The Charlotte Business Journal will honor Colleen Forcina Molner L’13 in May at a celebration of young professionals who are rising stars and leaders in the community.
The Charlotte Business Journal will honor Colleen Forcina Molner L’13 with its 40 Under 40 Award in recognition of her advocacy and contributions to the community.
A May 8 award ceremony will gather Molner with other distinguished young leaders making a difference in Charlotte and the region. The program will be from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Westin Charlotte hotel. Tickets are $230 and can be purchased here.
The annual list recognizes “rising stars in their respective career fields and emerging leaders in the local community,” the news organization said. The journal received more than 150 nominations for this year’s awards.
“It’s such an honor to be among this group. I know some of the honorees, and I’ve admired and been inspired by them,” Molner said. “Growing up in Charlotte and now raising a family here makes this even more meaningful. I want to be a model for my daughters, so that they know that they can achieve anything they want to.”
Molner earned her juris doctor from Elon University School of Law and holds a bachelor of arts in communication from North Carolina State University. She is a partner at Garfinkel Immigration Law Firm and is one of a limited number of attorneys certified by the North Carolina State Bar as a specialist in immigration law. Molner specializes in employment-based immigration, representing employers and employees in work visas and green cards, with a focus on healthcare, assisting hospitals, healthcare systems and agencies in securing immigration solutions for professionals.
She is an active member of the Mecklenburg Bar Association and is dedicated to working pro-bono cases, particularly those involving foreign nationals serving in the military and victims of domestic violence. She has recently represented Afghan nationals who served at the U.S. Embassy and was inducted into the North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society.
Molner says Elon Law provided a foundation in practical skills that allowed her to adjust quickly to the professional demands of lawyering. She interned with the Garfinkel Immigration Law Firm as a student.
“As a lawyer, you have a professional responsibility to the community and you are in a position to help folks who might otherwise not get the help they need,” Molner said.