Jessie Hoerman
Alma mater: Loyola University Chicago, Chicago Kent College of Law
Hometown: Chicago
Current city: St. Louis
Cheers for: The Cubs
Jessica “Jessie” Hoerman, founder of SimplyConvert, is a business owner, a lawyer, a CPA, and a former stay-at-home mom who now finds herself in the legal tech world as a matter of necessity. Jessie launched SimplyConvert to control the chaos of legal intake that overwhelms law firms as well as to diversify client inventory through a robust client referral network, capturing client opportunities that were previously impossible because of the lack of training in other litigation areas.
Jessie began her legal career as a tax attorney at Deloitte, where she collaborated on complex international tax projects. This experience honed her analytical skills and exposed her to large-scale corporate work. Driven by her passion for justice, Jessie transitioned to TorHoerman Law, where she advocated for individuals harmed by corporate misconduct, focusing on the importance of optimal information in legal decision-making. Her career trajectory from tax attorney to dual mass torts attorney and legal tech entrepreneur has provided Jessie a unique blend of legal expertise and technological talent in this industry.
Recognizing a gap in the market for efficient legal tech solutions, Jessie, along with friend Marty Chrenka, founded SimplyConvert, the platform that stands at the intersection of technology and the legal industry, streamlining case management from intake to resolution and contributing to improved client outcomes. Jessie’s work extends beyond technological innovation; it is also deeply rooted in her commitment to justice. She believes that optimal information is crucial when making legal decisions on behalf of clients, and she takes great satisfaction in providing that information. Her dedication to ensuring that individuals harmed by corporate misconduct receive fair representation is evident in her career choices and achievements.
Speaking Engagements:
- Artificial Intelligence in the Legal Industry: Why It Matters and How to Use It, 2024 66th Annual WVAJ Convention & Seminar
- Artificial Intelligence – How to Use It for Staff Onboarding, Discovery, and More, 2023 AAJ Boss Summit
- How is the Canadian Class Actions Landscape Evolving? Part 2: Innovation in the class actions ecosystem, 2021 Canadian Legal Innovation Forum
- [Insert Titles for Each], 2019 – 2024 Mass Tort Made Perfect
Awards:
- 2024 ALM International Legal Innovation & Technology Awards in Excellence in Legal Technology Finalist, SimplyConvert
- 2023 LegalTech Breakthrough Award For “Chatbot Solution of the Year,” SimplyConvert
- 2023 Inc. Magazine Best Workplaces, SimplyConvert
- 2020 ABA Techshow Startup Alley Winner, SimplyConvert
Organizations:
In the News
- Jumpstart Your AI Journey, AAJ Trial Magazine June 2024
- Meet the Female Founders of Legal Tech, Law.com May 2024
- Mass tort attorneys must ensure compliance with new ABA guidance, Reuters February 2024
- Quick Camp Lejeune Payout Unlikely for Most, Claim Data Shows, Bloomberg News January 2024
- Quick Camp Lejeune Payout Unlikely for Most, Claim Data Shows, Bloomberg Law January 2024
- Mass tort attorneys must ensure compliance with new ABA guidance, Reuters February 2024
- Meet the Female Founders of Legal Tech - Law.com, Law.com January 2024
- The Wide World of AI Tools: Jumpstart Your AI Journey, American Association for Justice June 2024
- Law360 Announces The Members Of Its 2024 Editorial Boards, Law360 March 2024
Marty Chrenka
Fun Fact: Marty once solved a technical problem for the space shuttle during flight.
Alma mater: Truman State University & Washington University St. Louis
Hometown: St. Louis
Current city: Edwardsville, IL
Cheers for: Manchester City
Marty Chrenka architects and develops legal technology software solutions at SimplyConvert. After an 18-year career as a Systems Engineer and Developer, Marty teamed up with Jessica Hoerman to develop a suite of legal automation software. In 2018 Marty and his development team brought the first legal autonomous chat tool to market offering case qualification and signup through an A.I.-powered chatbot. When he's not in front of his computer, you'll find Marty enjoying the great outdoors with his family — snow skiing, hiking, mountain biking, and golf are some of his favorite activities.
Tripp Dacus
Fun Fact: Marty once solved a technical problem for the space shuttle during flight.
Alma mater: Truman State University & Washington University St. Louis
Hometown: St. Louis
Current city: Edwardsville, IL
Cheers for: Manchester City
Marty Chrenka architects and develops legal technology software solutions at SimplyConvert. After an 18-year career as a Systems Engineer and Developer, Marty teamed up with Jessica Hoerman to develop a suite of legal automation software. In 2018 Marty and his development team brought the first legal autonomous chat tool to market offering case qualification and signup through an A.I.-powered chatbot. When he's not in front of his computer, you'll find Marty enjoying the great outdoors with his family — snow skiing, hiking, mountain biking, and golf are some of his favorite activities.
Marc Stern
Alma mater: University of Hartford and Boston University
Current city: Boston, MA
As Chief Growth Officer of SimplyConvert, Marc is focused on developing new business opportunities and improving the delivery and performance of the company’s solutions. Whether managing law firm relationships, sales & account management strategy, or case acquisition campaigns, Marc enjoys taking a data-driven approach combined with plain old common sense. Outside of work, Marc enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, while staying active through a variety of outdoor activities such as golf, paddleboarding, hiking, and running.
Erin Hively
Fun fact: Always chosen last for kickball in grade school, but consistently took home the best handwriting award.
Alma mater: Miami University (Ohio)
Hometown: Chicago
Current city: Columbus, OH
Cheers for: Reds/Cubs, Bengals, Ohio State
Connect with Erin
Erin joined SimplyConvert as our Marketing Director in January 2021, focused on connecting clients with SimplyConvert’s solutions. She is passionate about amplifying thought leadership through content marketing and oversees the company’s speaking engagements, events, and digital presence.
Erin discovered her passion for legal work during her college years while working for a Washington D.C. aviation law firm, where she wrote damage profiles for victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and several aviation disasters. She spent her first years after college working as a reporter, before transitioning into marketing and communications. Her early experience at the law firm planted a seed that drew her back to the legal industry, knowing she could apply her background in journalism to supporting attorneys working on behalf of injured plaintiffs. Erin went on to lead marketing for a large legal services provider for over 11 years with a focus on both mass tort and single-event work, before joining SimplyConvert in 2021.
Erin is a proud alumnus of Miami University in Oxford, OH. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and kids.
Scott Lafferty
Fun fact: During the winter months, Scott is a coach of the Mount Snow Freestyle Ski Team.
Alma mater: University of Connecticut and Babson College
Hometown: Enfield, CT
Current city: Boston suburb of Medway, MA
Cheers for: The Red Sox!
Scott provides strategic direction and oversight of SimplyConvert’s TruLaw brand, marketing campaigns, and case acquisition efforts. Before joining SimplyConvert, Scott was the Director of Marketing at a Rhode Island injury law firm, where he repositioned the firm to be the premier, big case trial firm in the Rhode Island market by establishing new messaging, restructuring the firm’s marketing analytics, and overhauling their intake processes.
Jordan Terry
Alma mater: University of Missouri
Hometown: Edwardsville, IL
Current city: Chicago, IL
Cheers for: Blues, Bears, Birds, and Alliterations
Jordan serves as the Director of Accounts and Marketing Strategy at TruLaw Marketing, a division of SimplyConvert. In this role, Jordan oversees client accounts and formulates marketing strategies. Additionally, he contributes to the SimplyConvert digital marketing team as the primary account manager for TruLaw Marketing’s clients. Outside of work, he enjoys snowboarding, skiing, hiking, and traveling with his girlfriend. He spends the majority of my free time walking my dog, Ozzie.
Avery Gallagher
Fun fact: Avery paints every day.
Alma mater: Emerson College
Hometown: Collegeville, PA
Current city: San Diego, CA
Cheers for: Taylor Swift
Avery Gallagher joined SimplyConvert as our Marketing Coordinator in August 2023. She coordinates events that SimplyConvert attends or hosts, manages marketing content, and does various administrative tasks for the executive team. Avery previously worked in public relations at RebuttalPR and website and content management for a community foundation. In her free time you can find her doing pilates, painting, or most likely hanging out with her cat.
Cory Tays
Fun fact: Can name every country in the world in under 5 minutes
Alma mater: University of Iowa
Hometown: Edwardsville, IL
Current city: Chicago, IL
Cheers for: FC Bayern Munich
At SimplyConvert, Cory manages SEO content for a variety of personal injury law firms under the TruLaw Marketing brand. At SimplyConvert, Cory’s main focus has been on mass tort content for litigations such as Camp Lejeune and AFFF, among several others. Prior to joining SimplyConvert, Cory worked as a Marketing Associate for TorHoerman Law, and before that as a Communications Assistant for the University of Iowa Technology Institute. Outside of work, Cory is an avid soccer fan and routinely wakes up at 6 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday mornings to watch every Premier League and Bundesliga game of the day.
Alexa Evans
Alexa is the Account Manager for SimplyConvert with the role of cultivating client relationships pre and post-signing, as well as onboarding. Before SimplyConvert, she was an Account Executive at iHeart Media and a Sales Development Representative for a sales performance start-up called Groove. Alexa received two Bachelor’s of Science degrees with a focus in Public Relations and Media Studies. When she is not working, you can find her at the beach with a book, spending time with friends and family, or at a workout class.
Wes Looper
Alma mater: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Hometown: Bloomington, IL
Current city: Edwardsville, IL
Cheers for: St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis CITY SC
Wes Looper is a visionary web and application developer who, in his role at SimplyConvert, is shaping the future of legal technology for law firms. One of Wes's achievements at SimplyConvert has been spearheading the development of the AI-driven chatbot, which has revolutionized the legal firm intake operations. Before joining the SimplyConvert family, Wes developed his skills during a seven-year tenure at IBM and an eleven-year career at DXC Technology (formerly known as CSC). Notably, it was during his time at IBM that he crossed paths with his close friend, Marty Chrenka. Their collaboration, which spans over two decades, has yielded remarkable achievements at SimplyConvert. When he's not in front of a computer screen, you'll find him out in nature: enjoying boating, fishing, and hunting, or sharing his love for athletics with his children by coaching their teams.
Jonah Campbell
Fun fact: Almost always wearing a hat
Alma mater: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Hometown: Heyworth, IL
Current city: Edwardsville
Cheers for: Whoever's the underdog
Connect with Jonah
Jonah joined SimplyConvert as a software developer in May 2019. He builds all kinds of things to help make the platform the best legal intake platform on the market. Jonah has worked on several major projects at SimplyConvert such as the client portal, public API, and chatbot embed code. If one of these things is broken, please reach out to him! Outside of work, Jonah likes to collect as many hobbies as he can. He plays guitar, dabbles in woodworking, and appreciates a good craft beer - but most of the time he can be found playing a game or hanging out with his wife and puppy.
Justin Kutter
Fun fact: The town I grew up in only has around 200 people in it.
Alma mater: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Hometown: Eldred, IL
Current city: Edwardsville, IL
Cheers for: The Cardinals and Steelers
Connect with Justin
Justin joined SimplyConvert as an intern and then started full-time in May of 2021 as a Web Developer. His main responsibilities include working on the day-to-day requests from clients, curating marketing campaigns, managing criteria, and performing quality-of-life updates to the dashboard. Most of his projects involve creating internal tools for the team, but he has contributed to several client-facing applications and updates. In his free time, Justin likes to stay active; he goes to the gym every day and frequently plays basketball, football, baseball, tennis, and ping pong with his friends. Don’t tell Kelvin, but Justin is confident that he’s the better ping-pong player. When Justin’s not staying active, he’s relaxing at home with his girlfriend and their cat, playing video games, and cooking.
Kelvin Nquyen
Alma mater: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Hometown: HoChiMinh City, Vietnam
Current city: Edwardsville
Cheers for: Whoever appears on the TV at that moment.
Kelvin Nguyen joined SimplyConvert in January 2023 as an IT developer. Kelvin’s primary focus is on developing and improving SimplyConvert’s email automation system. In his free time, he enjoys hanging out with friends and family as well as exploring St. Louis’s bars and parks.
Jackie Manker
Fun fact: I used to be a professional actress
Alma mater: Illinois College
Hometown: Jacksonville IL
Current city: O’Fallon IL
Jackie Manker is Simply Convert’s Intake Training and Development Manager/Project Coordinator. She has worked on major projects like Zantac, Camp Lejeune, ADP Rollout, Hiring Program, and Intake Optimization Training Modules. Before working at SimplyConvert Jackie was a data analyst, a realtor, and sole proprietor of Spanish Interpreting business. In her free time, Jackie loves doing yoga and appreciating art of all kinds.
Tara McIntyre
Alma mater: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Hometown: Chicago
Current city: Edwardsville
Cheers for: The Cubs
As our Intake Optimization Manager, Tara oversees the training and onboarding of team members and speaks with clients to help them understand the options our solutions provide. Each of our clients has a voice and Tara enjoys ensuring they’re heard! Tara has been with SimplyConvert since the first day and she is so proud to be a part of such a great family. She’s overwhelmed every day thinking about how far we have come and what the future holds. Tara is a proud aunt and spends her free time renovating houses with her husband.
Jason Manker
Fun fact: I produce music in my free time.
Alma mater: Art Institute of Houston
Hometown: Jacksonville, IL
Current city: Jacksonville, IL
Cheers for: A good time
Jason Manker is SimplyConvert’s Intake Optimization Manager. He has spent a lot of time traveling and has lived in Austin, St. Louis, Los Angeles, and various places across his home state of Illinois. Jason joined SimplyConvert’s intake team early on and has been an integral part of the team’s growth. Training and coaching are daily tasks in the world of an intake manager as our systems constantly grow and evolve. Most of Jason’s time outside of work is dedicated to music creation and production as he studied audio engineering and business in school.