Bret Dublinske started the new year with a new leadership position. The shareholders of Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen P.C. elected him onto the firm’s board of directors, and he is the youngest member of that board.

Dublinske, who recently turned 38, stays busy keeping up with the firm’s telecommunications, utilities and Internet law cases. Outside the office, he spends time with his wife, Rebecca, and his 11-year-old step-daughter, Carmen. He also serves on the board of directors for the Young Women’s Resource Center

Dublinske says in the past he was involved in youth programs, mentoring and volunteering for Junior Achievement. Rebecca Dublinske, also a shareholder at the firm, was a volunteer with the YWRC. When he was looking for a leadership opportunity that would allow him to help others, she suggested joining the center’s board. He interviewed with representatives of the working board and the executive director and was offered the position.

“It’s a big honor,” Dublinske said. “The center provides social services, particularly in the areas of advocacy, wellness and counseling for young women in Central Iowa. I’ve only been on the board since April, but it’s been very exciting.”

Dublinske was born in Waterloo, but has spent the majority of his life in the Des Moines area. He grew up in Altoona and now lives in Urbandale. Dublinske graduated from Iowa State University in 1988. He then spent three years serving as executive assistant to the Iowa Secretary of State, Elaine Baxter, before going to graduate school. He received his law degree from the University of Iowa in 1994. He clerked for Federal District Court Judge Harold Vietor for two years before joining Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen P.C.. It was his clerking experience that first introduced Dublinske to the firm.

“[Clerking for Vietor] gave me the opportunity to se a lot of firms and how they do their work,” he said. “The Dickinson firm was involved in a lot of interesting federal cases. I respected the work they did, and based on the nature of the work and the quality of the work, I decided I would like to work there.”