Days to Go
Honoring 40 Years of Advancing Access to Justice Through ADR
Reflect. Celebrate. Advance.
September 25-26, 2025
Day One: Virtual on Zoom Events
Day Two: The Crowne Plaza/Desmond Hotel, Albany NY
Be part of New York’s premier Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) gathering!
Join the New York State Dispute Resolution Association (NYSDRA) as we commemorate four decades of impact, leadership, and innovation in ADR across the state. This milestone conference will bring together professionals, practitioners, and changemakers to reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and advance a bold vision for equitable and accessible justice for all New Yorkers.
Reflect: Looking Back to Learn Forward
Celebrate: Honoring Legacy, Partnerships & Community Impact
Advance: Innovating ADR for a More Equitable Future
Meet Our Distinguished 2025 Keynote Speakers
Reflect
Dr. Sukhsimranjit Singh
JAMS Mediator, Arbitrator, and Global Thought Leader in Dispute Resolution
Board of Directors, Weinstein
International Foundation
Celebrate
Robert A. Baruch Bush, J.D.
Rains Distinguished Professor of Alternative Dispute Resolution, Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University; Co-Founder and Board Member, Institute for the Study of Conflict Transformation
Advance
Daniel Kos
Statewide ADR Coordinator
New York State Unified Court System
Division of Alternative Dispute Resolution
2025 Lawrence Cooke Peace Innovator Award Honoree
John S. Kiernan, Esq.
Retired Partner, Debevoise & Plimpton, LLP
Co-Chair, NYS Advisory Committee on
Alternative Dispute Resolution
About the Lawrence Cooke Peace Innovator Award
The
Lawrence Cooke Peace Innovator Award honors individuals and organizations whose visionary spirit and creative leadership have advanced the
field of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in New York State. Named for The Honorable Chief Judge Lawrence H. Cooke, a pioneering force in integrating ADR into the state’s justice system, this award recognizes those who, like Judge Cooke, have reimagined how justice can be delivered—through innovation, accessibility, and community- centered approaches.
Since its inception in 2002, when it was first awarded to Judge Joseph Lauria, the award has celebrated trailblazers who bring fresh thinking to longstanding conflicts and who view ADR not only as a process, but as a tool for empowerment, equity, and peacebuilding. Recipients are often known for launching innovative programs, introducing ADR in new or underserved settings, or leading local efforts that inspire broader change.
Each year at the NYSDRA Annual Conference, we proudly recognize a changemaker whose work reflects the qualities of forward thinking and inclusivity that Judge Cooke championed throughout his remarkable career.
Learn more about Chief Judge Cooke’s legacy.
~ Day One: Virtual Conference Schedule ~
Thursday, September 25, 2025
Virtual Conference Experience
8:45 - 9:00 AM | Conference Opening & Welcome
Setting the stage for our Legacy Conference journey
Love Odih Kumuyi, Esq.
NYSDRA Board Member
Founder & CEO, UNSILOED
(click picture for bio)
~ REFLECT ~
9:00 - 10:00 AM | Morning Keynote Address
The Art of Reflection: Global Wisdom for Local Practice
Exploring how cross-cultural intelligence enhances reflective listening and transforms conflict resolution across communities.
Dr. Sukhsimranjit Singh
JAMS Mediator, Arbitrator, and Global Thought Leader in Dispute Resolution
Board of Directors, Weinstein
International Foundation
(click picture for bio)
10:00 - 11:00 AM | Concurrent Sessions
AI & the Future of ADR (CLE)
Alexander Paykin, Esq.
Voices of Change: A Community Mediation Training Documentary
Gina Tinker-Williams and Austin Bunn
Mental Health Empowerment Coaching: New Opportunities for Mediators and CDRCs
Dan Berstein
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM | Concurrent Sessions
Restorative Justice Responses to Traffic Violence: Successful Stories and Persistent Barriers (CLE)
Hillary Packer, Esq. and Bobby Preti
Navigating Mediation Rosters: A Practitioner's Guide (CLE)
Bridget O’Connell, Esq. and
Krysta Hartley, Esq.
Partnering for Impact: The Role of Law School Mediation Clinics in Court-Based ADR (CLE)
Robyn Weinstein, Esq., Kamella English, Esq., Cai Phillips-Jones, J.D., and Susan E. Salazar, Esq.
12:15 - 1:00 PM | Lunch & Networking
Connect with colleagues and continue conversations
1:00 - 2:00 PM | Concurrent Sessions
Better Prep, Better Sessions: The Power and Pitfalls of Pre-Session Work
Amber Russell
Champions for ADR in Family Court, Part 1
Building Bridges Between Courts and Communities
Co-Facilitated By: Shira May, Ph.D. and Kate Wurmfeld, Esq.
When Child Welfare Cases Stall: The Role of Mediation
Suzanne K. Shafer, M.A.
Assistant Director, Child Welfare & Family Justice Division
Office for Justice Initiatives
~ CELEBRATE ~
2:15 - 3:15 PM | Afternoon Keynote Address
The Moral Dimension of Mediation: Celebrating my Friend and Colleague Len Riskin
Robert A. Baruch Bush, J.D.
Rains Distinguished Professor of Alternative Dispute Resolution, Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University; Co-Founder and Board Member, Institute for the Study of Conflict Transformation
(click picture for bio)
3:30 - 4:30 PM | Concurrent Sessions
Seriously, You’re Still Saying “Facilitative” and “Evaluative” Mediation in 2025? AI Can Help.
John Lande, J.D., Ph.D.
ADR in Guardianship Proceedings: Emerging Practices (CLE)
Marcy Einhorn, Esq., Sabrina Morrissey, Esq., Deborah Rosenthal, Esq., and Carolyn Wolf, Esq.
LIT-U-ATION: Sparking an interest in Literacy Through a Restorative Lens Across Generations (CTLE)
Quianna Bennett, Tracey Johnson, Marshay Hines, and Dr. Tia Pressey
4:30 - 4:45 PM | Closing
Remarks
Reflecting on insights and preparing for tomorrow's advancement
Alison Ritchie
NYSDRA Board Member
2025 Conference Committee, Chair
(click picture for bio)
~ Day Two: Hybrid Conference Schedule ~
Friday, September 26, 2025
Crowne Plaza Albany - The Desmond Hotel
Sessions marked with 🌐 offer hybrid attendance (in-person + virtual).
Sessions marked with 🏨 are in-person only.
~
9:00 - 10:00 AM | Registration & Networking Breakfast 🏨
Light refreshments and informal networking with colleagues across sectors.
Room: King Street Walkway BC
~ ADVANCE ~
10:00 - 11:15 AM | Keynote Address 🌐
Advancing Justice Through ADR: Field Building Trends, Tools & Transformations
Room: Town Hall
Daniel Kos
Statewide ADR Coordinator
New York State Unified Court System
Division of Alternative Dispute Resolution
(click picture for bio)
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Taking Stock: ADR from 1985 to 2025 🌐
Facilitated by Maria Volpe, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology and Director of the Dispute Resolution Program,
John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY
Room: Town Hall
Maria Volpe, Ph.D.
Professor of Sociology and Director of the Dispute Resolution Program, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY
(click picture for bio)
Panelists
Judy Saul
Founder & Former Executive Director CDRC,
2009 Lawrence Cooke Peace Innovator Award Recipient
Fellow, Institute for the Study of Conflict Transformation
Harold (Hal) Abramson, Esq.
Professor of Law, Touro Law Center, Former Vice Dean & Global Elite Thought Leader for Commercial Mediation
12:30 - 1:00 PM | Lunch & Networking
🏨
Connect with colleagues and continue conversations
Room: Fort Orange Courtyard
1:00 - 2:15 PM | Champions for ADR in Family Court, Part 2 🌐
Facilitated by Kate Wurmfeld, Senior Director of Family Court Programs, Center for Justice Innovation
Room: 6 & 8 King Street
Kate Wurmfeld, Esq.
Senior Director of Family Court Programs, Center for Justice Innovation
(click picture for bio)
Panelists
2:30 - 3:30 PM | From Vision to Reality: Judge Cooke and the Birth of New York's CDRC Network 🌐
Facilitated by Chris Daly, Director of Mediator Training & Quality Assurance, New York Peace Institute
Room: 6 & 8 King Street
Chris Daly, Esq.
Director of Mediator Training &
Quality Assurance,
New York Peace Institute
(click picture for bio)
Panelists
Andrew Thomas
Executive Director, Center for Dispute Settlement (1979-2004)
NYSDRA Co-Founder & First Chair/President (1980s)
Mark Collins
Former Assistant Coordinator, NYS Unified Court System ADR Programs
2010 Lawrence Cooke Peace Innovator Award Recipient
John McCullough
Executive Director,
New Justice Services
Lawrence Cooke Peace Innovator Award (2012)
3:45 - 5:00 PM | The NYSDRA Story: Legacy, Lessons, and Leadership🌐
Facilitated by Charlotte Carter, Former NYSDRA Executive Director (2012-2017)
Room: 6 & 8 King Street
Charlotte Carter, J.D.
Former NYSDRA Executive Director
(2012-2017)
(click picture for bio)
Panelists
Mark Collins
Former Assistant Coordinator, NYS Unified Court System ADR Programs
2010 Lawrence Cooke Peace Innovator Award Recipient
Lisa Hicks-Yackel
Former NYSDRA Executive Director (1994-2009)
Architect of Statewide ADR Program Expansion
Sarah Rudgers-Tysz
Former President, NYSDRA Board of Directors (2018-2019)
Senior Management Analyst, NYS Unified Court System
Division of Alternative Dispute Resolution
5:00 - 5:30 PM | Cocktail Reception 🏨
Room: Fort Orange Courtyard
5:30 - 7:00 PM | Legacy Dinner & Lawrence Cooke Peace Innovator Award 🏨
Honoring John S. Kiernan, 2025 Peace Innovator
Room: Fort Orange Ballroom
Your Evening Program Hosts
Jonathan Murray, MBA
NYSDRA Board President
2025 Lawrence Cooke Peace Innovator Award Honoree
John S. Kiernan, Esq.
Retired Partner, Debevoise & Plimpton, LLP
Co-Chair, NYS Advisory Committee on
Alternative Dispute Resolution
About the Lawrence Cooke Peace Innovator Award
The
Lawrence Cooke Peace Innovator Award honors individuals and organizations whose visionary spirit and creative leadership have advanced the
field of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in New York State. Named for The Honorable Chief Judge Lawrence H. Cooke, a pioneering force in integrating ADR into the state’s justice system, this award recognizes those who, like Judge Cooke, have reimagined how justice can be delivered—through innovation, accessibility, and community- centered approaches.
Since its inception in 2002, when it was first awarded to Judge Joseph Lauria, the award has celebrated trailblazers who bring fresh thinking to longstanding conflicts and who view ADR not only as a process, but as a tool for empowerment, equity, and peacebuilding. Recipients are often known for launching innovative programs, introducing ADR in new or underserved settings, or leading local efforts that inspire broader change.
Each year at the NYSDRA Annual Conference, we proudly recognize a changemaker whose work reflects the qualities of forward thinking and inclusivity that Judge Cooke championed throughout his remarkable career.
Learn more about Chief Judge Cooke’s legacy.
~ 40 Years • 62 Counties • 2+ Million New Yorkers Served ~
🎉Sponsorship Opportunities 🎉
We invite you to support our conference this year by becoming a named sponsor. Your support is critical, as it enables us to provide quality educational programming for our members—most of whom are volunteers delivering vital, low-to-no-cost services in their local communities.
Support Peacebuilding by Becoming a Sponsor today!
Click on any sponsorship level below to learn about exclusive benefits and recognition opportunities.
$15,000 – Legacy Partner (View benefits)
$10,000 – Visionary Partner (View benefits)
$5,000 – Leadership Partner (View benefits)
$2,500 – Advocate Partner (View benefits)
$1,000 – Sustaining Sponsor (View benefits)
$500 – Community Supporter (View benefits)
$250 – Friend of NYSDRA (View benefits)
🎉Your Support Makes It All Happen!🎉
Contact us at conference@nysdra.org or (518) 687-2240 for more information on how to Become a Sponsor.
NYSDRA Legacy Conference 2025 Sponsors
🎉 Our Advocate Partner 🎉
🎉 Our Sustaining Sponsors 🎉
🎉 Our Friends and Community Supporters 🎉
2025 Honorary Committee Members
Hon. Lawrence Marks
Hon. Jaclyn A. Brilling
Hon. Randolph F. Treece
Hyacinth Charles
John Harrison
Wilma Jozwiak
Jonathan Murray
Love Odih Kumuyi
Alison Ritchie
Niki Rowe
Will Sawma
Bernadette Tracy, Ph.D.