Firefighters Forum

Angela Fyans-Jimenez Related Seminars and Products

City of Bloomington

As of January 2020, Angela Fyans went in-house at the City of Bloomington as Deputy Corporation Counsel. Prior to that she was a shareholder/partner at the law firm of Sorling Northrup. Angela Fyans-Jimenez joined Sorling Northrup in 2014. From 2001 to 2003, she was an Assistant State’s Attorney at the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s office. From 2003 to 2013, she worked as an Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Springfield, Illinois, where she was involved in municipal ordinance prosecution, labor and employment, litigation, transactional work, real estate and zoning, and general civil litigation in state, federal and appellate courts. She served as advisory counsel to several City Departments and commissions. She is also licensed in Utah, where she practiced family law, criminal defense, bankruptcy law and immigration law.

Ms. Fyans-Jimenez has spent a large part of her legal career representing local government; local government directors, managers and supervisors; local police departments and their officers; and city commissions. She has defended these individuals and entities in administrative, arbitration proceedings and in state and federal courts. She has advised the aforementioned on issues that arise on a daily basis. Examples of issues include union contract and employment issues as well as real estate, zoning, commission practice and procedure; statutory compliance, code prosecution and litigation strategies. She is also well versed in issues involving the Freedom of Information Act and Open Meetings Act.

She is a certified Hearing Officer, certified Mediator, and a certified Arbitrator. Ms. Fyans-Jimenez also has considerable experience with contract preparation and business transactions, including the negotiation of real estate, entertainment and performance contracts on behalf of clients. 

Susan M. Matta Related Seminars and Products

Partner

Asher Gittler & D'Alba Ltd.

Susan is a shareholder with Allison, Slutsky & Kennedy, P.C.  Her union career began in 1995, when she entered the AFL-CIO Organizing Institute’s Apprenticeship Program, and later became a staff union organizer at UFCW Local 951, where she worked on NLRB election campaigns and corporate pressure campaigns.  After graduating from law school, Susan served as a Law Fellow with Service Employees International Union on a corporate pressure campaign against a local hospital chain, where she represented individuals who were sued for medical debt.  Susan then served as the General Counsel for Service Employees International Union, Local 73 for almost ten years, where she represented both public and private employees.  As in-house General Counsel, Susan gained invaluable and extensive knowledge of the institutional concerns and needs of unions, conducted numerous trainings for both staff and members, and gained extensive experience representing the union in negotiations, arbitrations, State and Federal Court, and before the National Labor Relations Board, Illinois Labor Relations Board, Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board, Illinois Department of Human Rights and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.   

In 2013, Susan transitioned to private practice with Carmell Charone Widmer Moss & Barr, where she became a partner and focused on representing firefighter clients.  She is also experienced at representing firefighter unions in contract negotiations, contract enforcement, interest arbitration, unfair labor practice proceedings, and court litigation.  In 2022, she joined Allison, Slutsky & Kennedy, P.C., where she continues to represent public and private sector clients.

Karl Ottosen Related Seminars and Products

Managing Partner

Ottosen DiNolfo Hasenbalg & Castaldo, Ltd.

Karl R. Ottosen is Managing Partner and Shareholder of Ottosen DiNolfo Hasenbalg & Castaldo, Ltd. Hehas over 28 years of experience representing governmental bodies, private corporations, and individuals in a variety of labor and employment law issues. Mr. Ottosen frequently negotiates contracts with unions representing bargaining units in law enforcement, fire protection, education, public works, and other public services, as well as with private sector manufacturing units. Mr. Ottosen is regularly selected to speak at seminars and workshops on labor, employment, and local government law issues. His topics include issues in finance, litigation, anti-discrimination compliance, supervisor training, sexual harassment, violence in the workplace, and other general labor and employment concerns. He received a B.S. from Western Illinois University and a J.D. from University of Illinois College of Law.

Chuck Sullivan Related Seminars and Products

President

Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois

Chuck is President of the Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois.  He has served in that role since January of 2020.  The AFFI represents over 15,000 firefighters and paramedics in 225 locals across the state.

Prior to becoming the President, he served as the AFFI Central District Legislative Representative from 2008-2020.  During that time, he worked extensively on legislation and rules within Article 4 of the Illinois Pension Statute that affects Downstate and Suburban Firefighters. Chuck Sullivan was appointed to the Firefighters’ Pension Investment Fund Board on January 31, 2020. Chuck has served as Chairperson of the Board of Trustees since the Board’s inception.

Chuck has an Associate’s degree in Fire Science and a Bachelor’s degree from Eastern Illinois University. He was a firefighter with the City of Champaign from 1995 until his retirement in March of 2022 at the rank of Battalion Chief.  In addition he is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and served in Desert Storm.