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Approved Parenting Act Mediators Biographies
I was first introduced to Mediation through my brother in Colorado who used it and was sold on the process during his divorce. In 1997, I took basic mediation training and a few years thereafter became certified. I then was trained in Family mediation and have mediated different tyoes of mediation since then and can assure anyone, that mediation is a wonderful process. It is by far more conducive to families and other parties than leaving important life decisions solely to the court and or attorneys. I am passionate about mediation and have recently been trained in Family Group Conferencing as well. I am proud to be a part of The Resolution Center in Beatrice, Nebraska.
August 31, 1995-I completed my Family Mediation Training. In the spring of 1999 I became affiliated with the Douglas County Conciliation Court as a Family Mediator. I have been with the Court to the present time. As a result of my work with the Court, I have been instrumental in helping couples complete over 150 Parenting Plans.
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Sophia Alvarez
I have been involved with Mediation since 2004, beginning with a middle school peer mediation group in Lincoln, NE. As an attorney, I have had the opportunity to draft several parenting plans for clients.
I have been fortunate that my residency in Northeastern Colorado has allowed me to maintain my affiliation with Mediation West in Scottsbluff. The excellent training and experience that I have received in Nebraska since 1998 has been most valuable. My experience has been in basic and family mediation, victim/offender, Family Group Conferencing and facilitation of group meetings.
As a State Senator I was the sponsor of the original Parenting Act. I have mediated parenting cases under the original act and also mediated civil litigation matters. I am a co-founder of the Public Issues Collaboration Initiative at the Werner Institute and founded Nebraska Solutions LLC which is dedicated to using collaborative processes to solve vexing public issues.
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Sarah Bartlett
Sarah has received training in basic, family, SADR, restorative justice, Special Education, family group conferencing, facilitation, along with several advanced mediation training courses. Sarah worked for Mediation West in Scottsbluff for several years and has been a contract mediator since that time. While employed at Mediation West, Sarah trained mediators in basic, family, restorative justice, and family group conferencing. Sarah has also been a presenter for the Scotts Bluff County District Court's Families in Transition class since 1998.
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Patricia Brady
I have completed the Basic Mediation and the Family Mediation. I have completed my apprenticeship with a master mediator for a total of 56 hours. I have remained current on the training hours needed for the past 3.5 years. I am able to mediate in all the counties in NE Nebraska and would also be willing to travel to Central Nebraska.
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Beth Benjamin-Alvarado
I am a SADR trained bi-lingual mediator - Spanish/English. I am currently affiliated with the Concord Center, where I have mediated since 2008. I also work with Shaul Mediation and Family Services, where I both mediate and teach parenting classes.
I am affiliated with The Mediation Center, Lincoln, NE where I have been doing family mediation for the past 17 months. I also coordinate Family Group Conferences and facilitate prehearing conferences at the Lancaster County Juvenile Court weekly. I have taken the SADR training in addition to the Basic, Family and associated training for Family Group Conference work. I also teach the Parenting Class at The Mediation Center. I also do commercial mediation and arbitration and am a member of the American Arbitration Association as well as the Association of Attorney Mediators. In addition, I practiced law with the firm of (then) Rembolt Ludtke and Berger LLC for 30 years, after which i became the Dean of University College at Nebraska Wesleyan University and its General Counsel. I retired from NWU in 2007 and am a Hearing Officer for the Nebraska Department of Revenue in addition to my other activities.
My journey in the mediation process began in May 2004 when I completed Basic Mediation Training. In September 2005 I completed Family Mediation Training. My apprentinceship hours for Basic Mediation were completed in January 2007. My apprentinceship hours for Family Mediation were completed in September of 2007. In March 2009 I completed the Specialized Alternative Dispute Resolution (SADR) Training. I have mediated cases in Lancaster County Small Claims Court, with the Employment First program, and a variety of family cases. I participate as a coach for basic and family mediation training sessions offered through the Nebraska Mediation Center Association. I have also participated as a coach for UNL law students studying the basic mediation skills.
Attorney in Nebraska since 1992. Substantial practice in family law. Settled and tried hundreds of divorce/custody cases. Have completed Basic and Family Mediation training.
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Shereen Bingham
Shereen was raised by parents who experienced a great deal of conflict and divorce. She went to college and graduate school to study human communication and became a family mediator because she wanted to learn how to help families engage in conflict and separation more constructively. As a Parenting Act mediator, Shereen helps parents communicate about difficult issues and make decisions that are in the best interests of their children and themselves.
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Kimberly Booth
I have been mediating on the Douglas County 4-3 panel for approximately 9 years and have been mediating as a SADR mediator for just over a year. Most of my practice as an attorney and a mediator is in the area of family law, and I also serve as a Guardian Ad Litem in custody cases at the District Court level.
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Elizabeth Stuht Borchers
I have mediated numerous family law parenting plans and dissolution property settlements in Omaha since 1995. I have been affiliated with the Douglas County Conciliation Court since the passage of District Court Rule 4.3 which mandates mediation of Parenting Plans in cases involving children. My practice has always focused on matrimonial law and I believe that mediated settlements are always preferable to litigation for most families. I have practiced Family Law in Omaha for 33 years. I am a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and a certified mediator in that organization. I have practiced in a Collaborative Divorce practice group for the past five years and remain a member of the steering committee.
I live in Norfolk, NE and have been affiliated with and supervised by the Nebraska Mediation Center. After completing the Basic Mediation Training and also the Family Mediation Training I have been participating in Family mediation supervised by Marshall Johnson. I have also been facilitating prehearing conferences at the Madison County Courthouse for the last 5 months. I have a Masters in Counseling from Wayne State College and also work as a hospital social worker/ discharge planner at Faith Regional Health Services.
I have found that mediation can change the lives of all the people involved. The best interest of the children is to have communicating parents without conflict. Mediation has changed my life as a divorced father and I hope that it has made the lives of the people I have mediated a better life for the future. I have currently mediated over 90 cases in family mediation and over 200 cases in consumer mediation for the Attorney General's Office.
Basic Class February, 1997; Family August, 2000;SADR March 2009 Ag and Consumer Loan Officer for 18 yrs Tax Practitioner for 10 yrs
I am a Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner and a Certified Professional Counselor. I have worked in the field of individual, marriage and family counseling for 34 years. I have worked with couples who were hostile, severely abusive and/or dangerous towards each other. I utilized communication, conflict resolution and problem solving skills to help them. I have a Masters Degree in Psychology, a second Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology, and specialized training in Marriage and Family Therapy. I began my formal career as a mediator in 2005 by taking Basic Mediation training. I have also taken Advanced Basic Mediation; Family Mediation; Advanced Family Mediation; Advanced Federal Practice Mediation, Specialized Alternative Dispute Resolution (SADR) mediation; Domestic Violence Prevention; Child Support Calculation and numerous other training workshops. I am an approved mediator under the Nebraska Parenting Act and (SADR) mediations. I have supervised apprentice mediators at The Mediation Center. I have experience coaching basic mediation training class practice sessions. I have coached the UNL College of Law mediation classes. I have served as a judge for the American Bar Association student Client Counseling Competition at UNL. I have well over 75 hours of mediation experience and thousands of hours of conflict resolution and problem solving experience with couples. I have done civil, employer/employee, Employment First, and Small Claims Court mediations. I am a Contract Mediator with The Mediation Center in Lincoln. Additionally, I conduct mediation out of my Private Practice here in Lincoln where I have daytime, evening and weekend appointment availability.
I was a court reporter from 1985 to 2001. During those years I worked for freelance firms, and the State of Nebraska having been appointed by four different district judges to serve as the court reporter for Douglas and Dodge Counties. I took several years off to raise our three children full-time, returned to the legal community as a part-time bailiff and transitioned over to the Nebraska (Justice) Mediation Center as a volunteer in 2007. Shortly thereafter I became part of the NJC staff, took the mediation basic, family training, and SADR training. I am now affiliated as a mediator with Nebraska Mediation Center.
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Debora Brownyard
Mediation has been at the heart of my professional work since 1991. I have served as a mediator, facilitator, and convener for individuals, businesses, governmental entities for hundreds of cases since that time. Part of my work has included education and training of others in mediation and related collaborative practices. Mediating and facilitating family and child welfare matters has been about 50% of this work. I was the founding director for one of Nebraska's regional community mediation centers and served in that role for fourteen years, including building collaborative tribal-county relations through the federal Weed and Seed Initiative and native peacemaking. Now, as director for the NE Office of Dispute Resolution, my role is to support the use of quality, ethical mediation practices across the state, in communities, courts, and for the general public.
I have been a practicing attorney in Dawson County Nebraska since 2003. My experience has been primarily in the area of criminal law, but I also have experience in family law and juvenile court law. I received my basic mediation training while in law school in 2002. I received my family mediation training in 2011.
I completed the Basic Mediation Training in October 2009. I then completed the Family Mediation and Workshop Mediation Training in November 2009. My focus is divorce and custody cases, including those that need the development of parenting plans. Additionally, I have mediated small claims cases. I am affiliated with the Central Mediation Center in Kearney, Nebraska and also handle private mediations.
I am a clinical psychologist who became interested in mediation - while taking a class on alternative dispute resolution (ADR) at Creighton Law School. I completed the initial 30 hour training program 1/7/94 at the Metro Mediation Center (MMC) and the NE ODR Family Mediation Training (9/94). I completed the Divorce Mediation/Conflict Resolution class at the Northern California Mediation Center (taught by Joan Kelly and Nancy Foster - 10/95). I received recognition for my volunteer work at the MMC at the 1996 Mediation Conference, wrote a Creighton Law Review article on Mediation (1996), and joined the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts. Mediation works for families!
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Michael Cruise
I trained for Family Mediation in August 2010, with the belief that mediation may produce better results for families than litigation typically does. I am affiliated w/ the Resolution Center in Beatrice, Nebraska.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC REPRIMAND: On November 1, 2012, Michael Cruise has been disciplined and placed on a corrective action plan due to a pattern of practice showing a lack of responsiveness and timeliness in working with clients, clients’ attorneys and others. The Public Reprimand extends through October 31, 2013.
Carol Dart has been employed at Central Mediation Center in Kearney, NE for 16 years. In that time Carol has not only served as Program Director but was the NMCA Training Coordinator for 10 years. Mediation training and practice include Basic, Family, Special Education, Large Group Facilitation, Domestic Violence, Juvenile Victim-Offender and Family Group Conferencing. In the work of FGC coordinator and facilitator, mediation of a parenting plan is occasionally required. Continuing education provided by NMCA and the American Human Association Family Group Decision-Making arm has kept Carol up-to-date with the 2008 Nebraska Parenting Act and related processes.
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Debra Davidson
With a Masters Degree in Human Relations and an emphasis in counseling, Debra is a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner, a Certified Professional Counselor, and a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor who has worked in these fields for over 20 years. During this time, a special focus has been working with couples experiencing conflict. Her formal career as a mediator began in 1998 with Basic Mediation training, then shortly thereafter with Family Mediation and Family Group Conferencing. She has been trained in Specialized Alternative Dispute Resolution (SADR) mediation; Domestic Violence Prevention; Child Support Calculation and numerous other training workshops.
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Ann Walsh Davis
Since 1994, I have been an active mediator. I have had over 148 hours of training in various areas of mediation, including Family Mediation, Victim Offender Mediation and Specialized Alternative Dispute Resolution, to name a few. I also have experience in these areas, having mediated in Douglas County under rule 4-3, in small claims court and for Sarpy County Juvenile Court. My practice is concentrated in the Family and Juvenile Law areas.
Has undergrad degrees in Social Sciences and Psychology. Certified Teacher. Over ten years of mediation experience.
I have practiced as an attorney in the area of family law since September of 2008 and have successfully drafted many parenting plans during that time. During law school at UNL, I completed a 40-plus hour training program in the theory and practice of conflict resolution techniques, including the mediation process, and completed a 30-hour Family Mediation program through the Nebraska Office of Dispute Resolution in April of 2010. I am a strong believer in mediation as a preferred alternative to resolution through court litigation and am happy to offer my services to those in the Kearney area who desire to explore such an alternative.
My 1992 training in basic and family mediation was a life-changing experience that confirmed a calling to the practice of mediation. As a child of divorce, mediation revealed a far better way to end a marriage than was my family's experience. As a minister in a sharply divided congregation, mediation offered promising possibilities for people caught in conflict, allowing them to work through their issues while maintaining their dignity and core values. For 18 years, I have been a mediator with The Mediation Center in Lincoln, co-mediating a number of cases through the center over the years. In order to pursue a career in the field of dispute resolution, I attended law school and clerked in the State Ombudsman's Office. Upon graduation I was employed in that office and am currently in the position of Deputy Ombudsman. Lastly, I have also had the opportunity to work for the advancement of mediation as a member of the Advisory Council of the Office of Dispute Resolution.
I completed the Basic Mediation , Family Mediation, and Victim Offender Mediation Training in 1995 and 1996 and after that did many volunteer mediations in the Douglas County Small Claims Court and in Victim Offender situations. I have been on the Douglas County Conciliation Court's list of mediators ever since they began requiring parents to develop a Parenting Plan with the help of a mediator. I also have mediated some cases for the Concord Center and have had several private clients who sought my mediation services. I have been mediating continuously ever since I completed my training and have continued to read and take advantage of opportunities for continuing education. I attend meetings sponsored by the Concord Center and by the Conciliation Court on a regular basis.
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Lynne Favinger
Executive Director of Central Mediation Center for 9 years, M.Ed-Speech Communication, Lead Trainer for Nebraska Mediation Center Association, Basic and Family training, Rotary International Peace and Conflict Resolution Studies graduate, 1997, Bangkok, Thailand.
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Lynne Timmerman Fees
I was first trained as a family mediator in 1984, through a new national mediation group that came to the Omaha area. I took the basic, family and federal training when it was first offered through the State Office of Dispute Resolution in the early 1990's. I was Chair of the Omaha Bar Association Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, and I was involved in the planning of the original referral programs in Douglas County. I have done hundreds of parenting mediations. I find the work rewarding because I feel it helps the children experience less pain in divorce situations. I also believe it helps keep the process less expensive and less traumatic for the parties involved.
I have been mediating for 15 years and have been affiliated with the Concord Center since it's inception. I recently completed the Parenting Act Mediation Training offered by ODR. I have completed 3 supervised Parenting Plan mediations and have participated in four initial screening meetings, two of which were determined to be SADR cases.
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Elizabeth Florian
Over 15 years of mediation experience over a wide range of topics including small claims, victim/offender, family, and SADR.
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Brandie Fowler
Family Law Attorney specializing in child advocacy and domestic cases. Active mediator afiliated with the Douglas County Conciliation Court
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Kathy Gabrielle-Madelung
With training in Basic, Family and Specialized Alternative Dispute Resolution, Kathy has successfully mediated a variety of cases including parent/child conflict, divorce, custody, parenting plan and employee/employer disputes. While focusing on listening to her clients needs and assisting clients with communication, Kathy brings a positive, can-do approach to her mediation sessions.
With a medical background in orthopedic and rehabilitation nursing, certified recreational therapy specialist, and a specialty background in wedding planning, catering and high-end special event coordination, Kathy has been mediating for years and comes with a wealth of experience dealing with people in high-stress environments where finding a successful outcome to conflict situations is the goal.
Mr. Galvin graduated from Creighton University Law School and was admitted to the Nebraska bar in 1977. He accepted the position of Director of the District Court of Douglas County’s Conciliation Court and Mediation Services in 2003.
I have been an attorney in Nebraska since 1996. I started my own practice in 2010 which is a general practice that includes mediation, juvenile law and family law. I previously practiced for 13 years at Cassem, Tierney Adams, Gotch, and Douglas in civil litigation where I was a partner, while there I represented many clients in meditations. I completed Basic and Family Mediation Training, in 2007 and 2008. I am affiliated with the Concord Center and where I have been co-mediating parent plans and small claims cases. I am also listed with the Douglas County Conciliation Court as a 4.3 parenting plan mediator. Prior to law school I was a Physician Assistant for 10 years practicing medicine in areas of family practice, correctional medicine, internal medicine, employee health, and bone marrow transplantation. Additionally, I have done volunteer work with neighborhood associations, schools, and victims of domestic violence.
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Elizabeth Gillaspie
Completed Basic and Family Mediation in 2009. I feel that mediation is the first step to making a very difficult situation workable. It is important that people walk away from the process feeling like their voices were heard and that the focus is on what is in the best interest of the children.
I have been mediating for the Resolution Center in Beatrice, NE for the past 10+ years, primarily in the area of Access and Visitation. I average two to three mediations monthly in this area. I also have coached Basic Mediation Training and Family Mediation Training, and have been an Assistant Trainer in Basic Mediation Training and Family Mediation Training and have just completed another coaching assignment in Family Mediation Training where I attended the entire training. I have been approved for "Fast Track" to become a certified Lead Trainer for both Basic Mediation Training and Basic Family Mediation Training. I have successfullly completed federal mediation training and victim/offender training. I have not had experience in federal mediation but have done successful mediations in victim/offender mediations through my Center.
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Belle Gonzales
Since 1987, I have been a legal assistant in Nebraska assisting attorneys primarily with custody and visitation issues and have enjoyed successful interaction with clients, attorneys and court staff.
Engaged in the practice of family law litigation since 1974, I received my first formal training in family law mediation in 1995. Since that time, I have successfully completed more than 70 different mediation trainings, many of them focusing on family law and Parenting Act mediation. In January 2009, I completed an eight-hour Specialized Alternative Dispute Resolution (S.A.D.R.) training sponsored by the ODR/NMCA Training Institute. As a Member of the Family Law Section and the ADR Section of the Nebraska Bar Association, as a Member of the Bar Association's Legislation Committee, and as the past Chair of the Advisory Council to the Office of Dispute Resolution, I have followed with interest the creation of the Parenting Act from its inception through its most recent amendments. With this background, coupled with my work with The Mediation Center (both as an Affiliated Mediator and as President and Chair of the Board of Directors), I am well-prepared and looking forward to mediating Parenting Act cases.
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Marica L. Gorham
I have a Bachelor of Science in Communication (2005) and a Master of Arts in Communication (2009), with an emphasis in conflict management, physchology, and sociology. I am a family mediator and parent educator in with a private practice in Bellevue, Nebraska. In addition, I am a member of the Nebraska Mediation Association, affiliated with The Resolution Center, and am a Douglas County Conciliation Court mediator.
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Charlotte Griffith
I come to mediation from 31 years in the field of education. 25 years were in the classroom and 6 years were as an elementary guidance counselor. I have a B.A. in Elementary Education and an M.S. in Elementary Guidance. Mediation relevant experiences during my years as a counselor include leading support groups for children of divorcing parents, teaching parenting classes, and occasionally mediating conflicts between parents and teachers (and between students!) This experience and my strong belief that problems solved through mutual discussions last much longer than those won through an adversarial approach led me to seek official mediation training shortly after retiring in 2006. I also became a CASA volunteer. My training and work with CASA has given me additional experience with children from dysfunctional families and an increased familiarity with the workings of the court system. An affiliate of the Nebraska Mediation Center, I have 30+ hours experience in small claims court mediation and since completing Family and SADR training, have been doing primarily Parenting Plan mediation.
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Mary Kay Hansen
I am an attorney with over 25 years of experience in family law, with an emphasis in custody and other child related matters. I have an active mediation practice that focuses on family law issues, including parenting and financial plans as well as equitable distribution of marital debts and assets. See more @ mkhansenlaw.com
Bryan is a practicing mediator with well over a hundred hours of training in various mediation contexts. He is an approved Parenting Act mediator and Specialized ADR mediator by the state of Nebraska. Bryan provides many workshops regarding conflict engagement skill development for various organizational contexts. Bryan also is an experienced facilitator and has provided his services to assist organizations with visioning processes, the development of strategic plans, and other collaborative processes that necessitate the voice of multiple stakeholders. Bryan is the assistant Director of the Werner Institute at Creighton University. He serves as the President of the Board for the Nebraska Mediation Association (www.NEMediation.org) and has since its creation in 2010. Bryan assisted with the development of and continues to manage the conflict resolution web resource www.adrhub.com
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James Harvey, MSW, LMHP
Background: University of Nebraska graduate, achieving Master of Social Work degree in 1976. Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (license #665). Mediation education includes Basic Mediation Training, May 2000, Family Mediation Training, February 2001, and Specialized Alternative Dispute Resolution training, March 2009.
Mr. Harvey is an approved mediator under the Nebraska Parenting Act. He was first certified as a Basic and Family Mediator in June, 2002. Since that date, through The Mediation Center, he has been working to assist people making difficult life transitions. Utilizing a structured format, disputes over financial and parenting plans are addressed in an atmosphere of cooperation rather than confrontation. Mr. Harvey uses this same approach to problem solving when serving as a mediator for Small Claims Court cases. He also does mediation coaching at the University of Nebraska Law College.
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Lowell Hennigs
Trained in Basic and Family Mediation and Juvenile Victim Offender Dialogue process; affiliated with Concord Mediation Center. I volunteer for small claims mediation in both Douglas and Sarpy counties. I have co-mediated family/parenting plan processes for the past year in Douglas county. I have twenty years' experience as a church-based mediator and conflict coach.
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Anthony Hernandez
Facilitative mediator focusing on family's goals and the conversations that need to occur in order to attain those goals.
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Kristi Hilliard
I am an advocate of mediation because it’s a positive, self driven way for parties to resolve differences that alleviates the long term discontent that most litigants feel after they use the court system. I prosecuted in the area of juvenile and domestic law. I then became a domestic lawyer and currently 90% of my practice is in the area of divorce law and, more specifically, child custody actions. I see the importance each day, first hand, of parents attempting to resolve their child related issues as a team in mediation. A litigation tends to polarize parents and make co-parenting nearly impossible. The long term affects of parental resolution with mediation is a gift that I can hopefully give to parents that see the benefit of keeping their personal anger out of the court room and parenting as a team for the sake of their children.
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David Christopher Holcomb
I, David Christopher Holcomb, am a licensed attorney practicing law in Nebraska. I have been a mediator in Nebraska for over 10 years. Moreover, I earned my Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology and I have been a therapist providing Pro Bono Counseling services and consultations to select clients over the past 10 years. My mediation services are stellar and I approach all client's family mediations and "Parenting Act" mediations impartially, kindly and sincerely.
David is the Director of Facilitation and Training at THE MEDIATION CENTER. As an experienced attorney, business executive, adjunct professor, facilitator and mediator in private practice and with the statewide mediation center system David has experience with a vast array of cases. Approved as a local rule 4.3 mediator in Douglas County, and as a federal mediator by the United States District Court in 2003. In February of 2004 David was designated a Master Mediator by the Nebraska Mediation Center. David’s mediation and facilitation skills have been refined through participation in hundreds of hours of training including Harvard’s Program on Negotiation, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the American Bar Association, the Nebraska State Bar Association, United States Postal Service REDRESS Mediation Training, The High Conflict Institute and hundreds of mediations and facilitations. An experienced mediator/educator in civil mediation, communications, conflict coaching, construction mediation, employment mediation, facilitation, elder mediation, family mediation, family group conferencing, healthcare conflict, public policy disputes, restorative justice, and victim offender dialogue. In 2007, David presented at an advanced federal mediator training for the U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska with the Werner Institute for Negotiation and Dispute Resolution. David is an Executive Committee member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution section of the Nebraska State Bar Association and a former member of The Child Centered Justice Group. David is a lead trainer for The Nebraska Mediation Center Association, and teaches a foundations class for the Werner Institute at Creighton Law School and mediation at the University of Nebraska-College of Law.
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Jaimee Johanning
In addition to completing the Family Mediation Training, I am a licensed attorney and practice family law exclusively. As such, I have familiarity with the Parenting Act and the complex issues that are involved in many custody disputes. I am also a member of the Nebraska Association of Collaborative Professionals. Further, prior to attending law school, I worked as a social worker, which also helped me gain experience in dealing with family conflict.
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Marshall Johnson
I am currently a contract mediator with the Nebraska Mediation Center. I have mediated numerous parenting plans, and I am trained in basic, family, church and SADR mediation along with meeting facilitation. I am an ordained United Methodist Minister and previously worked in parish ministry for seven years.
Ten years of mediating experience including, but not limited to, family matters, small claims, and victim-offender mediation. NMCA and ODR Recognition Award recipient, 2001, for significant efforts and services toward expansion of mediation and conflict resolution processes. Invitational Presentation, Alumni Advisory Board Meeting, Creighton University School of Law, April 2004. Invitational Mediator Panel member, Creighton Mediation Seminar, April 2004. Volunteer Coach, Creighton Mediation Seminar, 2003.
Executive Director, The Mediation Center Trained in Basic, Family, High Conflict/Domestic Violence and Juvenile Justice mediation and Family Group Conferencing. Approved teacher of Parent Act Parenting Classes. Over 400 hours of mediation and facilitation experience.
My partner, Chris Blumkin and I co-mediate Parenting Plans for cases referred by the Douglas County Conciliation and Mediation Service Office as well as for cases referred by attorneys in both Douglas and Sarpy Counties. I obtained my family mediation training from the Nebraska Office of Dispute Resolution. I am a 4.3 court approved family mediator and have successfully mediated cases for families from a variety of ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. 90% of the cases that Chris and I have mediated have resulted in a written Parenting Plan. We have co-mediated over 100 cases since 2006. We are not attorneys, but both hold Masters Degrees. Lynn has a MSW with an emphasis on health and mental health and Chris has an MBA and an ungraduate degree in Secondary Ed. Our varied educational background and professional experience has proved to b e invaluable during highly emotional Parenting Plan Mediations. Chris and I have both experienced divorce with children.
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Patricia Kelley
I am a paralegal specializing in family law and have worked for private law firms for 30 years. I received basic mediation training and family mediation training in 1998 through the Office of Dispute Resolution. I do high conflict mediation, and completed specialized alternative dispute resolution through ODR in 2008. I am affiliated with the Douglas County Conciliation Office and mediate Parenting Plans and other family law issues for parties in Douglas and Sarpy Counties.
I am a recent graduate of the University of Nebraska College of Law. I plan to practice family law and mediation in Lincoln, Nebraska and surrounding areas.
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Rachael LaBounty, MPA, MDiv
Background: Park University graduate with Masters in Public Affairs (Gov’t-Business Relations) in 1988, and Liberty Theological Seminary graduate in 2011. Undergraduate degree in Education from St. Louis University. 30+ years in corporate operations management. Small business co-owner.
Mediation education includes Basic Mediation, Family Mediation, and Specialized Alternative Dispute Resolution (SADR) training.
Mrs. LaBounty is an experienced mediator and instructor in the values and process of mediation. As a chaplain with four clinical pastoral education units, her mediation skills can include faith-based mediation if such an approach is requested by the parties.
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Patricia Lamberty
I received extensive mediation training during the years 1993-1998. In addition to basic and family mediation training, I received 36 hours of continuing education in mediation at the international meeting of Academy of Family Mediators in July, 1994, Federal Court Mediation Training in May 1995, and Victim-Offender Mediation training from ODR in March 1998. During that time I had a mediation practice where I mediated several hundred cases each year. Since 1998, I have been a District Court Judge in Douglas County, Nebraska. I retired from the bench March 1, 2011.
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Robert Lindemeier
I have been mediating since 2001. Recently I took the training for Specialized Alternative Dispute Resolution in Lincoln. I have mediated cases for Central Mediation out of Kearney and for Mediation West out of Scottsbluff as well as private practice. I have mediated family, victim/offender, special education and facilitated family group conferences.
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Diana Liska, Esq.
Mediation and Facilitation experiences include, but are not limited to, Douglas County Juvenile Court, Sarpy County Small Claims Court, 4-3 Appointments, Termination of Parental Rights, Parenting Plans & Property Settlements. Coaching at Creighton Law School, Werner Institute and various Concord Center Community Training sessions. Licensed Attorney, Certified Mediator and Facilitator.
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Christine Lustgarten
Graduated Creighton Law School 1993; bilingual (spanish); Completed Basic and Family Mediation; Completed SADR training; don't mind traveling to mediate; Member Nebraska Academy of Collaborative Professionals.
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Susan Martinez
I completed my MSW degree in May of 2007. My professional experience has been in the field of Human Services for approximately 20 years. I have been an employee of Mediation West as a full-time staff memberfor three years, completing intake, case management and as an assigned mediator. Prior to becoming a staff member, I served in a volunteer capacity for the centerfor several years. I am trained in facilitation techniqes, and have offered a variety of trainings and workshops, as well as serving as an instructor for a college course on Conflict Resolution.
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Jane Martin-Hoffman
Jane is the Executive Director of the Nebraska Mediation Center. Trained in Basic, Family, High Conflict/Specialized Alternative Dispute Resolution, Juvenile Justice and Special Education mediation and Family Group Conferencing. She is a Certified Master Mediator. Over 700 hours of mediation and facilitation experience.
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Arturo Miranda
I am a bilingual (Spanish-English) and multicultural exprerienced family mediator. I teach the basic and second level parenting education classes for the Spanish speaking population in the metropolitan area in Omaha, Nebraska. I have a small consulting business and my main services are mediations, translations, & interpretations. A great amount of my cases are pro-bono and/or reduced fees.
Experienced mediator in the areas of divorce, custody, parenting time and property settlement; Federal EEO and FELA cases; personal injury cases. Experienced in group facilitation. Models/styles of mediation available include interest based mediation, transformative mediation and mediation with a more directive orientation. Complete resume and list of mediated cases available. Send request to amoshman@cox.net or call (402) 393-2695.
I took my mediation training and family mediation training in 2009. I am affiliated with the Concord Center and work primarily on family mediation cases. In 2009 I co-mediated 15 family mediation cases. 1 of those included the financial settlement for the clients. I was the co-mediator for 7 intakes for family mediation cases. I have co-mediated for several SADR cases and am waiting for SADR training to expand my ability to mediate SADR cases. As part of my affiliation with the Concord Center I have mediated many Small Claims Court cases in Sarpy County.
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Randy Musselman
Have 30-50 hours of experience in Parenting Act mediation as an affiliate of The Resolution Center in Beatrice. Have been mediating since May 2008. Member of Nebraska State Bar Association since 1981.
Lesa currently is an Administrative Assistant for the domestic violence program in the Panhandle, DOVES. She has a background in ranching and social services. She became interested in mediation in 2006 and completed Basic, Family, SADR, and Facilitation Training. She was a staff mediator for Mediation West from 2007 to 2009 and currently contract mediates.
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Michele Novotny
I have been a paralegal for 25 years, with a primary focus on family law and juvenile cases.
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James O'Hanlon
Completed the following family mediation training: Basic family 9-05, Advanced family 5-07, ADR 1-08, Workshops on Domestic Violence 11-07, and Writing a Good Parenting Plan 4-07. Served as coach for family mediation training. Serve as supervising mediator for the Mediation Center, Lincoln. Served for several semesters as coach for the mediation class at the UNL Law College. Also trained to do Family Group Conferences. Completed 23 family mediations '07, '08, and '09.
I have twelve years experience working with children and families providing education and treatment planning for adoptive and foster homes as well as guidance and mentoring for at risk youth. I conducted trainings for professionals and foster and adoptive parents. Since I am also a parent, I am empathetic to parents in stressful, difficult situations. I remain neutral while assisting parents construct their parenting plan, because I am mindful of the child's point of view and how they will adjust to their new family structure. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology and Psychology and am a trained Family Mediator.
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John Rademacher
I am an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of Nebraska; I have over ten years of legal experience including family matters involving trials, negotiations, guardian ad litem investigations, and mediation.
I have served as a Family Mediator to residents in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge and Cass counties for several years. For some parents, creating a parenting plan is a difficult undertaking as emotions often run very high. As a Family Mediator, it is not only my duty to facilitate a safe, structured, and neutral environment to those parents searching for what is in the very best interests of their children, but to also create a forum where each parent's voice is heard.
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Dorothy Richardson
I have completed Basic Mediation Training, Family Mediation Training, and the Child Support/ Financial Plan workshop through the Nebraska Mediation Association (NMA.) I am affiliated with the Concord Center in Omaha and mediate Parenting Plans for parties in Douglas and Sarpy counties. I have participated in Small Claims Court mediations for Douglas and Sarpy counties on a weekly basis as part of my affiliation with Concord Center.
Catherine Saeger is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in private practice located in Fremont, NE. She is a Certified Master Mediator affiliated with the Nebraska Mediation Center and has over 10 years of experience in Family Mediation including the mediation of Parenting Plans. Cathy has received additional training in Family Group Conferencing and Specialized Alternative Dispute Resolution.
I received my basic training in law school at Creighton in March of 2004. I later received my family mediation training as well. I have mediated mainly through the Concord Center in Omaha. I have recently finished my affiliation with Concord having mediated approximately 40 hours with them. I have written parenting plans and mediated approximately 12-15 cases. I am an Ex police officer who was trained for hostage negotiations. I am now a solo practicing attorney who practices in Omaha, Nebraska.
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Linda Sanchez-Masi
Experienced mediator in Parenting Act mediation, divorce, legal separation and custody matters. Affiliated with The Mediation Center in Lincoln, Nebraska. Graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, College of Law. Fluent in Spanish.
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Linda K. Schaefer
Linda was accepted as a Court approved mediator under Rule 4.3 in July, 1998. She has mediated parenting plans for the Court since that time. She received her Master of Arts Degree in Counseling from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in December of 1989. She is a counselor in private practice in Omaha, specializing in marriage and family issues and mood disorders.
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Rae Ann Schmitz
I was a family law attorney for Nebraska Legal Services for 27 years representing approximately 1,000 people in domestic relations matters. I was one of the founders of the Panhandle Mediation Center in 1992 and I was one of their first mediators. I also was a founder of DOVES, the local domestic violence services agency in the Nebraska Panhandle. I have experience mediating cases for the U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska. In 2005 I became the Executive Director of Mediation West, an ODR approved mediation center serving Western Nebraska and reaching out to eastern Wyoming. Since then, I have been employed full time as both an administrator and mediator. I have extensive training and experience in mediation for almost 20 years.
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Beverly Schuele
I am currently affiliated with the Nebraska Mediation Center in Fremont, NE. I received my 30-hour Basic Mediation Training in February 2009 in Omaha and my 30-Hour Family Mediation Training in March of 2009 in Lincoln, NE. I attended and participated in the 2009 Heartland Regional Conference of Mediators in Omaha. I have recently finished my 30-hour internship with the Nebraska Mediation Center. I have mediated three cases with an approved Supervisory Mediator (Jim Shaul of Bellevue.) I owe a gratitude of debt to my three mentors in this field: Marshall Johnson, Paula Welke, and Jim Shaul & Lynne Favinger. On October 28th I will be attending a lecture by Catherine Saeger, LICSW and Master Mediator on Domestic Violence and Identifying Issues in High Conflict Relationships, for an additional 2 CME's. I have co-mediated one non-English speaking case. I am currently a Founding Member of the Nebraska Mediation Association.
Supervisory Mentor Mediator, SADR Facilitator, Parent Coordinator; Trained to mediate a complete divorce: parenting plans, child support, and property division; Mediates in all NE counties. Affiliated with Douglas County District Court Conciliation and Mediation Services, Omaha, and he has a private practice that also includes providing approved Parenting Classes in several counties. All services are also available in Spanish.
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Stephanie Shaul
I absolutley love Mediating. Seeing parents work together to benefit their children, is a very fulfilling profession. I took Basic and Family Mediation Training in 2010. The previous year, I was trained in Parent Coordination. I have had extensive training in Domestic Violence, including training in The Duluth Model for Batter's Intervention, Principles of the Domestic Violence Coordinated Response, Domestic Violence – Strategies for Working with High Conflict Couples, Domestic Violence and Kids, The Effects of Trauma on Child Development and Adult Functioning, Juvenile Abuse/Neglect Training (Nebraska Children’s Summit/2009), Understanding and Assessing Child Sexual Abuse, Allegations of Sexual Abuse in Divorce & Child Cusotdy Cases, Child Abuse & Neglect 101, Effects of Chronic Neglect, Abuse and Toxic Stress on Child Development, Collaboration in Child Abuse Investigations, Therapists as Expert Witnesses, and Immigration Issues for Children in Juvenile Court.
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Heather Sikyta
have completed the basic and family mediation trainings and am mediating cases through Central Mediation Center. I received my JD in 2010 from the University of Nebraska College of Law and am an associate at Sikyta Law Office in Ord, Nebraska.
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Richard Stafford
I have been mediating since 1992. In addition to the requirements for basic and family mediation, I have attended SADR training and the 2009 SADR Workshop, Federal Mediation Training, EEOC Mediation Training and have been trained in and have acted as a facilitator for Family Group Conferences. My experience has primarily been in the field of family law but I have also mediated cases involving real estate disputes, estate disputes, contract disputes and unfair housing claims. I am qualified as, and have acted as, a supervising mediator and have participated in mediator training.
I am a practicing attorney with a Master of Social Work degree (micro practice major) and have completed basic, family/ parenting plan, DIPA and Family Group Conference training. I was a insurance company in-house litigation attorney for 26 years and participated in numerous mediations in various state and federal court jurisdictions.
I have been mediating for over 10 years in a variety of settings and am also a Licensed Professional Counselor. The majority of my work involves parenting act cases and specialized alternative dispute resolution (SADR) cases. I am approved to offer and do teach the level one parenting class, "What About the Children" and the second level class "Reach Beyond Conflict." I am an affiliate of The Concord Center and work with clients from Douglas, Sarpy, Washington, and surrounding counties. My purpose, very simply, is to help make children's lives better by working with their parents during difficult times.
I completed by basic and family mediation training through the Nebraska Mediation Association in 2011. I received by JD from Creighton in 2003 and have practiced mainly in the area of bankruptcy law. My relatively new mediation practice consists of Parenting Act and small claims cases as an affiliate of the Concord Center. My goal is to expand this practice to include federal mediations and bankruptcy mediations.
My relatively new mediation practice consists of Parenting Act and small claims cases thus far. My goal is to expand this practice to include federal mediations, special education mediations, and workplace/employment mediations, as my legal practice focuses primarily on disability and workplace law. Thank you for your consideration.
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Jennifer Thompson
I am a practicing attorney and mediator. My experience with the Parenting Act is through my work on numerous divorce cases. My goal is to help parents formulate their own Parenting Plan and come to an agreeable solution putting the needs of their children first, and avoiding costly and painful litigation. I help parents control their own outcomes.
My job with the Concord Center has provided me the opportunity to work with a diverse group of parents and families. I have been trained to conduct Pre-Hearing Facilitations and Family Group Conferences. I have completed training for Specialized Alternative Dispute Resolution which has helped me to be a better facilitator/mediator with high conflict cases. My backround prior to Concord Center was directing an in-home family based program and foster care program for Boys Town which has given me the clinical background to work with parents, families and their youth.
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Beverly Truttmann
Beverly is an approved-4.3 Mediator in Douglas County since April 2007 and mediates in Sarpy County, she has been an Affiliate with the Concord Center since April 2006 and has been in private practice since 2008. --Provider for Basic and Second level Parenting Education in Sarpy, Cass, Douglas Counties since 2008 - Parent Coordinator Training KC School of Law October 08 -Addition training - Improving Decision Making through Critical Thinking,- August 23, 07 - Advanced Family Mediation Skills-NE Mediation Center Assoc. 12.5 hours May 22, 2007 - Impact of Intimate Partner Violence on our Kids April 24th, 2007 - Family Mediation Training- Nebraska Dispute Resolution-March 31, 2006 - Basic Mediation Training-Nebraska Dispute Resolution-February 17, 2006 - Mindfulness in Law & Dispute Resolution-NE Mediation Center Assoc- October 2005.
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Karen Vervaecke
I have been mediating since 1993 and practicing law since 1988. I was a Court approved parenting act mediator prior to my leaving NE in 2002 and mediated many cases .Additionally, I am a Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator in the following areas: County Court; Circuit/Civil (the equivalent of District Court); and Family. There is not a certification process for the Residential Foreclosure Meditations, but I have completed all of the training and mediate foreclosures on a regular basis. I am also a Florida Supreme Court Qualified Arbitrator.
I completed Basic and Family Mediation in 1999 and affiliated with both the NE Justice Center in Walthill and Fremont, and The Resolution Center in Beatrice. In 2009 I completed Specialized Alternative Dispute Resolution. I graduated from Doane College in Lincoln, NE in 1998 with a degree in Human Relations, Cum Laude.
In addition to my current work as a mediator affiliated with the Concord Center in Omaha, I draw on practical experience with conflict resolution which I encountered in fifteen years of active ministry and in nine years of service as a chaplain to the Omaha City Police Department. I also gained a much earlier and very direct appreciation for the mediation process when I successfully completed the "Mediation Skills Training Institute" offered by the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center on November 16-20, 1992, in Des Moines, Iowa.
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William Warnes
Mr. Warnes is an attorney and practiced privately for 30 years in Sarpy, Douglas and Cass Counties. His practice was primarily in Family Law and he did Family Law mediation. Mr. Warnes has spent the past 5 1/2 years as a Commissioner for the Tax Equalization and Review Commission were he was one of two presiding hearing officers for appeals regarding property valuation issues. Mr. Warnes limits his current practice to mediation.
People in conflict face a landscape of issues: psychological, legal, emotional, financial, relational, spiritual and/or professional. Conflict can shake your sense of self and the way you connect with others. No court, judge, arbitrator or attorney can negotiate your feelings, how you contemplate acting on those feelings and how you ultimately make action decisions. Transformative Mediation and Transformative Conflict Coaching are the only resolution tools that focus on your full landscape of issues supporting your efforts to regain your sense of self and redefine your connection with others. I was certified as a Transformative MediatorTM by the Institute for the Study of Conflict Transformation and served as an Institute Associate from 2007-2009. I have been a very active member of the Douglas County Mediation Panel since 2004. I have mediated or facilitated over 250 cases. My area of emphasis in my private practice is family/divorce intervention. I have mediated employment related cases for the U.S. Postal Service and the Transportation Security Administration. I have conducted conflict management workshops and trainings for a number of organizations including Union Pacific Railroad, University of Nebraska-Omaha and the University of Nebraska Medical Center. I began doing conflict intervention for the State of Nebraska when I accepted the position of Assistant Ombudsman in 2008. This conflict intervention work includes working in corrections, child welfare, institutions and mental health. I would love to hear what you think about my website: www.ConflictCoachOmaha.com.
Completed Basic and Family Mediaiton in 2008 and SADR Training in 2009. Can be contacted at the following phone number: 402-760-0287.
I was first introduced to the practice of mediation and the field of alternative dispute resolution as a graduate student in 2006 at the Werner Institute in Creighton University and have been diligently building my knowledge and skills ever since. As such, I have completed training in Basic and Family Mediation as well as Specialized Alternative Dispute Resolution. I am also privileged to work alongside the staffs at both the Nebraska Office of Dispute Resolution and the Concord Center to support the needs of Nebraska families as well as the development of ADR in the state.
I have completed the Basic, Family, and the Child Support/Child's Financial Plan Workshop through Nebraska Mediation Center Association (NMCA). I am also trained in Specialized Alternative Dispute Resolution. I am Currently an affiliate and the Family Mediation Specialist at the Concord Center in Omaha. I also part of Private Practice and am on Douglas County Conciliation Courts 4.3 panel.
I have completed the six day interactive training program offered by the Struas Institute at Pepperdine Law School "Mediation - The Art of Facilitating Settlement". Upon my completion of that training I completed the NMCA Family Mediation Training. As an attorney I have been involved, along with my clients, in many mediations involving many different mediators. I have completed Parenting Plans for clients and have also co-mediated three parenting plans and drafted one under the superviosn of Rea Ann Schmitz at Mediation West.I have practiced family law for nearly 39 years. I am an AV rated attorney.
This file last modified Monday November 19, 2012 12:00:42