Robert Ambrogi Blog
Two months ago here, I reported that Mary Mack, the executive director of the Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists (ACEDS), the leading membership and certification organization for e-discovery professionals, and Kaylee Walstad, who Mack brought on in 2018 as vice president of client engagement, would leave the organization at the end of October.
Today, BARBRI, the parent company of ACEDS, named Mack’s successor. Michael Quartararo, an e-discovery industry veteran, has been named president of ACEDS and professional development.
In addition, legal consultant Ari Kaplan, of Ari Kaplan Advisors, is joining ACEDS on a consulting basis to build a new Global Advisory Board and serve as its chairperson.
Quartararo was director of litigation support services at the law firm Stroock & Stroock & Lavan until 2018, where he was responsible for the development and implementation of firm policy on e-discovery, information governance and technology support and the design and delivery of e-discovery and application-specific training programs.
Prior to joining Stroock, he worked for nearly 10 years at Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP, where he managed large-scale class action securities litigations, e-discovery projects and trial preparation. Most recently, he was founder and managing director of his own consulting firm, eDPM Advisory Services.
He is author of the book, Project Management in Electronic Discovery: An Introduction to Core Principles of Legal Project Management and Leadership in eDiscovery.
Stephen Fredette, BARBRI chairman and CEO, said in a message this afternoon to ACEDS members that Quartararo will be assuming the responsibilities previously performed by Mack, and will also work to “to leverage BARBRI’s diverse suite of legal education talent and professional development resources to create new education solutions and certificate programs for ACEDS members and the legal community.”
After news broke of Mack’s and Walstad’s departures, I spoke with Fredette, who praised them for their leadership and said his intention is to build on their accomplishments “and make the organization even stronger and better.”
At the time, he also expressed his hope that a new director could be brought on board quickly to ensure a smooth transition with minimal disruption to ACEDS members.