John Coverdale: Labor Arbitrator Training Shaped His Career
For John Coverdale, becoming a labor arbitrator was an achievement that had been a professional goal since his time as a labor advocate in the 1990s. “I’ve been in human resource management, employee relations, labor relations in some form my entire career,” he said. Now, as an arbitrator, Coverdale describes his current work as the natural convergence of decades of experience across the public and private sectors.
Coverdale’s connection to the Scheinman Institute began long before he enrolled in the Scheinman Institute’s Labor Arbitrator Development Program (LADP), a 15-month training and mentoring experience designed to prepare emerging arbitrators for successful neutral practice. He first met Marty Scheinman, founder of the Scheinman Institute, in the 1990s while working as a labor relations specialist—and later Regional Staff Director—for New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), where Scheinman frequently served as an arbitrator. “Everyone wanted Marty to arbitrate their cases,” Coverdale recalled. As an advocate at the time, he watched Scheinman closely, which left a lasting impression. “You understood the importance of fairness and objectivity. He was trusted.”
After retiring from NYSUT in 2013, Coverdale transitioned into human resources consulting and workplace investigations. As clients increasingly sought informal help resolving workplace conflicts, he enrolled in the Scheinman Institute’s professional mediation program. The program introduced Coverdale to other aspiring arbitrators, who, along with his instructors, encouraged him to pursue the LADP. “About halfway through the professional mediation program I said, ‘let’s not stop here,’” he explained. When the opportunity arose to join the LADP cohort, he jumped at it, believing it was both his “last and best opportunity” to pursue arbitration with the right preparation and career experience.
The program exceeded even his high expectations. “I’m still awestruck by the quality of the program, and the commitment and level of engagement of instructors,” he said. Coverdale emphasized the transferability of the skills he learned and the mentorship he received from instructors, including Alan Symonette, former President of the National Academy of Arbitrators and member of the Scheinman Institute’s Board of Advisors, and Sarah Miller Espinosa, an arbitrator and a Senior Extension Associate at the Scheinman Institute. “You never feel like you’re walking alone, and there’s a network of post-LADP learning opportunities.” This mentorship and community, along with the hands-on experience gained through mock activities and practical training, created what Coverdale described as an “unforgettable experience.”
The intentional and thoughtful design of the curriculum resonated strongly with Coverdale. “The instructors knew from their own skill set and experiences what is needed to become a well-reasoned arbitrator,” he said. “They really hit it out of the park.”
Having completed the LADP in the spring of 2025, Coverdale feels well-positioned for continued growth. “You leave the program understanding that you’ve been exposed to the tools, mindsets and experiences of an array of arbitrators,” he said. “Personally, and professionally, the experience was phenomenal. I will be forever grateful.”
