While we had many great programs and successes this past year, our crowning achievement was our 31st Annual Mediation Conference where our theme was “The 21st Century Mediator: Take Your Practice to the Next Level.” We had nearly 300 individuals in attendance and were graced with keynote speeches from two foundational leaders in our field – Professor Carrie Menkel-Meadow, recipient of the L. Randolph Lowry Award, and Professor Leonard Riskin, recipient of the Cloke-Millen Peacemaker Award. We also had an inspiring speech from Sarai Benitez, the inaugural recipient of the Kids Managing Conflicts Young Peacemaker Award.

Our conference would not have been possible without the support of our sponsors and partners, including our lead and educational sponsors and partners – the American Arbitration Association (AAA), the Negotiations, Conflict Resolution & Peace Program at California State University – Dominguez Hills, the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University School of Law, the USC Gould School of Law Center for Dispute Resolution, the American Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section, Mediate.com, and the Academy of Professional Family Mediators. Thanks to each of you for your contributions! We also thank our Mediation Fair participants!

We had several great workshops, including our Advanced Track session facilitated by our lead conference partner and sponsor the American Arbitration Association. The Advanced Track focused on the seven (7) specific mediator behaviors and techniques that parties and advocates find most appealing and effective. The AAA rounded out the discussion at our Closing Plenary session featuring AAA Vice Presidents Harold Coleman and Michael Powell, Ken Cloke, Professor Menkel-Meadow, Professor Riskin, and SCMA Board Members Susan Guthrie and Ana Sambold.

Our other workshop presenters were well-prepared and presented on topics designed to help mediators grow their practices. Among the presenters were our sister organizations Kids Managing Conflict (KMC) and MC3. KMC updated us on their work in developing peer mediation programs at our local schools and reminded us of the importance of creating peacemakers at an early age.

In addition to announcing its official launch, MC3 provided attendees an update on the mediation certification process and what to expect for the future. SCMA is proud to be MC3’s partner in delivering the “Litigation Nuts and Bolts” course in support of the MC3 certification. We had the first session of this course on November 16, 2019 at USC Gould School of Law. Many thanks to past SCMA Past President Phyllis Pollack for serving as the lead instructor for this course, supported by Richard Peterson, Director of the USC Gould School of Law Center for Dispute Resolution program. We encourage you to continue to support the work of both KMC and MC3.

We are hard at work planning a great series of programs for you for 2020, including our 3rd Annual Family Mediation Conference which will take place a bit earlier this year on February 28 and 29, 2020 in Costa Mesa. Forrest “Woody” Mosten will be the keynote speaker for this event!

2019 Conference Highlights

View & Download the High Resolution Photos Here

Dear SCMA Colleagues:

The fall season is here and brings with it many possibilities and opportunities to end the year on a high note! This has been a great year of growth and new opportunities for SCMA, shaped in large part by your responses to the Membership Survey we conducted earlier this year. We have reviewed and processed the survey results and are happy to share a summary of the results with you. View survey results below!

As a result of your responses to the survey, we have developed a 4-point action plan that includes:

1. In 2020, develop a new website (with an enhanced backend administrative infrastructure) that is easier to navigate and provides more value to our members;
2. Deliver more programming online and via webinars;
3. Continue to develop programs that assist members in developing their skills, build their practices, and that provide networking opportunities; and
4. Grow and enhance member benefits.

We also considered your survey responses in planning our 31st Annual Mediation Conference on November 1-2, 2019 at the L.A. Grand Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. This year’s conference and theme is all about YOU – “The Twenty-First Century Mediator: Take Your Practice to the Next Level!”

Here are just a few reasons you should plan to attend the conference:

• To gain the latest insights, tools, and skills for developing and growing your mediation practice from some of the top leaders and professionals in the field.
• Our sister organization the Mediator Certification Consortium of California (MC3) will educate attendees on the application process and the specific requirements attendees will need to get certified when MC3 launches later this Fall. View workshop here. SCMA congratulates MC3 on the launch of its new website, where you can obtain more information on certification.
• The opportunity to hear from two of the top thought leaders and influencers in the mediation field – Professor Carrie Menkel-Meadow, the 2019 L. Randolph Lowry Award Recipient, and Professor Leonard Riskin, the creator of the Riskin Mediation Grid and the 2019 Cloke-Millen Award Recipient.
• Our Advanced Track, led by the American Arbitration Association (AAA), which will focus on the seven (7) mediator behaviors and techniques that parties, and advocates find both appealing and unappealing, effective and less effective, based on cutting-edge studies.
• Workshop presentations from the mediation and dispute resolution leaders from three leading universities – California State University, Dominguez Hills – Negotiations, Conflict Resolution & Peace Program; Pepperdine University School of Law – Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution; and the USC Gould School of Law – Judge Judith O. Hollinger Program in Alternative Dispute Resolution.
• Our sister organization Kids Managing Conflict (KMC) will present on peer mediation and restorative justice in our K-12 schools, along with their annual silent auction and wine pull fundraiser. View Workshop Here.
• Available MCLE Credits.
• Networking with other mediation and dispute resolution professionals.
• Preparing to take your mediation practice to the next level in 2020!
• A great location, with great food and convenient parking.

If you have not had a chance to register for the conference, be sure to take advantage of our Early Bird rates which will end on October 15, 2019!

Become a sponsor, exhibitor, or provide swag for the conference bags!!

In closing, I would like to thank longtime SCMA friend and colleague Lee Jay Berman for being the featured speaker for our SCMA “How I Made It” webinar on September 13, 2019. Lee Jay provided excellent insights for developing and growing our mediation practices. Many thanks to SCMA Board Member Richard Erhard for moderating the webinar, and to SCMA Member and former Executive Director Anne Sawyer for facilitating the technology for the webinar. To purchase and view the webinar, along with past SCMA “How I Made It” and other webinars, click here.

I look forward to seeing each of you at the 31st Annual Mediation Conference! Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or comments at angela@reddocklaw.com or (213) 996-8474.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your SCMA President.

Yours in service,
Angela Reddock-Wright, Esq.
SCMA President 2019

Membership Survey Results

Get downloadable version here.

Dear SCMA Colleagues:

I hope you found time to reenergize and rejuvenate over the summer and to spend time with family and friends. The last quarter of the year is upon us and SCMA is ready! Here are a few updates to ensure you are ready for your fall with SCMA.

First, a few kudos to our SCMA Members:

• Thank you to SCMA Board Members Terri Breer and Susan Guthrie as well as Laura McGee for your leadership in planning our 2nd Annual Family Mediation Institute. From the speakers to the exhibitors, this event was amazing and is quickly becoming one of the top family law mediation programs around.
• Thank you SCMA Board Member Mitch Tarighati and past SCMA Board Member David Levaton for continuing to lead our SCMA Mentorship Program. We are excited to have nine students in our current mentorship co-hort.
• Thank you to SCMA Members Doug Spoors and Marvin Whistler for chairing our Annual Summer Soiree at the Proud Bird. We had a great time celebrating our former Executive Director Anne Sawyer and networking with fellow SCMA members and friends.
• Congratulations to SCMA Past President Forrest “Woody” Mosten on his well-deserved Life Time Achievement Award from the Academy of Professional Family Mediators.
• Kudos to SCMA Board Member Ana Sambold on her recent invitation by the Singapore government to join in the Signing Ceremony of the Singapore Convention on Mediation which took place in August.
• Thank you to SCMA Member Cherry Destura for her vision in starting our first weekend Professional Development Group in Long Beach. The inaugural meeting was a great success.

Be sure to place the following SCMA events on your calendar:

• September 13, 2019 – “How I Made It” Webinar Episode #2, featuring Master Mediator Lee Jay Berman and hosted by SCMA Board Member & Program Committee Chair Richard Erhard. To learn more and to register, click here.
• November 1 & 2, 2019 – 31st SCMA Annual Conference. To take advantage of Early Bird registrations, click here. We look forward to honoring professors Carrie Menkel-Meadow and Leonard Riskin and having the American Arbitration Association lead our Advanced Track workshop for a second year. General workshop and other announcements will be made soon!
• September 15, 2019 – SCMA Board of Directors Election – The Board nominations period has closed. Thank you to everyone who accepted a nomination to run for the board. Please be on the lookout for the election ballot and plan to make your membership count by voting. (Members Only!)
• Professional Development Groups (PDGs) – Of course, we encourage you to continue to attend and support our PDG’s at locations near you in Downtown Los Angeles, Long Beach, Orange County, Sherman Oaks, South Bay Los Angeles/Manhattan Beach, Ventura/Camarillo, and West Los Angeles. To find a PDG near you, click here.

SCMA is Hiring!

On a final note, SCMA is recruiting for an Administrative Assistant. Please have any interested candidates email an interest letter and resume to President-Elect Andy Shelby and me to info@scmediation.org.

I look forward to seeing each of you at the 31st Annual Conference! Enjoy these last few days of summer, and please do hesitate to contact me with any questions or comments at angela@reddocklaw.com or (213) 996-8474. I continue to be grateful for the opportunity to serve as your SCMA President.

Yours in service,
Angela Reddock-Wright
SCMA President 2019