Joseph Cela

Director of Office Administration

My Work

As the firm’s Director of Office Administration, I manage strategic and operational support for our New York, San Francisco, and Washington D.C. offices.

I’m a big-picture thinker who loves diving into large, complex projects that improve the way we work, while also supporting our legal and professional teams on a wide range of daily issues.

On that note, you’ll usually find me “making my rounds” in the office, because I believe the best way to support O&Gers is with a present, service-minded approach. By giving our people the resources and environment they need to thrive, we’re all able to carry out work that makes a real difference in the world.

Credentials

John Jay College of Criminal Justice
U. S. Army: Judge Advocate General Corps; Personnel Center Leader

My Story

My career has been defined by a fundamental desire to lead with impact.

That’s led me to pursue roles where I can drive meaningful change, including an early one in the U.S. Army in Fort Richardson, Alaska, where I led a military personnel center that supported over five hundred soldiers.

For thirty years, I applied that core leadership drive at a number of law firms, focusing on sustaining their success and guiding internal teams through periods of significant change and growth.

About a year ago, I began reflecting on what my next step should be. I wasn’t just looking for an opportunity to enhance my skills; I sought a platform for impactful growth with a truly people-centered mission. Outten & Golden already had that reputation, and when I felt their passion for innovation and growth, I knew instantly that joining would be an entirely new and exciting chapter in my career.