2023 Dispute Prevention Award

Kate Vitasek is the Recipient of the James P. Groton Award for Outstanding Leadership in Dispute Prevention

New York, NY, March 7, 2024 – The International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (CPR Institute), a global non-profit organization that helps others manage conflict so that they might better pursue their purpose, is pleased to announce Kate Vitasek is the recipient of the James P. Groton Award for Outstanding Leadership in Dispute Prevention for 2023.

The James P. Groton Award for Outstanding Leadership in Dispute Prevention recognizes a person or organization who has contributed significantly to the development and/or practice of dispute prevention. CPR established the award after James P. Groton, an early pioneer in and advocate for dispute prevention, was recognized for his lifetime achievements in March 2022.

Vitasek is a Distinguished Fellow, Global Supply Chain Institute, at the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She has been pioneering dispute prevention techniques as part of the University of Tennessee’s Certified Deal Architect program since 2003. Her research and field-based work on innovative dispute prevention mechanisms has helped progressive companies around the world not only prevent disputes – but create healthy and sustainable business relationships that continually align interests in today’s dynamic business world.  Her work has led to seven books and over 300 articles – including Contracting in the New Economy.

“It is such a pleasure to recognize Kate’s pioneering thought-leadership in the dispute prevention arena. Her work with companies all over the world, in combination with her teaching and scholarship, has helped promulgate dispute prevention concepts. Thanks to Kate, using third parties to help negotiate contracts and catch conflict early in the dispute life cycle, have gone from good ideas to many companies’ tried and true practices. She truly is the ‘Johnny Apple-seed’ of dispute prevention and we are so proud to partner with her and recognize her accomplishments,” said Ellen Waldman, CPR Institute Vice President of Advocacy and Educational Outreach.

"I am deeply humbled to be named the recipient of the James P. Groton Award for Outstanding Leadership in Dispute Prevention award.  I have been inspired by Jim ever since meeting him in 2010.  Jim has devoted his life’s work to dispute prevention and it is a privilege to stand on the shoulders of such a giant in the profession,” Vitasek said.

For more information about Kate Vitasek.

For more information about CPR and its awards, visit cpradr.org.

ABOUT CPR:

Established in 1977, CPR is an independent nonprofit organization that promotes the prevention and resolution of conflict to better enable the pursuit of purpose through the CPR Institute and its subsidiary, CPR Dispute Resolution Services LLC.

The CPR Institute builds capacity for dispute prevention and resolution through the thought leadership of its diverse members – companies, leading mediators and arbitrators, law firms, individual practitioners, and academics – who share best practices and develop innovative tools for dispute management through committee discussions and projects, publications, education and training, and hosting events.

CPR Dispute Resolution is a boutique provider of leading-edge dispute management services – mediation, arbitration, custom appointing services, a panel of dispute prevention specialists, and more – that leverages resources generated by the CPR Institute. The case administrators are responsive, efficient, and detail oriented, and have extensive backgrounds in alternative dispute resolution (ADR). The Panel of Distinguished Neutrals is a carefully curated, diverse group of prominent, experienced subject matter and ADR professionals based in 35 countries. And CPR Dispute Resolution’s Complete Case platform, a holistic end-to-end digital environment designed for ADR, handles matters efficiently and securely. To learn more about CPR Dispute Resolution, visit drs.cpradr.org.

To learn more about CPR, visit cpradr.org.

MEDIA INQUIRIES:

Lili Schroppe
Director, Marketing and Communications
lschroppe@cpradr.org
646-753-8204, 203-470-9391

X (Twitter): CPR_Institute
LinkedIn: CPR-Institute