Our Team

VIRGINIA A. GIRARD, Managing Partner, received a B.A. in English/Creative Writing from the University of Kansas in 1989 and a Juris Doctorate from Washburn University in 1996. In 2000, she founded ABS Legal Advocates, P.A. to protect the rights of those who had courageously served our country. With over 23 years of experience in veterans’ benefit law [...]

JAVIER A. CENTOZIO, Managing Partner, is a US Marine Corps and Army National Guard Veteran. He received a B.A. in Political Science and Legal Studies from Park University in 2009, a Juris Doctorate from Stetson University College of Law in 2012, and an LLM in Elder Law from Stetson University College of Law in 2014. With over 12 years of experience [...]

BENJAMIN T. MALOTTE, Partner, received a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in December 2014 and his Juris Doctorate from Washburn University School of Law in May 2018. He is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Kansas and the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC). Ben […]

JAMIE M. BOLDT, Special Senior Counsel, received a B.S. in Business from K.U. in December 2003, a Juris Doctorate from the University of Kansas in May 2006, and an MBA from the University of Missouri in Kansas City in 2009. She is admitted to practice before the Kansas and Missouri Supreme Courts, United States Court of […]

EVA D. PERRING, Senior Associate Attorney, received a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Washburn University in May 2013 and a Juris Doctorate from Washburn University School of Law in December 2015. She is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Missouri and the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC). Eva is […]

SARAH C. JOHNSON, Associate Attorney, received a B.A. in English Literature from Marymount Manhattan College in New York City in 2001 and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Kansas School of Law in May 2018. She is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court of the Western District of Missouri and the Supreme Courts […]

AIMEE A. S. ROBESON, Associate Attorney, is a US Army Veteran who retired in December 2021 as a Chief Warrant Officer-3. She received a BS in Business Communications from the University of Phoenix in November 2009, an MA in Cyber Analytics from American Military University in August 2017, and her Juris Doctor from Mitchell Hamline School of Law in […]

GRACE A. Paul, Associate Attorney, received a Bachelor’s in Sociology from Stetson University College in 2020 and her Juris Doctorate from the Stetson University College of Law in 2023. She is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Florida and the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CVAC). Grace is accredited by the U.S. Department  [...]

ROGER W. KLAFFKA, Associate Attorney, is a US Air Force Veteran who retired in September 2009 as a Lieutenant Colonel. He received a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Syracuse University in May 1992, an M.A. in Administrative Sciences from The George Washington University in May 1999, an M.S. in Military Operational Art and Science in June 2004 [...]

JESSICA M. SWARTZ, Associate Attorney, received a BA from James Madison College at Michigan State University and a Juris Doctorate from American University Washington College of Law. She is admitted to practice in Michigan, the U.S. District Court in the Western District of Michigan [...]

CARL, Service Dog Extraordinaire, is Aimee A. S. Robeson’s service dog. Soldier’s 6, a nonprofit in Minnesota, gifted him to Aimee in December 2021. Carl and Aimee trained from that time until December 2022, when he received his official certification as a service dog. Carl is excited to be part of Aimee’s journey to support Veterans and loves our […]

SARA WELLS, Chief Paralegal, earned a B.S. in Community, Corporate, and Hospital Wellness in 2009 and a B.S. in Education in 2011, both from Pittsburg State University. Sara became the Chief Paralegal at ABS in August of 2023 and is responsible for communicating with new and existing clients and V.A. personnel and supervising our paralegal team.

LYDIA DRISKILL-AHRENS, Senior Paralegal, earned a B.A. in English in 2019 and an M.A. in English in 2021, both from Emporia State University. Lydia has been a paralegal with the firm since October 2023 and is responsible for communicating with existing clients and V.A. personnel and providing valuable support for our attorneys.

JAMIE FRANK, Paralegal, earned a B.A. in English Literature in 1994 and a M.S. in Library and Information Science in 1997, both from the University of North Texas. Jamie has been with the firm since 2006 and is responsible for communicating with V.A. personnel and providing valuable support for our attorneys.

HEATHER CHANEY, Paralegal, received a B.S. in Business Administration from Bethel College in 2018. Heather has been a paralegal with ABS since

September 2022 and is responsible for communicating with existing clients and V.A. personnel and providing valuable support for our

WILLIAM NELSON, Paralegal, received a B.A. in Communications from the University of Kansas in Dec 2013. William has been a paralegal with the firm since October 2022 and is responsible for communicating with existing clients and V.A. personnel and providing valuable support for our attorneys.

MICHELLE DICKERSON, Paralegal, received a B.A. in Studio Art and an M.S. in Art Education from Florida State University in 2013. Michelle has been a paralegal with the firm since April 2024 and is responsible for communicating with existing clients and V.A. personnel and providing valuable support for our attorneys.

DAKOTA RAY, Paralegal, received a B.A. in speech communication and Psychology from the University of Texas at Tyler in 2017. Dakota has been a paralegal with the firm since April 2024 and is responsible for communicating with existing clients and V.A. personnel and providing valuable support for our attorneys.

IFEOMA ANUNOBY, Paralegal, earned a B.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of Missouri in 2022. Ifeoma has been a paralegal with the firm since January 2025 and is responsible for communicating with existing clients and V.A. personnel and providing valuable support for our attorneys.