areas of finance, commercial real estate, and corporate governance with a focus on ESG matters. combines in-depth knowledge of all aspects of corporate law with her experience as in-house counsel as she advises executive management teams, boards of directors, and business leaders. Clients turn to Shelli to identify and prioritize legal, regulatory, compliance, and reputational risks and to deliver creative legal and business solutions that mitigate potential issues. Her approach focuses on building efficiencies while supporting her clients’ growth strategies and other business objectives. Shelli’s clients include financial institutions such as national and major regional banking institutions, publicly traded companies, life insurance companies, commercial real estate developers, investors, and joint venture partners.

Why are you passionate about the organization?

“Service is the rent we pay for living” is a quote that I have adhered to over my life, and it is important to me to give back to my community. I am amazed every day as I learn more about all the ways that Ser Familia is able to support the Latin American community in and around Atlanta. I married into a warm, large Hispanic family, and my passions have long been finding ways to serve women, children, and families at risk. Ser Familia feels like a warm extended family in Atlanta for those in the Atlanta Latin American community who need it most.

Why did you join Ser Familia?

What better way to align my passion and personal life with service? Ser Familia is at a stage of maturity in development where I thought my passions would align with my corporate governance skills and other board experiences, and I was delighted to find that Belisa and the Board thought so too.

What makes you proud the most of Ser Familia?

Having joined Ser Familia’s Board during the COVID-19 pandemic, I have not had an opportunity yet to participate in any live events or to visit or engage with any of the many people Ser Familia helps. What the pandemic did, though, was to demonstrate the strength and dedication of the organization and its people to rise to the pandemic challenges and to give even more to the communities it serves as a lifeline. I am so proud of all that the organization achieved over these challenging months and honored to serve Ser Familia as a board member.