Councilwoman Jennifer J. Ator - Group IV was born in Minneapolis on June 3, 1971. In 1984 she moved to South Florida and went to Seminole Middle School and South Plantation High School in Plantation, Florida. Thereafter, she attended Indiana University and then Stetson University, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in English with a Secondary Education Certification. After teaching the Magnet Program in Communications and Broadcast Arts in Broward County for a year, Ms. Ator returned to school, attended Nova Southeastern University, and received her Juris Doctor degree. She was admitted to The Florida Bar on October 6, 1997.
Ms. Ator is married to Bill Tallman, who works at the University of Miami, and has two sons, Avery, who was born in 2002 and Mason, who was born in 2005. She moved to Miami Springs in 2002.
Ms. Ator currently practices law in Miami Springs. She is a shareholder in the firm of Hankins & Ator, PL (www.hankinsator.com) and was recently recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers Magazine. The firm handles employment and commercial litigation matters. She is also a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit and County Court mediator. Prior to moving her practice to Miami Springs, Ms. Ator worked at Amlong & Amlong, PA in Ft. Lauderdale; Shutts & Bowen, LP, the oldest firm in Miami; Weil Gotshal & Manges, LLP, a New York based law firm that was recognized as one of the top five litigation firms in the United States; and Tannebaum Weiss, PL.
Ms. Ator is involved in many community activities. She is the Chair of the Board of Trustees for All Angels Academy. She has served as a committee member for the Miami Springs/Virginia Gardens Relay for Life. She also is the immediate past Vice-Regent of the John Macdonald Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, which is based here in Miami Springs. Prior to becoming a member of the City Council, Ms. Ator served on the Recreation Board and was a member of the Miami Springs Woman's Club and Junior Woman's Club.
Ms. Ator is also very active in the legal community on the local, state, and national levels. She is the Past-President of the Dade County Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, was a Director for the Dade County Bar Association, served on The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors for six years, and served as a delegate from Florida in the American Bar Association House of Delegates for four years. She is a former member of the Council of the General Practice, Solo, Small Firm Division of the American Bar Association and served as editor of Best of Sections, a GPSolo publication for five years. She is currently the public service chair for the GP Division. She also has served on the Publications Board of the Law Practice Management Section of the American Bar Association, including currently serving as Vice-Chair of the committee and she was recently nominated to serve on the Council of the Law Practice Management Section beginning in August 2011.
The Tallman Family is also active in many activities in and around Miami Springs. Bill is a former member of Curtiss Mansion, Inc., served as the player agent for Little League and now coaches during the season, and is the alternate on the Board of Adjustment and Zoning and Planning Board. Avery enjoys performing with the Pelican Playhouse, attends All Angels Academy, and plays soccer and baseball. Mason also attends All Angels Academy, has played t-ball and soccer, wishes he could play football, and is a gifted artist. The Tallman Family is a member of All Angels Episcopal Church. You can find more information about Ms. Ator at her website and on her blog, which is found at, www.jenniferator.com.
