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Welcome to the Dispute Settlement Center
The Better Business Bureau Serving Upstate New York prides itself in maintaining a diverse and highly qualified roster of neutrals. All applicants are carefully screened by experienced BBB staff to ensure they possess the skills and experience necessary to maintain neutrality, manage the hearing process in compliance with our rules and are dedicated to upholding the ethical standards of the BBB.

*The following is a link to the nationally recognized American Bar Association Code of Ethics for Neutrals:
http://www.abanet.org/dispute/commercial_disputes.pdf
All BBB Neutrals agree to abide by this Code of Ethics.

* Disclaimer: This page contains links to sites maintained by other organizations. The BBB and ABA cannot attest to the accuracy of information provided by linked sites. Linking to a web site does not constitute an endorsement by the ABA or any of its employees of the sponsors of the site or the products presented on the site.

BBB Panel Members:
  • Ancowitz, Richard
  • Auberger, Thomas
  • Avery, Paul
  • Baker, Raymond (Bud)
  • Botticelli, Jason
  • Bylewski, Scott
  • Caruso, James
  • Cochran, Robert
  • Comstock, John
  • Coppola, Lisa
  • Dean, Robert
  • Dymond, Kenneth
  • Elkins, Keith
  • Ferlicca, John
  • Foltman, Philip
  • Gottlieb, Krista
  • Griffin, Richard
  • Halpern, Ralph
  • Hensley, Karen
  • Hoelscher, J. Gregory
  • Jenetti, Reynold
  • Karmen, Zach
  • Kempisty, Steven
  • Kyle, Cynthia
  • Leone, Michael
  • Levitan, Katherine
  • Lintner, Hermann
  • Manns, Katherine
  • Marranca, Mindy
  • Messinger, Bruce
  • Nortz, Scott
  • Osterreicher, Micky
  • Palen, David
  • Phillips, Nancy
  • Potts, Patricia
  • Saccomando Freedman, Maryann
  • Sciortino, Michael
  • Setel, Eugene
  • Snitzer, Carl
  • Taverni, Linda
  • Vero, Ronald
  • Walker-Cowart, Sherry
  • Williams, Henry
  • Wright, Orville Barrington

  • Ancowitz, Richard

    Richard received a B.A. from SUNY Rochester in 1979 and a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School in 1982. He currently serves on several ADR panels, including New York County Supreme Court, Commercial Part; Appellate Division, 3rd Department, Civil Appeals Settlement Program, Albany County City Court; American Arbitration Association, NASD, NY County Small Claims Division Richard is a member of the NY State Bar Association, The Florida Bar, and the Albany Bar Association.

    Auberger, Thomas

    Thomas is the founder of Auberger & Associates, Unemployement Tax Managment Service in Rochester, NY. Auberger and Associates workds to assist employers with temporary HR personnel, writing and updating policy and proceedure manuals, conferencing training and unemployment representation between the employer and the Department of Labor. He is currently a BBB Autoline Arbitrator. Thomas is also President of the Home Owners' Association.

    Avery, Paul

    Paul attended Georgetown University and Bucknell Univsersity before receiving his Juris Doctorate at the University at Buffalo Law School. He is currently an associate attorney at Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC, in Syracuse NY. He also does pro bono work with Onondaga County Volunteer Lawyers Project to resolve Landlord-Tenant disputes.

    Baker, Raymond (Bud)

    Bud received a BS in Biophysics from Yale University, a PhD in Biophysics from University of California at Berkeley in 1969 and completed Postdoctoral studies in Medical Genetics at the University of Toronto in 1970. He has completed over 30 hours of advanced dispute resolution training and currently sits on panels for the ADR Program of the 8h Judicial District, NYS Attorney General Lemon Law, Community Disputes Program of the Center for Resolution and Justice, USPS EEO Redress Program, Erie County Family Court Custody and Visitation, and the NYS Special Education Dept. Bud is a member of the Mediation Ethics Advisory Committee of the NYS unified Court System Office of ADR, the Labor and Employment Relations Assoc. of WNY, the NYS Dispute Resolution Association, the Association for Conflict Resolution, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and Sigma Xi – scientific research society

    Botticelli, Jason

    Jason received a BS from SUNY Buffalo in 1994 and a JD from SUNY Albany Law in 1997. He is a member of both the Erie County and American Bar Association. Jason is an attorney at the firm of Colucci-Gallaher, P.C. in Buffalo NY. He currently arbitrates for the BBB Auto Line Program and the NYS Fee Dispute Resolution Program

    Bylewski, Scott

    Scott received a BS from SUNY Buffalo in 1995, a MBA from SUNY Buffalo in 1995 and a JD from SUNY Buffalo Law School in 1998. He currently acts as Town Councilman in the Town of Clarence, NY. Scott began his alternative dispute resolution activities in 1998 and currently sits on panels for Center for Resolution and Justice, EEOC, Erie County Bar Association Fee Dispute Program (panel chair), Erie County department of Environment and Planning, Erie County Family Court, NYS Division of Housing and Community Renewal, NYS 8th Judicial District ADR Program, and NYS 8th Judicial District Matrimonial Fee Disputes (lead arbitrator). Scott was a past director of the Clarence Chamber of Commerce, past president of the NY Fraternal Congress, Erie County Democratic Committee – Judicial Screening Committee and a member of the New York Guard.

    Caruso, James

    James received a BS in Business Economics from Syracuse University-Utica College in 1978 and a JD from Union University – Albany Law School in 1981. He is admitted to practice law in NY Courts and Federal District Court Northern District of NY. James serves as an arbitrator for the Third Judicial District’s Attorney Client Fee Dispute program and is a Community Dispute Resolution Panelist. He is a member of the NY Civil and Criminal Bar Associations, the Albany County Bar Association and the Rensselaer County Bar Association. James is affiliated with the Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County as president elect, is a portfolio examiner at Excelsior College, and a member of the Legal Studies Program Curriculum Planning Committee at Hudson Valley Community College. James is also an adjunct professor at The Sage Colleges.

    Cochran, Robert

    Robert Cochran is a graduate of the University of Buffalo with a BS. in Social Work. He has been involved in alternative dispute resolution as a mediator and arbitrator for Better Business Bureau Dispute Settlement Center in Buffalo, NY. He is retired after serving as the Executive Director of Non-profit Organizations in Western NY for over 30 years. Robert serves on several boards, past president of Wesley Foundation and is affiliated with AARP.

    Comstock, John

    John received a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Maine, an M.A. in Labor Relations from Norwich University, a Certificate in Accounting from Humber College, and a Certificate in Dispute Resolution from Cornell University. He is currently a consultant in international trade and border security for Commonwealth Trading Partners of Alexandria Virginia. He retired from the federal government after thirty two years with the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Homeland Security. John currently serves on several panels including Matrimonial Property Separation, NYS Unified Court System Domestic Relations Fee Dispute Program, NY Lemon Law, BBB Auto Line, Child and Family Services Center for Dispute Resolution and Justice, and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. John is a member of the Association for Conflict Resolution and the New York State Dispute Resolution Association.

    Coppola, Lisa

    Lisa received a B.S. and J.D. from Syracuse University. She is currently a partner with Rupp, Baase, Pfalzgraf, Cunningham and Coppola LLC and is admitted to practice law in the courts of the State of NY, US District Court for the Western and Northern NY Districts, US Bankruptcy Court for the Western NY District, and the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. She is affiliated with the Erie County and NY Bar Associations and is a former board member of the NY Trial Lawyers Association. Lisa is a former board member of the American Cancer Society, is chairperson for the Ronald McDonald House of WNY, an advisory member of Kids Voting NY, a board member of Asian Connection WNY, Inc., vice-chair of the Amherst Community Church Child Care Center and a member of Altrusa International

    Dean, Robert

    Robert is currently the president of The Dean Law Firm, P.C., where he works an attorney, arbitrator and mediator. He recieved his Juris Doctorate, Masters in Business Administration, and Bachelors in Business Administration from SUNY Buffalo. He has over twenty-five years experience as a civil trial lawyer. He has been an arbitrator for the AAA since 1992 and NASD since 2003. Robert also served in the United States Military from 1966-1669.

    Dymond, Kenneth

    Kenneth received a BA from SUNY Binghamton in 1972, a JD from Brooklyn Law School in 1975 and an MPA from SUNY Albany – Rockefeller School of Public Affairs and Policy in 1995. He began his alternative dispute resolution career with a Conflict Management Training from Cornell University in 1998 and a program on negotiation at Harvard Law School in 1999. He currently serves as the senior attorney for the US Department of Transportation, Northeast Region. Kenneth currently sits on panels for the National Association of Securities Dealers, DeMars and Associate’s Recreational Vehicle Manufacturers Warranty Program, the US Department of Transportations employment discrimination program and the Better Business Bureau Autoline Panel.

    Elkins, Keith

    Keith received a BA from the University of Illinois in 1958, an MEd from the University of Illinois in 1962 and his PhD in Educational Psychology from the University of Chicago in 1968. He began his mediation and arbitration skills with the BBB Dispute Settlement Center over 10 years ago, and now sits on panels for Center for Resolution and Justice and NYS CQC Surrogate Decision Making. Keith also serves as a founding member of the Practices and Policies Committee of the Center for Resolution and Justice and is a panel member of their Neighborhood Accountability Board. His professional affiliations include SUNY Empire State College Greater Buffalo Counseling Center – board member, Buffalo Ensemble Theater – past board chair, Shakespeare in Delaware Park – past board chair, and acts as a NYS Court appointed Special Advocate.

    Ferlicca, John

    John attended Cornell University, the College of William and Mary and recieved his law degree from the State University of Buffalo. He is currently the Deputy Chili Town Supervisor. John is a partner at the law firm of Ferlicca and D'Arpino that engages in general civil practice. He is also a part-time Town Prosecutor for the town of Greece. John was a BBB Autoline Arbitrator. He has had five years of service as an arbitrator for the Seventh Judicial Districts Small Claims Assessment Review Program.

    Foltman, Philip

    Philip is a construction profession. He has recieved a degree in engineerring. At Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations he recieved his mediation and arbitrations certificate.

    Gottlieb, Krista

    Krista received a BA in Political Science from Barnard College in 1976 and a JD from SUNY Albany Law School in 1979. Krista is currently a partner with Mattar, D’Agostino and Gottlieb LLP, focusing on wide ranging civil, employment, consumer, contractual, corporate and commercial negotiation, mediation and arbitration services. She has served as a neutral for over 16 years for the American Arbitration Association, WDNY Court Mediators, National Arbitration Forum, EEOC, NY State Division of human Rights, National Association of Securities Dealers, Eighth Judicial District ADR panel, Eighth Judicial District Commercial Division Panel, Eighth Judicial District Fee Dispute Panel, Erie County Bar Association Neutrals Panel, BBB, Center for Resolution and Justice Family Court panel and US postal Service Redress Program. Krista is a member of Association for Conflict Resolution, WNY Association for Divorce and Family Mediators, NY State Dispute Resolution Association, NY Bar Association, Erie County Bar Association as co-chair of the WDNY ADR Program development subcommittee, the Eighth Judicial District ADR program subcommittee, the Women’s Bar Association, American Association of University Women, Judges and Lawyers Breast Cancer alert and the National Association of Female Executives. Krista is also bilingual.

    Griffin, Richard

    Mr. Griffin, counsel to Kavinoky Cook LLP, attorneys at law, is an experienced arbitrator having dealt with a broad spectrum of disputes-commercial, business, institutional, construction and personal injury, Contract interpretation and enforcement; dissolution of an accounting firm; valuation of a business, services for an automobile dealership, credit card disputes with bank, payment of royalties, shareholder buyout; liability, causation, economic and non-economic damages in personal injury disputes, are examples of his experience. As an Adjunct Professor at SUNY Buffalo Law School, he taught the ADR class from '00-'06 with concentration on the substantive and procedural aspects of arbitration. Member of the commercial panel of arbitrators of the American Arbitration Association. He is listed in the Best Lawyers in America in the fields of Alternative Dispute Resolution, and Commercial and Personal injury litigation; and is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

    Halpern, Ralph

    Ralph received a JD from SUNY Buffalo Law School in 1953. He is admitted to practice in NY Courts, US Court of Military Appeals, US District Court – Western and Southern Districts of NY, US Supreme Court and US Court of Appeals Second Circuit. Ralph is a member of the NY Bar Association, Erie County Bar Association, American Bar Association, American Judiciary Society, American Law Institute and the Buffalo Council on World Affairs. He is past president of Buffalo Council on World Affairs, past president of Temple Beth Zion, former chairman of the Buffalo chapter of the American Jewish Committee, past board of governors of the Jewish Federation of Greater Buffalo, and serves as president of the Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Buffalo

    Hensley, Karen

    Karen graduated from Fordham University with a BA in Literature. She then earned her law degree from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. She practiced law at Schwartz & Perry in New York, NY. She specialized in all aspects of employment law such as discrimination and sexual harassment. She has broad-based experience in NASD arbitration and litigation. Karen has conducted many mediations with JAMS-Enddispute in Manhattan.

    Hoelscher, J. Gregory

    J. Gregory received his Juris Doctorate from the State University of NY at Buffalo and his Bachelors in Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame. Since 1983 he has worked at several respected law firms in Buffalo, NY. In 2005 he started his own law firm, The Law Offices of J. Gregory Hoelscher. He specializes in person injury litigation, civil litigation and private arbitration. He was also selected as trial counsel to Buffalo Professional Firefighters Association for arbitration matters.

    Jenetti, Reynold

    Reynold received a B.S. in Business from SUNY Buffalo in 1974, a dual Masters in Education and School Administration from Canisius College in 1989. He has been involved in alternative dispute resolution since 1979 when he became a negotiator/mediator/arbitrator for Alpha Consulting Services. Reynold also sits on Erie County Bar Association Arbitration Panel, CETA New York Mediation Board, Mediates for EEOC and served as District Negotiator for Lackawanna City Schools. Reynold’s professional affiliations are with Labor and Employment Relations Association, Canisius College, SUNY Alumni, Golf Coaches Association of America and Mid-Atlantic Rifle Coaches Association.

    Karmen, Zach

    Zach is a 1984 graduate of Syracuse University School of Law and has been a municipal attorney in Onondaga County for the past 23 years. As a municipal attorney, he is responsible for interpretation and implementation of employment and other contracts, as well as New York labor laws and civil service laws affecting the county and its employees. He has been a member and/or chair of the Onondaga County Labor management committee. Additionally he is a contributing author to three Westlaw publications on various labor subjects including the National Labor Relations Board, age discrimination and employment law. He is an experienced arbitrator, active on panels for the Better Business Bureau and Syracuse City Court.

    Kempisty, Steven

    Steven recieved his bachelor's degree from SUNY Fredonia, then went on take masters courses in International Studies at SUNY Binghamton before receiving his law degree at the Massachusetts School of Law at Andover. In 1999 he completed a Divorce Mediation Program at Syracuse University. He is currently the Coordinator of Paralegal Studies at Bryant and Stratton in Liverpool, NY. He also works as an independent lawyer for select cases in Upstate NY. He has been trained in alternative dispute resolution by the Syracuse City Housing Court, the BBB autoline program and the Securities Exchange Commission. He currently sits on a NASD arbitration panel.

    Kyle, Cynthia

    Cynthia received her education and training from Cornell University. She has mediated/arbitrated hundreds of disputes as an involved panelist for: Center for Dispute Settlement, Monroe County Bar Association Fee Dispute Program, Monroe County Supreme Court ADR Program, NYS UCS CDRC Program, NYS Agriculture, Special Education, Lemon Law and Labor Programs, City of Rochester Housing Arbitration, City of Rochester Police Conciliation Program, Victim Offender Mediation, AMA, 7th Judicial District Domestic Fee Arbitration Program, Division of Human Rights, Eastman Kodak, Catholic Diocese of Rochester, and Rochester Family Courts PINS Program.

    Leone, Michael

    Michael earned his Juris Doctorate from the State University of New York at Buffalo after earning his bachelors science in education from SUNY Brockport. He is currently a partner at Harris Chesworth, O'Brien, Johnstone, Welch & Leone LLP where he specializes in corporate and individual clients in the area of civil litigation. He serves as Deputy Town Attorney for the Town of Irondequoit. Michael also teaches courses in the Paralegal Studies Department at Bryant and Stratton. Micheal is an arbitrator for the Better Business Bureau where he resolves disputes between members and consumers participates in the BBB Autoline program.

    Levitan, Katherine

    Katherine is currently an Arbitrator for NASD, New York State Lemon Law Prgrogram and a Mediator for Common Ground at Mediation Matters. She has been a trained arbitrator for over twenty-five years. She received her training at the Cornell Univesity Institue for labor relations, the University of Albany Law School and the National Association of Auto Dealers. She is an active member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution community in the Albany area and has also worked in Nassau County Long Island.

    Lintner, Hermann

    Hermann has extensive mediation and arbitration experience with over 150 cases heard. He received a BS in Mathematics and Physics from Ursinus College in PA, an SM in Meteorology from MIT and received 60 credit hours of study in pre PhD courses at Cornell University. Hermann currently sits on the AAA panel of neutrals as well as the NYS Lemon Law and BBB Auto Line panels. He has been elected to his local and regional Board of Education and serves as Board VP of the Law Order and Justice Center in Schenectady. Hermann maintains professional affiliations with the Association for Conflict Resolution, American Arbitration Association, Association for Computing Machinery and the American Meteorological Society.

    Manns, Katherine

    Katherine received an AAS from Hilbert in 1986 and a BA from SUNY Buffalo in 1993. She is currently a paralegal and litigation support manager for Phillips Lytle LLP and an adjunct faculty at Hilbert. Katherine serves as a panelist for the Center for Resolution and justice and the BBB Auto Line and Member arbitration programs. She is affiliated with the Western New York’s Paralegal Association serving as a board member, and former president.

    Marranca, Mindy

    Mindy attended Colgate University before receiving her law degree from the State University of New York School of Law in Buffalo. She currently works as a sole practitioner focusing on matrimonial and family related law. She is a certified mediator and Autoline arbitrator. She also serves as an adjunct faculty member at the State of New York University at Buffalo School of Law.

    Messinger, Bruce

    Bruce received a BS in Labor Relations from SUNY Buffalo. Currently working for the NY State Division of Human Rights, he sits on the NY State Special Education Panel, Community Dispute Resolution Panel, NYS CQC Surrogate Decision Making Panel, BBB Auto Line, NY Lemon Law, Erie County Fee Dispute and Commercial Resolution programs. Bruce is affiliated with the NY State Dispute Resolution association and Delta Sigma Pi – Professional Business Fraternity.

    Nortz, Scott

    Scott received his Juris Doctor from Case Western Reserve Univeristy Law School. He is currently and associate counsel for the New York State Worker's Compensation Board. He was also a county judge in Lewis County in 2002. He has participated in arbitrations locally and has gained a great deal of experience as a trial lawyer.

    Osterreicher, Micky

    Micky received a BS in Photojournalism/Photography from SUNY Buffalo in 1973 and a JD from SUNY Buffalo Law School in 1998. He is currently admitted to practice in US Supreme Court, Federal Court Western District and NY Courts. He serves as a commentator and contributor for several national news organizations including ABC World News Tonight, Nightline, Good Morning America, PrimeTime Live, NBC Nightly News, People, Newsweek, NY Times, USA Today, New York Daily News, Philadelphia Inquirer and Washington Star. Micky is affiliated with the Media-Government Relations Committee of the National Press Photographers Association as chairman, is a member of the NY State Bar, and is an adjunct professor at SUNY Buffalo and UB Law School.

    Palen, David

    David received a BA from Alfred University and has an MS in Public Administration from Sage Graduate School. He is currently Director of a Juvenile Justice Diversion program in Onondaga County. He received certification in ADR through the Cornell School of Industrial and Labor Relations. His experience in arbitration includes New York State Lemon Law, Better Business Bureau Autoline and Commercial arbitration, Fee Dispute arbitration and community arbitration. He also has training and certification in custody/visitation mediation, family mediation, parent/child mediation, and community mediation. He is affiliated with New Justice Services Inc. and The Center for Dispute Settlement.

    Phillips, Nancy

    Nancy is the Operations Director at New Justice Conflict Resolution Services, in Syracuse, New York. She is directly responsible for the operation and supervision of all of the programming in a four county region. She has been a mediator and arbitrator for over a decade with specialized training in lemon law arbitration, fee dispute arbitration, custody/visitation mediation, family mediation, special education mediation, and divorce mediation. Nancy is currently an arbitrator for the New York State Lemon Law Program and for the Fifth Judicial District’s Fee Dispute Arbitration Program. She received her B.S. in Business Administration from SUNY Empire College.

    Potts, Patricia

    Patricia received a BS from Cornell University, MBA from Clemson University and a JD from SUNY Buffalo. She is the President of Harbison Bros. Inc., a third generation steel drum reconditioner and distributor which is WBE and Hub Zone certified. She has over 120 hours of training in ADR. Patricia is an arbitrator for FINRA (formerly NASD), the 8th Judicial District Domestic Relation Fee Dispute Panel, the USDA Panel, and CDRC Panel. She is a mediator maned to 8th Judicial District's Court roster of Neutrals for commercial and non-personal injury matters as well as for parenting issues in Matrimonial and Family Court matters. Patricia is currently the Chair of the Erie County Bar Association’s ADR Committee and a member of the NYS Bar Association ADR Committee, and a member of the ABA Dispute Resolution Section. She is affiliated with the UB Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and has mentored businesses with the Allstate/UB Minority and Women Entrepreneurial Program, Industrial Relations Research Association and the New York State Dispute Resolution Association.

    Saccomando Freedman, Maryann

    Maryann received a J.D. from SUNY Buffalo in 1958. She has been arbitrating since 1985, when she became a panelist for the AAA. Maryann also sits as a hearing referee for the Judicial Conduct Commission and is a founder and panelist of the Alliance for Dispute Resolution. She is affiliated with New York State and Erie County Bar Associations, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Women’s Committee, the Association of Italian American Women and the United Way. Currently "of counsel" with the law firm of Cohen & Lombardo, Maryann served as President of both the Erie County and New York State Bar Associations. Among the many honors and awards she has received: the New York State Bar Association's Ruth G. Schapiro Award, Erie County Bar Association "Lawyer of the Year," the Westchester Legal Services Award, the Hilbert College "Fellows Medal," the Interclub Council "Susan B. Anthony Award," the Women Lawyers' "Career Achievement Award," and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra's "Woman of the Year." The University of Buffalo and the University's Law School have each honored her as a "Distinguished Alumnus" and the "Buffalo News" named her an "Outstanding Citizen of 1986." In 2001, she was inducted into the Western New York Women's Hall of Fame. The New York State Bar Foundation named a Circle of Giving after Ms. Freedman in 2006.

    Sciortino, Michael

    The Honorable Michael A. Sciortino is a Justice for the Parma Town Court in Monroe County and has served in that capacity since January, 2001. He has presided over thousands of criminal and civil matters. He is also a trial lawyer and associated with Chamberlain D'Amanda Oppenheimer & Greenfield LLP. Judge Sciortino was recently appointed by the Monroe County Magistrate's Association as a Liaison to the Supervising Judges of the Town and Village Courts in the 7th Judicial District. He recieved his JD from Albany Law School of Union Univeristy. He is active in the community coaching the Hilton High School Mock Trial Team and the President of the American Inns of Court.

    Setel, Eugene

    Eugene M. Setel, a partner in the law firm of Borins, Setel, Snitzer and Brownstein, has been practicing law in the Buffalo area for over 50 years. He graduated from Union College and received his J.D. degree from Harvard Law School after serving in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Gene is presently the President of the International Institute of Buffalo, vice-president of the foundation for Jewish Philanthropies and a member of the boards of the Weinberg Campus and the Holocost Resource Center of Buffalo. Professionally he is a member of the New York State Bar Assn. and is a past Chairman of its Committee on Legal Education and Admission to the Bar. He is an active arbitrator and mediator for the American Arbitration Association and the National Association of Security Dealers. He arbitrates Lemon Law cases and mediates Special Educations Disputes.

    Snitzer, Carl

    Hon. Carl E. Snitzer conducted a substantial number and wide variety of evidentiary hearings during his long service as a New York State Administrative Law Judge, a position from which he retired in 2005. Prior to his employment, he practiced law in Utica, NY, during which he voluntarily served as an arbitrator is several AAA proceedings involving the construction industry, employment rights, and uninsured motorists disputes. Judge Snitzer also has substantial prior experience (and a keen continuing interest) in Urban & Regional Planning, having also been employed as a professional planner by both municipal planning offices and private consultant and real estate development firms. Among his current community interests is active service to the United Way of Buffalo & Erie County, the Weinberg Campus, and the Amherst Center for Senior Citizens. He is a member of the Erie County Bar Association and both the National and New York State Associations of Administrative Law Judges.

    Taverni, Linda

    Linda received a BA in Economics from SUNY Rochester in 1972 and a J.D. from Albany Law School in 1980. She has been admitted to the NYS Supreme Court Third Division and all NY Districts of the US District Court. Linda is affiliated with the NYS Bar Association, Capital District Women’s Bar Association, NAACT, ABI and NARCA, she was also a founding member of the Capital District’s Bankruptcy Bar Association.

    Vero, Ronald

    Trained in General Mediation, General Arbitration, NYS Lemon Law, Divorce Mediation, Custody/Visitation Mediation, Environmental/Public Policy Mediation, Fee Dispute Arbitration and many other categories, Ron has mediated and/or arbitrated over 500 disputes since 1995. Ron received a BS in Electrical Engineering from Notre Dame in 1969, an MBA from Rensselear Polytechnic Institute in 1976, a Certificate in Regulatory Economics from SUNY Albany in 1992 and a Certificate in Conflict Studies from Cornell University. Ron is a member of many dispute resolution panels, including NASD Mediation and Arbitration, EEOC Mediation, Albany Policy Review Board Mediation, US Dept. of Agriculture Mediation, US Postal Service Redress Mediation, NYS Lemon Law Arbitration, NYS Attorney Fee Dispute Arbitration, NYS Stock Exchange Mediation and Arbitration and National Futures Association Mediation and Arbitration. Ron’s professional affiliations include the NYSRA – board member, Public Employees Federation – board member, Mediation Matters – board member, Julia O. Wells Memorial Education Foundation – board member and Capital District Football Officials Association – board member.

    Walker-Cowart, Sherry

    Sherry received a bachelor’s degree and Master of Science degree from Keuka College, and a Master of Arts degree from SUNY Brockport. She has completed numerous courses and trainings in a variety of mediation and arbitration programs. She is President and CEO of the Center for Dispute Settlement covering the eight county region of the 7th Judicial District in Western New York and provides mediation and/or arbitration for Monroe County Supreme Court, Community Programs, Lemon Law, Employee-Supervisor disputes, City of Rochester Housing Arbitration, City of Rochester and Monroe County Law Enforcement Civilian Oversight, Domestic Fee Arbitration Program, Eastman Kodak, Family Court Child Custody and Visitation, BBB Autoline, BBB Commercial Mediation and a panelist with the American Arbitration Association. She is also a mediator and national trainer with the United States Postal Service.

    Williams, Henry

    Henry is the founder and a partner of the Williams Law Offices in Rochester NY. His work is centered around corporate, securities, real property law and estates. He attended Dartmouth College then recieved his law degree from the University of Virginia. He also served in the U.S. Navy. Henry is currently a Wheatland Town Board member. He is a current arbitrator for both the BBB and the Monroe County City Court. He has also done work for the Dispute Settlement Center in Rochester. Henry is bilingual speaking both English and French.

    Wright, Orville Barrington

    Orville is currently President/CEO of Wright Enterprises, LLC. Wright Enterprises works with federal and state agencies specializeing in providing mediation, facilitation, coaching, arbitration, business and human consulting services. He has extensive arbitration and mediation training with organizations such as The National Center for Dispute Settlement, New York Stock Exchange and the National Association of Securities Dealers. He currently sits on eight mediation pannels. Orville recieved a bachelor and masters degree in Business Administration from Columbia Southern University. He is currently based out of Alabaster, Alabama.


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