2026 VAELA UnProgram

March 4 (Wednesday) to March 6 (Friday), 2026
The Virginian Hotel
712 Church Street
Lynchburg, Virginia

Please be advised of our Cancellation Policy.
For any questions, contact Carly Mahoney at carlyjude@vaela.org.


AGENDA AS OF 01.26.26

  • 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm Mentoring New Lawyers Enhances Lawyer Well-being – Jack W. ('JB') Burtch, Jr., Esq.

    3:30 pm – 3:45 pm Break

    3:45 pm – 4:45 pm Mentoring New Lawyers Enhances Lawyer Well-being (continued) – Jack W. ('JB') Burtch, Jr., Esq.

    5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Welcome Reception Sponsored by Atlantic Coast Mortgage (Registered attorneys & paralegals only)

  • 7:45 am – 9:00 am Breakfast; Visit Sponsors & Exhibitors

    9:10 am – 9:30 am Welcome by Gorham S. (Rory) Clark, VAELA President & Introduction of Guest Speaker Sponsors - A Side-by-Side Journey & Meerkat Insurance

    9:30 am – 10:30 am The State of the Long-term Care: Evolving Issues in Finance and Delivery – Howard Gleckman

    10:30 am - 10:45 am Break; Visit Sponsors & Exhibitors

    10:45 am – 11:45 am Continue The State of the Long-term Care: Evolving Issues in Finance and Delivery – Howard Gleckman

    11:45 am – 12:45 pm Lunch Sponsored by West Financial Services & Graceful Fiduciary Management

    12:45 pm – 1:00 pm Visit Sponsors & Exhibitors

    1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Commissioner of Accounts Panel - Anne Heishman (Fairfax), Rebecca Hryvniak (Albermarle), Lelia Winget-Hernandez (Powhatan)

    2:30 pm – 2:45 pm Break; Visit Sponsors & Exhibitors

    2:45 pm – 3:00 pm Presentation by SEIA Reception Sponsor

    3:15 pm – 4:00 pm UnProgram Breakout Discussions (Breakouts will be moderated by VAELA members. Moderators will not present on the topic, rather they will help facilitate discussion among the group. Breakouts do not qualify for CLE credit.)

    • Practice Management – Gorham S. (Rory) Clark, Esq.

    • Medicaid – Evan Farr, Esq., CELA, CAP & Ari N. Sommer, Esq.

    • Public Policy/Legislation – VAELA Public Policy Committee

    5:00 pm – 6:00 pm Cocktail Reception Sponsored by SEIA (Registered attorneys and paralegals only)

  • 7:30 am – 8:50 am Breakfast; Visit Sponsors & Exhibitors

    9:00 am – 10:00 am Breakout Session I

    • Beginner Track: Guardianship Basics – Sarah Aviles, Esq.

    • Seminar Success! Turn Seminar Attendees into Paying Clients – Cathy Stapleton Public Speaking Coach

    • From Resume to Results: Training the Next Generation of Legal Talent - Julieanne Steinbacher, CELA, ACTEC and Dominic Loffredo, SHRM-CP, Kolbe Certified Consultant

    • ‘Til Death Do We Part (Again): Divorce Related Estate Planning Best Practices - Thomas Repczynski, Esq.

    • Long Term Care Insurance – Joshua Lowe CFP & Tracy M. Meade CLPC

    10:00 am – 10:20 am Break; Visit Sponsors & Exhibitors

    10:20 am – 11:20 am Breakout Session II

    • Beginner Track: Guardianship Basics – Sarah Aviles, Esq.

    • Yielding to the Force: 10 Ways to Let Go and Trust AI – Michael Winget-Hernandez, Esq.

    • Trust Taxation for the Elder Law Attorney - Nathan Olansen, J.D., LL.M., CPA, AEP®

    • Reverse Mortgages in Irrevocable Trusts - Rounding the Peg- Ryan Reyes, Esq.

    • Understanding the Presumption of Undue Influence - The Effect of Parson V. Miller and Virginia Legislation on Will Contest Litigation – Michael W. Sharp, Esq.

    11:30 am – 12:30 pm Breakout Session III

    • Innovative Marketing and Sales; Turning Marketing Cost into Profit and Contextual Pricing – Gorham S. (Rory) Clark, Esq.

    • Yielding to the Force: 10 Ways to Let Go and Trust AI – Michael Winget-Hernandez, Esq.

    • Long Term Care Insurance – Joshua Lowe, CFP & Tracy M. Meade CLTC

    • The Will O' the Wisp of the Adult Guardianship Swamp – Ross Hart, Esq., and Cecelia Little, Esq.

    • ‘Til Death Do We Part (Again): Divorce Related Estate Planning Best Practices - Thomas Repczynski, Esq.

    12:30 pm – 1:30 pm Lunch Sponsored by Members Trust Company & ElderTree

    1:30 pm – 1:50 pm Visit Sponsors and Exhibitors

    1:50 pm – 2:50 pm Breakout Session IV

    • From Resume to Results: Training the Next Generation of Legal Talent - Julieanne Steinbacher, CELA, ACTEC and Dominic Loffredo, SHRM-CP, Kolbe Certified Consultant

    • Reverse Mortgages in Irrevocable Trusts - Rounding the Peg - Ryan Reyes, Esq.

    • Clients, Conflicts and Confidences – Joyvan Malbon-Griffin, Esq.

    • Trust Taxation for the Elder Law Attorney - Nathan Olansen, J.D., LL.M., CPA, AEP®

    • Understanding the Presumption of Undue Influence - The Effect of Parson V. Miller and Virginia Legislation on Will Contest Litigation - Michael W. Sharp, Esq.

    3:00 pm – 4:00 pm Breakout Session V

    • Clients, Conflicts and Confidences – Joyvan Malbon-Griffin Esq.

    • Innovative Marketing and Sales; Turning marketing cost into profit and contextual pricing - Gorham S. (Rory) Clark

    • Seminar Success! Turn Seminar Attendees into Paying Clients – Cathy Stapleton, Public Speaking Coach

    • The Will O' the Wisp of the Adult Guardianship Swamp – Ross Hart, Esq., and Cecelia Little, Esq.


Continuing Education Credit: The 2026 UnProgram has been approved for 9 MCLE credits (1 Ethics and 1 Wellbeing) and 1 GAL (adults) continuing education credits.

Lodging: The group block at the Virginian is fully booked. 

Alternative Lodging Options: Craddock Terry Hotel and Lynchburg Grand Hotel


VAELA thanks the following for their support of the 2026 UnProgram!


REGISTRATION FORM

Please fill out the form below and select your preferred breakout sessions for the Friday event.

Please be advised that session selections are considered final and may not be changed on the day of the event.

After submitting the form below, you will be redirected to an AffiniPay page to securely complete your registration.