Dr. Bernie Tracy has had an eclectic career, blessing her with experiences in the cultural work worlds of higher education, corporate America, state/federal governments, and community organization development. Most recently, Dr. Tracy has concentrated on sharing, strengthening, and broadening her knowledge and skills in interpersonal communications, mediation, and negotiation processes. She is a practicing organizational and personal consultant/ coach, mediator, and facilitator/trainer. 

She is currently is a member of: Advisory Board of Office of the Aging, Advisory Board of Relatives as Parents Program(RAAP), Advisory Board of Family Court Child Care Center, Member of Court Improvement Project, Member of National Association of Professional Women, Board Member of NYSDRA since 2018. She is a former member of the New York State CASA Board where she served from 2013 to 2015.

Niki is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in New York State and is certified nationally with the National Board of Certified Counselors. She holds a Certification in Biomedical Ethics and is a Certified Anger Resolution Therapist. She worked as an administrator of Alzhiemer's Facilities and as a Long Term Care consultant and is a nationally published author in the area of abuse investigation in long term

care facilities. 

Kim has been Director of Ontario/Yates Counties for the Center for Dispute Settlement since 2007. A non-practicing attorney, Kim mediates Community, Custody and Visitation, Parent/Teen, Divorce and Special Education cases for the Center. She has facilitated organizational strategic planning and board retreats for non-profits and has extensive non-profit board experience. She is a UCS certified Basic Mediation Trainer, and also provides training in Restorative Practices, Communication and Conflict Management and Leadership Development.

Jonathan has a BS in Accounting, Masters Degree in Business Administration and an Advanced Certificate in Financial Management and Analysis from SUNY Empire State. He has held multiple leadership positions in accounting over the past 15 years with 8 of those years specifically focused on non-profits and grant funding. Currently he is the Vice-President of Finance and Accounting for Prestige Hospitality Group. Jonathan has always been an active supporter of the practice of mediation as a conflict resolution tool.

Donna began her career at the Dispute Resolution Center (DRC) in 1991, held various positions and has been the Executive Director since 2015. During this time she was involved in the development and implementation of the majority of new programs and contracts. Donna has been a certified Mediator since 1994. Prior to the DRC, Donna was a Federal Employee at West Point Military Academy for 22 years.

She is currently is a member of: Advisory Board of Office of the Aging, Advisory Board of Relatives as Parents Program(RAAP), Advisory Board of Family Court Child Care Center, Member of Court Improvement Project, Member of National Association of Professional Women, Board Member of NYSDRA since 2018. She is a former member of the New York State CASA Board where she served from 2013 to 2015.

Jackie retired in 2012 as Secretary of the New York State Public Service Commission after completing a 34-year career as a utility regulator and is now an impartial hearing officer for the New York State Department of Education for special education hearings. She also serves on the Presumptive Mediator Panel and as an arbitrator for the 3rd and 4th NYS Supreme Court Judicial Districts, and is a consulting attorney on energy and environmental matters. Jackie involves herself in volunteer community mediation and restorative justice issues.

Denise Ellison is a CDRC mediator. She apprenticed with the Westchester Rockland Mediation Center, served as a volunteer mediator with the IMCR in the Bronx, and received her basic training in mediation from The New York Peace Institute in 2013. An African-American passionate about racial justice, Denise is excited about the enormous potential for community mobilization to facilitate racial healing. Denise’s experience includes tenure as a Deputy Commissioner for Public Affairs-NYS Division of Human Rights.

Wilma Jozwiak is a former trainer for Special Education Mediators in New York State and former coordinator of statewide activities for the NYS OSEP State Improvement Grant. As a former long-time consultant to NYSDRA, her expertise was key to program expansion and improvement. Ms. Jozwiak is a former Adjunct Instructor at the College of Saint Rose and volunteers her time on a number of area

boards of directors. 

Love is a peacebuilding and conflict transformation practitioner. Prior to launching the global consulting firm, Unsiloed, she was the inaugural Associate Dean of Conflict Resolution at Cornell University where she developed policies and programs that use ADR tools and bias monitoring data to respond to bias incidents and community crisis. Prior, she trained hundreds of Peace Corps volunteers pre-deployment and consulted with the United Nations Development Programs in Africa, the Middle East, and the United States. Leading with extensive interdisciplinary experiences, Love is passionate about driving systemic change, foster learning, facilitating dialogue, that redefines human relations, and promotes inclusion. A mediation professor at NYU, Love serves on several boards and initiatives.

Shira May is the Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Dispute Settlement, Rochester, New York. Dr. May was previously Executive Director at Partners In Restorative Initiatives (PiRI), where she managed a vital community organization that helps build relationships, strengthen communities, and repair harm in schools, community organizations, and the criminal justice system.

Ms. Ritchie is a former member of the NYSDRA Staff, and brings a good understanding of and

appreciation for the role of ADR in our communities. She has an extensive background in association management, event planning, and volunteer coordination. Alison is the former Director of Member Services & Event Planning and Director of Operations at NYACS. She resides in the Albany area and looks forward to the opportunity to support the field once again as a member of the Board of Directors.

Niki's mediation experience began in California working with the early development of Community Mediation Programs where she developed Small Claims Mediation for The City of Santa Maria. Since her move to New York in 1999 she has served as a volunteer mediator, earning the honor of the Orange County Dispute Resolution Center’s Richard Ramlow Award, The Orange County Legislature’s Distinguished Community Service Award and the NYSDRA President’s Award for Co- development of the ‘Collaborative Governing Program’. She serves as a Lemon Law and Attorney Fee arbitrator. Niki is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and is certified with the National Board of Certified Counselors. She holds Certifications in Biomedical Ethics, Strategic Intervention Coaching, Anger Resolution Therapy, has served as administrator of Alzhiemer's Facilities and is a nationally published author on ‘Abuse Investigation In Long Term Care Facilities’. Niki feels honored to serve as a NYSDRA Board member.

Gregg has served as a trainer and mediator for the Long Island Dispute Resolution Centers for over a decade, providing in service training for EAC mediators on culture and how it can impact the mediation process.

Additionally, Gregg brings over 10 years of experience in higher education as an adjunct professor. He has taught undergraduate and graduate courses (in-person and online) in marketing and management disciplines, with a focus on the importance of communication skills and management leadership development. 

Gregg has a BA in Cultural Anthropology with a minor in Sociology, a Master of Science in Restorative Practices, and an MBA. He also holds a leadership certificate from Adelphi University and is a licensed trainer for circles by the International Institute of Restorative Practices.