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The Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office of the Maryland Judiciary is excited to invite you to the 2026 Maryland Mediators Convention!
Wednesday, October 14
 

8:00am EDT

Check-in & Breakfast
Wednesday October 14, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
Foyer
Check-in begins at 8am. After signing in and receiving your badge and agenda, you may join us for light breakfast refreshments before the programs begin promptly at 9am. 
Wednesday October 14, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
Foyer

9:15am EDT

Welcome and Plenary
Wednesday October 14, 2026 9:15am - 10:30am EDT
Main Dining Room


Speakers
avatar for Hon. Matthew J. Fader

Hon. Matthew J. Fader

Chief Justice, Maryland Supreme Court
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Maryland. He joined the Court, then named the Court of Appeals of Maryland, and was named chief judge in April 2022. He was previously a member of Maryland’s intermediate appellate court where he served as an associate judge beginning in 2017... Read More →
avatar for Lou Gieszl

Lou Gieszl

Director of Programs, Maryland Judiciary
Lou Gieszl is Assistant State Court Administrator for Programs at Maryland Judiciary, where he oversees ongoing initiatives to support mediation and conflict resolution, juvenile and family services, problem-solving courts, behavioral health, access to justice, equal justice, online dispute res... Read More →
avatar for Cynthia Jurrius

Cynthia Jurrius

Director, Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office
Cynthia Jurrius is the Program Director of the Maryland Judiciary’s Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office (MACRO). MACRO’s mission is to collaborate with stakeholders statewide to promote the availability, use and quality of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) throughout... Read More →
Wednesday October 14, 2026 9:15am - 10:30am EDT
Main Dining Room
  All Audiences

10:45am EDT

Let's Be Safe Out There
Wednesday October 14, 2026 10:45am - 12:15pm EDT
Room 4
What were you taught about safety when you were trained in your ADR practice? Sit near the door? Don’t mediate cases with restraining orders? Anything? Fortunately, solid guidance is available now. The Association for Conflict Resolution Task Force on Safety has developed safety guidance for ADR practitioners. In this session, Task Force members will share practical advice to keep you and those...
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Speakers
avatar for Stephen Kotev

Stephen Kotev

Leadership Coach, Embodiment Educator, Conflict Resolution Consultant
Sought out for his insight and innovative ways of tackling difficult disputes, Stephen is one of the few practitioners that sits at the nexus of embodiment, leadership coaching and conflict resolution and is known for his practical, engaging and highly interactive teaching style informed... Read More →
avatar for Lewis Dabney

Lewis Dabney

Executive Director, Key Bridge Foundation
Lewis Dabney is Executive Director of the Key Bridge Foundation, a nonprofit Alternative Dispute Resolution organization that has provided conflict resolution, program management, training, and technical assistance to the federal sector and clients worldwide since 1994.

A conflict resolution practitioner since 1996, Lewis brings nearly three decades of experience in mediation, ADR program design and management, training, and conflict analysis. He holds degrees in Anthropology and Religious Studies from the University of Virginia and an M.S. in Conflict... Read More →
Wednesday October 14, 2026 10:45am - 12:15pm EDT
Room 4
  All Audiences
  • IMPORTANT NOTE Please be aware that selecting programs on this application is not considered a reservation.

10:45am EDT

Online ADR - Accessible for All
Wednesday October 14, 2026 10:45am - 12:15pm EDT
Main Dining Room
Through briefings and structured dialogue, presenters will foster nuanced thinking about accessibility to online ADR processes. Notably, a 2024 DOJ Final Rule will be discussed. Findings from a research project on “remote mediation” will be explored. This session will provide the latest research and insights on ensuring the accessibility and usability of online ADR processes, e.g., “remote...
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Speakers
avatar for Nick White

Nick White

Research and Evaluation Director, Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office

avatar for Gary C. Norman, Esq., L.L.M.
Wednesday October 14, 2026 10:45am - 12:15pm EDT
Main Dining Room
  All Audiences
  • IMPORTANT NOTE Please be aware that selecting programs on this application is not considered a reservation.

10:45am EDT

Guerilla Marketing for ADR Professionals
Wednesday October 14, 2026 10:45am - 12:15pm EDT
Room D
Marketing your ADR practice is one of the most difficult tasks practitioners face. Learn low-cost, high impact tactics to integrate marketing into the flow of your daily life, in order to grow your ADR practice and to position yourself as the "go to" ADR professional in your field. This program is not designed to address social media and traditional advertising, but rather to start ADR...
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Speakers
avatar for Kathleen Wobber

Kathleen Wobber

Wobber Law Group
Kathleen Wobber is an attorney committed to meeting the specific needs of both parties and their children for more predictable outcomes and less acrimony. For more than 25 years, Kathleen has successfully been using Collaborative Law and other alternative dispute methods to resolve... Read More →
Wednesday October 14, 2026 10:45am - 12:15pm EDT
Room D
  Business
  • IMPORTANT NOTE Please be aware that selecting programs on this application is not considered a reservation.

10:45am EDT

When Words Aren't Enough: Language, Culture, and the Bilingual Mediators Role
Wednesday October 14, 2026 10:45am - 12:15pm EDT
Room 5
As communities become increasingly diverse, mediators are often called upon to facilitate conversations among individuals whose experiences, cultural backgrounds, and primary languages differ significantly. While language access is essential to effective mediation, successful cross-cultural conflict resolution requires much more than translating words. Language carries cultural meaning, values,...
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Speakers
avatar for Deyanira Murga

Deyanira Murga

Founder & Executive Director, Security NextGen
Deyanira Juliet Murga is a bilingual (English/Spanish) certified mediator and executive leader with more than 20 years of experience in violence prevention, corporate security, cross-cultural communication, and stakeholder engagement. She is an International Mediation Institute (IMI... Read More →
Wednesday October 14, 2026 10:45am - 12:15pm EDT
Room 5
  Ethics
  • IMPORTANT NOTE Please be aware that selecting programs on this application is not considered a reservation.

10:45am EDT

CINA/TPR Mediation: What is This? Is it For Me?
Wednesday October 14, 2026 10:45am - 12:15pm EDT
Room 3
Janet Bayer and Kandi Morris will present program manager and mediator perspectives on mediation in CINA (Child In Need of Assistance) and TPR (Termination of Parental Rights) cases in the Maryland juvenile court. What is happening in the Maryland courts regarding mediation in juvenile court? What mediator experience, expertise, and temperament could provide a solid preparation for mediating these...
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Speakers
avatar for Janet Bayer

Janet Bayer

Janet C. Bayer has over twenty years of experience initiating and implementing Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) programs. From 2015 until her recent “retirement”, Ms. Bayer served as the ADR Coordinator for the Juvenile Division of the Circuit Court for Baltimore City. Prior... Read More →
avatar for Kandi Morris

Kandi Morris

Morris Consults

Wednesday October 14, 2026 10:45am - 12:15pm EDT
Room 3
  Juvenile/Domestic
  • IMPORTANT NOTE Please be aware that selecting programs on this application is not considered a reservation.

12:15pm EDT

Catered Lunch
Wednesday October 14, 2026 12:15pm - 1:15pm EDT
Main Dining Room


Wednesday October 14, 2026 12:15pm - 1:15pm EDT
Main Dining Room
  All Audiences

1:25pm EDT

My Kung Fu is Better than Your Kung Fu and Other Myths in the ADR Community
Wednesday October 14, 2026 1:25pm - 2:55pm EDT
Room D

This is a chance to reexamine the foundational assumptions of our field and confront what no longer works. Any system that has been in place for a long time inevitably accumulates inefficiencies, outdated practices, and unnecessary friction. That is why it is essential to step back, assess the structure honestly, and determine what must be repaired, replaced, or refined to keep it effective and...
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Speakers
avatar for Barry Evans

Barry Evans

Barry Evans considers himself a newcomer to mediation even after more than 30 years in the field. The longer he works at it, the more he realizes how much he still has to learn. If mediation is an iceberg, he has explored the tip, waved politely at everything below the surface, and... Read More →
avatar for Jay Knight

Jay Knight

Associate Professor of Law, Washburn University
Areas of Teaching Expertise
ContractsContractual DraftingSecured TransactionsLegal Analysis, Writing, and Research IIProfessional ResponsibilityAlternative Dispute ResolutionNegotiations and CounselingMediation SkillsAI and the LawJay loves his wonderful family of Owen, Karen, Allie, Sami, Kenzie, Rome and Little... Read More →
Wednesday October 14, 2026 1:25pm - 2:55pm EDT
Room D
  All Audiences
  • IMPORTANT NOTE Please be aware that selecting programs on this application is not considered a reservation.

1:25pm EDT

Transform Your Intake Conversations
Wednesday October 14, 2026 1:25pm - 2:55pm EDT
Room 3

In this session, I will discuss the importance of intake as the first step in the resolution process. I will share two models for professionals to use, HERE and SORTED, that enable conflict professionals to establish the parameters of the conversation, remain fully present to the conversation, and map the elements of the conflict, from thoughts and feelings, to what has actually occurred. In this...
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Speakers
avatar for Dawn Bedlivy

Dawn Bedlivy

Co-Owner, Conflict Sparks Change, LLC
Dawn Bedlivy, Esq., is a distinguished author, attorney, mediator, and conflict resolution expert with over 25 years of experience. Her expertise extends to leadership development, alternative dispute resolution, and innovation. Ms. Bedlivy has successfully led teams in these areas... Read More →
Wednesday October 14, 2026 1:25pm - 2:55pm EDT
Room 3
  All Audiences
  • IMPORTANT NOTE Please be aware that selecting programs on this application is not considered a reservation.

1:25pm EDT

When Access is Denied: Equipping the Public, including Mediators, to Resolve Disability Access Denial Disputes
Wednesday October 14, 2026 1:25pm - 2:55pm EDT
Main Dining Room

Most access denials based on a disability, including those involving a service animal, never reach a meaningful resolution. Consider shared-economy drivers. Some riders use the “pet option” in a rideshare app as a self-selecting strategy to prevent an access denial before it happens. Even so, many still face stressful and upsetting denials. Drivers claim they were improperly matched, or that...
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Speakers
avatar for Debra A. Vey Voda-Hamilton, Esq.

Debra A. Vey Voda-Hamilton, Esq.

Founder and Principal, Hamilton Law and Mediation
Debra A. Vey Voda-Hamilton, Esq., is the founder and principal of Hamilton Law and Mediation; HADR-NC, PLLC, and the nation’s first mediator dedicated exclusively to animal-related conflicts. With more than 42 years as an attorney and 15 years focused on conflict resolution, she... Read More →
avatar for Gary C. Norman, Esq., L.L.M.
Wednesday October 14, 2026 1:25pm - 2:55pm EDT
Main Dining Room
  All Audiences
  • IMPORTANT NOTE Please be aware that selecting programs on this application is not considered a reservation.

1:25pm EDT

Court Ordered Civil Non-domestic Mediation: Sharing 25 Years of Experience
Wednesday October 14, 2026 1:25pm - 2:55pm EDT
Room 4

This session will cover civil non-domestic mediation issues such as Conflict of Interest, Legal Counsel Involvement, Power Imbalances, Power of Apology, Special Issues with Motor Torts.
Mediators will be challenged to think critically about common and complex issues in civil non-domestic mediation, beyond settlement numbers.
Speakers
avatar for David Simison

David Simison

Dave Simison is a lawyer in Annapolis in general practice with a real estate accent. He mediated for more than 25 years privately and by appointment from the Circuit Courts in Civil Non-Domestic matters, as well as Guardianship, Divorce, Custody and Termination of Parental Rights... Read More →
Wednesday October 14, 2026 1:25pm - 2:55pm EDT
Room 4
  Civil Non-Domestic
  • IMPORTANT NOTE Please be aware that selecting programs on this application is not considered a reservation.

1:25pm EDT

Zoom, AI, and Social Media. Oh My!
Wednesday October 14, 2026 1:25pm - 2:55pm EDT
Room 5

This session provides a place and space for mediators to come together and begin to explore the impact of technology on the practice of mediation. The session will use three common technologies used during mediation by participants and mediators: Zoom, Linkedin, and AI. Starting with a grounding in the MD Standards of Conduct for Mediators and the Online Dispute Resolution Ethical Standards, the...
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Speakers
avatar for Toby Treem Guerin

Toby Treem Guerin

Executive Director, Center for Dispute Resolution at Maryland Carey School of Law
Toby Treem Guerin, J.D. is the Executive Director for the Center for Dispute Resolution at Maryland Carey School of Law. At Maryland Carey Law she directs the mediation clinic, teaches the mediation seminar, and advises students. Professor Guerin has over twenty years of experience as a neutral in vario... Read More →
Wednesday October 14, 2026 1:25pm - 2:55pm EDT
Room 5
  Ethics
  • IMPORTANT NOTE Please be aware that selecting programs on this application is not considered a reservation.

3:00pm EDT

Afternoon Refreshments
Wednesday October 14, 2026 3:00pm - 3:15pm EDT
Foyer


Wednesday October 14, 2026 3:00pm - 3:15pm EDT
Foyer
  All Audiences

3:15pm EDT

Collaboration Hygiene: How Mediators Seek Support, Process Emotions, and Build Community
Wednesday October 14, 2026 3:15pm - 4:45pm EDT
Room 3

Participants are invited to a conversation with 3 community mediators discussing the ways that they normalize collaborative decision making in their professional, personal and public lives. Each presenter will bring two questions for all panelists to respond to, creating a collaborative dialogue about the realities of mediation practice. The discussion will explore psychological safety,...
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Speakers
avatar for Tracee Ford

Tracee Ford

Community Mediation Maryland
Tracee Ford is a professional mediator and facilitator with over 15 years’ experience. Tracee uses her creative energy and talents to help groups meet their goals. From 2004 to 2011, Tracee served at different times as the Outreach Coordinator, the Director of Training and Outreach... Read More →
avatar for Erica Lesko

Erica Lesko

Community Mediation Upper Shore
Erica is a community mediator and staff member at Community Mediation Upper Shore. She is trained in reentry mediation and serves on the board of Community Mediation Maryland. Before entering the mediation field, Erica conducted neuroscience research for two years at the National... Read More →
avatar for Paul Bridgeford El

Paul Bridgeford El

Mediation Coordinator, Baltimore Community Mediation Center

Wednesday October 14, 2026 3:15pm - 4:45pm EDT
Room 3
  All Audiences
  • IMPORTANT NOTE Please be aware that selecting programs on this application is not considered a reservation.

3:15pm EDT

On Mediating in the Circuit Courts
Wednesday October 14, 2026 3:15pm - 4:45pm EDT
Room 4


Moderators
avatar for Lisa Mannisi

Lisa Mannisi

Senior Program Manager, Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office

Speakers
avatar for John Greer

John Greer

Owner, Patuxent Mediation Services, LLC
John served from 1980 to 1987 in the federal government as an economics analyst. Following his graduation from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1987, he practiced estates & trusts law, as well as corporate law, in private practice.  In 1990 he returned to federal service... Read More →
avatar for Kim Klein

Kim Klein

Director of Court Operations, Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County

avatar for Ryan Diepold

Ryan Diepold

Civil ADR Coordinator, Circuit Court for Baltimore County
Ryan Diepold serves as the ADR Program Manager for the Circuit Court for Baltimore County where he works with mediators, attorneys, court staff, and judicial personnel to support and strengthen the Court’s mediation programs. His work includes managing day-to-day ADR operations... Read More →
avatar for Grant Bacon
Wednesday October 14, 2026 3:15pm - 4:45pm EDT
Room 4
  Civil Non-Domestic
  • IMPORTANT NOTE Please be aware that selecting programs on this application is not considered a reservation.

3:15pm EDT

Before the Full Story: Implicit Bias, Neurodiversity Bias, and the Practice of Impartiality in Mediation
Wednesday October 14, 2026 3:15pm - 4:45pm EDT
Room D

Mediation is often described as a neutral process, but mediators, facilitators, and conflict practitioners do not enter the room without lenses. We bring lived experience, professional training, communication preferences, assumptions, and internalized norms that can quietly shape how we interpret conflict behavior. This interactive workshop explores how implicit bias and neurodiversity bias can...
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Speakers
avatar for Tisha Tyler

Tisha Tyler

Founder, Kelton & Key Consulting
Tisha Tyler, MBA, is a conflict management and strategic communication practitioner, Certified Professional Mediator, restorative facilitator, educator, and Founder of Kelton & Key Consulting. She has facilitated mediations and structured conversations across workplace, business... Read More →
Wednesday October 14, 2026 3:15pm - 4:45pm EDT
Room D
  Ethics
  • IMPORTANT NOTE Please be aware that selecting programs on this application is not considered a reservation.

3:15pm EDT

Balancing Complexity in Domestic Relations Mediation: Neutrality, Financial Realities, and the Human Impact
Wednesday October 14, 2026 3:15pm - 4:45pm EDT
Room 5

Domestic relations mediation requires a distinct skill set that goes beyond traditional facilitative techniques. As a court-appointed Domestic Relations Mediator, this session provides a practical, experience-based exploration of how mediators can effectively navigate the layered dynamics present in parenting plans, custody disputes, and family restructuring. Participants will gain insight into...
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Speakers
avatar for Michelle Edison

Michelle Edison

Conciliator, Mediator, ADR Practitioner, Change Starts with Hope
Michelle Edison, MLS, MDR is the Owner of Change Starts With Hope, where she
also serves as the lead instructor, Conciliator, mediator, Legal Analyst and DEIB
Strategist. Edison oversees the organization’s global outreach efforts, world-class
professional training programs, and ri... Read More →
Wednesday October 14, 2026 3:15pm - 4:45pm EDT
Room 5
  Ethics - Domestic
  • IMPORTANT NOTE Please be aware that selecting programs on this application is not considered a reservation.

3:15pm EDT

Custody Mediation and AI: Is This the Future to Helping Co-parents Communicate?
Wednesday October 14, 2026 3:15pm - 4:45pm EDT
Main Dining Room

When communication has broken down between parents how could it be helpful for them to use AI to help them communicate more effectively? What are the positives and what are the pitfalls? Explore how AI could be used as a communication and problem-solving tool in custody mediation. Participants will review examples, then work in small groups with different custody scenarios to experiment with...
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Speakers
avatar for Jill Goldberg

Jill Goldberg

Founder, Infinity Mediation, LLC
Jill Goldberg is an attorney and mediator. She earned her BBA from University of Michigan Ross School of Business and her J.D. from the University of Maryland Carey School of Law. Jill began her career practicing family law in North Carolina, later practicing in Missouri and continuing... Read More →
avatar for Jill Eisner

Jill Eisner

Founder, Infinity Mediation, LLC

Wednesday October 14, 2026 3:15pm - 4:45pm EDT
Main Dining Room
  Juvenile/Domestic
  • IMPORTANT NOTE Please be aware that selecting programs on this application is not considered a reservation.

4:45pm EDT

Certificates & Evaluations
Wednesday October 14, 2026 4:45pm - 5:15pm EDT
Foyer

Collect your continuing education certificates and complete an evaluation of your experiences.
Wednesday October 14, 2026 4:45pm - 5:15pm EDT
Foyer
  All Audiences

5:00pm EDT

ADR Section Post-Convention Reception
Wednesday October 14, 2026 5:00pm - 7:00pm EDT
The Lodge

Don't let the inspiration end when the Maryland Mediators Convention does!Join the MSBA ADR Section immediately following the October 14th Convention for an exclusive post-event gathering. This is your chance to dive deeper into the day's breakthroughs, spark meaningful discussions with fellow practitioners, and solidify the connections that matter.Beyond the networking...
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Wednesday October 14, 2026 5:00pm - 7:00pm EDT
The Lodge 177 Jennifer Rd., Annapolis
  All Audiences
 

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Wednesday, October 14
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