Speaker Bio: Sean Powers
Sean was raised in Bradenton, Florida, attending St. Joseph’s Catholic School from Kindergarten to Eighth Grade and later attending and graduating from Manatee High School. He then attended the Florida State University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs and a Master of Science in Information Studies.
While in graduate school Sean worked in the smart card industry in Tallahassee, Florida, managing ID card systems for various universities and corporate clients. Following that Sean worked at Hewlett Packard helping to implement a global internal help desk at Microsoft in Seattle, Washington.
Later, Sean enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and was deployed to Okinawa, Japan, Kabul, Afghanistan, and Fallujah, Iraq. Sean reached the rank of Sergeant and received the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Medal, and the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation. Sean was a Fire Direction Chief in the 81mm mortar platoon in Weapons Company, Second Battalion, Sixth Marine Regiment, and a Marine Combat Instructor of Water Survival.
After four years of honorable service, Sean returned to Bradenton, where he married his wife Anna in 2008. Sean assisted his wife in running her wedding planning company, Day Planners, while also working in the local restaurant industry facilitating in the operation and opening of fine dining facilities on Anna Maria Island and Lakewood Ranch. Eventually, Sean decided to attend Ave Maria School of Law, and once admitted to the Florida Bar, Sean worked with the Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel defending indigent clients in Juvenile Dependency, Juvenile Delinquency, Misdemeanor, and Felony court. Sean then worked at Najmy Thompson, PL, in Bradenton, Florida as a civil litigator and was able to continue to represent the indigent as a part of his devotion to assisting those in need. Following Najmy Thompson, Sean worked at Lydecker, LLP, a national law firm practicing in bodily injury defense, premises liability defense, tort liability defense and general civil litigation. Sean has litigated small claims cases, multi-million dollar injury claims, probate matters, construction matters, family matters, the smallest misdemeanor to second chairing a first degree murder defense. His courtroom experience is extremely diverse and he treats every matter as if it is the most important.
Sean continues to serve as a pro-bono attorney for foster children as an Attorney Ad Litem in Manatee and DeSoto Counties.
In the past, Sean has volunteered with Big Brothers & Big Sisters and served as a mentor in Veterans Court, a specialty court that seeks to address underlying conditions of veterans accused of crimes.
