Spring 2013 - D'Youville College

SPOTLIGHT ALUMScontinued from page 25background in labor-management relations, my education and evenmy limited political experience.In 1986, I “nailed up my shingle” and began a full-time practiceas a labor and employment mediator and arbitrator. Generallyspeaking, a mediator is one who helps parties reach a settlementthrough discussion but does not impose any resolution on them. Anarbitrator hears a dispute in a manner similar to a trial, but writes adecision that is binding upon the parties. During the early days ofbuilding a practice, as mediators and arbitrators are self-employedwho contract with both parties to provide services, I realized the interpretation of provisions in a collective bargaining agreement, orin a private contract, but also might include interpretation of federaland state law. So I entered Brooklyn Law School’s part-time,evening program that I completed while developing my practice.Over the years, I have worked with parties in virtually every sectorof the work world, both private and public. Approximately half that involves, a single employee, for example an executive, orhis or her employer. These cases involve both international anddomestic companies encompassing a wide range of issues andan agreement between an investment banker and the investmentbank regarding the payment of a bonus or whether there was “justcause” for termination. The other half of my practice is in the“traditional labor-management” realm, involving the interpretationof collective bargaining agreements between a group of employeesand their employers. These disputes, or grievances, could include,for example, a player with one of the 32 teams in the NFL who infraction of a team’s rule, or that he is owed certain funds. I am oneof three arbitrators under this contract who hear and resolve suchdisputes. Or, a collective bargaining dispute could be one betweenan association of nurses and a medical center over a schedulingissue or the payment of overtime. The bottom line is that everyday brings a new and different issue to tackle, which has resulted inthousands of fresh challenges over the past 25 years.Along the way, I served as chair of the NYS Labor and EmploymentLaw Section and Legal Coordinator and a Governor of the Boardof the National Academy of Arbitrators. I am a frequent speaker atprofessional conferences and have written extensively on labor andemployment topics, which keep me up-to-date with current trendsand changes in the legal landscape. My only return to teaching wasfor a semester at St. John’s University School of Law, as an adjunctprofessor of law, teaching collective bargaining to a group of thirdyear students. It was a joy to return to the classroom again and Iwould like to explore that option in the future.On a personal note, my husband Jon and I live in Larchmont, N.Y.,with our two bichon frises, Lucy and Ethel. He loves to cook (I amvery lucky) and we enjoy going to movies and taking advantageof the cultural events in NYC. In addition, we both have the samesense of humor, which is a blessing in this day and age.My mom, Cassie Mustarelli, lives in Lancaster, N.Y., and is 86years strong. When I call her, she is never home but out socializingand frequently lectures me that I work too hard. My brother Franklives with his wife Joanne in Baldwinsville. My sister PatriciaRyion, lives with her husband Tom and son Tommy in Alden,N.Y. Thankfully, Patricia has provided my mom with beautifulgrandchildren and great-grandchildren. I am lucky to have such aloving, funny and supportive family back home.Finally, I would not have been able to make the academic journeySister Marie Christine Fitzgerald was one who always urged meto continue to grow and seek new challenges – and her sardonicwit was a delight. Professor Robert Nielsen, professor emeritus,was one of the most intellectual, yet caring teachers I haveencountered in my endless years as a student. He never allowedthe class to rest on an assumption, but forced us to analyze andthink through a problem or issue to its logical conclusion. Also,Professor Kevin Cahill, professor emeritus English, instilled a loveof literature that sustains me to this day. The late Dr. Earl Bogganwas a true gentleman and mentor, as I worked a short time within administration.Finally, D’Youville is blessed to have Patricia Van Dyke as itsdirector of major and planned gifts. For over 30 years, Pat hasmaintained personal contact with me by sending occasionalmessages to check on my progress and the well-being of my familymembers, sharing sorrows and successes, and has always beenthere when I needed a great friend.26