Meet the Authors

Maxine S. Broderick, Esq.
A lifelong resident of Long Island, New York, Ms. Broderick concentrates her practice on matrimonial and family law. She is experienced in handling uncontested and contested divorces, legal separation, child support, child custody, visitation, spousal support, orders of protection and modification of Family Court orders.

Committed to community service, Ms. Broderick has provided pro bono legal assistance to low income New Yorkers with respect to personal bankruptcy, uncontested and contested divorces, consumer debt, foreclosure prevention and housing disputes.

Ms. Broderick was named an “Access to Justice Champion” by the Nassau County Bar Association for pro bono service in 2013, was the recipient of an Outstanding Service certificate from the Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCCADV) in 2012, and was recognized by the New York State Courts Access to Justice Program for outstanding work and dedicated service in the uncontested divorce Volunteer Lawyers Program in 2010.

She is a member of the New York State Bar Association, the Association of Black Women Attorneys (ABWA), the Nassau County Bar Association, the Nassau County Women’s Bar Association, the Hempstead Branch of the NAACP and is President-elect of the Amistad Long Island Black Bar Association.

Ms. Broderick is a proud graduate of Sacred Heart Academy in Hempstead, New York, earned a bachelor degree from Fordham University and a juris doctor from Brooklyn Law School in 2003.

She is admitted to practice law in New York State, The United States District Court, Eastern District of New York (EDNY), The United States District Court, Southern District of New York (SDNY), and was admitted to The U.S. Supreme Court in 2014. For more information about Ms. Broderick’s practice, visit www.brodericklawny.com.

Liza Caldwell, CPC
Liza Caldwell, cofounder and director of SAS for Women™, is a graduate of Fordham University and holds an MA in education from Columbia University’s Teachers College where she studied gender and leadership development. Trained in transformational coaching with the faculty of Leadership That Works, she is a certified professional coach (CPC) recognized by the International Coach Federation (ICF). Divorced after 17 years of marriage, Liza is a single parent to two young women in college.

SAS for Women™ is New York City’s first comprehensive resource that provides strategic information, action-oriented coaching, and expert resources and tools to women navigating separation, divorce, empty-nesting, and widowhood. For more information, visit sasforwomen.com.

Ravi Cattry, Esq.
Ravi Cattry is licensed to practice in New York and New Jersey and admitted into the Eastern and Southern District Courts of New York. She completed a Bachelor of Science at Fordham University in Manhattan where she was a double major in psychology and economics. She received a Juris Doctor from Pace University School of Law in White Plains, New York.

Before joining Rincker Law, PLLC, Ravi worked at a general practice firm located in Kew Gardens, New York. While working there her practice areas included landlord and tenant disputes, matrimonial and family law issues, commercial law, and immigration law. Ravi also worked with a boutique law firm specializing in bankruptcy law in Manhattan. During law school she interned with the Integrated Domestic Violence Court in White Plains, New York, where she assisted in handling divorce cases intertwined with domestic violence cases.

Ravi is fluent in Hindi and Punjabi, and conversational in Spanish. In her free time Ravi enjoys reading, watching movies, playing tennis, and keeping up with her favorite soccer teams. For more information about Rincker Law, PLLC, visit www.rinckerlaw.com.

Daniel Clement, Esq.
Daniel Clement is a dedicated, hands-on New York divorce and family law attorney with more than 25 years’ experience. He takes a pragmatic, individualized and realistic approach to helping his clients through the often thorny path of divorce.

Daniel graduated from Brooklyn Law School and the State University of New York at Albany. He is a member of the New York City Bar Assoc., and has served as a member of the Matrimonial Committee. He has also worked as an Arbitrator in the Small Claims Court of the City of New York.

In addition to practicing, Daniel has extensively written and lectured on a range of family law issues. Daniel writes and maintains a blog, the New York Divorce Report, which explores current topics in New York family law and matrimonial practice.

For more information about Daniel and his practice, visit clementlaw.com.

Carol Dacey-Charles, ACC, CPCC
Carol is unconventional with a wicked smile, quirky wit and the keenest BS-detector around. Carol is direct, and engaging, putting her powerful sense of spirituality and clarity towards working from the inside out.

She takes risks while being light; she cares while pushing hard, all with a grace, warmth and deftness that ease the way. Carol has a grounded presence that creates safety and trust for everyone around her.

In 2011, Carol founded Why Not Thrive?, an international coaching and training business. With a career spanning 25 years of management, training, and human development in the arts, non-profits, retail and ministry, Carol is working with clients around the world to help them transform their personal and professional lives. For more information about Carol or Why Not Thrive? Visit www.ynotthrive.com and Carol’s blog at www.wordforgood.com.

Briana Denney, Esq.
Briana Denney, a partner in the law firm of Newman & Denney P.C., represents clients in all aspects of matrimonial and family law matters, including prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, divorce, child custody and visitation, and enforcement of divorce agreements and judgments. Prior to private practice, she was a court attorney for Justice Rosalyn Richer. Briana is an active member of several bar associations and committees. She grew up in Arizona and attended the University of Arizona, where she earned her B.A. in Psychology with honors. She moved from Boston to attend the City University of New York where she earned her J.D. For more information about Briana and Newman & Denney P.C., visit www.newmandenney.com.

Veronica Escobar, Esq.
Veronica Escobar is the Principal and Founder of The Law Offices of Veronica Escobar, a practice focusing exclusively in the areas of Elder Law, Special Needs Planning and Trusts and Estates, as well as Family Law. Prior to forming her own law practice, Veronica worked as an attorney representing the City of New York, Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) in child abuse and neglect matters (commonly referred to as an “Article 10”) ranging from educational neglect to serious forms of abuse.

Veronica is admitted to practice in the State of New York. She is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York and the United States Supreme Court. She graduated summa cum laude from Fordham College at Rose Hill, Fordham University, where she was also elected to Phi Beta Kappa, with a degree in American Studies and a minor in Latin American/Latino Studies. She also received her law degree from Fordham, where she was a Notes and Articles Editor of the Fordham International Law Journal.

Currently, she is the Co-Chair of the Diversity Committee of the Elder Law and Special Needs Section of the New York State Bar, a member of the Elder Law and Special Needs and Trusts and Estates Sections of the New York State Bar Association, and is a Deputy Regional President for the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) New York Region. She is a past member of the Legal Problems of the Aging Committee and of The Family Court and Family Law Committee at the New York City Bar.

She is also an avid reader of everything, a music lover, concertgoer, museum fan, and burgeoning world traveler, as well as an information sponge.

To learn more about Veronica, you can connect to her website www.veronicaescobarlaw.com, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/VeronicaEscobarLawNewYork.

Lesley Ann Friedland, Esq.
Lesley Ann Friedland is FamilyKind’s Executive Director. Prior to her work at FamilyKind, Ms. Friedland was employed by the New York State Family Court for over 25 years as a Court Attorney Referee hearing cases concerning visitation, custody, neglect, abuse and domestic violence and as a Court Attorney assisting Judges. While at the the Family Court, Ms. Friedland also oversaw the Kings County NYS Certified Parent Education Program and also served as the Court liaison to the Mediation program. There Ms. Friedland realized the benefits these services held for families in transition. Unfortunately, in 2008/9 both programs along with other valuable resources were no longer funded. Knowing that supportive services were vital to the health of transitioning families, in 2012 Ms. Friedland left her job and founded FamilyKind, a 501( C ) (3) public charity. With the support of accomplished and altruistic mediators, parenting coordinators, lawyers and educators, FamilyKind seeks to fulfill two missions: provide high quality services for divorcing and separating families without regard to their financial resources and to change the way our society views the transitioning family. Friedland graduated with a BA from Sarah Lawrence College and a JD from Antioch School of Law.

Frank Galchus, Esq.
Frank Galchus began his legal career more than 30 years ago with the Criminal Defense Division of the Legal Aid Society. Since then he has represented clients in criminal matters and family matters in Criminal Court, Supreme Court, and Family Court. His Family Court representation includes children who have been arrested and are facing charges in Family Court.

Sheera Gefen, Esq.
Sheera Gefen, Esq. graduated phi beta kappa, magna cum laud, with a B.A. in psychology from Barnard College, Columbia University and earned her J.D. from Fordham Law School. She has been a practicing attorney for 14 years and has gained expertise exclusively in matrimonial law for most of her career, working for District Council 37’s Municipal Employees Legal Services. She has extensive experience representing clients in custody, child support, maintenance and equitable distribution matters as well as resolving disputes pertaining to the distribution of governmental and ERISA pensions. For the past 10 years, Sheera has been an instructor of Business Law at Touro College. Her research on the psychological implications of procedural justice has been presented at various psychology and law conferences including the European Conference on Psychology and Law in Krakow, Poland, the annual meeting of the International Congress of Applied Psychology in San Francisco, CA, and the annual meeting of the American Psychological Society in Washington, D.C. She often appears as a guest-lecturer at universities, speaking on topics related to the interplay between psychology and law. Sheera is also a Certified Divorce Mediator and a member of the Academy of Professional Family Mediators. She resides with her husband and children in Long Island, NY.

Anthony Gittens, CPT
Anthony Gittens has worked as a fitness professional in the New York metropolitan area for over nineteen years since his honorable discharge from the Marine Corps after eight years of service. Gittens earned a bachelor’s degree in business management before completing a six-month, 1000-hour, intensive massage therapy course at Finger Lakes School of Massage and gaining NY state licensure as a massage therapist. It is a goal for Anthony and his team as fitness professionals to bring appropriate and effective training to everyone they can, regardless of body type, ability, age, or weight. Anthony believes in listening closely to what people want to accomplish and why, and he derives great satisfaction from helping people grow in strength, serenity and competence.

For more information about Element Fitness, visit www.elementfitness.net.

Peter Gordon, CSA
Peter Gordon is a partner at New York Financial Organizers, Inc. (www.nyfo.nyc). His focus is on client service and marketing. After learning to navigate the tricky waters of Medicare, Medicaid, community trusts and estate planning for his own parents, Peter began NYFO with the goal of helping others gain peace of mind and security with their families’, or their own, financial affairs.

Peter earned a BA in Political Science from the University of Buffalo and an MBA in Finance from Baruch College. After spending three years at Sanford Bernstein & Co. in marketing services, he began his own computer graphic design business, Gordon Associates Inc., in 1990. In 1997 Peter teamed with Harvey Appelbaum, an award winning creative director, and formed inc3. In 2005, inc3 was sold to Kay Printing, a Clifton, New Jersey company, and re-branded as Kay Multimedia (KMM). In 2011, Peter became the Director of New Business Development for Dorian Orange, a Motion Design firm dedicated to producing captivating, innovative, and memorable brand messages.

Peter is a member of the American Association of Daily Money Managers; a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA); a member of the Orion Resource Group, and is pursuing Geriatric Care Management education at the Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging. He lives in Forest Hills, NY, is married, and has two sons.

Ronna Gordon-Galchus, Esq.
Ronna Gordon-Galchus has been practicing law for more than 25 years. She began her career as an attorney with the Criminal Defense Division of the Legal Aid Society representing indigent individuals charged with crimes. Throughout the years she has devoted her practice to representing people facing various levels of felonies and misdemeanors and has tried numerous jury and non-jury trials. A large part of her practice is dedicated to those who are involved with cases in Family Court, including representing juveniles who have been arrested and charged with delinquency. She has also have authored numerous appellate briefs and has argued both in the Appellate Division and the New York State Court of Appeals.

Carrie Gravenson
Unjumbler Professional Organizing was created in 2007 when Carrie Gravenson was hired as a temp for a boring and messy office. Left with nothing to do, she volunteered to organize the desk where she was sitting. Satisfied and energized by the results, she then asked to organize the supply closet. Then the kitchen, the storage room and the file room. A passion was discovered and an obsession was born.

Since 2007, Unjumbler has organized countless spaces for all walks of life. The home, the office and everything in between. From a messy drawer to a complete apartment renovation, Unjumbler has the skills and resources to create functional and beautiful order. As a native New Yorker and avid traveler, Carrie instinctively knows how to use space efficiently, even in small quarters. For more information about Unjumbler, visit www.unjumbleronline.com.

Karen Greenberg, Esq.
Karen Greenberg received her BA from Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences and her JD from Brooklyn Law School. After graduation, she served as a hearing officer (“Administrative Law Judge”) at the N.Y.S Department of Social Services conducting administrative hearings involving public assistance, foster care and Medicaid provider fraud and abuse. Karen then joined DC 37 Municipal Employees Legal Services (“MELS”) which provides legal services in a wide range of civil matters to employees and retirees of the City of New York, as part of their union health and security package of benefits. There she practiced in the areas of matrimonial/family law, government benefits, housing, consumer law, bankruptcy and wills. She practiced matrimonial law exclusively for 30 years, including all aspects of custody, child support, maintenance, and equitable distribution of marital property from inception through trial. For the last 26 years, Karen was a supervising attorney of the Matrimonial Department at MELS. As a matrimonial attorney, she developed a special interest and expertise in the area of the distribution of pensions and retirement benefits in divorce. As a result of her recognized expertise in this area, Karen frequently lectured/trained at numerous continuing legal education programs for attorneys, sponsored by among other organizations, Legal Services of New York, In Motion, the Brooklyn Bar Association and the Staten Island Bar Association.

In March 2015, Karen opened an office for the private practice of matrimonial and family law, doing both litigation and mediation. She also serves as a consulting/reviewing attorney for parties in divorce mediation. She acts as consultant to matrimonial attorneys on the issues of equitable distribution of retirement benefits and QDROs.

Wendy A. Harris, Esq.
Wendy Harris is the founding member of Wendy Harris Law, PLLC, a law firm dedicated to providing quality services to individuals, families and small businesses. Wendy has over 14 years of experience representing a diverse range of clients in civil litigations, regulatory investigations, estate planning, and matrimonial and family law matters.

After receiving her JD, cum laude, from Cornell Law School, Wendy began her legal career clerking for Judge Kollar-Kotelly and Judge Oberdorfer, both of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

She then went on to practice with the New York offices of WilmerHale (formerly Wilmer Cutler & Pickering), and Richards Kibbe & Orbe LLP, before founding WHL, representing both Fortune 500 companies and professionals in high profile litigations and civil and criminal investigations. Wendy also has had an active pro bono practice and has represented clients in family law and matrimonial matters, and has drafted an amicus brief for the Second Circuit on behalf of Children’s Rights, Inc. In 2008, she received the “Above and Beyond Pro Bono Achievement” award from Sanctuary for Families for her representation of a victim of domestic violence in order of protection, custody and divorce proceedings.

Wendy is a member of the New York Bar, and is admitted to practice before both federal and state courts in New York. She is also an active member of the New York State Bar Association and the New York Women’s Bar Association. For more information about Wendy’s practice, visit www.wendyharrislaw.com.

Paul Hymowitz, Ph.D.
Paul Hymowitz, Ph.D. has been practicing psychology for over 30 years. Specializing in divorce and custody work, he previously co-edited one book on the matter, entitled A Handbook of Divorce and Custody.

Paul Hymowitz is on the faculties of New York Medical College, Yeshiva University and IPTAR (Institute for Psychoanalytic Training and Research). For more information, visit paulhymowitzphd.com.

Deborah E. Kaminetzky, Esq.
Deborah E. Kaminetzky is the founding member of Kaminetzky & Associates, P.C. located in Cedarhurst, New York. Prior to starting the firm Deborah worked at a Long Island firm where she learned the practice of Matrimonial and Family law. Deborah has also worked at the New York Department of Consumer Affairs where she was responsible for prosecuting unlicensed home improvement contractors and negotiating settlements for consumers. Prior to practicing law, Ms. Kaminetzky served on the Architectural Control Committee of a Home Owners Association in Boca Raton while living in Florida, and was the president of a commercial property management corporation in the New York Metro area.

Ms. Kaminetzky is a member of the American Bar Association (General Practice, Solo and Small firm Division and Law Practice Management Sections), New York State Bar Association (Estate, Family Law and General Practice Sections), Nassau County Bar Association (where she serves as Chair of the Technology and Practice Management Committee, and is active in the Community Relations and Education Committee, Women in the Law committees and General and Solo Committee) Great Neck Lawyers Association, and The Nassau County Women’s Bar Association.

Ms. Kaminetzky was recently appointed to the Committee on Law Practice Management of the New York State Bar Association. Ms. Kaminetzky serves on the Board of Directors of the Yashar Attorney and Judges Chapter of Hadassah as a Vice President, and was their Woman of the Year 2012. Deborah graduated from New York Law School in 1991 and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in 1986.

Ms. Kaminetzky was admitted to the First Department in 1991 and the United States Supreme Court Bar in February of 2015.
Deborah is on the Matrimonial fee dispute arbitration panel for Nassau County. She expanded her alternative dispute resolution practice by completing a Mediation certificate program in December of 2013 from The New York Peace Institute.

Ms. Kaminetzky has spoken to various groups on topics including matrimonial law, technology and social media use, and disaster preparedness for business including cybersecurity.

For more information about Ms. Kaminetzky and her practice, visit www.kaminetzkylaw.com.

Andrea Kent
Andrea Kent is a franchise owner of Prime National Credit Repair. Andrea’s professional background includes over 30 years in Financial Services working 4.5 years as the VP of Mortgage Lending for Guaranteed Rate and prior to that Andrea spent 27 years as a payments expert for American Express and Visa Inc. Her extensive experience in mortgage lending and credit cards is a valuable asset for her clients at Prime National. With Andrea’s long history of working with banks and credit card companies, she really understands credit which is so misunderstood.

Andrea knows that having a good credit score is critical to one’s financial success. Without it you can’t get a good rate on a mortgage, credit card or car loan, rent an apartment, or even apply for a job. Prime National Credit Repair offers industry-leading credit repair services backed with a 100% money-back guarantee. They have an excellent reputation with an A+ rating with the BBB.

Andrea is active both in NYC and the community of Southampton where she has owned a home for the past 17 years; Andrea is a runner and triathlete. She has participated in the New York City Triathlon four times (yes, that’s swimming in the Hudson River) and Andrea has run 9 marathons including the New York City Marathon four times. Andrea was nominated in 2013 as the NYRR Runner of the Year. Andrea is also on the Board as Secretary for NAWBO-NYC (The National Association of Women Business Owners)

For more information contact Andrea Kent at: akent@primenationalny.com; call 212-889-0613, or visit http://pncr.us/andreakent.

Cheryl Lazarus, CLC, CRC, CDC
Cheryl Lazarus, CLC, CRC, CDC, is a Certified Divorce and Relationship Coach, Speaker, and NLP Master Practitioner with therapeutic training. Having gone through her own divorce successfully, Cheryl understands the practical and emotional challenges of the divorce process and the opportunities in redesigning one’s life.

When working with clients, Cheryl combines actionable steps with emotional, energetic and spiritual practices. Therefore, clients are able to heal on a profound integrated level which can positively affect all areas of their lives.

Cheryl has presented at the United Nations, to professional organizations, and has been on expert panels. She also holds workshops and support groups on topics ranging from “The Integrated Divorce,” “Healing and Letting Go,” to “Dating, Relationships and Becoming Emotionally Available Again.”

Cheryl also coaches privately in person and globally through Skype and via phone consultations. For more information, visit www.zengalove.com, www.easiertransitions.com.

Robyn Myler Mann, Esq.
Robyn Myler Mann is an experienced litigator dedicated to representing clients during some of their most challenging times: in family disputes and elder matters involving loss and grief. Using careful legal and practical analysis, creative thinking and a deep insight into each family’s needs, offers individualized and workable solutions for clients in a divorce and elder law practice in New York City focused on Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx. Admitted to the Bar in New York, Connecticut and Colorado, Robyn serves the needs of clients in Supreme Court, Civil Court, Family Court and Surrogate Courts, guiding them through complicated and difficult divorces, child custody disputes, child support enforcement matters, and elder law matters to successful conclusions.

A graduate of Emory University and Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Robyn is also a trained mediator in family disputes, helping couples to resolve parenting plans and financial matters during separation and divorce.

Donna Manvich MA, JD
Donna Manvich holds a J.D. from Touro Law Center and a master’s degree in Philosophy from SUNY Stony Brook. She is president of Jurissistance Inc., a company dedicated to legal research and writing. Ms. Manvich is also passionate in her advocacy regarding such matters as International Parental Child Abduction and children’s rights. Her collaboration by way of support with Ms. Marquez is a natural fit and the two have worked together for many years.

Ann Marquez, Esq.
Ann Marquez, Esq. is admitted to practice law in the State of New York, as well as the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York. Ms. Marquez is a passionate advocate of a child’s best interests and possesses extensive experience advocating issues relating to child welfare (child abuse, neglect) international parental child abduction, and all custody/visitation matters. Ms. Marquez is on the attorney list of the US Department of State for cases involving international parental child abductions under the Hague Convention.

Ms. Marquez began her career as an agency attorney for the City of New York’s Child Protective Services, representing the agency in over 1500 various child welfare proceedings. As a result, she gained significant insight into the “best interests” of the child, and now dedicates her practice to the advocacy of children and parents in domestic and international cases.

Ms. Marquez represented the prevailing party in a complex case of international parental child abduction in federal district court that distinguished a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling. See Buenaver v. Vasquez (In re R.V.B), 13-CV-4354 (E.D.N.Y. 2014).

Michael A. Mills, CMPS
Michael A. Mills is a Loan Officer in the Residential Mortgage Division of Sterling National Bank (Sterling Bancorp), a Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist® and an active member of the CMPS® Institute. The CMPS® Institute is a national organization that certifies mortgage bankers and brokers, with a stated mission, “…to help homeowners and homebuyers improve their lives by using the right mortgage strategies.”

Before choosing to advise and educate homebuyers and current owners about mortgage planning, helping them to achieve their financial goals; Michael worked to obtain the same results in other areas of personal finance and banking. His experience spans multiple disciplines within the umbrella of financial planning, with a core focus on estate planning, retirement planning, education funding, investment management and family risk management through insurance.

Michael’s aptitude and interest in asset management ultimately led him to accept a position as an investment wholesaler for Deutsche Bank. In this role he become a respected resource in tax-free fixed income, short-term bond, managed commodity, and mortgage-back security based investing.

In 2011 Michael joined Sterling National Bank with a lending practice centered around helping individuals and families reach their financial goals, now utilizing optimal mortgage financing and planning discussions instead of mutual funds and insurance. With a holistic approach to mortgage planning and its diverse applications, he continues to draw on his prior experience and insight to add greater depth to his consultative approach. Michael often identifying opportunities outside of the mortgage world, helping clients achieve other aspects of their financial goals by pointing them in the direction of other respected and vetted professionals.

Scott A. Mills, DC
Dr. Scott A. Mills is a chiropractor with a passion for empowering others with the knowledge and tools needed to optimize health and life.

While going through a divorce he became dismayed at the lack of authentic, modern feeling resources for men recovering from divorce. He noticed the best help he received was from guys who had already been through the process and moved forward with their own successful lives.

In 2015 Scott launched DivorceWingman.com to encourage, support and give hope to guys in the recovery process. The idea is to pay forward the help he received and bring guys through the post-divorce funk into a new and better chapter of life. For more information, visit www.DivorceWingman.com.

Kimberly Mishkin, CDC
Kimberly Mishkin, cofounder and director of SAS for Women™, is an educator of 21 years and former administrator for The Spence School. Kim holds a BA in Education from Miami University, a MS in Science Education from Wright State University, and is licensed in Educational Leadership through The Ohio State University. She is a CDC Certified Divorce Coach® and a Grief Recovery Specialist ® with The Grief Recovery Institute®. Kim was divorced after 13 years of marriage and is now happily remarried and a new mother to a beautiful baby boy.

SAS for Women™ is New York City’s first comprehensive resource that provides strategic information, action-oriented coaching, and expert resources and tools to women navigating separation, divorce, empty-nesting, and widowhood. For more information, visit sasforwomen.com.

Bonnie L. Mohr, Esq.
Bonnie L. Mohr, managing member of the Law Offices of Bonnie L. Mohr, PLLC, started the firm in 2008 to create a practice that educates and guides clients through life-altering and stressful family situations utilizing a comprehensive, holistic and strategic approach.

The firm’s practice focuses on matrimonial law including contested and uncontested divorces, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, and post-judgment enforcements. Bonnie also practices in the family courts on such matters as child support, parenting time (custody and visitation), paternity and family offense matters.

Bonnie L. Mohr is licensed to practice law in the states of New York (2004), New Jersey (2004), and Pennsylvania (2008). She is also licensed to practice in the district courts of the Eastern District of New York, the Southern District of New York and the District of New Jersey.

Bonnie’s memberships include the matrimonial and family law committees for the Women’s Bar Association, New York County Lawyer’s Association and New York State Bar Association. Bonnie is also a member of the New York City Bar Association, where she was leader of the matrimonial mentoring circle. For more information about Bonnie’s practice, visit www.mohresq.com.

Andrea Moss
Andrea Moss is the founder of Moss Wellness, a holistic nutrition team devoted to supporting their clients learn how to finally feel confident about what to eat. The nutrition coaches at Moss Wellness will help you make enjoyable changes based on your individual lifestyle, personal preferences, and body type.

Andrea and her team work with you to naturally deconstruct food cravings, skyrocket energy levels, balance out your digestive system, and reach an ideal weight – without torturous dieting!

The Moss Wellness team works with clients and corporations around the globe to make healthy eating and healthy living easy, pleasurable, and lots of fun! For more information about Moss Wellness, visit www.mosswellness.com.

Susan Nason
Susan Nason was trained by her aunt, author Adele Faber and co-author Elaine Mazlish and has been a facilitator of their “How To Talk So Kids Will Listen, How To Listen So Kids Will Talk” and “Siblings Without Rivalry” workshops for over 35 years. She recently retired from her position as Assistant to the Director of The First Presbyterian Church Nursery School where she worked for 35 years; her position included working with parents as the school’s Parent Educator and working with teachers to facilitate a harmonious atmosphere in their classrooms. Susan has a thriving domestic and international Parent Counseling practice specializing in exploring conscious parenting employing therapeutic, spiritual and practical approaches to the challenges of raising children. Susan teaches concrete and effective communication skills to parents of children of all ages.

She has facilitated workshops at the Ackerman Institute for the Family, Seleni Institute, All Souls Church School, The Brick Church School, First Presbyterian Church Nursery School, Barrow Street Nursery School, Rockefeller Children’s School, Ross Global Academy, Girl’s Prep, Chelsea Day, Bowery Babes and Beit Rabban. She conducts teacher trainings in and around the tri-state area. She has been a speaker for the Parents’ League, the Junior League, Hudson River Park Mamas, Bowery Babes and other organizations and schools.

Most importantly, she brings her love and compassion of being a proud mother and ecstatic grandmother to her work with parents and children.

Susan is available for private sessions or to facilitate parenting workshops.

Amy Neiman
Amy Neiman, M.A., is the Founder and CEO of a simplified life, providing organizing services to empower professionals to be more profitable and productive through simplifying their workspace. Her proven, disciplined approach allows individuals to establish an easy-to-follow process which helps organize their time, space, paper, and possessions more effectively. By de-cluttering and building structure, Amy has helped countless professionals better focus on their businesses and their lives.

With a Masters in Psychology and spending 15 years in the entertainment industry, Amy’s organizing skills were well honed before launching her business. She firmly believes that organizing can be pain-free and consume a minimal amount of time during the day.

Amy is a contributor to the book, The Happy Law Practice: Expert Strategies to Build Business While Maintaining Peace of Mind. Her chapter is titled, Maximize Productivity: Tips for Organizing Your Office. Amy is also a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO). For more information, visit www.amyneiman.com.

Joseph Nivin, Esq.
Joseph Nivin is a solo practitioner at The Law Offices of Joseph H. Nivin, P.C., a law firm focusing on family and matrimonial law, with offices in Jamaica, Queens and in Manhattan. He graduated from Brooklyn Law School in 2007, and received his undergraduate degree at the University of Pennsylvania in 2004. Prior to opening his practice, Mr. Nivin was an agency attorney at the Administration for Children’s Services of the City of New York, where he represented the New York City government in child abuse and neglect proceedings. Mr. Nivin is a member of the New York State Bar Association, the New York City Bar Association, the Queens County Bar Association, and the Brandeis Association of Queens County. He serves on the Queens County Bar Association Juvenile Justice Committee and on the Committee on Lawyer Assistance. Mr. Nivin is a member of the Assigned Counsel/Attorneys for Children Panel for the Second Judicial Department, and is certified to represent indigent litigants, as well as children, in Family Court proceedings at both the trial and appellate levels. He was selected as a 2015 Rising Star in Super Lawyers magazine. More information regarding Mr. Nivin’s office is available on the web at www.nivinlaw.com.

Suzanne K. Oshima
Suzanne K. Oshima is a Matchmaker, Dating Coach & Founder at Dream Bachelor & Bachelorette

Suzanne has worked with thousands of single men and women to help them uncover the core issues of what may be preventing or blocking them from finding love. Suzanne has helped them transform and elevate their dating lives to meet, attract & keep the right one.

Suzanne is also the Founder of Single in Stilettos. Single in Stilettos gives you the best dating advice from all the top dating experts to help you meet, attract & keep the right man… so you can go from Single in Stilettos to Engaged in Stilettos!

Suzanne has been seen in the media on Bravo TV, The Today Show, Good Afternoon America, ABC News, Inside Edition, BBC Radio, Men’s Health, Glamour, and much more! For more information, visit www.dreambachelor.com or www.singleinstilettos.com.

Tina Paymaster, HHC, AADP
Tina Paymaster is a Certified Health & Lifestyle Coach, recipe developer and inspirational speaker.

Combining nutritional guidance with spirituality and psychological techniques, Tina helps her clients gain the energy, confidence and clarity they need to break through their self-defeating habits so they can create the bodies and lives they truly desire.

Her approach focuses on aligning the mind, body and soul so results are achieved with less resistance and more sustainability.

Tina’s mission is to inspire others around the world to rise above their fears, reclaim their health and happiness, create their own path in life, stop settling and start living!

Tina currently works with private clients around the country, develops recipes for her blog and top health food companies and holds frequent speaking events and workshops. She has been featured on Shape, MindBodyGreen, SheKnows, Live Science, Elephant Journal and other digital publications. Email tina.paymaster@gmail.com or visit www.tinapaymaster.com for more information.

David Perry
David began his career in real estate 1987, working in finance and commercial leasing for Olympia and York, the largest NYC developer at the time. In 1998, he was part of the team that sold the Woolworth Building. For eleven years he was the Director of Sales and an executive for The Clarett Group, one of the city’s largest residential developers. In those eleven years he sold over a billion dollars of residential real estate and leased more than one thousand apartments. During that time, he managed the leasing of The Montrose, Post Luminaria, Post Toscana and the Brooklyner, and was responsible for sales at 272 West 107th Street, Place 57, Chelsea House, Sky House, Forte, and 200 West End Avenue.

During the course of his career he was also involved in more than $1 billion in investment sales including such notable addresses as: 320 Park Avenue, 175 Water Street, 99 John Street, 233 Broadway, 308 East 38th Street, 385 First Avenue, 389 East 89th Street, and 111 Lawrence Street.

In 2011 he was the Director of Sales for Brown Harris Stevens Select’s The Laureate, where he sold over $120 million of apartments in less than one year. David is leveraging this experience to market and sell exceptional residential properties and provide expert negotiation skills for purchasers.

David was the co-chair for the Real Estate Board of New York’s Downtown Residential Division from 2005-2010. He served on the board of Community Access, a non-profit that built supportive low income housing from 2004 to 2010. He now serves as A Parent At Large for the PTA at P.S. 199 where his daughter is attending grammar school. He maintains a 15 handicap on the golf course and practices yoga up to five times per week. A Manhattan resident since 1988, David resides in the Upper West Side. Visit www.bhsusa.com/davideperry for more information.

Kymberly A. Robinson, Esq.
Kymberly is admitted to practice law in New York and Florida. She attended Union College in Schenectady, New York for her undergraduate studies, where she graduated with high honors as a psychology major. She then obtained her J.D. from Pace University School of Law in White Plains, New York and, subsequently, her L.L.M. (with a concentration in family law) from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in Manhattan. Kymberly entered the field of matrimonial and family law as a way to couple her interest in psychology and personal relationships with her legal education.

Before joining Rincker Law, PLLC, Kymberly was an associate at boutique matrimonial law firms in Westchester County, Manhattan, and Florida. She was also a volunteer at the New York County Access to Justice Program-Uncontested Divorce Clinic where she assisted self-represented litigants in the divorce process. During law school Kymberly also participated in two legal clinics: one at the Pace Women’s Justice Center, where she represented clients in obtaining orders of protection and another at the Brooklyn Family Defense Project, where she assisted in defending families in child abuse and neglect proceedings.

Kymberly likes to spend her free time with her family and also enjoys working out, cooking healthy meals, and getting together with friends. She lives in Westchester County, New York with her husband and daughter.

For more information about Rincker Law, PLLC, visit www.rinckerlaw.com.

Cari B. Rincker, Esq.
Cari Rincker is the principal attorney at Rincker Law, PLLC, a national law practice focusing on “Food, Farm & Family.” She is licensed to practice law in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Illinois and Washington, D.C. Cari was named as a Rising Star for Metro New York in 2015 by “Super Lawyers” and is an award-winning blogger. Cari is involved in several professional organizations including the Association for the Bar of the City of New York’s Matrimonial Law Committee.

In addition to her litigation practice, Cari is also a trained mediator for divorces, child custody and visitation, and commercial disputes. She was also an adjunct professor at New York University, College of Steinhardt (2013-2014), where she taught an undergraduate food law class.

On the food and agriculture side of her practice, Cari is the Chair of the American Bar Association, General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Division’s Agriculture Law Committee and won the 2014 Excellence in Agriculture Law Award by the American Agriculture Law Association.

Cari is a distinguished alumni from Lake Land College in Mattoon, Illinois and Texas A & M University. Before attending law school at Pace University School of Law in White Plains, New York, Cari obtained a Master of Science from the University of Illinois. Cari’s practice is family-centered and counsels clients on a myriad of family law and matrimonial law issues.

For more information about Rincker Law, PLLC, visit www.rinckerlaw.com.

Stefany Schaefer
Stefany Schaefer assists with special projects at FamilyKind and also serves as the FamilyKind Meetup Group organizer. She has worked with children and families in a variety of roles including private tutor, nanny, and a Court Appointed Special Advocate. Through her work, she has gained experience in family dynamics, family court proceedings in abuse and neglect cases, child development, and family conflict. Ms. Schaefer earned her B.A. in Forensic Psychology and Certificate in Dispute Resolution from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She is committed to continue to empower families both through her work with FamilyKind and with her aspiration to pursue a career in family law.

Nina E. Rumbold, Esq.
Nina E. Rumbold, Esq., is a Partner in the firm of Rumbold & Seidelman, LLP, practicing exclusively in the areas of adoption and reproductive law. Ms. Rumbold is a fellow the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, the American Academy of Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys and a member of the National LGBT Bar Association Family Law Institute. She received her Juris Doctor degree from New York University Law School and is admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey. Ms. Rumbold has lectured on Adoption Law and Reproductive Law as a member of the faculties of the ABA Family Law Section, Practicing Law Institute, the New York Judicial Institute and the New York City Bar Center for Continuing Legal Education. She is the past President of New York Attorneys for Adoption and Family Formation (NYAAFF), an organization of New York attorneys which advocates for legislative reform in the areas of adoption and reproductive law. She is also a regular speaker at the Adoptive Parents Committee annual conference. For more information, visit www.adoptionlawny.com.

Thomas Ruskin
Thomas Ruskin has been the President of the CMP Protective and Investigative Group, Inc. for over the past decade. The CMP Group is an internationally recognized investigative and security firm with clients and corporations from around the world.

Thomas Ruskin is a highly decorated former New York City Police Detective Investigator. He was responsible for Crisis Management for the Mayor, Police Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners of Operations and Crime Control Strategies for New York City. He has been involved in cases that have received worldwide attention, including the 1993 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, the NYC subway system bombing, airline crashes, police shootings, hostage situations and major organized crime and narcotic cases.

The majority of Mr. Ruskin’s background ranging over two decades in law enforcement, has been spent in the field of investigation. He began his career with the Department of Investigations Inspector General offices of the Department of Environmental Protection and Fire Department, rising to the position of Senior Investigator. In the NYPD Mr. Ruskin was assigned to the Burglary Latent Print Unit, Anti-Crime Squad, and the Organized Control Bureau-Narcotics Division’s Special Projects Unit. He was responsible for cases that lead to arrests of individuals who committed Federal and State crimes and was responsible for a 3 million dollar federally subsidized undercover program.

Mr. Ruskin’s background includes responsibility for the protection of President Bill Clinton, Vice-President Al Gore, Mrs. Hillary Clinton, Mrs. Tipper Gore, 1998 Presidential candidate Senator Robert Dole and other national and international dignitaries and Heads of State. Mr. Ruskin has received specialized training from the NYPD Intelligence Division and the United States Secret Service in Dignitary Protection.

Mr. Ruskin is recognized as an international investigative, security and crisis management expert by various news organizations including NBC, ABC, The Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN, Fox News, Channel,Sky News and 1010 WINS News. He has made frequent appearances on various TV and radio shows.

Sabra R. Sasson, Esq.
Sabra R. Sasson is an attorney and mediator practicing in New York City. She is the founder and Principal of Sabra Law Group, PLLC, a mediation and law practice in midtown Manhattan that offers legal and mediation services to its clients. Sabra handles the legal aspects of major transitions – buying or selling property, planning for marriage or getting divorced – and protects her clients’ interests so they can focus on their evolution into this new life change. She employs her skills and experience to help her clients focus on life post-divorce and guide them through the process to get there. For couples embarking on marriage, she helps them protect accumulated assets and create a plan for building assets, wealth and valuables in the future.

Sabra graduated from Brandeis University in 1995 with a Bachelor’s in Mathematics and minor in Education, whereafter she enrolled in law school and graduated from Hofstra University School of Law in 1998 with her Juris Doctorate. She sat for the bar exam in three states and was thereafter admitted to practice law in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, and has been practicing law ever since.

Sabra is currently writing a book to guide and empower couples through the process of “uncoupling,” The Harmonious Divorce: The Four Step Process to Uncoupling. She is also the author of a chapter in the best-selling book Success from the Heart. Connect with her at www.sabralawgroup.com.

Denise E. Seidelman, Esq.
Denise Seidelman is a partner in Rumbold & Seidelman, LLP, a firm devoted exclusively to adoption and reproductive law since 1996. Denise’s practice includes the full gamut of adoption services ranging from private placement and agency adoptions to second and second parent adoptions. She also provides legal counsel to those building their families through egg, sperm, and embryo donation as well as those needing the assistance of a gestational surrogate. She is actively involved in the legislative effort to reform New York law so that those building their families with the assistance of reproductive technology will be recognized under New York law. Denise is licensed to practice law in New York and New Jersey. She is on the Board of Path2Parenthood, a Fellow of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, the American Academy of Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys, and a member of the National LGBT Bar Association Family Law Institute. Denise has lectured frequently on the legal aspects of the adoption process and on reproductive law before the New York State and New York City Bar Associations as well as before the New York Judicial Institute. Denise is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and the Washington College of Law. She was admitted to practice in New York in 1980 and in New Jersey in 2006. She began her legal career as a trial attorney for the Criminal Defense Division of the New York City Legal Aid Society. For more information visit www.adoptionlawny.com.

Mona Sharaf
Mona Sharaf is a New York City based, personal shopper and image consultant for both men and women. Her mission is to help her clients create the image they are looking to portray all while making them feel more beautiful, confident and educated on how to shop.

She studied image consulting at the Fashion Institute of Technology. She has worked for very reputable clothing designers such as Norma Kamali, where she worked as a personal shopper developing wardrobes for her client base all around the country.

Mona is committed to working very closely with her clients to develop their personal style. She listens carefully to their needs, goals and lifestyles and incorporates current and diverse pieces into a wardrobe that already exists.

Diane Spear, LCSW-R
Diane Spear is a psychotherapist and licensed clinical social worker in private practice in New York City since 1995, with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work from New York University and a certificate from the Institute of Developmental Psychotherapy. She treats older adolescents up through older adults – couples, former couples, and individuals – helping them deal with their problems so they can live more satisfying lives. She works with patients in person, and through phone and Skype sessions, so her practice includes people in the tristate area and throughout the world. She has written about couples counseling with high conflict people as a guest blogger for Psychology Today’s website blog “Stop Walking on Eggshells”, aspects of relationships for the online women’s magazine Your Tango, and relationships and general topics in her own blog. Diane is committed to helping people find the joy in everyday life.

For more information, call Diane Spear at 212-353-0296, send her an email at Diane@DianeSpearTherapy.com visit her website at www.DianeSpearTherapy.com, or read her blog at www.DianeSpearTherapy.com/blog.

Nicole Trivlis, Esq.
Nicole Trivlis began her legal career in matrimonial law as a paralegal upon her graduation from the Catholic University of America (BA – 2004). She is a graduate of Pace University School of Law (JD – 2008). Nicole is currently an associate with the Silva Thomas PC law firm (www.silvathomas.com) in New York, New York where she focuses her practice on matrimonial law. Nicole is admitted to practice law in New York, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, the Southern District of New York, and the Eastern District of New York. She has represented high-net worth individuals in contested and uncontested matrimonial actions, paternity proceedings, and custody matters. Nicole has negotiated and drafted various prenuptial, postnuptial, settlement, and separation agreements.

Nicole also has significant experience with national and international courts. While in law school, she interned for Trial Chambers III at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in The Hague, The Netherlands and The United States Court of International Trade. Additionally, she was a student attorney for John Jay Legal Services Immigration Justice Clinic at Pace Law School where she actively represented immigration clients before the Immigration Courts.

Following her graduation from law school, Nicole gained extensive experience with the New York State Courts and the Federal Courts as an attorney in private practice in New York and as a legal consultant for private and government agencies in Washington, D.C. Nicole is an active member of the New York Women’s Bar Association, and was the Chair of the New Lawyer’s Section of the Westchester County Bar Association (2010-2012) and was elected to the Board of Directors of the Putnam County Bar Association (2011-2012). Nicole has been instrumental in organizing several CLE programs and events through her active participation in these professional associations.

Andrea Vacca, Esq.
Andrea Vacca is the founder of Vacca Law and Mediation, a law firm in Manhattan that focuses exclusively on non-adversarial divorce and family law matters. Ms. Vacca regularly lectures and writes on the topics of collaborative law, mediation, and topics related to non-adversarial family law. She blogs at www.creativeresolutionsblog.com.

After practicing traditional litigation-focused family law for many years, Andrea became certified as a family and divorce mediator and later as a collaborative divorce attorney. Andrea’s firm now works only with clients who want to keep their divorces out of court and want their prenuptial and postnuptial agreements negotiated in a non-adversarial manner. Andrea uses collaborative and cooperative divorce processes as well as mediation to achieve these goals.

She serves as Vice President of the New York Women’s Bar Association; Secretary of the New York Association of Collaborative Professionals; is on the Editorial Board of Matrimonial Strategist; on the Advisory Council of FamilyKind; is a member of the Family and Divorce Mediation Council of Greater New York; a member of New York County Lawyers; and a member of the New York State Bar Association. Andrea received her B.A. in Journalism from SUNY College at Buffalo and her J.D. from Albany Law School of Union University. She also has a certificate in Positive Psychology.

Andrea can be reached through her website www.vaccalaw.com, through her email avacca@vaccalaw.com, or by calling 212-768-1115.

Meredith Verona, CPA/ABV/CFF
Meredith Verona is a Manager in the Litigation Services Group at Mark S Gottlieb CPA PC. She has over ten years of experience, working exclusively on litigation related matters. Specifically, Meredith specializes in business valuation and forensics for varied purposes including matrimonial, gift and estate, and shareholder disputes. She has worked on cases in multiple industries including medical, professional firms, retail and restaurant services for small to mid-size companies predominately located in the New York area. Her previous experience includes calculating/auditing business interruption claims and litigation support.

Ms. Verona is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts (NACVA). She received her B.A. in Economics from Rutgers University and her M.B.A. with a concentration in Accounting from Monmouth University.

She is an Accredited Business Valuator (ABV) and a Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. She also received the designation of Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) from the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts.

Debra Vey Voda-Hamilton, Esq.
Debra Vey Voda-Hamilton is the principal of Hamilton Law and Mediation (HLM). She is an attorney mediator who works with pet people and pet service providers who want to pursue their passion of helping people, their pets and all animals in general, while reducing exposure to litigation. She presents her programs, which teach people how to communicate without resorting to litigation, all over the country. She has been mentioned or featured in Forbes, US News and World Report, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and the Chicago Sun Times.

Debra graduated from Benjamin N. Cardozo Law School in 1983, was admitted to practice in New York in 1984. For more information about Debra and her practice, visit www.hamiltonlawandmediation.com or Debra’s blog at hamiltonlawandmediation.blogspot.com.

Joseph Wexler
Joseph has cultivated a practice as a financial advisor working alongside goal oriented people who know that the ripple effect of their financial decisions (good and bad) will impact those that they love. Wexler has a knack for navigating his clients to the best options in growing, protecting, and distributing wealth in the right way and at the right time. Joseph also guides his clients to a better financial future through taking a consultative approach to systematically prioritizing mid to long term savings goals.