William H. Groner (Bill) has dedicated his career to advocating for justice, fostering connection, and promoting societal harmony. Bill spent 35 years as a trial lawyer, most notably representing over 10,000 Ground Zero responders exposed to toxic dust while cleaning up the site after 9/11. The near-decade-long lawsuit, labeled “the most complex mass tort in history,” gave Bill a singular window into humanity’s resilience, selflessness, and positivity in the face of adversity.
Inspired by the lessons learned from his Ground Zero clients, Bill founded SSAM Alternative Dispute Resolution (SSAM ADR) in 2016, a mediation company committed to transforming the negativity of litigation into the positivity of resolution by emphasizing trust, empathy, respect, and communication. His experiences in hundreds of negotiations, mediations, and trials reinforced his belief in the power of finding common ground, a principle that continues to guide his work.
After retiring from the law, Bill turned his focus to initiatives aimed at fostering intrapersonal and interpersonal connection to enhance individual well-being and promote societal harmony. In 2023, he co-founded the Civil Dialogue Project at Binghamton University, which has helped create a campus culture of more peaceful and productive discourse. In 2024, Bill earned a Master’s in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, deepening his understanding of how positive connections contribute to human flourishing. Later that year, he co-founded the Positive Connection Initiative (PCI), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that teaches, advocates for, and investigates the role of positive connections in fostering well-being and prosocial behavior.
Bill’s work has been featured extensively through speaking engagements and media appearances. He also co-authored the critically acclaimed book, 9/12: The Epic Battle of the First Responders (2019), a firsthand account of the responders’ fight for justice after 9/11. Bill previously served as an adjunct professor at Boston University School of Law and continues to share his expertise through workshops, lectures, and thought leadership.
With a lifelong commitment to empowering individuals and strengthening communities, Bill’s mission remains centered on helping people cultivate meaningful connections, deepen understanding of themselves and others, and navigate the complexities of today’s world with empathy and respect.
POSITIVE CONNECTION INITIATIVE
Led numerous dialogue workshops for 1500+ students and faculty
THE TAFT SCHOOL
BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY
Hosted author talk with journalist Mónica Guzmán for the Binghamton University Common Read
Creator, Organizing Team Leader, TIER Talks series (Talks that Inspire, Educate and Resonate)
Guest Speaker, Creativity & Innovation class, and Leadership class, School of Management
Alumni Speaker, College in the Woods Commencement Ceremony (Residential College)
Featured Speaker, Binghamton University Forum, “Ground Zero Dust, Its Mysterious Medical Consequences and the Resulting Epic First Responders Litigation”
Speaker, College in the Woods, 40th Birthday Anniversary
BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW
2021 Shapiro Lecture (awarded annually): “A Lawyer’s Success Paradox from representing 10,000 Ground Zero Responders and Consequent Reflections”
Lecturer in Law, Adjunct Faculty member: “Anatomy of a Mass Tort”
Guest Lecturer, “Ground Zero Litigation”
Guest Lecturer, “The Hazardous Impact of Cleaning Up After September 11- Who Is at Fault?”
CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION
TEDX TALK
RADIO/PODCASTS
NEWS
BingUNews
New York Times
TEDX TALK
RADIO/PODCASTS
NATIONAL TELEVISION
LOCAL TELEVISION
NEWS
Binghamton University Website
Binghamton University Magazine
The Record (Boston University School of Law Alumni Magazine)
New York Post
Daily News
New York Times
The Journal News
EDUCATION
University of Pennsylvania, Masters in Applied Psychology, 2024
Boston University School of Law, J.D., 1980
Binghamton University, Bachelor of Arts, May 1977
ORGANIZATIONS/AWARDS
ADMISSIONS
