2022.05 NYACP Newsletter Spring 2022

NYACP News ~ Spring 2022

Volume 4, Issue 2

In This Issue...

President's Message

NYACP News

Collaborative Chats Makes Inaugural Video
Membership Committee is Meeting on Your Behalf
Connections by Nancy Kaye

NYACP Trainings and Events

Streamlined Collaborative Process – Wrapping Up the First Case
BCIT Introduction Session
The Last Dance: Using Rituals to Support Closure in the Collaborative Process
Negotiating and Drafting College Provisions in Our Collaborative Practices
NYACP Basic Interdisciplinary Training a Huge Success!
The Latest from LinkedIn on Growing Your Practice in 2022

Ongoing NYACP Programs

My Collaborative Team (MCT)
Pod and Support Groups
The Long Island Pod Social Media Effort

Mark Your Calendars!

NYACP Spring Member Social Event in NYC


 A MESSAGE FROM OUR 2022 NYACP PRESIDENT

By Ken Novenstern

In his Spring 2022 President's Message, NYACP President Ken Novenstern, Esq. covers the following topics:

  • NYACP Spring Social Event, 6/1/2022
  • NYACP Retreat, 6/22/2022
  • NYACP Annual Event, 12/1/2022

Recorded on 5/18/2022, Ken acknowledges that he is quickly "coming down the stretch" with only six months left in his term, and that Melissa Goodstein will be taking the helm as NYACP President in January 2023.

Click Here to Watch Ken's Message

NYACP NEWS

Collaborative Chats Makes Inaugural Video

Our first Collaborative Chat, hosted by NYACP Vice President, Melissa Goodstein, featured Nancy Kaye Kirsch, CFP, CDFA, RIA, MBA.  The first in this new series, meet Nancy, a long-time member and the Treasurer of the NYACP.

 

During the first Collaborative Chat held on March 22, 2022 featuring NYACP Treasurer, Nancy Kaye, CFP, CDFA, RIA, MBA. You can watch it here: Watch for upcoming Collaborative Chats as we connect with other members of NYACP. If you would like to chat with Melissa, please contact us!

While you are watching, don't forget to "Like" and follow us on FacebookTwitter, and LinkedIn! #NYACPChat 


Membership Committee is Meeting on Your Behalf

Your NYACP Membership Committee met in April and May to discuss innovative ways we can serve our members, old and new. We look forward o developing more plans and activities and are hoping that you will become involved. We want your ideas! Tell us what you want to get out of being a member of NYACP. How can we help you, and what are you willing to contribute to growing our organization We look forward to your participation!


CONNECTIONS

By Nancy Kaye, CFP, CDFA, MBA

I look back on the connections and friendships I have made with NYACP members, and how my practice has grown because of it. There are so many opportunities with NYACP to connect on a personal level, and with that comes trust and the desire to work as a team member. One such friendship with Melissa Goldstein came by a mutual interest in playing “words with friends.” Through our daily routine of playing the game we chatted and have used each other as sounding boards on cases and have looked to cross refer. As an FYI, this person is a tough competitor! When I worked on the annual party video, I felt like I got to know many of the members that contributed and those that I’ve know in a new light. I can’t wait to have drinks with them. I have participated in many of the pods, Long Island, New York and Westchester. We have unbelievable talent in our organization. The presenters that speak and the participants all add to the content. I believe that the more we make an effort to be part of the pods, support groups, webinars, other meetings, the more other professionals see that we are interested in advancing our profession and our skills. We learn each other’s styles and how difficult client situations are handled, or approaches. At our annual meetings, both in person and virtual, when we are in a “break out” room with another person, there is a connection that continues beyond that day. Generally there is a sharing of personal information, done of course in a safe environment. I understand that the membership committee is looking to encourage one on one lunches. There is the mentoring program which is another connection. Nothing happens overnight, but the evolution of the building of friendships, trust, and business relationships is an intangible of what NYACP offers. I encourage all to get involved.


NYACP TRAININGS AND EVENTS

Streamlined Collaborative Process – Wrapping Up the First Case

On March 8, 2022 we heard from the professional team wrapping up the first Streamlined Collaborative Process case. After lots of hard work by the entire Streamlined Collaborative Committee and subcommittees laying the groundwork, professional team members Catherine Canade, Nancy Kaye, Jeff Steiger and Shari Bornstein shared their experiences with the Pod.


Shari Bornstein, Esq. 
Shari practiced in her own matrimonial and family law firm in Connecticut prior to relocating to New York City. Shari used her skills as a litigator, mediator, and collaboratively trained attorney to resolve divorce cases, custody actions and post-judgment matters. Shari joined The Law Firm of John Yacos, P.C. to continue offering those same legal services to matrimonial and family clients in the process that best empowers clients to make solid decisions, while facing the emotional challenges of stress, conflict and the unpredictability of their future. Shari is a mediator on the Supreme Court Roster of Matrimonial Mediators. Shari is passionate about using positive communication to solve problems and reduce conflict and created the co-parenting communication program, GOODTALK4PARENTS, offered by FamilyKind as a resource for parents to improve their communication skills. Shari sits on the FamilyKind Advisory Council. Shari presents at Park Slope Parents educational programs, participated as guest speaker at UnTied and was interviewed on the podcast, Financially Ever After offering guidance to parents to avoid Santa’s naughty list.


Catherine Canadé, Esq. 
Catherine is a collaborative attorney and family and divorce mediator in private practice in Brooklyn, Manhattan and on the North Fork of Long Island and also serves as a consulting and review attorney for clients currently in the mediation process. Catherine is a prior president of the Family and Divorce Mediation Council of Greater New York and is on the Board of Directors of the New York Association of Collaborative Professionals, where she is a founder and co-chair of their Mentorship program. Catherine is the co-founder and former Assistant Director of the National Association Of Divorce Professionals, Brooklyn Chapter as well as a founding member of the Long Island Collaborative Divorce Professionals


Nancy Kaye, CFP, CDFA 
Nancy Kaye (Kirsch) is a Certified Financial Planner and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst.  Nancy has her MBA from NYU Stern School of Business and is a Registered Investment Advisor. She is a board member of NYACP and their treasurer since 2019.  Nancy was trained in the Interdisciplinary Collaborative Divorce in September 2005. Nancy provides fair, objective and neutral solutions, and helps clients incorporate their specific needs, desires and goals into a personally tailored financial settlement, and show how that settlement will affect their future.
 

Jeffrey Steiger, LCSW Jeffrey Allan Steiger, LCSW, is a psychotherapist and Family Specialist. He has been in private practice for over 30 years with offices in New York City and Westchester. He is a graduate of New York University (both undergraduate and graduate). His clinical background includes psycho- analytic studies at the Post Graduate Institute in New York City, with special training in marriage and family therapy. In his role as psychotherapist, he works with individuals, couples and families. Jeffrey has also been trained in the interdisciplinary model of Collaborative Divorce by the New York Association of Collaborative Professionals and he currently serves on their Board of Directors. He is a trained mediator and also works with high conflict couples as a Parent Coordinator.  He is an advocate for children and families of divorce and has contributed to a new understanding of how divorce can be resolved in a respectful and non-adversarial way. He has a desire to connect deeply to people and share his strong empathic spirit. 


BCIT Introduction Session 

On March 25, 2022, Elana Katz, LCSW and Katherine Miller, of the BCIT training team, along with Ken Novenstern, and Melissa Goldstein our president and Vice-President, joined several members of the NYACP as they provided insight and information on the organization and upcoming training for professionals interested in pursuing collaborative practice. NYACP Members who were in attendance and have already taken the training shared their experiences taking trainings and working within the collaborative process. They also discussed the benefits of taking repeated trainings in an effort to continue to transform and build their collaborative relationships and ultimately, their practices. Members of NYACP who are “repeat trainees” were offered a $100.00 discount to attend the training. 

Interested in seeing the session to learn more about the NYACP and Collaborative Divorce?  Watch the video below!


The Last Dance: Using Rituals to Support Closure in the Collaborative Process

On April 12th, Elena Katz and Randy Heller presented to the Long Island Pod, The Last Dance: Using Rituals to Support Closure in the Collaborative Process. This was a well-attended presentation where the presenters and participants explored the use of rituals, as we shared ideas, questions, and concerns about how to engage in Closing Rituals with divorcing couples and collaborative collogues in an effort to promote peace and healing.

Dr. Randy Heller is licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist in Florida, New York, and Connecticut and is a Florida Certified Supreme Court Family Mediator, Qualified Parenting Coordinator, Reunification Specialist, Certified Hypnotherapist, Founder/Clinical Director of The Family Network, Collaborative Counseling Center for Positive Growth and Change. Randy served as a board member for The Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals for over 15 years, was a Vice President and President of The Collaborative Family Law Professionals of South Florida, and is currently a board member of the New York Association of Collaborative Professionals. Dr. Heller teaches a graduate course in Collaborative Divorce to Marriage and Family Therapy students at Nova Southeastern University. She also developed and directs the NSU/Mission United/Family Network/ Collaborative Family Law Professionals Veterans Collaborative Pro Bono Clinic and is a national trainer and presenter on family matters related to peaceful resolution of conflict.

Elana Katz is a practicing family therapist, mediator and family specialist. She was one of the first therapists in New York to become certified in Emotionally Focused Therapy, an approach that helps clients understand and change their patterns in key relationships. Now a certified EFT Trainer, and the co-chair of the Diversity Committee for the International EFT organization, Elana has applied her knowledge of attachment and relational dynamics to help mediation and collaborative law clients intercept the recurring patterns that shape high conflict divorce. She presents nationally and internationally, and her private practice is in Manhattan.

On March 16, 2022, Georgia Kramer discussed best practices in negotiating and drafting college provisions in our practices and how to avoid post judgment issues including use of 529 and other college savings accounts, defining college expenses, SUNY Cap  and credits against monthly support.


Negotiating and Drafting College Provisions in Our Collaborative Practices

On March 16, 2022, Georgia Kramer discussed best practices in negotiating and drafting college provisions in our practices and how to avoid post judgment issues including use of 529 and other college savings accounts, defining college expenses, SUNY Cap  and credits against monthly support.

Georgia D. Kramer, Esq. is an experienced matrimonial attorney and a founding member of the firm of Kramer Kozek LLP. She is a graduate of New York University School of Law where she was an Editor of the Law Review and a member of the Order of the Coif. She received a Masters of Laws in Taxation from New York University. She has been a member of the Bar of the State of New York since 1967. Mrs. Kramer’s practice is devoted to the practice of Matrimonial and Family Law. Prior to establishing the firm of Kramer Kozek LLP, Mrs. Kramer was a partner at Hall Dickler LLP and the managing partner of Hall Dickler’s Matrimonial and Family Law Department.  Mrs. Kramer is a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals and the New York Association of Collaborative Professionals. She was Co-Chair of the Matrimonial Committee of the Westchester Women’s Bar Association for approximately twenty (20) years. Mrs. Kramer is also a trained mediator. She is a frequent lecturer at bar associations and continuing legal education seminars on matrimonial matters such as prenuptial/postnuptial agreements, child support, financial and estate planning, and tax implications during separation and divorce. Mrs. Kramer has extensively lectured on topics such as drafting separation agreements, strategies for retirement assets in divorce, net worth statements and forensic examinations. She was a contributing writer for the book Strategies for Family Law in New York, 2012 ed., published by West/Thompson Reuters. Mrs. Kramer is the recipient of Westchester County’s 2017 Above theBar Award for Leading Matrimonial Attorney and the 2017 Legal Services of Hudson County Pro Bono Award for her contributions as a pro bono attorney. She is the recipient of the AJC’s 2013 Judge Learned Hand Award for contributions to the legal profession. She is a recipient of the Corporate LiveWire award for Attorney of the Year in 2014 and the Corporate LiveWire Global award in 2016 in the category of tax. Mrs. Kramer has also been chosen as a Top Ten Matrimonial Attorney in Westchester as a Super Lawyer and as a member of the Best Attorneys of America.


NYACP Basic Interdisciplinary Training a Huge Success!


What a great learning opportunity! Our own NYACP members and trainers Elana Katz, LCSW, Katherine Eisold Miller, Esq., and Steven M. Kaplan, CPA/ABV provided a comprehensive 16-hour intensive training offering a sound foundation to collaborative divorce theory, practice, and skills development. Participants learned how to work within a multidisciplinary team to best assist clients as they restructure their family, about the underlaying principles that define the collaborative model and shift the negotiation. In addition, participants were also provided information and were immersed in the process through role playing the role and responsibilities of each professional on a Collaborative matter, how bringing neutrality to the table enhances the negotiation, and the map of the process from the initial phone call through the final meeting. Topics also included and were not limited to information sharing, interest-based negotiation, option building and working through impasse. Materials were presented. There was a diverse group of mental health and financial professionals as well as attorneys learning and working together, building relationships, networking. A great experience was had by all!

Steven M. Kaplan, CPA/ABV is the founder and owner of S. Kaplan CPA, a practice focused on dispute resolution services.  He has over three decades’ experience in public practice and is also accredited in Business Valuation (ABV) in addition to holding an MBA in taxation, giving Steve the “seen it all” experience to help clients with their dispute resolution, settlement support, business valuation and forensic accounting needs.  Steve has lectured on a variety of tax, valuation, forensic accounting, collaborative practice and matrimonial dissolution topics for several organizations including the New York State Society of CPAs (NYSSCPA), the New York Association of Collaborative Professionals (NYACP), the Hudson Valley Collaborative Divorce and Dispute Resolution Association (HVCDDRA), the Family Divorce and Mediation Council (FDMC), the Collaborative Law Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania (CLASP), the New York State Bar, the Financial Planning Association and the Foundation for Accounting Education. In addition, Steve has shared his expertise by writing articles for the CPA Journal, the CPA Litigation Service Counselor and the National Litigation Consultants’ Review. He has appeared on the PBS program, “Dollar for Dollar,” and served as a tax editor and consultant for Thompson Publishing Co. and Harcourt Brace Professional Publishing.  Born in New York City and raised in Rockland County, Steve now calls Rye Brook home with Fern, his wife of over 20 years. They have two sons, recently graduated from college. When not assisting clients, Steve enjoys traveling to places where he can take in different cultures, history and cuisine, spending time with his family, and being involved in his local community. He is an avid fan of technology in the office and out and boasts an interesting assortment of gadgets, both useful and novelty alike. Steve and Fern are also dedicated to raising awareness and support for several organizations including the Foundation Fighting Blindness, the Ocular Genomics Institute at Mass Eye and the Ear Institute of Harvard Medical School.

Elana Katz, LCSW, is a senior faculty member at the Ackerman Institute for the Family where she teaches Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and directed the Family Mediation Program for more than 20 years. She has presented nationally and internationally, including annual meetings of the American Family Therapy Academy, the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, and the Psychotherapy Networker.  One of the first therapists in New York to become certified in Emotionally Focused Therapy, an approach that helps clients understand and change their patterns in key relationships, Ms. Katz is one of the first therapists in New York to become certified in EFT.  She has published a number of articles and has been quoted by the New York Times, the Associated Press, and other media outlets, including National Public Radio.  Ms. Katz currently serves as the Director for Strategic Planning on the board of the New York Center for Emotionally Focused Therapy, and she co-coordinates the Diversity Committee of the International Center for Excellence in EFT. Her private practice is in Manhattan.

Katherine Eisold Miller, Esq. is a mediator and Collaborative Lawyer with more than 30 years’ experience. Katherine’s career has been primarily focused on helping people found appropriate out of court resolutions and she has helped countless parties reach this goal. Katherine is well-known for her expertise in mediation and Collaborative Law and is often sought after for high conflict and complex financial matters in the family as well as other spheres. She is the founder of The Miller Law Group, with offices in New York City and Westchester County. Katherine is also a director and trainer at the Center for Understanding in Conflict (understandinginconflict.org) where she has been teaching mediation and other conflict resolution skills for 15 years and she also teaches mediation at the Ackerman Institute. Katherine was a founding board member and a past president of the New York Association of Collaborative Professionals.  Katherine has taught numerous mediation programs in New York and around the country and is recognized as a preeminent mediation trainer. Katherine has taught mediation skills to judges, attorneys, court personnel, mental health professionals in a variety of settings and her trainings through the Center for Understanding in Conflict are certified by New York State Courts to certify mediators for court-referred mediation programs.  Katherine hosts the radio show and podcast Divorce Dialogues on WVOX radio and iTunes. Katherine is co-Author of the #1 Amazon bestseller A Cup of Coffee with 10 of the Top Divorce Attorneys in the United States and author of the New Yorker’s Guide to Collaborative Divorce. Katherine is also AV rated by Martindale Hubbell and has been named a Super Lawyer since 2013.


The Latest from LinkedIn on Growing Your Practice in 2022

Bruce Segall is a long time friend to our organization and has presented several times.  We were thrilled to have him back to discuss the pace of enhancements to LinkedIn is accelerating, and usage by professionals is growing consistently every quarter. Bruce discussed new LinkedIn features and future trends in three areas:

  • LinkedIn Profiles
  • Building Your Personal and Firm Brand on LinkedIn
  • Developing New Relationships and Strengthening Existing Ones

Bruce also reviewed some fundamentals in each of these areas that even more experienced LinkedIn users tend to miss.

Bruce Segall is an experienced Marketing professional with 25 years of experience in large financial services companies and smaller firms before becoming President of Marketing Sense in 2010. He has recently trained over 150 clients and 50 professional groups on LinkedIn. He writes frequently on LinkedIn. and has worked with collaborative divorce professionals in the past. Bruce has a BA from Yale, an MBA from Stanford Business School, and has lived in Dobbs Ferry, New York with his family since 1987. In his spare time, Bruce enjoys long recreational bike rides in Northern Westchester and beyond.


ONGOING NYACP PROGRAMS

My Collaborative Team (MCT) 

Every Third Thursday of the month, at the invitation of My Collaborative Team (MCT) Member, all of our members have been invited to participate in the “MCT Initiative“ at no charge.

My Collaborative Team’s (MCT) mission is to provide meaningful, dynamic, powerful, and thought-provoking resources to Collaborative Practice Groups and Practitioners worldwide seeking to transform the process by which people resolve disputes. It is that mission that drives our goal with this new initiative.

MCT has continued their Introductory learning program, and several of our NYACP members have participated.  In April and May we heard presentations about “Being the Best Team Player that you Can Be, and How to successfully launch your Collaborative Practice with Collaborative Leaders Brian Galbrinth, the incoming President of IACP and Susan Guthrie, of the Mosten and Giuthrie Academy.

These programs are also a fantastic way to provide our members and other Collaborative professionals the opportunity to network and is fantastic for those who are just getting started in the Collaborative Process, as well as those experienced professionals looking to expand their professional network. 

For more information, contact: [email protected]


Pod and Support Groups (for NYACP members only)

NYACP Pod and Support Groups (SGCPs) fulfill two different types sustenance and care for our members.  Please visit our calendar to see when each group is meeting this month

NYACP Calendar

NYACP Pods

Pods are regionally (New York City, Long Island, and Westchester) managed groups that hold monthly meetings open for any NYACP member to attend.  A Pod's goal is to provide structured training programs each month, presented by Pod members or guest speakers. These meetings are for NYACP Members Only. Log in information will be sent to you in a confirmation email.  For questions, if you have a topic of interest, or would like to facilitate a meeting, please contact the leader listed below.

Long Island: Meetings are scheduled for odd months 8:15am - 9:30am. In even months 8:45am - 10:00 a.m. Leader: Neil Cahn 

NYC: Meetings are the second Tuesday of every month at 8:30am - 9:30am. Leader: Judith Stein

N. Westchester: Meetings are the third Wednesday of Each Month 9:00am - 10:00am. Leaders: Melissa Goodstein, Tony Markus, and Margaret Nicholson

Support Groups for Collaborative Professionals (SGCPs)

SGCPs are formed to privately share cases, network and enjoy support and knowledge from other group members doing collaborative work. The group's aim is to provide emotional and professional support, and to promote skill-building and practice-development.  Once an SGCP group is formed, the group is closed for a term.  However, there is no limit to the number of SGCPs, so if you are interested in forming a SGCP in your area, contact the NYACP office.  Members collectively decide how the group operates, but there are best practice guidelines that assist in forming groups focused on building greater collaborative skills, insights, and community. 

NYC Tuesday: Meeting the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. Leaders: Barbara Rothberg and Marc Fleisher.

NYC Wednesday: Meeting will be the 4th Wednesday of every month from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m.  Leaders: Rachel Fishman Green and Bob Raymond.

Westchester: Meetings are on alternate third Wednesday monthly. Leaders: Alternate with NW SGCP Members.

Lower Westchester: Meets the second Tuesday of the Month at 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Leaders: Ellen Jancko-Baken or Steve Kaplan.


Want to learn more about promoting yourself and your Collaborative Practice?

Our own Harriet Steinberg from the Long Island Pod has agreed to Chair our Social Media Committee…

The Long Island Pod has started a social media effort to increase awareness of Collaborative Divorce as the preferred divorce option in our communities. Part of the effort will be focused on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram postings and using these channels to create a Collaborative Divorce Focus in New York. Our Pod schedules separate virtual meetings for this initiative. Anyone wishing to join us, please let me know and we will add your name to our Zoom meeting link. For anyone who feels they need some basic learning in LinkedIn and its operation, please be assured you are not alone. We are addressing all levels of learning. What is needed from each of us is a real dedicated commitment to this endeavor! (P.S. There is some opportunity for private instruction). Contact Harriet at [email protected]

ARE YOU FOLLOWING US ON ALL YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS?

Follow us today and then "like" and "repost" us!

Twitter: @TheNYACP
LinkedIn: New York Association of Collaborative Professionals


MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

We Are So Excited to See Our Members Live and In Person!

Spring ahead! It’s time to join, mix, and mingle with your fellow collaborative colleagues at the NYACP Spring Member Social Event in NYC on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 from 6pm-8pm at The Park Imperial ~ Clubroom located at 230 W. 56th Street, between 7th & 8th. After being apart for so long, come build relationships, share light hors d’oeuvres and beverages, and collaborate in the spirit of good health, progress, and peace. Looking forward to seeing all of you there. Attendees from the May Interdisciplinary Basic Collaborative training are invited to attend as guests of NYACP. 

Register Here