{"id":14141,"date":"2026-01-13T21:38:22","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T02:38:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/osi\/?page_id=14141"},"modified":"2026-10-01T12:58:32","modified_gmt":"2026-10-01T16:58:32","slug":"conferences","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/osi\/conferences\/","title":{"rendered":"Conferences"},"content":{"rendered":"

Conferences<\/h1>

Access timely insights, connect with fellow practitioners<\/p><\/div><\/div>

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Each year, the University of Rhode Island hosts two conferences: the Labor Arbitration Conference, held in the fall and presented in partnership with the National Academy of Arbitrators, and the Labor and Employment Law Conference, hosted in the spring in partnership with the Roger Williams University School of Law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These events\u2014designed for employers, unions, non-profit organizations, community-based organizations, and government agencies\u2014convene leaders in the field to network and discuss legislative trends, research findings, best practices, and emerging issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Upcoming Events<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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27th Annual Labor Arbitration \nConference <\/h2>

Monday, October 26th 2026<\/strong> | Providence Marriott
REGISTER TO RESERVE YOUR SEAT TODAY!<\/p><\/div><\/div>

REGISTER NOW<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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39th Annual Labor & Employment Law Conference (Spring 2027)<\/h2>

SAVE THE DATE: Friday, March 5th, 2027<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div>

SIGN UP FOR OUR MAILING LIST TO STAY INFORMED<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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Legal Updates, Skills Training, and Peer Connections<\/h1>

URI’s annual Labor Arbitration Conference is the premier gathering for practitioners navigating workplace disputes, legal updates, and emerging labor relations challenges. From NLRB rulings to skills sessions on cross-examination and case preparation, this is where Rhode Island’s labor community comes together to sharpen expertise and build essential connections.\n\nAttendees can save $100 by registering before October 5!<\/p>

Register<\/a><\/p><\/div>

\"\"<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n

27th Annual Labor Arbitration Conference<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Program Agenda<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Monday, October 26, 2026 | Providence Marriott<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Time<\/th>Session Title and Presenters\/Panelists<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
7:00 to 7:45 AM<\/td>Breakfast Buffet<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
7:45 to 8:00 AM<\/td>Welcome and Announcements<\/strong>

John Olerio, Ph.D. <\/a>, Executive Director, Summer Sessions, Winter J Term, & Strategic Initiatives
University of Rhode Island

Sherrie Rose Talmadge<\/a>, Arbitrator, NAA Co-Chair NAA New England Region
Shari Broder<\/a>, Arbitrator, NAA, Co-Chair NAA New England Region

James Cooper<\/a>, Arbitrator, NAA Chair, Planning Committee<\/td><\/tr>
8:00 to 9:15 AM<\/td>Plenary Session \u2014 Ethical Issues Raised by AI Use and Abuse: The Good, The Bad, and The Comical<\/strong>

Panelists:
Tom Kochan<\/a>, Arbitrator, NAA
Kier Wachterhouser<\/a>, Esq.
James Shaw<\/a>, Esq.

Moderator: Walter Hunter<\/a>, Arbitrator<\/td><\/tr>
9:15 to 9:30 AM<\/td>Coffee Break<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
9:30 to 10:30 AM<\/td>Plenary Session \u2014 Panel Discussion of Recent Developments in Law<\/strong>

Panelists:
Professor Michael J. Yelnosky<\/a> (Rhode Island Perspective)
Phil Roberts<\/a> (Massachusetts Perspective)
Lan Kantany<\/a> (Massachusetts Perspective)
Richard Bock<\/a> (NLRB Perspective)

Moderator:
Marjorie Wittner<\/a>, Arbitrator<\/td><\/tr>
10:35 to 11:35 AM
<\/td>		Plenary Session \u2014 Deciding to Arbitrate: Investigation, Evaluation, Strategy<\/strong>

Panelists:
Michael Gan, Esq.<\/a> (Union Perspective)
Michael Maccaro<\/a>, Esq. (Management Perspective)
Haydee Rosario<\/a> (NAA Arbitrator, Former NLRB Agent)

Moderator:
Harvey Shrage<\/a>, Arbitrator, NAA<\/td><\/tr>
11:40 AM to 12:00 PM<\/td>Plenary Session \u2014 Updates on the World of Arbitration: A Session with the President of the NAA<\/strong>

Speaker: Walt De Trux<\/a>, President of NAA

Moderator: Sherrie Rose Talmadge<\/a>, Arbitrator, NAA<\/td><\/tr>
12:00 to 1:10 PM<\/td>Lunch & Networking<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
1:10 to 2:40 PM<\/td>Breakout Sessions<\/strong>

#1 \u2014 Writing the Brief: What should be included? How to persuade the reader?<\/strong>

Panelists:
Thomas Carey<\/a>, Professor of Law and Appellate Attorney
James Cooper<\/a>, Arbitrator, NAA Chair, Planning Committee

Moderator:
Sarah Garraty<\/a>, Arbitrator, NAA

#2 \u2014 Past Practices: Under RI Law and Under General Arbitral Principles<\/strong>

Panelists:
Charles Ruggerio<\/a>, Esq. (Management Perspective)
Ken DeLorenzo<\/a> (Union Perspective)

Moderator:
Michael Loconto<\/a>, Arbitrator

#3 \u2014 Never-Ending Problem Issues in Arbitration: Impairment on the Job, Sexual Harassment, Disability and Reasonable Accommodation, Social Media, Off-Duty Misconduct, Whistleblowing, Last Chance Agreements<\/strong>

Panelists:
Don O\u2019Brien<\/a>, Arbitrator
Sheila Mayberry<\/a>, Arbitrator, NAA
Liz Neumeier<\/a>, Arbitrator, NAA
Tim Buckalew<\/a>, Arbitrator, NAA

Moderator:
Rebekah Smith<\/a>, Arbitrator, NAA<\/td><\/tr>
2:45 to 4:00 PM<\/td>Plenary Session \u2014 Red Light\/Green Light<\/strong>

Panelists:
Lisa Dublin<\/a>, Arbitrator
Tom Kruglinski<\/a>, Arbitrator
Bob Murray<\/a>, Arbitrator
Matt Bodah<\/a>, Arbitrator
Alvin Wilson<\/a>, Arbitrator

Moderator:
Tim Taylor<\/a>, Arbitrator<\/td><\/tr>
4:00 to 4:15 PM<\/td>Closing Remarks<\/strong>

John Olerio, Ph.D.<\/a> , Executive Director, Summer Sessions, Winter J Term, & Strategic Initiatives
University of Rhode Island

Sherrie Rose Talmadge<\/a>, Arbitrator, NAA Co-Chair NAA New England Region
Shari Broder<\/a>, Arbitrator, NAA, Co-Chair NAA New England Region

James Cooper<\/a>, Arbitrator, NAA Chair, Planning Committee<\/td><\/tr>
4:15 PM onward<\/td>Networking at the Hotel Bar<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n
\"Walt<\/figure>
\n\n

27th Annual Labor Arbitration Conference: Featured Plenary Session<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

The 27th Annual Labor Arbitration Conference will feature a special plenary session with National Academy of Arbitrators President, Walt De Treux.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Walt has served as a labor and employment arbitrator and mediator since 1999, and has been active in the labor-management field since 1982. Walt\u2019s mediation and arbitration practice spans across many industries in the public and private sectors and includes both interest and grievance arbitration, employment arbitration, and mediation. He is a member of the Pennsylvania and New Jersey bar associations, and is admitted to practice in state and federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.<\/p>\n\n<\/article><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n

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View Past Events:<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Each year, the University of Rhode Island hosts two conferences: the Labor Arbitration Conference, held in the fall and presented in partnership with the National Academy of Arbitrators, and the Labor and Employment Law Conference, hosted in the spring in partnership with the Roger Williams University School of Law. These events\u2014designed for employers, unions, non-profit […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4715,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-14141","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/osi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14141","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/osi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/osi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/osi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4715"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/osi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14141"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/osi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14141\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15488,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/osi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14141\/revisions\/15488"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/osi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14141"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}