Capital University Law School Holds National Conference in Alternative Dispute Resolution

May 29, 2007

Over 300 participants attended the 3rd National Conference of Minority Professionals in Alternative Dispute Resolution on May 16-18 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Intensive pre-conference trainings held on May 15 offered additional trainings. Co-Sponsored by the American Arbitration Association, Nationwide Foundation, Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur, LLP/Estabrook Charitable Trust, and The Supreme Court of Ohio, the conference is an initiative to increase the presence of minority professionals in all areas of alternative dispute resolution.

Professor Floyd Weatherspoon, director of Minority ADR initiatives and the conference organizer said, “We offered trainings for various levels of experience. This year’s conference included more than 60 workshops, panel discussions and presentations. And there were great opportunities to network and connect with other professionals.”

Keynote speaker Horatio "Ray" Lanier, president of the Association for Conflict Resolution opened the conference. Keynote speaker Michael K. Lewis, senior associate of the Center for Dispute Settlement and Principal in JAMS, the Resolution Experts, addressed attendees on Thursday, May 17 during an awards luncheon where this year’s Kuumba and the Nia awards were presented. The Kuumba and Nia awards recognize those who have given unwavering support to promoting alternative dispute resolution as a career among minority professionals.

Nia Award recipients include the members of the conference planning committee: Portia Gray, of the Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution & Conflict Management; Dave Coleman, Columbus City Attorney’s Office; Christy Cumberlander Walker, Franklin County Court of Common Pleas; Eddie Jones, former Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service Commissioner, Sandra Quick, Certified Christian Conciliator with Joy Unspeakable LLC, and Crevon Tarrance, program manager for the Supreme Court of Ohio.

Kuumba Award Honorees include Julia Greer-Hardeman, commissioner with the Federal Mediation Conciliation Service, Michael K. Lewis, senior associate for the Center for Dispute Settlement and a principal with JAMS, the Resolution Experts, Paula Trout who maintains a private practice in Las Vegas, Nevada which includes mediation, arbitration and training, Patricia Williams, patient liaison at the Ohio State University Medical Center, and Leah Wing, director of the Social Justice Mediation Institute.

Capital sponsored the first Statewide Conference for Minority Professionals in ADR in 2002, three National Conferences in 2003, 2005 and 2007, and Training Institutes in 2004 and 2005.