MELISSA BARLAUG

~ REAL ESTATE LEGAL ASSISTANT/ OFFICE MANAGER / BOOKKEEPER

Ms. Barlaug was born in upstate New York and moved to Lake Placid, Florida in 1988. She 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 as a legal assistant. Melissa specializes in real estate and real estate closings.  She is a member, director and past president of the Lake Placid Junior Woman’s Club and enjoys traveling, going to concerts and spending time with her daughter.

DAVID MAINS

~ PARALEGAL

Mr. Mains and his wife moved to Lake Placid in August, 2013 from Niceville, Florida. David has a Bachelor of Science in Management and an Associate in Applied Science in the legal field specializing in litigation. He has over 18 years’ experience working as a paralegal in 5 different states. He joined Karlson Law Group in August 2013 as a Paralegal and currently works part-time for the firm handling foreclosures, evictions, quiet titles, other litigation and corporate work.  David plays the grand piano for the contemporary service at First Presbyterian Church of Lake Placid and also plays piano and sings at various venues in Highlands County. 

TERRY L. CAAUWE

– REAL ESTATE CLOSING AGENT

Mrs. Caauwe was born, raised and resides in Florida.  She graduated from LPHS and attended college at South Florida State College (formerly South Florida Community College.)  Terry started working in banking, accounting, and finance in 1999.  She started banking as a Teller and later moved on to become a Mortgage Loan Originator.  She enjoys traveling with her husband, exploring old Florida, and spending time with family.  Terry started with Karlson Law Group in 2018 as a Real Estate Closing Agent.

KIMBERLY K. WHITWORTH

– BOOKKEEPER / PARALEGAL

Mrs. Whitworth grew up in Broward County, Florida and graduated from Cooper City High School.  She joined the Lake Placid community in 2007.  Kimberly has worked in the legal field for over 35 years specializing as a family law paralegal and bookkeeper.  She joined Karlson Law Group in 2008 as a litigation legal assistant and is currently one of the bookkeepers at the firm.  Kimberly is married with 5 children and 7 grandchildren.  She is a member of the Lake Placid Junior Woman’s Club and enjoys traveling, reading, gardening, and most of all being with her husband and growing family. 

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.

NANCY COLON-MEJIA

– MEDICAID & VA CONSULTANT

Mrs. Colon-Mejia was born in Staten Island, New York. She grew up in Hollywood, Florida. Nancy began her career in residential lending in 1987 and earned her Mortgage Broker 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, who specialized in Medicaid and VA planning. She joined Karlson Law Group, P.A. in 2016, as a Medicaid and VA Consultant.

Nancy is bilingual in Spanish and loves to serve the Latin community, in addition to the elder community. Nancy enjoys spending time with her family.