In-Person - $75.00 - https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/3XLT7F98U3HT2
Via Zoom - $30.00 - https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/PYUCKFCUDHHH2
Join us at Morris James LLP in Wilmington, DE for our annual Spring Seminar for a full day of learning and connecting with your IG and RIM colleagues. Our seminar theme this year is Navigating the Digital Future of Records, Information and Data.
Keynote 9:00 - Leigh Zidwick - Information as an Asset Moving From Cost Control Management to Strategic Advantage
Information governance has long been viewed through the lens of cost and risk. But organizations that treat information as an asset, not just a liability, unlock far greater value.
In this session, Leigh Zidwick, Senior Director of Information Governance at DLA Piper LLP (US), explores how to shift from a compliance-driven mindset to a strategic approach that aligns information with business goals. Attendees will learn practical ways to elevate their IG programs, demonstrate value, and position themselves as essential business partners.
Leigh Zidwick is the senior Director of Information Governance at DLA Piper (US) and the founder of the Legal IG Roundtable, an international community of Information Governance, Knowledge Management, Privacy, and Innovation professionals. With more than 15 years in IG and over 30 years in the legal industry, she is widely recognized for advancing modern, practical governance programs across global law firms.
At DLA Piper, Leigh leads a multi‑office, multidisciplinary IG program focused on enterprise policy, AI governance, Microsoft Purview and iManage strategy, records and lifecycle management, matter mobility, privacy readiness, and risk mitigation. She is known for a people‑centered approach that aligns governance, technology, and real‑world legal risk.
Through the Legal IG Roundtable, Leigh fosters global collaboration and thought leadership, and she is a frequent speaker and contributor on data lifecycle management, AI governance, and cross‑functional alignment.
10:00 - Christa Iannone - Foundation of Modern Information Governance
The focus is on the real-world challenges organizations face in managing modern data governance, highlighting issues like rapid growth of unstructured data, limited visibility into data locations, inconsistent retention practices, over-retention, and the complexity of managing information across multiple platforms and jurisdictions especially with the rise of AI. It will position records managers as critical partners in litigation readiness, underscoring the importance of collaboration across legal, IT, and compliance teams to build a strong information governance framework.
This results in practical, actionable steps for modernizing records management such as updating retention schedules, leveraging automation, improving data visibility, and embedding governance into everyday workflows before concluding with the message that modern information governance is an evolution of records management, essential for reducing risk and supporting efficient, defensible eDiscovery.
Christa Iannone is a litigation support and operations trailblazer who has been tackling complex Issues at the intersection of law and technology for the past 35 years. Law firms and corporate law departments nationwide rely on Christa as a strategic partner for her legal technology expertise throughout the EDRM lifecycle.
Starting out as a paralegal in the 90s, Christa witnessed the rise and evolution of legal technology over the course of her career. Christa jumped on the bandwagon early and set out to learn and adopt emerging legal technologies that could enhance the legal practice. By doing so, Christa advanced from a paralegal to head of litigation support departments at several law firms and legal service providers. Notably, Christa established and grew the first litigation support departments for three AmLaw 100 law firms, turning them all into revenue-generating departments for those firms.
Through her various roles at law firms and with legal service providers, Christa grew sales pipelines and led business development efforts in the legal technology and litigation support space. A skilled operational project manager, Christa spearheads new initiatives and applies legal technology to help lawyers stay ahead of the curve, improve efficiencies, and save money. Christa also has extensive leadership experience, including recruiting, hiring, and managing teams of attorneys, paralegals, administrative staff, and vendors.
In her current role as Legal Technology Advisor for The MCS Group, Christa provides eDiscovery and other technical support to clients. As a litigation support veteran, Christa is continuously learning and adapting to meet the changing needs of the industry she’s dedicated her career to. With that knowledge, she advises the MCS leadership team on opportunities for business expansion and development, and serves as the public face of the business, attending conferences and tradeshows to promote its suite of services. In addition, Christa brings her decades of experience to supporting the sales team through training and assistance in closing deals.
Christa has always been passionate about giving back to the legal community in the Philadelphia area and beyond through various professional development efforts, including as a lecturer at Pierce College Paralegal Studies program. She shares her experiences and knowledge with the next generation of lawyers, paralegals, and litigation support professionals, especially women in the industry. Christa frequently writes articles and speaks publicly on topics related to AI, legal operations, eDiscovery, and women’s leadership in legal technology. Those interests drove her to become the Founding Director of the Women in E-Discovery’s Philadelphia Chapter, where she currently acts as Meetings Director. Christa also previously sat on the Board of Directors for the Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists (ACEDS) and was the former VP of Technology for the Association of Legal Administrators, Philadelphia Chapter.
11:00 - Jessica Weston - Managing Electronic Records & Data Overload
How do organizations manage the millions of digital records created daily through a myriad of platforms? How do you know what to keep and how long to keep it, how to identify where everything is kept, and how to get rid of it at the appropriate time? In Managing Electronic Records and Data Overload, Jessie Weston of the State of Michigan will discuss strategies the State has implemented to manage unstructured record repositories, electronic document management, M365, databases, and artificial intelligence.
Jessie Weston is the Imaging Services Manager with the State of Michigan Records Management Services, where she has worked with electronic document management and imaging since 2012. She earned her Certified Records Analyst national certification through the Institute of Certified Records Managers (ICRM) in 2018. She has worked for the State of Michigan since 2003, both in the Michigan Senate and the Department of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs. She is a member of ARMA International and Michigan ARMA and is Past President of the former Mid-Michigan chapter. A native of Michigan, Jessie is a graduate of Western Michigan University.
12:00 - Sponsor and Lunch Break
1:00 - Keith Christianson - Impact of Privacy Laws and Regulation
Information governance, records management, and privacy are closely interconnected and must be aligned to reduce risk, ensure compliance, and protect organizational reputation. As data breaches increase and with privacy laws varying by jurisdiction, organizations need coordinated policies, shared inventories, and cross-functional governance to manage records and information effectively.
2:00 - Sara Bench - Leveraging AI and Automation in Records Management: Practical Use Cases for Daily Operations
As artificial intelligence becomes more prominent in records and information management, many organizations are looking for realistic ways to apply it without compromising governance or compliance. This session focuses on practical, low‑risk use cases where AI can support daily records management operations as an assistant—not a decision‑maker.
Through concise examples and case‑study‑style scenarios, attendees will explore how AI can help improve retention schedule structure, simplify access to retention information for end users, and enhance records education and adoption. The presentation emphasizes governance considerations, limitations, and guardrails to ensure responsible use of AI while maintaining professional oversight.
Participants will gain a grounded understanding of where AI can deliver real operational value today—and how to approach its use thoughtfully within a records management program.
Learning Objectives
After attending this session, participants will be able to:
Identify practical, low‑risk ways AI can assist with daily records management tasks
Understand how AI can support retention schedule development, structure, and usability
Recognize governance and compliance considerations when using AI in RIM activities
Evaluate how retention language and structure impact both user understanding and AI effectiveness
Sara Bench is an Information Security Analyst at Principal Financial Group, where she manages enterprise records management programs and initiatives that support strategic alignment and cross‑functional collaboration. She brings a global perspective and a passion for teaching, connection, and continuous improvement to her work.
Sara holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from Brigham Young University and a Bachelor’s degree in International and Intercultural Communication from BYU–Hawaii. Her professional background includes international market management, research, and education, with published work in communication and media strategy.
In her previous roles within a global direct‑selling health and nutritional company, Sara developed and led global records and information management (RIM) programs, aligning both digital and physical recordkeeping practices with regulatory and operational requirements across regions. Through this work, she has accumulated approximately five years of experience in RIM, supporting global compliance, operational efficiency, and organizational change.
Sara is a Certified Records Analyst (CRA) and is currently pursuing the Certified Records Manager (CRM) designation. She has also taught language and cultural competency to military personnel, university professors, and students.
Sara has served as Program Director and Vice President of the ARMA Utah Chapter, founded the ARMA Iowa Spark Group, and currently leads its governance and growth. She also facilitates the monthly ARMA Industry Service Group Financial Services Roundtable.
Outside of work, Sara enjoys traveling, photography, hiking, and listening to music—especially Led Zeppelin, Journey, Black Sabbath, AC/DC, and Kenny Rogers, among many others.
3:00 - Amanda Rodi - Records Management in the Age of Hybrid Work
Hybrid and remote work have fundamentally changed how organizations manage records, requiring a shift from traditional, location-based controls to more agile, digitally enabled approaches. This webinar explores how to modernize Records and Information Management (RIM) programs to maintain compliance, security, and accessibility in distributed work environments.
Attendees will gain a clear understanding of the core components of an effective remote/hybrid RIM program, including governance frameworks, technology enablement, and policy standardization. The session will also emphasize the importance of building a holistic program that drives cross-departmental collaboration and actively engages employees to ensure consistent adoption.
Amanda Rodi is the President of Innovative Development, LLC, a global consulting firm specializing in the design and implementation of repeatable, reliable, and defensible eDiscovery and Records Management Solutions. She leads Innovative Development from a People Centric Approach focused not only on processes and preparing clients for the future, but client and team engagement from the start of a project.
4:00 - Wrap up