Staff

Tina Ott started her legal career in 1992 after receiving her Paralegal Studies Certificate from Pima Community College. She has been with the firm since 1999. Initially Tina worked in the estate planning and probate fields of law, however, as the firm’s asset protection practice expanded so did Tina’s field of legal work. Currently, Tina assists with the organization of business entities and other business, corporate and sale transactions.

Tina and her husband moved to Tucson in 1986 from Illinois. She is lucky enough to have family members living in Arizona and nearby and loves to spend time with them.

Tracy Gorst has years of experience in the legal field, and has been with Gadarian & Cacy, P.L.L.C. since 2000. Tracy’s primary focus is estate planning, assisting with drafting wills, trusts, and powers of attorney, as well as preparing court documents. Tracy also works with clients to finalize their estate planning documents. Tracy and her husband, Terry, have two children, Tristin and Brandon. In her free time, Tracy’s favorite activities are exercising, maintaining her health and fitness, and cooking. She also enjoys shopping with her daughter and spending time with her extended family and friends.

Shantia (Tia) Mills was born and raised near Portland, Oregon and moved to Tucson with her family during high school. She earned her paralegal degree in 1998 and has been working in the field of probate, trust administration and guardianship since then. Tia joined Gadarian & Cacy, P.L.L.C. in 2007, bringing her enthusiasm, professionalism and expertise. Tia is an integral part of our probate and trust administration team.

In her free time, Tia enjoys hosting meals with friends and family, traveling, hiking, skiing, reading and dancing. Tia and her husband are devoted to their family and their rescue pug, Louie. They love spending time with their children and grandchildren.

Hillary Marcus is a probate and trust administration paralegal and has been with Gadarian & Cacy since 2015. Born and raised in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, Hillary moved to Tucson in 2000 to attend college. She graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in Political Science. Hillary’s exemplary client focus is among the many gifts she brings to the firm.

Hillary devotes a bulk of her free time to her two daughters, volunteering at their schools and serving as their cheerleader for the many activities. Hillary enjoys downhill skiing, traveling, listening to audiobooks and cheering for UArizona Football and Basketball. Bear Down!

Stephanie Rusnak grew up in a military family living in various states across our country. She finally planted roots in Tucson in 2010 with her husband and they now have two amazing daughters. Stephanie started her career with Gadarian & Cacy in 2012 as the front desk receptionist, before moving into the Estate Planning Department in 2015. In this role she has gained a wealth of knowledge of wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. In 2017 she used that knowledge to hone her craft by assisting the attorneys and our clients with funding trusts, preparation of deeds, and updating beneficiary designations of retirement accounts and life insurance policies. Stephanie is highly organized and a detailed oriented person. Her calm and patient demeanor makes the funding process for our clients seamless and pleasant. When Stephanie isn’t assisting our clients, she loves to spend time with her family, is an avid reader and enjoys crafting.

Jamie moved from the beaches of sunny Florida to our desert here in Tucson in 2024. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Delaware and an associate’s degree in paralegal studies from Florida State College at Jacksonville. Before joining Gadarian and Cacy, Jamie worked in probate and trust litigation and assisted with guardianship proceedings. Jamie is apart of our Trust and Estate Administration team at Gadarian & Cacy. She is eager to bring her knowledge and experience of over 15 years in the legal field to the firm. In her free time Jamie enjoys running and endurance training. She also enjoys playing the piano.

Emma Prellwitz is a dedicated Estate Planning Legal Assistant who joined the Gadarian & Cacy P.L.L.C. team in 2024, bringing 4 years of experience in administrative work. She plays a key role in supporting the team and helping clients navigate their legal needs. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for streamlining the process, Emma assists with everything from scheduling to document preparation. Always approachable and reliable, she strives to ensure that every client feels supported and every case is handled with care. In her free time, Emma enjoys spending time with her husband, Jonathan, and their two sons, JI and Mateo.

Debbie Hackstadt has diverse business experience and has honed her skills in secretarial services across various sectors. Her background includes roles in banking, insurance, computer technology, corporate law and medical transcription. Prior to joining Gadarian & Cacy, PLLC in 2009, Debbie worked with a nonprofit organization, transcribing reports. She holds a two-year degree in medical assisting, which she earned in Mississippi in 2000. Currently, Debbie serves as a legal assistant in the corporate department of Gadarian & Cacy, PLLC.

Debbie, born and raised in Wisconsin, relocated to various states after high school with her family due to her husband’s job transfers. After 25 years, she finally settled down in Arizona, where she’s been happily residing for the past two and a half decades.

For enjoyment, peace and quiet Debbie likes to go camping with her son and daughter-in-law. She also enjoys cooking, baking and crafts.