Dear ADRIO Members and Dispute Resolution Practitioners
Happy New Year! Wishing you a healthy and happy 2025!
We ended 2024 on a high note with our exciting annual member appreciation event!
I want to congratulate all of our inductees to the ADRIO President’s Circle for 2024. ADRIO’s President’s Circle members are honoured for their commitment of 20+ years of membership and contribution to the field of ADR. Congratulations to Earl A. Cherniak and Gerry Nera!
I want to also congratulate our Star award recipients for 2024. The ADRIO Star award is a staff-choice award, dedicated to members who have made a memorable impact through their volunteer work at ADRIO in a given year or more. Thank you for your meaningful contributions to the ADR field in Ontario and the community here at ADRIO through your volunteer work, leadership, and depth of care in making the dispute resolution and conflict management industry a better place. Congratulations to Blaine Donais, Colm Brannigan, Sarah Albo and Drew Samuels!
Our ADRIO membership, YOU, make ADRIO a meaningful place to build, grow and flourish. Our community is our strength. Thank you all for contributing to building a strong community!
At ADRIO, we pride ourselves on being the premier hub for Dispute resolution in Ontario and nationwide. We lead in providing ADR principles and frameworks, professional development, and credibility. Our diverse membership includes students, aspiring practitioners, and seasoned experts, all united by a passion for strengthening communities through dispute resolution. Our community is our strength.
Our Board and staff members have invested time and energy into a strategic planning session. I would like to share about the next steps to elevate ADRIO and the field of ADR to new heights. The road ahead is both exciting and filled with potential, and together, we will turn our continued vision into reality.I am proud to share the 3 pillars that will shape our future and propel us toward greater success:
- Branding in the form of continuing to increase awareness and support of ADR and ADRIO
- Membership retention and recruitment: strengthening our current support to our members and welcoming new practitioners to this thriving field
- Revenue growth to ensure that our team of staff and volunteers can continue to serve and support our membership and future members.
Each focus area plays a crucial role in our shared mission, and together, they form the foundation upon which we will build our future over the next 3 years.
- Branding: Increase Awareness and Support of ADR and ADRIO
In today’s fast-paced, connected world, visibility is key. We must ensure that ADR and ADRIO are recognized and respected. When people think of innovation, leadership, and excellence in our field, we want them to continue to think of us as the go to hub for all things ADR! —our values, our impact, and the positive change we create as we continue to foster a strong community of ADR practitioners across Ontario!
Every interaction, every event, every conversation—these are opportunities to share our purpose and inspire others to join us as a member or a member of the public who is looking for our services.
We will amplify our voices boldly, consistently, and strategically. By raising awareness of our work, we showcase our value and the unique contributions each member makes. Increased branding efforts will highlight our achievements and create new opportunities.
2. Membership Retention and Recruitment: Strengthening Our Community
ADRIO thrives on the strength of its community, we are a collective force, united by common goals and shared values. We work to support one another through publishing articles filled with a wealth of wisdom, facilitating workshops for new, intermediate and seasoned practitioners, mentoring and coaching each other to gain valuable designations and credentials provincially, nationally and internationally.
Our ADRIO membership is the cornerstone and heart of our organization. I have learned firsthand that you believe in what we do in our field, and you do your part to carry our message forward in your own networks. Retention for us at ADRIO is about providing member centric value—meaningful experiences, ongoing learning, and a strong sense of belonging. It’s important to us that you as our members continue to feel heard, appreciated, and empowered. Many of you have shared with us that you value being a part of this strong community and enjoy growing with us.
As we welcome new members into our community, we share a responsibility to be intentional and purposeful when it comes to supporting new practitioners. We are seeing a strong trend in the last few years of individuals who are deeply interested in joining the field of ADR and ADRIO and must actively give attention to those individuals who align with our mission and are supported on their journey. Every new voice adds to the richness of our collective group. Together, we will continue to create a vibrant, thriving membership base, one that is both loyal and growing.
3. Sustaining Our Future through Revenue Growth
One of our most important priorities remains sustaining an ADRIO we could all be proud of. That is a priority that I will always be excited to speak about. We all know that sustainable growth requires resources. Revenue is not just about numbers on a balance sheet; it’s about ensuring that we have the financial strength to invest in the programs, the initiatives, and the innovation that will propel us forward. It’s about making sure that we have the means to support our members, our staff, our mission, and our vision for the future.
Moving into the next 3 years, operationally, we must be smart, strategic, and creative in how we approach new revenue streams. Whether it’s through new partnerships, innovative offerings, or expanding our market reach, we continue to be open to opportunities.
Our path forward includes these three priorities—Branding, Membership Retention and Recruitment, and Revenue Growth— they are interconnected, and work together to create a future of limitless possibilities. The success of each one depends on the strength of the others. When we build a strong brand, we attract new members. When we retain and recruit members, we strengthen our community, which, in turn, boosts our revenue. When our revenue grows, we can invest in even greater branding and recruitment efforts, creating a cycle of success.
So let us go forward with purpose and passion. Let us be relentless in our pursuit of these goals. Let us celebrate every victory, learn from every challenge, and remain unwavering in our commitment to each other and to our mission.
The operational team will be focusing activities on the 3 pillars to realize the strategic plan over the next 3 years. Please stay tuned for those exciting steps.
Together, we will build an organization that is not just successful, but transformative—an organization that leads with purpose, that grows with strength, and that makes a difference for all.
Our ADRIO team is excited to serve you for the upcoming year! Please note that the 2025 Membership Renewals are easily renewed through the detailed instructions that have been sent directly to your inbox to guide you through the process.
Wherever you are on your career journey, please remember our ADRIO team is here to support you.
I look forward to connecting many of you at one of our exciting engagements in 2025.
Sincerely,
Pramila Javaheri, C. Med. Q. Arb, WFA
Executive Director, ADR Institute of Ontario