STAFF AT SUSQUEHANNA LAW GROUP
PATRICIA A. SHIPMAN
Tricia was born and raised in Lycoming County, graduating from Loyalsock Township High School. She got her B.A. at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts, and her J.D. at New York University School of Law.
Although she had other interests, family law found Tricia soon after she graduated from law school, and it remains the primary focus of her practice. In addition to her private practice, she is frequently appointed by Lycoming and Tioga County Courts as a Guardian ad Litem (“GAL”) for children in custody cases.
Tricia handles all family law matters, including divorce, distribution of property, child custody, support, and adoptions. She also handles PFAs, dependency, guardianship, name changes, estate planning and administration, and Social Security Disability.
Tricia began her legal career as a staff attorney at Community Legal Services, Inc., in Philadelphia, where she represented parents whose children were in the foster care system or at risk of being placed in foster care. In 2004, she returned to her native Lycoming County and worked, temporarily, as a staff attorney at North Penn Legal Services. She then began working in the private sector and, in 2009, took a position with Susquehanna Law Group (then known as Fetter McDermott). She has been a partner at SLG since 2012.
Service has long been an interest of Tricia’s and she is very active in the Lycoming County community. She currently serves the library as a member of the Gala Committee of the James V. Brown Library and as a member of Board of Directors of the Lycoming County Library System. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Williamsport Home. Previously she was the President of the Friends of the James V. Brown Library and was a member of the Board of Directors of Greater Lycoming Habitat for Humanity. She was a member of Leadership Lycoming’s Class of 2007. She frequently takes cases on a pro bono basis through North Penn Legal Services.
Tricia lives in Cogan Station with her husband and numerous animals. In addition to their horse, 7 cats, and 2 dogs, they foster large-breed dogs through Echo Dogs White Shepard Rescue.
JENNIFER B. AYERS
Jennifer was born and raised in Pennsylvania. She received a B.A. in Political Science International Relations from West Chester University and a J.D. from Widener University School of Law.
Jennifer has led a varied legal career between private, government and public service. In 2002, Jennifer left private practice to clerk for the Honorable John E. Jones III United States District Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. After leaving government service, Jennifer became a staff attorney with the Williamsport Office of North Penn Legal Services. For almost a decade, Jennifer provided diligent zealous representation of the indigent community in Central Pennsylvania. Jennifer returned to private practice after leaving legal services. She joined Susquehanna Law Group (then Fetter McDermott) in 2013 and became a partner in 2020.
Jennifer has provided community education on legal topics such as housing, unemployment compensation, removing barriers to employment, and social security disability. She has also provided continuing legal education training to attorneys on topics such as Protection from Abuse, Unemployment Compensation, Landlord Tenant Law, Expungements and Social Security Child Disability.
Community Service is important to Jennifer. She has volunteered at the Lycoming County SPCA. She has served on the board of Family Promise of Lycoming County. She has served as member of her church’s vestry. In 2012, following the death of her infant daughter Eleanor to pediatric heart disease, she and her husband started Ellie’s Heart Foundation a non profit organization. In 2016, Ellie’s Heart Foundation joined with Penn State Health Children’s Heart Group to create Camp LionHeart a week-long summer camp program for children ages 12-18 who undergo treatment for heart disease. Jennifer considers the yearly week of Camp LionHeart to be the best week of the year and the best way to honor her daughter’s memory.
Jennifer lives in Williamsport with her husband, her two surviving children and 6 cats.
RHONDA SANTALUCIA
One of our most respected team members, Rhonda Jennings is SLG's office manager and paralegal. She is ready to address your administrative needs. Rhonda is a life long resident of Williamsport. She is an ardent supporter of animal rights.