New Mexico Mediation Association

New Mexico Mediation Association
Winter Convocation 2010

Featuring the International Listening Association

March 27, 2010 8:30 – 4:00 ~ UNM Law School ~ 1117 Stanford NE, Albuquerque, 87106

Pay Pal Registration http://www.nmma.info/memberships.php

AGENDA (Please see the attached pdf document at bottom of page– Agenda & Registration Form for more details)


8:30‐9:00
Registration

9:00‐9:30
Plenary

9:30‐11:00
Building An Ideal Mediation Practice

11:00‐Noon
Lunch

Noon‐4:00
Session 1:
The Listening Difference: Meaningful Mediation Outcomes

Session11:
New and Innovative Mediation ADR Techniques

4:00 Adjourn PRESENTATIONS & PRESENTERS

Workshop Description and Bios

9:30 – 11:00

“I’m a Mediator. I’m also a Lawyer, a therapist, a preacher...and the list goes on. I know conflict is
out there; it’s everywhere! No one is calling. Why isn’t the phone ringing? I need to...”
BUILD AN IDEAL MEDIATION PRACTICE – Delivered by Bob Berlin
AGENDA

A. DEVELOPING YOUR BRAND
Visibility + Credibility + Connect-ability = Profitability
1. What are Critical Connections?
2. What are the three steps of personal branding that are foundational to successful
connections?
3. Who are the 18 people you need to know?
Information Network / Referral Network / Advocates
4. What’s the biggest mistake people make in connecting?
5. What’s the biggest mistake people make in personal branding?
6. What are the “Rules of Engagement” with connections?

B. STEPS TO SUCCESS

1. The first 90 days:
2. Mission/Purpose:
3. Ideal Practice:
4. The Ideal Business Plan/Market:
5. An Invitation to Action:
6. Implementation:

C. BUILDING TIPS
1. Steps to Initiating a New Practice/Invigorating an Old Practice
2. Tips for Marketing Geared to Results
3. “Package” Yourself/Practice for Success
4. Revenue Streams for Assistance
5. How to handle: “But I just can’t afford it right now.”

D. WRAP-UP

Noon – 4:00
The Listening Difference: Meaningful Mediation Outcomes
($40members; $50 non-members)

A half‐day workshop sponsored by: The New Mexico Mediation Association & The International Listening Association
Delivered by Bob Berlin of Decision Management Associates & Jennifer Grau of Taliaferro/Grau Associates
The International Listening Association promotes the study, development, and teaching of listening and the
practice of effective listening skills and techniques. The Purpose of the Association is to advance the practice, teaching, and research of listening throughout
the world. The Vision of the Association
is to be the international leader of listening practices, teaching and research.

Listen your Way To Settlement ‐
Differentiate your mediation practice, obtain CLEUs (continuing legal education credits) and refine your listening skills in one enjoyable afternoon. Effective listening is a critical tool to understanding what lies beneath a heated exchange. And that understanding is key to discovering solutions that satisfy and survive.

Yet, the complexity and subtlety of effective listening is often misunderstood and thus it’s power and potential
continue to remain untapped.
This workshop combines group discussion with experiential learning to demonstrate and develop superior listening skills. Take your mediation practice to the next level and discover the listening difference!

Together we will:
✔ Examine the power of listening in the communication process
✔ Explore a position/interest model of conflict resolution
✔ Consider the affects of culture in defining expectations, choices, and responses to conflict.
✔ Listen past anger for feelings, needs & interests.
✔ Cultivate a supportive listening environment
✔ Model unique listening skills foundational to the successful mediation.

Robert A. Berlin, J.D.
(dma‐adr@mindspring.com)

President, The New Decision Management Associates, Inc. has primary responsibility for Mediation, Negotiation, Training and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Services. Bob has experience in handling ADR cases numbering in excess of three thousand civil and family law mediations since 1968. As a registered arbitrator, mediator and neutral evaluator with the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution, he has handled a broad spectrum of cases in numerous courts throughout the state. He draws from an eclectic professional background in law, marriage and family therapy, communications and teaching. In addition to his present involvements, he is doing CE Trainings and Coaching of neutrals (having been trained by Coach University in the Core Essentials of Coaching). Bob has mediated in excess of 4,000 cases.

Jennifer Grau
(tgatrainer@aol.com) President of Taliaferro/Grau Associates, ‐ a firm specializing in developing clients’ speaking, listening and
conflict resolution skills. Jennifer has over 15 years experience as a trainer, coach, and professional speaker. As a trainer, she conducts workshops for corporate clients, non‐profit organizations, and educational institutions as well as divisions of local, state and federal government. Jennifer’s public speaking has brought her before a wide range of people, in a variety of contexts including legislative bodies, community groups, religious congregations, service clubs, bankers and business associations. In addition to these face to face speaking experiences, she has made numerous television and radio appearances. Her work has been noted in
the Wall Street Journal, US News & World Reports and
Lansing State Journal.

. Jennifer has been a member of many professional associations including: International Communication Association, the Speech
Communication Association, the International Listening Association and the American Society for Training and Development. She has taught university courses in Rhetoric, Persuasion, Gender, Interpersonal and Organizational Communication as well as written and presented a variety of papers and is published in both social science and business professional journals.

Noon – 4:00
New And Innovative Mediation ADR Techniques
Delivered by Peter G. Merrill – President & CEO of Construction Dispute Resolution Services, LLC

With today’s tough economic climate, most individuals and practitioners are looking for additional ways to increase their volume of business and of course, their income sources. As a result, many
mediators are looking into learning additional mediation‐related ADR processes that can add diversity to their ADR portfolio and to the dispute resolution services that they provide to their
clients and to the public. New and innovative processes such as binding mediation, mediated arbitration, arb‐med (not med‐arb) and other new ADR processes are adding those additional
services to the portfolios of the ADR practitioner. Some mediators are also expanding their services to include traditional arbitration to supplement their services and accordingly their income. Mr.
Peter G. Merrill, President of Construction Dispute Resolution Services, LLC (CDRS), will review many of these new and innovative ADR techniques. CDRS regularly utilizes many of these techniques
throughout the USA. All attendees will be provided with several of the forms and documents that have been specifically developed by CDRS to facilitate and implement these new ADR processes. Mr.
Merrill will also review contract language, agreements and documents that are necessary to specify these new ADR processes in contracts and agreements. Although CDRS specializes in construction disputes, the presentation will be generic in nature and will apply to all types of disputes. All of these new processes can be conducted by both attorneys and non‐attorneys.
THIS PRESENTATION IS A MUST FOR ALL ADR PROVIDERS WHO WISH TO DIVERSIFY THEIR ADR SERVICES AND
ACCORDINGLY INCREASE THEIR INCOME.

Peter G. Merrill
petermerrill@cdrsllc.com is the President and CEO of Construction Dispute Resolution Services, LLC, the largest independent provider of construction ADR services in the USA with ADR Specialists located in all 50 states, Washington DC and in several foreign countries. Mr. Merrill is a well‐known speaker and author related to ADR topics. He is a member of the Dispute Resolution Section of the American Bar Association, the ADR Committee of the New Mexico Bar Association and currently serves as a member of the New Mexico Mediation Association Board of Directors. He resides in Santa Fe, New Mexico.