Steven still refers to his 35 years in the practice of law as his “third career.” Immediately upon receipt of his undergraduate degree in Chemistry, Steven’s first career as a chemist began in a laboratory outside of Los Angeles. He later left the private sector to continue as a chemist for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Chicago. Soon after arrival at U.S. EPA, Steven started his second career in regulatory administration in U.S. EPA’s Region 5 office. He became a State Project Officer responsible for oversight of certain programs run by the Illinois EPA and Wisconsin DNR. These adventures led to Steven’s move into graduate education in law and public policy, and those degrees started him on his current and third career.

Steven was focused on all aspects of environmental law as he began his legal practice at a prominent international firm in Chicago. He next joined a boutique firm specializing in environmental law. But the event that truly developed and defined his practice for the next 30 years happened when Steven and W. Clyde Jones, III forged a law partnership in Geneva in 1995. Thanks to Mr. Jones’ wealth of experience and generous tutelage, Steven expanded his practice to include estate planning and many areas of business transactions.

Beginning in 2025, Steven moved his practice to Seraphin & Rogers, Ltd., taking on the title Of Counsel. Steven regularly counsels closely-held businesses and individuals on matters relating to business formation and acquisition, real estate transactions, and estate planning, including succession planning. Still very active in the practice of environmental law, Steven is engaged in work from coast to coast representing entities involved in significant actions before regulatory agencies and in federal courts. He is retained frequently by other lawyers to counsel them and their clients on environmental questions arising in business transactions and municipal operations. Further, Steven is pleased to assist clients as they assess current and future environmental liabilities relating to their operations, both past and present.

Steven has been active in community activities, local and national, throughout his career. He has served on boards for his alma maters, for local charitable organizations, and for faith-based communities. His current volunteer activities include serving as an attorney in a local Administer Justice legal clinic supported by the Shephard’s Heart ministry at Chapelstreet Church, where Steven is a member and serves on the Executive Council.

Steven and his wife Maureen raised their two adult children in Batavia, and they still find new ways to enjoy living in the Tri-Cities.