Sponsored by Iowa Collaborative Divorce
In the realm of collaboration, where diverse minds meet to forge new paths, the Unicorn Synergy conference stands as a beacon of innovation, unity, and imagination. Inspired by the mythical unicorn, known for its purity, strength, and the belief that it can only be tamed by the pure of heart, this conference theme emphasizes the power of purity in intentions, strength in diversity, and the magical outcomes of genuine collaboration. Also, what other theme would you expect from your Iowa Unicorns?!
Our enchanted herd of highly experienced Collaborative Practice professional presenters is designed to stimulate creative thinking and innovative problem-solving, using the unicorn as a metaphor for achieving the seemingly impossible through collaboration.
"Unicorn Synergy: Innovating Collaboration in a Mythical Realm" is more than just a theme; it's a call to all innovators, thinkers, and dreamers to come together, harnessing the mythical power of the unicorn to transform collaboration into a magical force that can bring about real-world change for our clients and our communities.
8:45-9:45 AM - Pioneering Collaborative Divorce Case Management from the Unicorns of Triangle Financial Services - Triangle Financial, Kendra Erkamaa, Lucas Kane & Bailey Davis
9:45-10:45 AM - Even Unicorns Have Sorrow: The Trauma-Informed Collaborator - Kimberly Stamatelos, Attorney, Mediator and Author
10:45 AM MORNING BREAK
11:00 AM-12:00 PM - Collaborative Law Beyond Divorce - Marc Sheridan & Paul Faxon, Global Collaborative Law Council
12:00 PM - LUNCH BREAK
12:30-1:30 PM - Improving Outcomes for Families — How co-parenting apps can prevent families from returning to court and keep them on track for success - Racheal Howitz, OurFamilyWizard
1:30-2:45 PM - Capturing the Magic of the Neutral Professional - Julia McAninch, Psy. D & Cheryl Panther, CPA, Advanced CDFA, Institute for Family Conflict Resolution
2:45 PM AFTERNOON BREAK
3:00-4:00 PM - Trauma Stewardship and Self-Care in Collaborative Practice - Annie von Gillern, Rising Phoenix Wellness Center, Kristine Reich, Restorative Law & Mediation
4:00-5:00 PM Collaborative Divorce: The Next Generation(s) - Ron Ousky & Megan Yates, Ousky Law Office/Collaborative Alliance
To attend this event, the registration fee is $225 per person. Please fill out the form below to register. Once submitted, you will receive a follow-up email at the provided address to finalize your payment.
8:45-9:45 AM Pioneering Collaborative Divorce Case Management from the Unicorns of Triangle Financial Services
Presenters:
Kendra Erkamaa
Lucas Kane
Bailey Davis
Presenter Bio: At Triangle Financial Services, we understand that divorce is more than just numbers—it’s about rebuilding lives. Our commitment is to guide our clients toward financial stability, empowering them to move forward confidently. Kendra, Bailey, and Lucas are powerhouses of expertise in divorce financial analysis. We pride ourselves on being collaboratively trained and certified divorce financial analysts, ensuring that we provide comprehensive and empathetic services to our clients. Kendra and Lucas, both trained mediators. With over a decade of experience as a financial neutral, the team brings wisdom, balance, and practical insights to every case.
Presentation Description: Step into the enchanting realm of collaborative divorce resolution, where the magical synergy of unicorns inspires innovation and harmony. At the heart of this process lies effective case management, which plays a pivotal role in guiding the proceedings towards an amicable resolution.
You will explore the magical approach of Triangle Financial to the essential elements of collaborative divorce case management, highlighting its significance in facilitating a smooth and efficient process. From initial client intake to the final settlement, the collaborative divorce case manager serves as a central figure, orchestrating communication, managing expectations, and ensuring transparency throughout the journey.
Through real-life case examples, practical insights and the special unicorn magic, this presentation aims to equip legal professionals, mental health practitioners, and other stakeholders with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively manage collaborative divorce cases. By embracing a collaborative approach to divorce resolution and implementing sound case management practices, professionals can help clients achieve fair and sustainable outcomes while preserving their dignity and well-being.
9:45-10:45 AM Even Unicorns Have Sorrow: The Trauma-Informed Collaborator
Presenters:
Kimberly Stamatelos
Presenter Bio: Kimberly Stamatelos has been a practicing attorney and mediator for over 40 years. She was an early adopter of collaborative law in Iowa and served as a primary trainer in Collaborative Practice for years. Kim was a founder of Iowa Collaborative Divorce and has handled many collaborative divorces. She is the author of “The Compassionate Lawyer,” “The Spirit-Filled Practice” and “Compassionate Divorce,” all of which are available for purchase on Amazon. Currently she limits her practice to Mediation and Parenting Coordination and her online divorce platform for uncontested cases, “UnHitchUs.” Kim enjoys writing, hiking and being Yia Yia to her grandchildren. Her blog is “Beyond Resolution.”
Presentation Description: As collaborative professionals we are immersed in trauma. Our clients and their families move through the trauma of divorce with us as their guides. Many of them live in chronic trauma in other aspects of their lives, and some relive the trauma of divorce that they themselves suffered as children in their families of origin. As humans living our own lives, many of us are navigating our own trauma stories behind the scenes.How do we make room for compassion for our clients AND ourselves in the collaborative process against the backdrop of trauma and grief? Join us as we put a framework around trauma and grief in collaborative practice, and share skills for recognizing when trauma gets in the way of being a fully present member of the collaborative team.
11:00 AM-12:00 PM Collaborative Law Beyond Divorce
Presenters:
Marc Sheridan
Paul Faxon
Presenter Bios:
Marc Sheridan, J.D.: has represented individuals, closely-held and family businesses, and multi-national clients for more than twenty years in the areas of commercial litigation and employment law. Mr. Sheridan is a panel mediator for the Supreme Court, Westchester County Commercial Division and Civil Panels, and Westchester County and Bronx County Surrogate’s Court Panels, and an employment discrimination panel mediator for the United States District Court for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Mr. Sheridan co-authored the 9th Judicial District Presumptive Mediation Program and the Westchester County Surrogate’s Court Presumptive Mediation Program Rules. Mr. Sheridan is also a Board Member for Attorneys for Family-Held Enterprises (AFHE), a former Chair of the Westchester County Bar ADR Committee, and a member of the New York State Bar Association ADR Section. Building on his litigation and mediation experience, over the last decade Mr. Sheridan has become a recognized leader in Civil Collaborative Practice, lecturing and training lawyers and other professionals on Civil Collaborative Practice both domestically and internationally. He currently serves as Co-Chair of the Trainers’ Networking and Development Group for the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP), and the Northeast Regional Director for the Global Collaborative Law Council (GCLC). Marc can be reached at marc@mslawny.com.
Presentation Description: Come join leadership from the Global Collaborative Law Council as they explore the application of Collaborative Law to resolve disputes that share many elements of divorce, including conflicts arising in:
Learn how Collaborative Law’s rare and unique approach to resolving family law disputes can make you a Unicorn in the field of client-centered business law dispute resolution.
12:30-1:30 PM Improving Outcomes for Families — How co-parenting apps can prevent families from returning to court and keep them on track for success
Presenters:
Racheal Howitz
Presenter Bio: Racheal has been a professional liaison for the OurFamilyWizard® website since 2016. Her role includes educating Judges, lawyers, and other family law professionals, across the US and internationally, on the online tools that can be utilized to benefit and monitor the parental communication process in family law cases. She is a current board member of AFCC Minnesota and on several committees. She graduated from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design receiving a BFA in Photography. Her interests include travel and health & wellness-related topics.
Presentation Description: The OurFamilyWizard app is frequently included in parenting agreements as a way to reduce litigation and improve family outcomes. Learn how OurFamilyWizard can simplify co-parenting communication, prevent coercive control, and streamline the work of practitioners. This training will also include our new updates and information regarding our new Calls feature.
1:30-2:45 PM Capturing the Magic of the Neutral Professional
Presenters:
Julia A. McAninch, Psy.D.
Cheryl Panther, CPA, Advanced CDFA, Institute for Family Conflict Resolution
Presenter Bios:
Julia A. McAninch, Psy.: With over 20 years of experience, Julia, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and President of MPCS, PLLC, has gained skills from working in diverse settings that have built unique qualifications to support her client's goals.
Julia received her Doctorate in Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. With training rotations in Chicago, New York City, and Nashville, she has experience in colleges and universities, treatment centers, community mental health centers, group private practice, public and private schools, not-for-profit settings, companies, and firms.
In 2009 Julia entered the world of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) methods to help divorcing couples and families by participating in bringing the Collaborative Divorce process to TN and later by becoming a TN Rule 31 Family Mediator. In more recent years, Julia has taken conflict resolution skills into the workplace and organizations, continuing to provide a path to resolve disputes respectfully and productively.
In addition to being a Psychotherapist, Collaborative Divorce Coach, and Mediator, Julia has developed and led trainings across the United States and Canada, led and supervised teams, and provided consultation and leadership development for organizations. As a founding member of the Collaborative Divorce Nashville, Institute for Family Conflict Resolution, and Out Central, she has been a part of the growth development process of creating sustainable organizations from the ground up.
Julia was previously an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Vanderbilt University and has taught at Pace University in NYC and Columbia College Chicago. She is a graduate of the Inaugural Leadership Academy of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP) and continues to serve on committees focused on training and development of practice groups around the world. Julia is a Past President of the Collaborative Divorce Nashville and Past Co-Chair of the Nashville Psychotherapy Institute (NPI), and continues to serve on the Advisory Council at NPI. Julia is a member of the board of directors for the International Academy of Collaborative Professional and currently serves as its President.
Cheryl Panther CPA/PFS, ADFA/CDFA: Cheryl Panther is President of Panther Financial Divorce Solutions, LLC and has been providing services to clients and attorneys in family law matters since 2011. After working with a number of clients in her financial planning practice following their divorce, she learned people encounter unexpected and unpleasant financial consequences of the divorce for which they were not prepared. Cheryl wanted to find ways to help clients and their attorneys understand tax and financial considerations before committing to a divorce settlement. She provides creative, outside-the-box analytical skills to the often complex and confusing financial and taxation issues in divorce cases and settlements, providing a variety of specialized divorce financial services to clients and their attorneys.
Cheryl has been a CPA for more than three decades and earned the prestigious Personal Financial Specialist designation from the American Institute of CPAs. She graduated from The University of Tennessee – Knoxville and received an Executive Certificate in Financial Planning from Belmont University. She holds membership in the following professional organizations:
Cheryl often teaches and presents to other professionals on the tax and financial aspects of divorce. She also teaches alternative dispute resolution processes locally and internationally to other professionals through the Institute for Family Conflict Resolution. She currently serves on the board of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals as its treasurer. She is a past board member and past president for Collaborative Divorce Nashville and a past board member of the Association of Divorce Financial Professionals.
Presentation Description: Unlock the mysteries of adding mental health and financial neutrals to your Collaborative Team and let them work their magic for you and your clients! Learn to assess case complexity and team needs to set everyone on the path to success. Julia and Cheryl will share best practices for optimal team dynamics as well as limited scope options for those clients who only need a sprinkle or two of pixie dust.
3:00-4:00 PM Trauma Stewardship and Self-Care in Collaborative Practicee
Presenters:
Annie von Gillern
Kristine Reich
Presenter Bios:
Annie von Gillern: Annie has been practicing as a clinical social worker since 2006 and was also sworn into the Iowa Bar in 2014. She has a holistic and collaborative practice as a clinical social worker and attorney in the areas of family law and custody issues. Her practice focuses on helping families manage the transitions involved with reorganization of their families and learning to thrive as they move through these difficult phases in their lives. Annie also performs custody evaluations and advocates for children as a collaborative child specialist, a Guardian ad Litem, and attorney. Annie owns and operates von Gillern Law Firm and Rising Phoenix Wellness Center in Urbandale, Iowa.
Kristine Reich: With an expertise in mediation, collaborative law, and family and juvenile law matters, Kristine has three decades of experience working with families and children experiencing difficult transitional life events. Borne of a deep appreciation for holistic, solution-focused practice, Restorative Law and Mediation, PLLC was organized by Kristine in December 2014.
Kristine’s multi-disciplinary approach to practice is influenced by her legal education received from Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University (’08), and Masters in Social Work at Arizona State University (’93). Kristine has practiced family law since 2011, has worked as an adjunct professor, Faculty Associate, or in legal education since 2008, and was a child welfare social worker and therapist for fifteen (15) years prior to law school.
Kristine has coached the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law mediation team for the American Bar Association (ABA) Representation in Mediation Competition for nine years. Kristine is the only national champion of this competition (’06) that has coached five (5) subsequent national competition teams and two (2) national champion teams (’12 and ’14).
Kristine’s best days in the profession are being witness to the transformative process of those that start in despair, and go on to create meaningful futures.
After recently becoming an empty nester, Kristine spends a lot of time hiking and dancing, and enjoying cherished time with family and friends.
Presentation Description:
Participants will share a mindful hour of exploring the challenges faced by multi-disciplinary professionals in Collaborative practice, particularly when it comes to their own self-care. How is it possible to walk away unscathed when we day in and day out bear witness to the pain, despair, and high conflict that families are experiencing during their divorce process? Join our discussion and tips for optimizing team dynamics, boundaries of preservation, screening, and humanizing our clients and ourselves, so that boundless “unicorn energy” can sustain in our work.
4:00-5:00 PM Collaborative Divorce: The Next Generation(s)
Presenters:
Ron Ousky
Megan Yates
Presenter Bios:
Ron Ousky: I grew up in Milroy, Minnesota, a tiny town of 268 people that, in the 1960’s, was like living in a Norman Rockwell painting. While more than four decades of urban living has toughened me up a bit, I have retained romanticized notions about life’s possibilities.
I am not sure how this all led me to a career in family law but that is where I landed, and where I have remained since 1982. I think I was drawn to this work because of my passion for kids and relationships.
I realize it may seem odd that someone who believes in relationships would go into a business in which relationships are in disrepair and kids are faced with conflict. That’s not how I see it. Helping people who are facing challenges in their relationships is more rewarding; provided we can find the best way to help them.
I suppose the other reason I got into the family law business is because I like kids. I started out as a kid, (many years ago), and went on to have three of my own, (with some help from my wife of more than 40 years). Now my kids are even having kids; we have five grandchildren who light up our lives every day.
I graduated with honors from the University of St. Thomas and with honors from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1982.
For the first 15 years of my practice, I helped families in the traditional way; using the court, or at least the threat of court, to protect my clients and their children. And I was good at it. I received significant recognition as a good trial lawyer and I impressed most of my clients. The person I failed to impress was myself. I could not avoid the fact these traditional methods often led to long term damage to relationships, and even to children that seemed intolerable, even when my clients ‘won”.
That was when I started looking for better ways. During the past 20 years, most of my practice has been spent helping my clients get better outcomes, through “out-of-court” strategies. In many ways this has been more difficult; steering people who are angry and scared away from their impulses can feel like swimming upstream on some days. But I’ve come to really believe in it; and I have found (and even helped develop) some truly innovative ways to help my clients get better outcomes through things like Collaborative Law and mediation. I have even become internationally recognized for my work in these new areas, (see below). As much as I take pride in what we have accomplished at Ousky Law office, it is very humbling work. I learn new things every day.
In 2006, I co-authored The Collaborative Way to Divorce: The Revolutionary Method that Results in less Stress, Lower Costs and Happier Kids, Without Going to Court, with Stu Webb, the founder of Collaborative Law. In 2015, I was awarded the Lawyer as Problem Solver Award by the American Bar Association. I have had the opportunity to speak at many events and forums on the topic of Collaborative Law and I have conducted training seminars throughout North America, South America and Europe.
I have handled thousands of family law cases, including hundreds of cases in each of the following areas: traditional negotiation; mediation; Collaborative Law and litigation. I am also the cofounder of the Collaborative Alliance Executive Suites, believed to be the largest interdisciplinary family law center in the world.
I have always said that if I ever reach a point where helping families in transition becomes uninteresting to me, I will happily retire. But I feel I am a long way from that point. Every client who walks through the door presents a new story, a new opportunity to grow; a chance to help someone who is going through one of the most difficult times in their life find a better way.
Megan Yates: Transition and re-organization are the hallmarks of my upbringing. Being on the cusp of a new beginning can be intimidating and anxiety-filled and exciting and exhilarating…all at the same time, felt in concert, or experienced on a continuum on which ones travels back and forth many times. Either way, I get it. And it’s my goal to help guide families through times of adjustment and transformation.
I am an Attorney and Partner at Ousky Yates Law Office (“OYLO” for short…although I lobbied hard for “YOLO” 😉). I was born in Orlando, Florida, and after meandering my way across the country with my family, landed in Minnesota. Despite living in Minnesota for over 25 years, I still adamantly maintain my status as a “Minnesotan, kinda sorta.” However, I married a cool guy I refer to as a “hardcore Minnesotan”, and as such have come to peace with the fact that a winter parka will forever be an essential piece of my winter wardrobe.
When I’m not at the office, I can be found managing the never-ending craziness created by my spunky, spirited, sassy children—10-year-old, Abby, and 6-year-old, Connor. Add in my mom who lives across the street (with a pool…love her for that 😉) and a batch of wonderful in-laws who live down the street, my life is pretty full. And I like it that way.
I have a knack for sifting through overwhelming and confusing situations and for focusing on what matters most. Indeed, it’s what I love to do. For myself, my friends and family, and for my clients. My practice focuses exclusively on family law matters. I wholeheartedly believe that each client’s situation is unique, and therefore, process choices should be tailored to meet the specific needs of each family. As such, I help clients reach resolutions using Collaborative Law, mediation, and a variety of unbundled legal service options. I also have this freakish (or so it seems to some) common-sense approach to financial/budgeting matters and enjoy helping clients with these issues post-divorce as well.
Educationally-speaking, I graduated from the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities with a degree in Family Social Science (think family psychology meets sociology) in 2007. After a brief stint in graduate school (to discover becoming a family therapist wasn’t the right fit for me), I obtained my post-baccalaureate certificate in Paralegal Studies.
After doing the paralegal thing at OLO (Ousky Law Office) for many years, I decided it was time for law school. However, with an 18-month old at home at the time, traditional law school wasn’t going to cut it. So, I joined the inaugural group of law students in Mitchell Hamline School of Law’s Hybrid J.D. Program, the only ABA-approved hybrid (partially online, partially on-campus) law program in the country. I graduated, magna cum laude, from Mitchell Hamline in 2018.
Presentation Description: Collaborative Divorce was started more than 30 years ago and fueled, during the early years, by members of the Silent Generation and the Baby Boomers. However, today our core professionals are primarily Gen Xers and Millennials. Our professionals, and our core clients, have changed since those early years. The growth of Collaborative Divorce will depend on our ability to adapt our process, and ourselves, to meet the needs of this dynamic world.
This workshop, presented by a baby boomer and a millennial, will start by outlining some generational differences, (mixing in a few amusing videos) and then discuss how those differences affect our practices today. Finally, we will discuss a blueprint for the future; a way of helping Collaborative Divorce evolve to meet the current needs and the future needs of Collaborative Professionals and their clients.
About OurFamilyWizard
Working alongside clients on OurFamilyWizard, family law and mental health practitioners can assist families to move beyond conflict and co-parent with confidence. OurFamilyWizard's web and mobile applications offer parents living separately an array of tools to easily track parenting time, share important family information, manage expenses, and create an accurate, clear log of co-parenting communication.