In 2002, Bridget J. Willhite joined the firm as an associate, where she was fortunate enough to learn many invaluable lessons from her new mentor, David Harrod. Among these lessons, Bridget learned the importance of being a “door lawyer” in a small town practice. As Bridget would learn, a “door lawyer” is a lawyer who leaves their door open for any client that might walk through, offering to help anyone they are able to. While the firm would see many changes over the years, this would remain constant: The doors would always be open to help any client with any issue they could. We always have been and will always aim to be “door lawyers” for our community.

In 2005, Bridget was named partner of the firm, and the firm became officially known as Carter, Harrod & Willhite, PLLC. Shortly after Bridget was made partner, however, David Harrod was diagnosed with a terminal illness that would ultimately claim his life. Rather than let the firm’s professional obligations fall to the backburner, Bridget and David worked to ensure that there would be no clients left behind in the transition process. On May 7, 2006, David Harrod died peacefully in his home, and Bridget was left alone to carry on the legacy left to her by her mentor. With a heavy heart, Bridget continued pushing forward, applying the principles she learned from David Harrod, and building her own legacy in the process.