Unlike Family, Tort and Home Owner Association/Developer mediation where the focus is on termination of relationships, commercial mediation, somewhat like probate mediation, should focus on the opportunity for reconciliation and additional business between the parties. The commercial mediation opportunity should be seen as a place to structure future relationships NOT terminate and preclude future relationships.

The presenters will provide an explanation and give the historical background of team mediation. The presenters will discuss the current utilization of team mediation in the U.S. and internationally and will not only demonstrate the enhancement, balance, and diversity resulting from team mediation but will model how the cooperation of the mediators can enhance the prospects for settlement.

This presentation is a qualitative case study related to water conflict in the Rookery Bay Estuary (RBE) Watershed in Southwest Florida and examines conflicts of community members in the private sector, public sector, and non-profit organizations involved with the use of water, and water management. Key findings include opposing interpretations as to the best water management practices, and indications that collaboration helps alleviate conflict among diverse stakeholders.

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Language is an essential tool of conflict resolution. The mediator's management of spoken interaction can promote dispute resolution or drive a subconscious wedge between the parties. Through example and audience participation, this workshop explores the areas of cultural metaphor and discourse analysis - as they relate to conflict resolution. The workshop is designed to increase sensitivity to the subtleties and complexities of spoken interaction and their sometimes unintended effect on conflict resolution.

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The Florida laws regulating Condominium and Homeowner Associations are vast, complicated and confusing. Throw in personal emotions, conflicting views and a vendetta or two and you have a recipe for huge disputes! In this session the participants will learn the basics of Florida Statutes Chapter 720 and 718 (Homeowner and Condominium Laws), who the participants are, what the most common disputes are and how to find are solution.

This presentation will include a discussion of the different dimensions of an apology. When an apology is given, more is needed than a mere “I’m sorry.” The efficacy in apology lies within addressing the layers of impact. When an effective apology is provided, there is an opportunity for the release of grudges and for accountability to be assumed. This diminishes barriers to negotiation and facilitates settlement.

The Direct/Inferential model of communication explains how people both speak and listen in ways that are clearly stated and in ways that are transmitted and received nonverbally.  Participants will explore how to utilize this knowledge to best keep parties engaged. The model has as a goal the minimization of errors in communication which often result in misinterpretations.

Discovering Your Creative Vision is a unique creativity program that uses photography to challenge the perceptions and creative limitations of the participants. With today’s technology, almost everybody has a camera with them. This seminar taps those cell phone cameras (or digital cameras if participants would rather) to discover ways of thinking creatively. Using a variety of camera strategies, participants will be exposed to a unique perspective while the presenters assists the participants in developing insight and fostering innovation while demonstrating how to bring these ideas into our work as mediators.

This presentation will provide a broad overview of a variety of mediation subjects through the use of videos which are seemingly unrelated to the area of mediation. After each video, the presenters will provide the participants with the governing mediation rules, where applicable, as well as solutions and tips to deal with real life situations. Participants will also be encouraged to offer their own stories, thoughts and solutions.

Throughout the mediation process effective communication is essential. In this workshop, the presenters will seek to expand participant’s understanding of themselves and the communication patterns of others. Based on the success of NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) in improving negotiations and minimizing conflict, this workshop will teach participants important tools and techniques to enhance their abilities as successful mediators.

The presenters will discuss the unique challenges presented by post-divorce disputes and offer suggestions for resolving these difficult conflicts. Having hoped or believed that the issues in their divorce were finally resolved, parties find that even years after the end to their marriage, conflicts arise. Unless clearly resolved, these post-divorce conflicts result in multiple filings, multiple mediations and multiple court appearances.

This interactive workshop for Circuit Civil Mediators will cover: (1) how to lay the groundwork
early in your communication with participants to assist them in framing their preparation
for mediation with both strategy and persuasion in mind; (2) how to encourage initial and
subsequent negotiation signals, resolution ranges and making concessions; and (3) methods
designed to sustain negotiation momentum and some gap-closing techniques. Ethical pitfalls
and considerations will be woven through the presentation; party self-determination does not
need to be sacrificed to help people negotiate. Attendees are encouraged in the last segment
of the workshop to query the presenter and audience about negotiation stumbling blocks and
dilemmas they have encountered.

Join facilitators Stanley Zamor and Jeanne Potthoff for an interactive workshop where you
will be presented with real county court mediation scenarios. Participants will discuss the best
practices for “dealing” with these scenarios.

The purpose of this presentation is to provide the mediator practitioner with perspective and practice pointers, examine and analyze each component of negotiation and the mediation process and share ideas in connection with the business aspects of the mediation profession.

This workshop will provide information on shifting people from resistance to a willingness to take action. The workshop will introduce mediators to ways to instantly develop rapport and formulate positive impressions by creating an environment that fosters collaboration. The workshop will review the cycle of persuasion while reviewing the core elements mediators can develop to position themselves to yield productive solutions. The cycle of persuasion is integrated with the subtleties of body language including facial expressions, gestures and other body movements. The aim of this knowledge is to assist mediators in modifying interactions based on what is being communicated directly and indirectly.

Recent changes to the Florida Arbitration Code and Federal and State cases decided in the
past year impacted the field of arbitration. The most significant changes and court decisions
will be discussed.

Some mediators find themselves stuck and don’t know how to ask an appropriate question.
Some mediators are afraid of silence. This program gives the mediator tools for asking the right
questions at the right time during mediation, and allows the mediator to fulfill his/her role as
facilitator of the parties’ discussions. By learning how and what to ask -- and understanding that
mediations have three basic stages -- will allow the mediator to avoid the awkward silences and
move the process forward in a substantive way. By asking questions in the right way at the right
time, the mediator is causing the participants to be introspective and to evaluate facts and
circumstances, strengths and weaknesses, in a more realistic way. Presenters Robin Caral Shaw
and Amy Wolsky have brought valuable tips and tools to the DRC since the turn of the century.

After the long and prolonged wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, trained Mediators are needed to work with Veterans, their families, employers and others to figure out their own solutions. This presentation will introduce mediators to the issues and concerns often confronted by veterans.

The presentation will offer a strategic approach to marketing the mediation practice. The initial
focus will center upon defining the target audience, both present and potential. Messaging
and an effective communications strategy will follow, with emphasis on the need to produce
provocative and interesting content. Staff practices, advertising and special event marketing
will be touched on, leading into a review of best practices in designing and maintaining the
website, and developing a comprehensive digital presence through the current array of social
media platforms.

Three presenters all critical to the collaborative process (one lawyer, one facilitator, and one
neutral financial expert) discuss how this process is used to facilitate communication between
divorcing spouses and to problem solve issues raised in dissolution of marriage and other
matters in such a way as to both protect clients’ relationships with family and friends, while
enabling the two parties to create the foundation for their post-dissolution relationship with
each other. A comparison with the traditional court process will explain why the collaborative
process is usually preferable, both from the individual perspective, as well as from a societal
point of view.

This session will teach mediators: (1) iPhone and iPad apps for mediators in order to run a
more efficient mediation practice; (2) mediation technology to meet your clients’ needs; (3)
understanding the technology which lawyers are trying out in mediation before they try the
case; and (4) how to maintain your mediation documents on an iPad and have participants sign
the deal digitally on your iPad.

Because many mediators are engaged on the basis of their substantive knowledge in, or
familiarity with, a particular field and deal with the same attorneys and factual scenarios, their
mediations may become mechanical. This presentation will explore methods for conveying
interest in the process and the disputants’ well-being and enthusiasm to participants, focus on
the importance of opening statements for providing not only a procedural description but to
address anticipated questions from the ignorant disputant and hostility from the unreasonable
disputant, and ways to better engage the parties in the process through data collection.

For the benefit of mediators, family law attorneys and prospective parent coordinators, this
presentation will shed some light on the role and responsibilities of parent coordinators as they
pertain to working with parents who are struggling to co-parent and follow their parenting plan.
Most parents who are referred to work with a parent coordinator are usually in “high conflict”
and present for PC work after months or years of battling with an ex-spouse or partner. During
this presentation, we will address and problem-solve the common challenges and obstacles
that parent coordinators face in helping parents work through their conflict and learn to
effectively co-parent.

George Knox has utilized his talents for peacemaking to build a successful practice as a mediator, arbitrator, negotiator, and mentor. Long recognized as one of Miami's most respected business and community leaders, he was named one of Miami's 100 Most Powerful People. He has been designated a Legal Legend by the 11th Judicial Circuit Historical Society.

The Florida courts are leading the way in striving toward fairness in court operations. The Standing Committee on Fairness and Diversity was established to assist the courts in identifying and eliminating any bias based on race, gender, ethnicity, age, disability, financial status, or any characteristic that is without legal relevance. Our keynote speaker, The Honorable Scott Bernstein, Circuit Judge, Eleventh Judicial Circuit, serves as chair of the committee and will be speaking on the topic of Implicit Bias.

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