The collaborative, problem-solving aspect of the mediation process. I am amazed by how parties, when working in good faith, can find a mutually agreeable way to negotiate solutions to what was, prior to the mediation, an intractable problem. Generally, the results are far better in terms of the parties’ view than what a court would order.
What do you find is your greatest challenge?
Scheduling. Most of my mediations last four to six hours, although many go longer. I request the parties be available for the full business day, as it is difficult to predict in advance how long a mediation will last. Getting the disputing parties and their attorneys to agree to a date and location is very time consuming.
What advice would you give yourself if you could go back to the start of your mediation practice?
Network more. When I was in an office of mediators, keeping current with new ideas and approaches was part of the workday. Working independently there are fewer opportunities to share experiences and techniques with other professional mediators. Networking through trainings and sharing experiences with other mediators is an invaluable benefit of having a PCM membership and why I am a longstanding member of PCM.
What is a fun fact about yourself?
I am obsessed with walking. I walk at least 12,000 steps per day according to my tracker and virtually never miss a day. Besides the obvious physical health benefits, walking stimulates my thought process and the creation of new ideas.
What do you do when you are not mediating?
I am a board member for a community, not-for-profit association and a volunteer math tutor for 4th graders in an underserved elementary school. Professionally, I conduct workshops in negotiation theory and practice and have taught as an adjunct faculty member at several local universities and colleges.
Years in mediation 35
Involvement in PCM:
Below are a few presentations I have conducted for PCM:
• Negotiation Theory and Practice (Helping Parties Reach an Acceptable Resolution)
• Mediation Ethics
• Negotiation Skills for Mediators
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