TAPM Newsletter

January 2025

Dear TAPM Mediators,

As we step into a fresh new year, we are reminded of the power of the work we do as mediators: fostering understanding, cultivating empathy, and planting seeds of peace across Tennessee. Our shared spirit of collaboration, learning, and mentorship helps us grow stronger as individuals and as a field.

This year, we are excited to continue providing mediators across the state with meaningful opportunities to learn, network, and exchange ideas. We’ve planned a lineup of interesting and inspiring speakers, dynamic learning events, and opportunities to mentor and be mentored. Mark your calendars! Our Annual Seminar will take place over Zoom on Thursday, April 4th, offering an engaging day of connection and professional development. We also have excellent speakers lined up for our Speaker Series in February and March, where experts in our field will share insights and tools to carry into your practice. Details about these events are listed below. We hope you will join us and take advantage of these opportunities to grow your skills, connect with peers, and deepen your passion for mediation.

Let’s make 2025 a year of growth, connection, and peace. Together, we can continue making a meaningful difference, one mediation at a time. Stay warm and safe as we navigate the rest of winter!

“Do something wonderful. People may imitate it.” 

-Albert Schweitzer

Nominations Are Open for the 2025 Grayfred Gray Public Service in Mediation Award

This Award is named after Emeritus Professor Grayfred Gray. During his 28 years on the faculty at the University of Tennessee College of Law, Grayfred Gray practiced as a mediator and was the founder of the well-regarded UT mediation clinic and other programs in which law students mediated cases referred by Tennessee courts and federal, state and local agencies.



Grayfred has demonstrated a lifelong dedication to public service and pro bono work. As a leader and educator he helped to set the standard for mediation excellence as the field was just emerging, and he continues to be a powerful voice in shaping the future of mediation in Tennessee and beyond. With the Grayfred Gray Award, we seek to honor individuals whose commitment to peacemaking, empowerment, and service have impacted our state in profound ways.  

This year, we are focusing on peace makers in East Tennessee. Submit your nomination here:

Please submit your nominations by February 25th

Please submit your nominations by February 25th.

For more info on the award and previous recipients, see the TAPM website here: 

How Have You Benefited from TAPM?

We need your help in our membership campaign to reach all Tennessee mediators. Your experience can inspire others to join TAPM.

Please share your answer to the question, “How have you benefited from your TAPM membership?” You can do this in one of the following ways:

1. Make a 30 to 60-second video and post it on LinkedIn, tagging TAPM.
2. Send us a 30 to 60-second video, and we'll share it on our social media.
3. Send us a 40–80 word statement, and we'll post it on our social media.

Let’s spread the good word to all Tennessee mediators! Email submissions to jen.comiskey@2mediate.org.

Thanks to Everyone Who Attended Our December Speaker Series Event!

Clare Fowler: "Saving TIME: The Trauma-Informed Mediation Experience"

On December 3rd, Clare Fowler gave a powerful presentation on the impact of trauma on mediation dynamics. She offered tools for working with disputants, as well as ways to increase our own self-awareness. She touched on issues from process design to addressing behavioral challenges, focusing on how to build a sense of safety in our process. More than 40 people attended this CME/CLE event and feedback was incredibly positive.

Clare's 2023 book, Rising Above Office Conflict, is a guidebook for HR directors dealing with high conflict behaviors. TAPM will continue to bring you insightful and informative speakers who are leaders in the field of dispute resolution. We hope to see you all at future Speaker Series Events!

Upcoming TAPM Events

TAPM Speaker Series Presents: Stephen Shields, Five Potential Barriers to Settlement for a Mediation

Monday, Feb. 3, 2025 (11am-12pmCT/12pm-1pmET, via Zoom)

As mediators, we face several common barriers to settlement in mediation. Join us for an engaging discussion in how to overcome these obstacles with creativity, patience, and skill. Participants will gain a deep understanding of the various barriers that can arise during mediations and the tools to effectively manage them. The seminar will provide practical strategies for mediators to enhance their ability to guide clients through complex negotiations. By addressing structural, strategic, emotional, cognitive, and cultural barriers, mediators can help parties navigate the uncertainties inherent in settlement discussions and move towards mutually beneficial outcomes.



This event has been approved for 1 hour of General CLE. CME is pending.

Speaker Bio:

Stephen L. Shields, JD, LLM is the founding member of Alternative Dispute Resolution Institute and a Partner in the Memphis law firm of Jackson, Shields, Yeiser, Holt, Owen & Bryant. He is a Tennessee Supreme Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Rule 31 Listed General Civil Mediator as well as Rule 31 General Civil Mediation Trainer. Mr. Shields is a former Commissioner (and Chair) on the Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission. He is a Listed Mediator in the Mediator Profile Directory of the United States District Court Western District of Tennessee. Mr. Shields is a frequent speaker and author regarding alternative dispute resolution topics. He is also a founding member as well as the Past-Chair of the Mid-South Community Justice and Mediation Center (CJAM). He is the Past-Chair of the Tennessee Bar Association Alternative Dispute Resolution Executive Council as well as Past-Chair of the Memphis Bar Association Alternative Dispute Resolution Section and Past-President of the Tennessee Association of Professional Mediators. In 2015, Mr. Shields was chosen as the recipient of the Grayfred Gray Public Service in Mediation Award. He is an adjunct professor at the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis where he is the Director of the Mediation Clinic. He has been listed in Best Lawyers since 1991.

TAPM Speaker Series Presents: Irini Bekhit

Exploring ADR in Richmond Supreme Court: Models for TN Mediators

Monday, March 3, 2025 (11am-12pmCT/12pm-1pmET, via Zoom)

At 11amCT/12pmET: This one-hour session explores the innovative Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) approaches implemented in Richmond Supreme Court, Staten Island, NY, providing valuable insights for TN mediators. We’ll begin with an attorney’s perspective on ADR’s evolving role in modern legal practice. The discussion will then delve into Richmond Supreme Court’s comprehensive ADR system, examining their pioneering use of technology, targeted case assessment protocols, and strategic mediator engagement practices. Of particular interest is their collaborative model, which successfully integrates both attorney and non-attorney mediators through the Community Dispute Resolution Center.

We’ll examine Richmond’s pilot programs and their robust quality control measures, including their mediator orientation process and satisfaction tracking system. Throughout the discussion, we’ll actively consider how these successful practices can be adapted and implemented within the Tennessee Association of Mediators (TAPM) framework, identifying specific opportunities for enhancement of our own ADR processes.

This structured exploration aims to provide practical takeaways that can strengthen TN mediation practices while building on Richmond’s proven successes.

This event will be followed at 12pmCT/1pmET by our regular TAPM Member Meeting. We hope you can join us for networking and fellowship!

This event has been approved for 1 hour of General CLE.

CME is pending.

Speaker Bio:

IRINI BEKHIT, ESQ., a resident of Staten Island for over 34 years, is an active community leader, serving as a volunteer in many island and state wide organizations. She is also a full-time Court Attorney Referee and the ADR Coordinator for the Richmond County Supreme Court and an Adjunct Professor at the College of Staten Island.

Born in Alexandria, Egypt, but growing up on Staten Island, she graduated Staten Island Technical High School and went on to the New Jersey Institute of Technology where she obtained a B.A. in the History of Medicine, Technology and Environment. While attaining her undergraduate degree, she was the president of the Student Government for two years and helped bridge the gap between the administration and student body, while maintaining a high GPA and working part-time at a local Staten Island pharmacy. After graduating NJIT in 2005, she went on to earn her juris doctorate from Rutgers Law. She interned at numerous organizations during her educational career, including the Kings County District Attorney’s Office, the ACLU, the Surrogate’s Court of Richmond County and the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office. In her endeavor to experience different areas of the law, she also worked for a mid-size personal injury firm in NYC, a real estate firm in down-town NYC and a local Staten Island law firm specializing in Trusts and Estates.

Ms. Bekhit began her career in the Surrogate’s Court of Richmond County in January 2011 and continued to work there until March 2022. She served on the Board of Directors of Meals on Wheels of Staten Island for four years and chaired the 2014 Meals on Wheels Annual Luncheon. She was also a member of the Trusts and Estates Committee on the Richmond County Bar Association and was the 13th District Representative for the Trusts and Estates Law Section for the NYS Bar Association for two consecutive terms. She was the union delegate for the Court Attorney’s Association representing Surrogate and Supreme Court attorneys from 2011-2019 and was elected as the Executive Vice President of the Court Attorneys Association in 2019 and continues to serve in that role. As Exec VP, she worked on contract negotiations, court consolidation, covid pandemic issues, as well as numerous other topics relevant to her membership. She joined the faculty of the College of Staten Island (CUNY system) in the fall of 2015 and is an adjunct professor teaching Business Law and Political Science to undergraduate students. She was sworn in as a Director for the Richmond County Bar Association in 2015 and completed her term in May of 2022 but continues to work with various subcommittees including Co-Chairing the CLE Committee and the Law Day Committee.

As a court attorney in the Surrogate’s Court, she spearheaded the Major Case Department and served as the supervisor of the Guardianship Department from 2018 until March of 2022. As the supervisor for the Guardianship Department, she transformed the department by creating and utilizing mock forms and YouTube videos to assist self-represented litigants. Her videos are used statewide and she has amassed over 10,000 views on her content. She was also responsible for handling conferences, drafting legal decisions and opinions, meeting with the public and attorneys, as well as other duties as designated by the Surrogate. She worked closely with the Clerk’s office and the interns throughout the year and has created and implemented the only undergraduate 10 week internship court program on Staten Island. She has presented numerous Surrogate CLE’s to the Richmond County Bar, to the Bay Ridge Lawyers Association, Columbian Lawyers and to the New York State Bar Association.

In March of 2022, Ms. Bekhit joined the Richmond County Supreme Court as a Court Attorney Referee and is the Alternative Dispute Resolution Coordinator for her county. She created an ADR program based on the Eastern and Southern District model, while implementing processes and procedures that streamline the intake process, increase efficiency for users(attorneys and mediators) and collects more datapoints than any other county in the State. She has also started various pilot program aimed at 1)increasing access to justice for pro se litigants, 2)assisting middle class and lower income families resolve their disputes faster and 3) working with Article 81 Guardianship cases. She enjoys working and presenting on ADR issues with various local, city and statewide bar associations.

In her capacity as co-chair of the Equal Justice Initiative Committee, she has worked consistently with local schools and community organizations to inform them of job opportunities within the court system in an effort to increase diversity within said system.

Ms. Bekhit resides in Staten Island, with her husband, Dr. A. Jay Mosses, who is the Ob/Gyn Medical Director for Ezra Medical Center in Brooklyn, as well as her 11 year old and seven year old sons.

TAPM 2025 Annual Seminar

Pillars of Peacemaking: Exploring Key Professions in Dispute Resolution

Friday, April 4, 2025 (8am-3pmCT/9pm-4pmET, via Zoom)

Join us for Pillars of Peacemaking, a full-day online seminar that dives into the essential roles of mediators, arbitrators, ombudsmen, facilitators, and conflict coaches, including the unique characteristics, responsibilities, and ethical considerations of each role.

We will delve into these distinct yet interconnected roles, examining how each contributes uniquely to resolving conflicts in various contexts. The presentation will also highlight the growing importance of community mediation and access to justice. Speakers include Ken Cloke, Clare Fowler, Murphy Funkhouser, Anne Sawyer, and more!

This conference aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the dispute resolution field, empowering professionals at all stages of their careers to identify opportunities, enhance their skills, and navigate the interconnected nature of conflict management roles. Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner looking to expand your services or a newcomer exploring career options, this event offers valuable insights into the diverse and rewarding world of dispute resolution.

Mark your calendar and get ready for a day of growth, learning, and connection!

5 hours CLE/CME Pending

* * * * *



$125 to members; $200 for non-members. 

Students can attend for $50.00 with a registration code. Contact jen.comiskey@2mediate.org for the code if you don’t already have one.