The 2023 Coalition of Federal Ombudsman Annual Conference will be held as a hybrid event all day on Friday, October 13th, 2023. After a three year absence, we are thrilled to again offer the camaraderie and fellowship of an in-person conference experience at the Clara Barton Auditorium at the US Patent and Trademark Office, 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, VA. For those who are not able to join us in person in Alexandria, virtual attendance is available. Either way, we hope you are able to join us.
As always, the conference is free and open to all. The agenda is primarily aimed at federal ombuds practitioners of all models, but includes information and sessions which may be of interest to ombuds and ADR practitioners anywhere, as well as those interested in other fields.
We are thrilled to announce that the conference day has been approved for a total of 5.0 PDH for CO-OP recertification. The day's agenda is below, with PDH approved for each session in parentheses.
9:00am – 9:05am: Welcome & Opening Remarks
9:05am – 10:35am: Facilitating Collaboration in Dispute Resolution with Tools from Other Disciplines (1.5 PDH)
• Luella Wong, CEO and Founder, Lunar, Inc.
10:35am – 10:45am: Morning Break
10:45am – 11:15am: The Neutral as Advocate (0.5 PDH)
• Sarah Gill, Ombuds, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
• Stacy Puente, Ombuds, US Securities & Exchange Commission
11:15am – 11:45am: IOA Government Sector Survey Data Review (0.5 PDH)
• Tim Hedeen, Professor & former University Ombuds, Kennesaw State University
11:45am – 12:00pm: Ombuds Organization Updates
• Alicia Booker and Ellen Miller, International Ombuds Association President and Executive Director
• Jordan Steffen, United States Ombudsman Association President
• Ken Skodacek, Ryan Smith, and Megan Willoughby, ABA Ombuds Committee Co-Chairs
12:00pm – 12:10pm: Blip 1: This Ombuds For You
• Dr. Belinda Robinson, Associate Ombudsman, Federal Bureau of Investigation
12:10pm – 1:10pm: Lunch
1:10pm – 1:20pm: Blip 2: An Icebreaker About Water
• Sandi Moore, Associate Ombuds, National Reconaissance Office
1:20pm – 1:35pm: COFO Mentoring Committee Update
1:35pm – 1:45pm: COFO Peer Practitioner Network Update
1:45pm – 2:45pm: Gossip’s Hidden Virtues: How Ombuds Use Gossip as a Catalyst for Positive Change (1.0 PDH)
• Teresa Ralicki, Ombuds Analyst, Pinterest
2:45pm – 3:00pm: Being an Ombuds JEDI: Addressing Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
• Yvonne Vissing, Professor, Salem State University & Policy Chair, UN Convention of the Rights of the Child
3:00pm – 3:10pm: Afternoon Break
3:10pm – 3:40pm: Evaluation of Ombuds Conflict Coaching Services at the Office of Collaborative Action and Dispute Resolution, U.S. Department of the Interior, FY 2020-2022 (0.5 PDH)
• Mary Chavez Rudolph, Ombuds, Office of Collaborative Action & Dispute Resolution, Department of the Interior
• Will Hall, Director, Office of Collaborative Action & Dispute Resolution, Department of the Interior
3:40pm – 4:40pm: Me, Myself, and AI (1.0 PDH)
• Dr. Clare Fowler, Executive Vice President & Managing Editor, Mediate.com
• Colin Rule, President & CEO, Mediate.com
4:40pm – 5:00pm: COFO Executive Committee Q&A & Closing Remarks
When registering, please make sure your email address is correct. Information for attendees will be disseminated exclusively via email, and the virtual link to the conference will be provided via email 24-48 hours before the conference begins. Registration for all closes at 5 PM Eastern time on Thursday, October 12th.
An informal post-conference happy hour will be held after the conclusion of the agenda at Trademark Drink & Eat, 2080 Jamieson Ave, Alexandria, VA (inside the Westin Hotel).
