Melissa Barlaug
– REAL ESTATE LEGAL ASSISTANT/ OFFICE MANAGER / BOOKKEEPER
Melissa Barlaug was born in upstate New York and moved to Lake Placid, Florida in 1988. She graduated from Lake Placid High School in 1992.
Melissa began her career in the real estate industry as a realtor’s assistant in 2002 and earned her real estate license in 2003. Melissa began working in the legal field in 2004 and joined Karlson Law Group in 2008. Melissa is responsible for real estate closings and other real property related matters. She is also the office manager and bookkeeper. Melissa is a co-founding member of the GFWC Lake Placid Junior Woman’s Club. She enjoys traveling, going to concerts, and spending time with her daughter.
Melissa is a key employee at Karlson Law Group. She is the “right-arm” of senior attorney Pam Karlson. Melissa is affectionately called “OY” which stands for “office Yoda,” because she appears to be all-knowing regarding the business of Karlson Law Group! We are very happy Melissa joined us and with her tenure she is the longest serving member of the Karlson Law Group team.
Terry L. Caauwe
– REAL ESTATE CLOSING AGENT
Mrs. Caauwe was born, raised, and still resides in Florida. She graduated from Lake Placid High School In 1998 and attended courses at South Florida State College (formerly South Florida Community College). Terry started working in banking and accounting in 1999. She started her banking career as a teller and later advanced her banking career and became a mortgage loan originator. She enjoys traveling with her husband, exploring old Florida, gardening, kayaking/canoeing, and spending time with family. Terry started with Karlson Law Group in 2018 as a real estate closing agent/legal assistant. Terry also manages the online presence of Karlson Law Group.
Terry is the most bubbly and positive person you will ever meet. She is the office comedian and cheerleader. Karlson Law Group is fortunate to have her as a part of our team.
Nancy Colon-Mejia
– LEGAL ASSISTANT FOR MEDICAID & VA BENEFITS
Nancy was born in Staten Island, New York. She grew up and graduated from high school in Miramar, Florida. Nancy began her career in residential lending in 1987 and earned her mortgage loan originator license in 1989. In 2004, Nancy relocated to Lake Placid with her husband and two children, where she continued her career in residential lending. In 2008, Nancy joined an elder law firm, as a legal assistant, and worked exclusively in the field of Medicaid and VA planning. She joined Karlson Law Group, P.A. in 2016 and continues to assist in the areas of Medicaid & VA planning services along with administration of special needs trusts, bookkeeping, and reconciliation for elders who may require assistance in these areas of services in our community.
Nancy visits assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and our local Department of Veteran Affairs office. She participates in health fairs and community events to inform local elders about the services Karlson Law Group has to offer. Nancy remains current with regulations for Medicaid and VA planning attending NAELA Florida and Veteran Affairs annual webinars. She is also always looking for added resources available to elders in our community. Nancy is bilingual, in Spanish, and loves to serve our Latin community in addition to our elder community. Nancy enjoys participating in “shenanigans” with her co-workers/friends. She especially loves coordinating special events and/or holidays to spend quality time with her BIG family. Nancy has also been a long-time member of the GFWC Lake Placid Junior Woman’s Club and Highlands Interagency in Highlands County.
Nancy believes God gave her the gift to serve by helping people and she plans to do this as long as possible. Nancy is the best hug-giver, and she adds so much to the services Karlson Law Group provides to our community. We are blessed to have her as a part of our team.
Tammy Dopp
– Receptionist
Ms. Dopp is originally from Newport, Vermont and moved to Lake Placid in 2014. Tammy worked at North Country Hospital for 29 years as a supervisor of registration and then as a certified coder and transcriber. She joined Karlson Law Group in 2017 as a receptionist and quickly became an asset to the firm. Tammy enjoys music and is the accompanist for the choir at First Presbyterian Church. She also sings with the Charlotte Chorale in Port Charlotte.
“Tam-Tam,” as we like to call her, has the quintessential front desk persona! We are truly fortunate to have her as the friendly face and voice handling most initial contacts with our firm. She makes everyone feel at ease and is very patient and empathetic. The Karlson Law Group team is spoiled because she does her job so well.
Mary Birge
– Legal Assistant
Mary Birge, originally from Canada, graduated from Lake Placid High School in 1976 and is a graduate of Warner University. She is a former banker with 40 plus years serving the residents of Highlands County. Mary is a member of the Lake Placid Noon Rotary and member of the Advent Health Foundation Board Lake Placid. Mary enjoys sewing, crafting, gardening, and spending time with her grandchildren.
Mary is the newest addition to the Karlson Law Group but brings so much experience, knowledge, and connections with her due to her extensive and high-profile banking career. We have loved getting to know Mary better and we are incredibly pleased about her decision to join our team!
Tammy Leach
– Legal Assistant
Ms. Leach was born and raised in Michigan then moved to Florida with her family in 1980. She attended college at South Florida State College (formerly known as South Florida Community College), where she completed the medical secretarial program and later started working for a local doctor’s office in their billing department. In 2001, Tammy went to work at a skilled nursing facility in the billing department. In 2013, she became the business office manager of the same skilled nursing facility, and remained in that position until she retired in 2021. Tammy was given the opportunity to come and work part-time for Karlson Law Group in January 2023. She loves spending time with her family, going to the beach and saltwater fishing.
Karlson Law Group finds excellence in hiring employees with rich and diverse backgrounds. Tammy brings special knowledge as to the workings of skilled nursing facilities which is extremely valuable to our nursing home Medicaid practice. Tammy assists with all aspects of our elder law division. Karlson Law Group is thrilled to have Tammy on board our team and she has been a ray of sunshine in the office.
