1236 29th Street West Des Moines, IA 50265
Experience
1985 to Present: Executive Director, Iowa Mediation Service, Inc. (formerly Iowa Farmer Creditor Mediation Service). Duties include managing a staff of 8 and mediator group of 50 that provide neutral services for farmers, creditors, employers, families, schools, the county attorney’s office, and others in various disputes. Specific responsibilities encompass personnel management, training and development, budgeting, organizational development, legislative activities, community relations, and specialized intervention activities such as mediation. Assisted in the design of Ag mediation including debtor creditor cases, hog issues, and nuisance disputes. Mediated over 1000 cases.
1984 to 1985: Executive Director, Travis County Mediation Service, Inc. Managed a staff of 3 and mediation group of 50. Specific responsibilities included personnel management, training, development, budgeting, organizational development and community relations. Mediated complex cases.
1980 to 1984: Executive Director, Houston Neighborhood Justice Center. Managed a staff of 8 & 100 mediators who provided mediation services to Houston. Specific responsibilities included personnel management, training, development, budgeting, organizational development & community relations.
1976 to 1980: Assistant Director, Kansas City Neighborhood Justice Center. Duties included training and development, budgeting and personnel management activities.
Relevant Consulting and Training Activities
Mediated over 30 Child Welfare Mediations for Polk County and the Clay/Dickinson/Osceola/O’Brien Counties pilot project sites (2003-2007).
Adjunct faculty member for the University of Iowa School of Social Work (1996-present).
Trained federal magistrates for the US Federal Judicial Center re: mediation (1992, 1997, and 1999).
Trained USDA forestry officials in New Mexico (1999-2002).
Mediator for Public Employment Relations Board – mediated over 150 public sector labor relations cases including grievances and negotiations cases. Performed fact-finding and arbitration services. (1985-present).
Provided training in conflict resolution, negotiation, and mediation to Attorney General of Iowa (1999). Facilitated organizational development issues for various departments (2006-2007).
Mediated disputes for Department of Veterans Administration (1997-02).
Appointed Special Master to US District Court – 1000 asbestos cases (1986-88), 100 fungicide disputes (1992-97), numerous personal injury cases (1995-02).
Mediated hog disputes (siting, environment, smell, and water quality) (25) 1994-2007
Mediated organizational disputes for different organizations encompassing such things as harassment, hostile work environment, and civil rights – (15) 1999 – present.
Facilitated the development of Horticultural Task Force for Iowa Dept. of Agriculture -- goals and objectives. (2000).
Mediated flood and natural disaster disputes between Federal Emergency Management Act personnel, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa cities, and Iowa citizens (1994-96).
Mediated small business disputes for the Iowa State Extension Service Small Business program (2000).
Facilitated issues (goal setting, visioning, ets.) for State of Nebraska Dept. of Ag and associated group re future of Ag (1998-02)
Assisted in developing Ag mediation programs in US – Nebraska, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Minnesota, Texas, Illinois, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Idaho, Alabama, Colorado, North Carolina, South Carolina, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Oregon, and Washington (1986-present).
Mediated between state of Iowa, US, state ombudsman, and farmers re: corn aflatoxin case (1997).
Mediated Platte River Basin dispute for Nebraska, Wyoming and US (1994-96).
Mediated personnel dispute for Department of Veteran Affairs (Iowa City and Chicago) and trained staff from DVA in the area of mediation and conflict resolution (1996-98). Also performed organizational development tasks for departments in various locations throughout the six state network (2001-2007).
Trained staff from Department of Veteran Affairs in mediation and conflict resolution (1996-98).
Facialated Broadlawns Medical Center issues between administration, staff, and physicians (1997-98).
Trained trainers programs in conflict resolution for City of Dubuque, Polk County, Fort Worth, Lubbock, State of Oklahoma Supreme Court, Albuquerque, Nebraska Courts, Asian Foundation -- Sri Lanka and Korea, Department of Veteran Affairs, and National Association of Human Rights Workers (1986—present).
Mediated Polk County/RACI dispute (gambling, horse groups, and County government) (1997).
Mediated, facilitated organizational issues and trained the City of City Rapids Fire Department and local union (1996-97).
Mediated the New Iowa Schools Development Corporation issues for the Iowa State Educational Association, Iowa Association of School Boards, and School Administrators of Iowa (1996).
Trained lawyers, judges, government officials, businessmen and law students for the Asian foundation in Korea (1993-94) and Sri Lanka (1995).
Trained staff from the National Association of Human Rights Organizations in conflict resolution (1994/99).
Facilitated for Department of Education -- Special Education (1995) for implementation of federal rules and facilitated the development of technical assistance guidelines (1996).
Provided mediator training for the Iowa Civil Rights Commission mediators (1994/95/96/97).
Facilitated the Ag-Credit Act for Farm Credit System of Omaha, Farmers Home Administration, Prairie Fire, Farm Unity Coalition, Farm Bureau, and various other groups. (1987)
Facilitated numerous sessions for various state/local agencies and non profits related to organizaitonal development/goal setting (Polk County, Young Farmers, City of Cedar Rapids, Church of Christ, and the Clarinda School District) (95-07).
Facilitated the ISU Extension Service Group Process for handling layoffs and RIFs. (1991).
Mediated the consolidation of the Dallas Center – Grimes (1999), Prairie City/Monroe School Districts (1990), Southeast Warren School District, Colo-Nesco School District (1994), and Highland Community School District (1995).
Facilitated for the Iowa legislature re: professionalization of Mental Health Workers (1990).
Facilitated the environmental dispute process between the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, City of Iowa City, Johnson County, and the University of Iowa (1989)
Facilitated for FEMA and flood agency providers re: flood funding (1993-94).
Mediator and victim offender facilitator for Polk County Restorative Justice Center (1987-2001).
Facilitated staff reductions and organizational renewal approach for USDA-RECD and for various non profit organizations (1995-01)
Mediated personal injury and race relations cases for state of Illinois (1996)
Designed and trained in the fields of negotiations, mediation, conflict resolution, communications, MBO, community development, facilitation, group process, or the handling of grievances for the following organizations: Missouri Division of Natural Resources, IES Industries, John Deere Corporation, Bankers Trust, US Department of Agriculture -- Farmers Home Administration (national office and 9 states including Nebraska and Wyoming); Statesman Insurance Group; Omaha Farm Credit System; Missouri Division of Aging; Fort Dodge Educational Agency; Grant Wood Educational Agency; Iowa Department of Education; US Department of Justice -- Community Relations Services; Lynn Insurance Company; National Association of Attorneys Generals; National Association of Social Workers; the American Bankers Association; the Iowa Bankers Association; the American Bar Association; the Texas Rehabilitation Service; Vocational Rehabilitation Service (Iowa), Wisconsin Civil Rights Commission; Iowa State Educational Association, Iowa School Board Administrators, and the Iowa Peace Institute.
Developed dispute resolution courses for students and teachers at the Kansas City School District, Des Moines School District, Houston Independent School District, Tama School District, I-35 School District, and Rock Island School District.
Taught courses in personnel administration, conflict resolution, mediation, negotiations, communications at: University of Iowa School of Social Work; Drake Law School; University of Iowa Law School; University of Houston Graduate Schools of Law and Social Work; Iowa State University (Extension); University of Texas Law School; Texas Tech University; Rockhurst College; and St. Edwards Univ.
Provided training and technical assistance to the following organizations with respect to management, conflict resolution, personnel issues, budgetary matters, and the training of trainers to: Polk County Mediation Service (1979,1987, 95, 02), Dallas Mediation Service (1980). Tarrant County Mediation Center (1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1988), Bexar County Dispute Resolution Service (1983), Travis County Dispute Resolution Services (1986, 1987, and 1988), Albuquerque Mediation Service (1983, 1985), Lubbock Dispute Resolution Service (1987, 1990, 1991), Oklahoma Supreme Court (1989), Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Farm Bureau (1986), San Diego Dispute Resolution Services (1990), Colorado Council of Mediators (1991), Wisconsin Academy of Family Mediators (1988), Wyoming Mediators Association (2002) and the state offices of Farmer's Home Administration in Missouri (1989, 1990), South Carolina (1988), North Carolina (1988), Nebraska (1989), Arkansas (1987), Illinois (1987, 1988, 1990), and Texas (1987). Also provided training and technical assistance to Department of Agriculture officials in Canada, Australia, and Mexico (1988) and consulted with officials from the Soviet Republics (1992-93).
Trained Eastern Iowa Presbytery and Des Moines Presbytery in conflict resolution processes (1992-93).
Education
BA, University of Missouri -- Kansas City, 1970
M.P.A., University of Missouri -- Kansas City, 1976. Specialization in Organizational Development and Labor Relations
Awards
Victor Wilson Scholarship (1976).
University of Missouri -- Kansas City Outstanding Graduate Student Award (1976-77).
Houston Young Lawyers Blue Bell Award for Outstanding Service to the legal Community (1981).
Publications
"Mediation and Pre-Trial Services", Pre-Trial Services Association Monograph, 1979.
"Violence in America", American Psychological Association Monograph, 1982.
"Crisis in Rural America: The Genesis of Farmer-Lender Mediation", NIDR Forum, Fall 1990.
"Alternative Dispute Resolution and Agriculture", Attorneys General and New Methods of Dispute Resolution, July 1990.
The Evolution of Dispute Resolution: A Contemporary Analysis (handbook), The Asian Foundation, Seoul, South Korea 1993.
