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Mahoning County Bar President Ryan D. Ingram discusses his goals
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: September 22, 2022
He comes from a long line of lawyers, who’ve made a point of giving back to the profession and the community, now Ryan D. Ingram is carrying on that tradition as president of The Mahoning County Bar Association.
“I am excited to serve as bar president,” said Ingram, a partner at Ingram, Cassese & Grimm. “My father Jerry Ingram was the president in 2007 and while I have large shoes to fill, I am looking forward to the challenge.
“My main goal is to increase membership,” said Ingram, who officially took over as president on July 1. “In recent years, we’ve lost members and my focus will be on getting those members to return by demonstrating the many benefits that the bar association provides.”
Bob Price, past president of The Mahoning County Bar Association said he’s confident Ingram will do an “excellent job” in the role.
“Ryan represents the new generation of lawyers,” said Price, an attorney at Richard G. Zellers & Associates Inc. “He is an accomplished practitioner, who has gained the respect of his colleagues and the judiciary.
“During his time as president-elect, he consistently attended and participated in our bar meetings, which I appreciated,” said Price. “I was proud to pass the gavel to him during our election banquet at the Youngstown Country Club on June 27.
“Ryan comes from a family with a long proud history of bar service and I believe the bar association is in good hands,” Price said.
President-elect Ross Smith said he’s sure Ingram will serve the bar association well during his tenure as president.
“Attorney Ingram and I have gotten to know each other through the Mahoning Valley courts,” said Smith, a sole practitioner, with offices in Youngstown and Mercer, Pennsylvania. “We also spend time on the golf course on a social level.
“As trustees for The Mahoning County Bar Association, we have worked together to help further policy and grow membership,” said Smith. “I have great confidence that attorney Ingram will be successful in moving the bar association forward.”
Born in Youngstown, Ingram grew up in Boardman Township and graduated from Boardman High School. He continues to reside in Boardman with his wife and two daughters.
He attended Bowling Green State University, where he majored in English and minored in history.
After receiving his bachelor’s degree, he moved to Michigan, where he obtained his juris doctorate from Michigan State University College of Law in 2010.
“I decided to be an attorney when I was in middle school, probably because I was surrounded by lawyers,” said Ingram. “My grandfather, father and aunt and uncle on my mom’s side were lawyers.
“My dad actually tried to dissuade me from becoming an attorney because it can be a very stressful and demanding profession,” said Ingram. “It is both of those things, but I find it very rewarding. We often deal with people who are at the lowest point in their lives, who may not have been in trouble before. They entrust us with helping them navigate this very difficult and tumultuous time and I find it very fulfilling to help them.”
Ingram spent the bulk of his legal career as a sole practitioner, taking court-appointed cases.
He has always focused on criminal and OVI/DUI defense and shared office space with his father, who is located in Boardman Township.
In 2018, Ingram, his father Jerry, Corey Grimm and Frank Cassese formed the law firm of Ingram, Cassese & Grimm.
“We handle a wide variety of litigation, primarily focusing on personal injury, criminal defense and family law,” said Ingram.
“I like the fact that I’m not just sitting at a desk all day long,” said Ingram. “My practice allows me to be in a different location nearly every day and I get to interact with different communities.”
Ingram joined The Mahoning County Bar Association in 2010 and has been on the board of trustees since 2012.
Over the years, he’s served on the certified grievance committee, chaired the social committee and co-chaired the criminal courts committee.
As part of his effort to increase bar membership, Ingram said he plans to spend some of his time at court talking to attorneys about the reasons to join or remain members.
“We have a very good lawyer referral service to help attorneys generate business, multiple committees that plan social events and we recently started a public service committee that focuses on community outreach and service,” said Ingram.
“Years ago, the bar was active, social and collegial,” said Ingram. “I hope to return a sense of camaraderie between the bar and the bench, bring back some members who may have withdrawn and continue to attract new members.”