Our series, My Favorite Resource, features interviews with our ADR friends across the country to learn about their favorite resource. This month, Resource Center Director Nicole Wilmet spoke with Tracy Johnson, Executive Director at the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution, to learn about her favorite resource.
NW: What is your favorite ADR resource?
TJ: While I utilize many resources – including RSI as one of my go-to favorites, I have found my relationships with Georgia’s court professionals through the Georgia Council of Court of Court Administrators and my network of colleagues across the nation through the National Association of Court Management to be valuable sources of information and knowledge.
NW: Can you share an example of when you turned to your network for support?
TJ: Building relationships with court professionals has afforded me the opportunity to see what others are doing, identify potential resources, and help in the implementation of new initiatives. At the most recent NACM conference, I attended a number of sessions on Online Dispute Resolution. I was then able to talk to some of those court administrators of the mentioned programs to get a better sense of successes and challenges and how that might translate for Georgia courts.
NW: In what ways have you found that your network has been better able to serve your needs than a traditional print resource?
TJ: Printed materials are a great resource, but are somewhat limited. My network of court administrators allows me the benefit of picking up the phone and calling my friend in another state to ask specific questions about his/her program. It allows me to build and develop relationships that aid in collaborative efforts.
NW: What do you value most about the input you receive from your network?
TJ: Relationships with court professionals and the benefit of “rubber meets the road” approach to education. The educational programming of these organizations has a practical application component.
NW: How did you develop your network and what recommendations do you have for someone looking to develop their network?
TJ: Attend the conferences – a must for any court professional.
If you have a favorite resource you would like to share in an upcoming edition of our newsletter and on our blog, please reach out to our Resource Center Director and Court ADR Connection Editor, Nicole Wilmet at nwilmet@aboutrsi.org!
