A Time for Gratitude and Outreach
Patricia Redmond, Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson, P. A. President, American College of Bankruptcy
Family, friends, warmth and sharing – all words we associate with the Thanksgiving holiday but also words that describe the College and our Fellows.
Over the past two years of my term as President, we have welcomed over 75 new fellows, two dozen distinguished law students, hundreds of law students through our DREAMS programs and many communities as we share tributes of our fellows, such as Chris Meyers.
A great example of the College’ s outreach is the Fourth Circuit’ s initiative in connection with their regional moot court competition. That program focused on inviting local high school students to attend the competition to stimulate an interest in bankruptcy and insolvency issues at a very early stage of their education. The program was so successful that it is happening again in 2026 and is being proposed in other circuits as part of their regional competitions.
As Charlie referenced, the College has participated and co-sponsored various programs that not only support the restructuring community but also assure our leadership role in the insolvency space. This is the third year in which the College collaborated with the American Bankruptcy Institute(“ ABI”) to implement the Howard Dreams Program. The program was similar to last year’ s with featured opportunities in restructuring,
clerkships and internships as an entry point into the insolvency world. Also, the University of Illinois experienced similar success with its Illinois Dreams Program.
The College is increasingly involved in collaborations of this sort to produce outstanding programs and to highlight the excellence of our fellows and our outreach in many locations.
The College Education Committee has been busy. Our Scholar in Residence provided a provocative discussion on LME’ s and their effect on negotiations and ultimate bankruptcies at the ACB Fellows Luncheon.
The Sixth Circuit Annual Weekend Retreat in Nashville, Tennessee involved numerous programs of interest to both business and consumer insolvency professionals. The program began with a debate on circuits splits and was followed by a panel on Whether a Debtor Can Release a Non-Debtor Through the Use of an Opt-Out Provision in a Ballot. The program also focused on Sub Chapter V and Chapter 13 issues. The weekend was enjoyed by all.
The Seventh Circuit Seminar was held on October 24, 2025, and focused on bankruptcy systemic issues, cross-border insolvencies, consumer bankruptcy and insolvency practice and ethics. The Seventh Circuit Program always receives rave reviews, and this year was no exception.
In addition, the International Committee sponsored a program on the impact of tariffs on domestic and cross border insolvencies, made up of an all-star panel of fellows and experts. The co-chairs of the panel
4