NYSDRA's 2026 Annual Conference
Rooted in Peace:
One Tree, Many Branches
O C T O B E R 8 - 9 , 2 0 2 6
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A L B A N Y , N E W Y O R K
📅 Oct 8 — Virtual | Oct 9 — The Desmond Hotel, Albany 📍All 62 New York Counties Represented 👥 ADR Practitioners, Court Partners & Community Leaders
Early Bird Registration Now Open! Save 10% Now Through August 31!
Early Bird Pricing Ends....
Be Part of Something Historic!
THIS YEAR IS DIFFERENT
For 30 years, the Andrew Thomas PeaceBuilder Award has recognized the builders — the people who planted trees in hard ground, trained others to do the same, and understood that dispute resolution is not just a profession. It is an act of faith in human community.
This October, NYSDRA's 2026 Annual Conference brings that legacy into its next chapter through keynote conversations, workshops, and structured dialogue — leaving participants with new connections, sharper tools, and a deeper sense of what this work means.
Rooted in Peace: One Tree, Many Branches is both our theme and our invitation. The roots hold the values that have anchored this work for decades: dignity, equity, voice, and repair. The branches are ours to grow — into every community, every conflict, every place where peace has not yet taken hold. And this year, we grow them together.
The conference is NYSDRA's signature statewide gathering — the place where the full breadth of New York's ADR community comes together: CDRC leaders, staff, and volunteers; independent practitioners; court professionals from the NYS Unified Court System; educators; advocates; and emerging voices entering the field for the first time. Through keynote conversations, interactive workshops, and structured dialogue, participants will leave with new connections, sharper tools, and a deeper sense of what this work means and where it is going.
This year carries something extra. Andrew Thomas himself will return to present the 30th anniversary PeaceBuilder Award in person — a milestone celebration of the individuals and organizations whose commitment to community-based peace has shaped New York State. And the conference will serve as the public launch of the Lawrence H. Cooke Dispute Resolution Legacy Fund, NYSDRA's inaugural endowment campaign to sustain community dispute resolution for generations to come.
Thirty years of peace. One gathering. Come be part of it.
Peace is built — deliberately,
collectively, against resistance.
Celebrating 30 Years of the Andrew Thomas PeaceBuilder Award!
NYSDRA is honored to welcome Andrew Thomas to the 2026 Annual Conference, where he will join us in person to present the 2026 Andrew Thomas PeaceBuilder Award during the conference luncheon on October 9. Established in 1996, the Andrew Thomas PeaceBuilder Award recognizes individuals and organizations whose leadership, service, and innovation have advanced the field of dispute resolution and strengthened communities through dialogue, collaboration, and peacemaking.
The award is named in honor of Andrew Thomas, a founding member and first President of the New York State Dispute Resolution Association (NYSDRA), founding member and former President of the National Association for Community Mediation (NAFCM), and one of the most influential leaders in the community mediation movement. Throughout a career spanning more than four decades, Andrew has served as a mediator, trainer, community organizer, executive director, and advocate for social justice, helping to establish and strengthen dispute resolution programs across New York State and beyond. He has trained thousands of mediators, facilitators, and arbitrators and continues to be recognized nationally for his contributions to the field.
To learn more about the Andrew Thomas Peacebuilder award, click here.
Andrew Thomas
Founding President, NYSDRA
Founding Member and Former President, NAFCM
To learn more about Andrew Thomas, click here.
Meet Our Distinguished 2026 Keynote Speakers
Day 1
Susan Guthrie, Esq.
Nationally Recognized Mediator & Attorney
Guthrie Consulting & Media
~ Day One: Virtual Conference Schedule ~
Thursday, October 8, 2026
Virtual Conference Experience
8:30 - 8:45 AM | Welcome to Our Annual Conference
Setting the Stage for our Annual Conference Journey
Theresa Hobbs, J.D., MBA, LPEC
NYSDRA Executive Director
(click picture for bio)
9:00 - 10:00 AM | Keynote Address
What the Machine Can’t Mediate: The Human Root of Dispute Resolution in a Founding Moment
Examine what technology can extend, what it must never replace, and why community mediators are uniquely positioned to shape the next founding moment in dispute resolution.
Susan Guthrie, Esq.
Nationally Recognized Mediator & Attorney
Guthrie Consulting & Media
(click picture for bio)
10:15 - 11:15 AM | Concurrent Sessions
Gen Z at the Table: Rethinking Engagement, Leadership, and Service
Mallory Panuelo, CVA
The Performing Arts as a Useful Tool in Dispute Resolution Across Cultures (CLE)
Robyn Weisman, Esq., L.L.M.
Navigating Mediation Rosters: A Practitioner’s Guide
Krysta Hartley & Bridget O'Connell, J.D.
11:30AM - 12:30 PM | Concurrent Sessions
Peacebuilding Under Pressure: Conflict Resolution in the Hasidic Jewish Community
Michael Amo
Supporting Self-Determination Through Deep Listening (CLE)
Hannah Diamond, J.D. & Kim Pesenti, M.A.
The Tree That Took Hold: Challenges, Growth, and Renewal in the First 25 Years of the Attorney-Client Fee Dispute Resolution Program (CLE)
Jeremy Zeliger & Federica Romanelli
12:30 - 12:45 PM | The Promise Endures: Honoring Robert A. Baruch Bush
Robert A. Baruch Bush
(1948 - 2026)
As part of the 2026 NYSDRA Annual Conference, we will pause to honor the life and legacy of Robert A. Baruch Bush, who passed away on February 27, 2026. Baruch was a pioneering scholar, educator, and one of the principal architects of transformative mediation, whose work fundamentally shaped the theory and practice of conflict resolution around the world.
His scholarship, mentorship, and unwavering commitment to human dignity continue to influence mediators, educators, and dispute resolution practitioners across generations. We are grateful for his remarkable contributions to our field and look forward to recognizing his enduring impact during this year's conference.
Learn more about Robert A. Baruch Bush → (link to biography)
12:45 - 1:30 PM | Lunch & Networking
Connect with colleagues and continue conversations via a virtual lunch!
1:45 - 2:45 PM | Concurrent Sessions
Conflict Competency: Coaching, Communication, and Growth in ADR Practice
Angela Nelson, J.D., Dr.PH
Hearing the Child's Voice: Child-Centered Approaches to Family Mediation
Connie Fraser
Unconscious Bias in ADR: Ethical Considerations for Neutrals (CLE)
Theodore Cheng, Esq.
3:00 - 4:00 PM | Concurrent Sessions
The Undiscovered Country: Social Media, Conflict and Conflict Management
Tricia S. Jones, Ph.D.
The Friendship Bench Model: Community-led Mental Health and Peacebuilding
Nick Schmitt & Ahmed Rodriguez
Building Your Future in ADR: Career Insights from the Field (Facilitated by Bobbie Dillon, M.S.) (CLE)
Jeffrey Zaino, Esq., Dr. Maria Volpe, Dr. Debra Dupree, PsyD, Hon. Jackie A. Brilling, Harold Coleman, Esq. & Timothy Lyon
4:15 - 5:15 PM | Concurrent Sessions
Building Cultural Flexibility to Negotiate and Mediate in Diverse Settings (CLE)
Lisa Pomerantz, Esq.
Exploring the Parallels Between Transformative Mediation and Donna Hicks' Essential Elements of Dignity
Ed Watt
From Settlement to Signature: Writing Mediation Agreements
Shari Greenleaf, J.D.
5:15 - 5:30 PM | Closing Remarks
Shira May, Ph.D
NYSDRA Board President
(click picture for bio)
~ Day Two: Hybrid Conference Schedule ~
Friday, October 9, 2026
Crowne Plaza Albany - The Desmond Hotel
Sessions marked with 🌐 offer hybrid attendance (in-person + virtual).
Sessions marked with 🏨 are in-person only.
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8:30 - 9:30 AM | Registration & Networking Breakfast 🏨
Light refreshments and informal networking with colleagues across sectors.
Room: Fort Orange Courtyard
9:45 - 10:45 AM | Keynote Address 🌐
Managing Differences in a Polarized World
How do we navigate this environment as professionals who help resolve conflicts and as individuals who experience the effects of polarization. This presentation will lay out the problem, engage the audience in reflecting on its sources, and describe the approach that Braver Angels is taking to influence how we relate to one another across the political divide.
Room: Town Hall
William J. Doherty, Ph.D.
Co-Founder
Braver Angels
(click picture for bio)
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Practical Strategies to Move from Polarization to Connection 🌐
After his keynote, Bill Doherty will engage participants in conversation about how they see the effects of polarization in their work and social worlds, and offer tools for handling the challenges of engaging constructively during difficult conversations.
Room: High Street Ballroom
12:00 - 2:00 PM | Celebration Lunch & Andrew Thomas PeaceBuilder Award Presentation 🌐
Honoring the 2026 Andrew Thomas PeaceBuilder Award Recipient
Room: Fort Orange Ballroom
Andrew Thomas
1998 PeaceBuilder Award Recipient
& 2026 Award Presenter
(click picture for bio)
2026 Andrew Thomas PeaceBuilder Award Honoree
Announcement Coming Soon
2:15 - 3:15 PM | The Imperative to Use All Available Talent in ADR Through Intentional Neutral Selection 🌐
Chris Heagarty interviews Prof. Homer LaRue about key reflections from his career as an arbitrator and developing the next generation of ADR professionals, as well as his observations and recommendations for how to remove systematic barriers in arbitrator development and selection and to create more opportunities for parties and ADR selectors to "utilize all of the available talent."
Room: Town Hall
J. Christopher Heagarty, Esq.
Chief Executive Officer
Ray Corollary Initiative
(click picture for bio)
Homer LaRue, J.D.
Chair of the Board of Directors
Ray Corollary Initiative
(click picture for bio)
3:30 - 4:30 PM | Interactive Session & Cocktail Reception 🏨
Interact with the day's keynote speaker and session presenters, ask questions, hear stories & enjoy a cocktail.
Room: High Street Ballroom
🎉Sponsorship Opportunities🎉
Join us in celebrating and advancing access to justice by sponsoring the 2026 NYSDRA Annual Conference.
For more than 40 years, NYSDRA has supported the statewide network of Community Dispute Resolution Centers (CDRCs) and the dedicated professionals and volunteers who help New Yorkers resolve conflict, strengthen relationships, and build healthier communities.
Your sponsorship helps make high-quality education, professional development, networking, and collaboration opportunities possible for ADR practitioners, court partners, community leaders, and volunteers from across New York State. Together, we are investing in a stronger future for conflict resolution, community engagement, and access to justice.
Support Peacebuilding by Becoming a Sponsor today!
Click on any sponsorship level below to learn more about the benefits, visibility opportunities, and recognition associated with each sponsorship package.
🏆$10,000 – Legacy Partner
⭐$7,500 – Visionary Partner
🌟$5,000 – Leadership Partner
🤝$2,500 – Advocate Partner
🎓$1,000 – Sustaining Sponsor
🌱$500 – Community Supporter
💙$250 – Friend of NYSDRA
Vendor Table Options
🪑$300 – Vendor Table
🎪$150 – Virtual Booth
🎉Your Support Makes It All Happen!🎉
Ready to become a sponsor?
Contact us at conference@nysdra.org or (518) 687-2240, or select a sponsorship level above to secure your sponsorship today.
Thank you for helping NYSDRA advance access to justice, strengthen communities, and promote the peaceful resolution of conflict throughout New York State.
2026 Annual Conference Sponsors
🎉 Our Advocate Partners 🎉
🎉 Our Sustaining Sponsors 🎉
🎉 Our Community Supporters 🎉
🎉 Friends of NYSDRA 🎉
2026 Honorary Committee Members
Hon. Lawrence Marks
Hon. Jaclyn A. Brilling
Hyacinth Charles
John Harrison
Wilma Jozwiak
John McCullough
Jonathan Murray
Kim Reisch
Alison Ritchie
Days Before Conference
~ 40+ Years • 62 Counties • 2+ Million New Yorkers Served ~