Gureski overcomes early career struggles

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For a brief time, Richard Gureski’s varied skills and experiences worked against him.

“The fact that my background wasn’t focused on one single field or trade made it difficult for my resume to stand out at times,” Gureski said. “The diverse experience, combined with a lack of a four-year degree, kept a lot of doors closed to me.”

But Gureski found his niche once he joined Godfrey & Kahn in 2007 as a supervisor in the firm’s central file department. Over time, his role evolved, and he was among the leaders as Godfrey & Kahn transitioned to a paperless practice.

As central file manager, Gureski is responsible for the firm’s daily records including intake, conflicts, docketing and record management. He is also a member of the firm’s Ethics and Loss Prevention Committee and has a long-term goal to become a certified records manager.

Gureski, who has an associate’s degree from the University of Phoenix, said he knows how difficult it can be to grow a career without a formal education or work experience, so he mentors young people through the city of Milwaukee’s Earn & Learn program, which has partnered with Godfrey & Kahn.

Earn & Learn helps young people transition to adulthood by providing opportunities to develop skills while they earn wages working in government, community- and faith-based organizations, and private sector businesses.

“I’ve had the opportunity to work with several young people,” Gureski said. “Watching them learn and grow professionally has been like watching my own children grow up.”