2026-2027 Executive Board
The George Edgecomb Bar Association Executive Board: July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027
The George Edgecomb Bar Association Executive Board: July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027
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Alexa Blackmon is originally from Pensacola, FL, and a graduate of the University of Central Florida (Business Administration B.S.), Florida A&M University College of Law (J.D.), and Texas A&M University School of Law (Wealth Management LL.M.). She is a seasoned Conflicts Attorney, primarily negotiating outside counsel guidelines and engagement letters, drafting waivers and disclosures, and resolving conflict queries spanning various practice areas. She previously practiced as a New Business Attorney and Corporate Attorney, gaining solid experience in conflict searches or requests and navigating complex cross-border transactions and matters in the healthcare, life sciences, FDA regulation, and consumer product space. Since joining the George Edgecomb Bar Association (GEBA), Alexa has served as Scholarship Banquet Committee Member, The Young Lawyers Committee Co-Chair, Press Secretary, Judicial Reception Chair, and Vice President. Alexa received the 2024-2025 Theresa Jean-Pierre Coy President’s Award and the 2025 36 Under Thirty-Six Professionalism Award from the Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Joshua Monteiro is a Shareholder at Sammis Law Firm.
After graduating magna cum laude from the State University of New York (SUNY) in Potsdam, Joshua earned his law degree from the University of Kansas School of Law.
Joshua began his legal career as an Assistant Public Defender for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in Hillsborough County and the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pasco County, where he defended clients charged with a wide range of criminal offenses. In county court, he handled cases involving misdemeanors such as criminal traffic violations and DUIs. In circuit court, he defended clients facing serious felony offenses, including drug trafficking, aggravated assault, and sexual battery.
Joshua also practiced civil insurance defense for a prominent Miami firm, where he worked on personal injury insurance defense, first-party insurance litigation, and matters involving property and casualty insurance, among other torts, insurance litigation, and appellate law.
In addition to his legal practice, Joshua is deeply engaged in the legal and business communities. He currently serves as a Board Member of the Hillsborough County Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (HCACDL), a Founding Member and Board Director of the Hillsborough County Black Chamber of Commerce, and General Counsel and Press Secretary for the George Edgecomb Bar Association. He is also a proud member of the Tampa Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Joshua’s leadership experience extends beyond the courtroom. He served over 29 years in the U.S. Army, active and reserve duty, gaining invaluable leadership and decision-making skills. Joshua joined the Army during high school, attending Infantry Basic Training at Fort Benning, Georgia, and later serving as an Air Defense Crew Member at various posts, including Fort Bliss, Texas, and Camp Casey, Korea.
After earning a Green to Gold scholarship, Joshua was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 2002. The following year, he deployed to Iraq as a platoon leader responsible for securing Baghdad International Airport. He later deployed twice more in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Joshua retired as a Major in the U.S. Army Reserve in 2022.
Chemere Ellis is the President and Founding Partner of Chemere Ellis, PLLC, where she focuses her practice on business and financial services litigation. Chemere is a seasoned litigator and trial attorney with over a decade of trial and litigation experience. She provides astute counsel and representation to individuals and corporations in contract, trade secret, and securities industry disputes. Chemere has also had the honor of serving the people of Florida as a prosecutor for Florida’s Sixth Judicial Circuit, where she prosecuted all manner of cases, including first degree life felonies. Chemere has served as the lead trial attorney on over forty trials, most of them jury trials, and has advocated for her clients in state and federal court and before arbitral tribunals.
Chemere is a rising industry and community leader and is honored to continue her leadership as GEBA’s President. In 2025, FLORIDA Super Lawyers named Chemere a Rising Star, a title bestowed to only the top 2.5% of attorneys in the state. In 2023, GEBA likewise awarded Chemere its prestigious Rising Star award. Chemere has co-chaired the Securities Law Section of the Hillsborough County Bar Association (HCBA), and is a 2023 graduate of the HCBA Leadership Academy. The Business Law Section of the Florida Bar selected Chemere as a 2021-2023 Business Law Fellow, a fellowship awarded to an elite group of young attorneys who exhibit leadership within the business law community.
Chemere earned her law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law, where she competed in the university’s oral advocacy competition and earned the Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence. Prior to attending law school, Chemere completed her undergraduate studies at Seton Hall University, where she achieved the magna cum laude designation while earning a Bachelor of Science degree with double majors in Finance and English. Chemere is licensed to practice law in Florida and the District Courts for the Middle, Southern, and Northern Districts of Florida.
Chemere and her husband reside in Tampa Bay and are parents to two energetic and curious boys. Together they enjoy travel, homecooked meals from Chemere’s home country of Jamaica, and connecting with friends and family near and far.
Shamauria Walton is a licensed Florida attorney with a diverse background in insurance defense litigation, claims adjusting, and eDiscovery. She has represented clients throughout all stages of litigation, from case evaluation and discovery through settlement and trial preparation. Her practice has included defending complex insurance-related matters for private firms.
In addition to her J.D. from Florida Coastal School of Law, she holds an MBA from Louisiana State University Shreveport and two Bachelor’s from Florida State University. She is also a Florida Certified Notary Public.
Shamauria is committed to professional excellence, ethical advocacy, and supporting access to justice through practical, detail-oriented legal service.
Ashley Palmer
Tory Sanders Jr.
Jacob Delorme
Christopher Shand
Davidson Anestal was born and raised in Orlando, FL. Davidson is a graduate of University of Central Florida and Florida A&M University College of Law. He is also admitted in the United States District Courts for the Northern, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida (2021). Davidson is Staff Counsel for the Hillsborough Transit Authority.
Jo’Anna Clayton
