"Mary and Laurel are both
masterful in their ability to teach, but especially their ability
to model the principles."
Course Attendee
LCSW
~~ Who We Are ~~
Owner and
Principal Trainer
Mary
C. Forst, J.D., has been a mediator, facilitator and trainer
since1978. She assists people in organizations and workplaces
in handling conflict creatively and holistically, offering a
combination of mediation, dialogue, team building, system design,
and skills training. She designs and facilitates consensus building
processes for land use and public policy disputes. Mary also
offers training in mediation and related skills to the public
and to organizations on site. She has practiced law, and has
served as an inner-city police officer. Mary's animated, down-to-earth
training style and her personal stories make the mediation experience
come to life for the participants.
E-mail: mcforst@igc.org
Associate and Principal Trainer
Laurel
Singer,M.S., L.P.C. Laurel's focus, since starting her private practice in 1991 as a mediator and facilitator, has been to design and implement the most effective process possible to assist an organization, group, or collection of stake holders to resolve conflicts and make decisions constructively and collaboratively. Drawing on over 20 years of experience as a licensed professional counselor working at both the treatment and management level, Laurel brings a unique blend of expertise and tools to create the conditions needed to enable all parties to become engaged and involved in critical conversations about implementing changes and solutions to make a difference in their situation.
In addition to her private mediation practice, Laurel is a Program Manager with the Oregon Consensus Program at Portland State University. In her role, she is specifically working to foster the use of collaborative practices and approaches for addressing public policy issues in Human Services including the fields of education, health care and other social services.
As a seasoned trainer with over two decades of experience, Laurel has earned a reputation for excellence in designing and implementing customized, skill based training in mediation, resolving conflict, defusing angry/hostile people, workplace violence prevention, and managing the challenge of change. Participants consistently describe her as an engaging, dynamic and effective trainer who combines practical and concrete information with warmth, humor and personal antidotes.
E-mail: LauSinger@aol.com
Mediation Associates
Guadalupe
Guajardo, Senior Consultant, Technical Assistance for Community
Services, specializes in training and consulting in workplace
issues and in systems design and planning. She offers bilingual
and bicultural training and consultation (rooted in Latino culture),
and has over twenty years' experience in organizational development
and transformation. Guadalupe holds a doctorate in Learning and Change in Human Systems, an
MA/ABS in Organizational Development and Transformation, and an MA in
Theology.
E-mail:gg@tacs.orgWebsite:
http://www.tacs.org
JoAnn Jackson was a board member of the Oregon Mediation Association (OMA) for six years, as well as a 10-year member of the Association of Conflict Resolution (ACR). She has a bachelor's degree in Business Management, and a Master's Degree in Business Administration. She was a diversity trainer for City of Portland employees, and a past trainer and employee for the City's Bureau of Emergency Communications. Her career has included being a Manager and Regional Director of Donor Resources Development with the American Red Cross Blood Services, Pacific Northwest Region, in Portland (1994-2006).
Ms. Jackson is a mediator, workplace consultant, and presenter for businesses, nonprofits, and higher education on topics of diversity, mediation, inclusion, and executive leadership. She is a long time resident of Portland and lives in Northeast Portland.
E-mail: JoannTWitty@msn.com
Jamie Damon. For 20 years, Jamie has worked as a mediator and facilitator with
individuals, citizen groups and local, state, and federal agencies to
achieve collaborative decisions. She is recognized throughout the
Northwest for her strong mediation, facilitation, training, and public
process design skills. Jamie has mediated/facilitated over a thousand
cases ranging from neighbor-to-neighbor issues to complex multi-party,
public works, public facilities, emergency services, transportation,
land use, planning, water resources and legislative issues. She has
successfully designed and managed the public involvement and information
process for numerous complex and controversial projects in Oregon,
Washington and Alaska. Jamie has held leadership roles in the Oregon
Mediation Association and the Oregon Dispute Resolution Commission and
is currently completing her Master’s Degree in Conflict Transformation
and Peacebuilding at SIT in Vermont.
E-mail: jdamon@jlainvolve.com
Website: http://www.jlainvolve.com/team_jdamon.html
Mary Heffernan has been an organizational development
consultant in private practice for over fifteen years, providing
services focusing on strategic visioning and planning, team-building,
group communication skills, and training and consultation in
multi-culturalism and conflict resolution. Currently, she also
offers coaching and advising to organizational leaders and managers.
Mary also brings over ten years of experience as an organizer
and executive director of nonprofit organizations.
E-mail:temenos@easystreet.com`
Theresa
Jensen has been a mediator, trainer and dispute resolution
professional since 1983, and is recognized as one of the pioneers
of mediation in Oregon. She draws on her background as a teacher,
trial attorney and consultant in cross-cultural conflict. Theresa
has successfully mediated a broad range of disputes, including
employment, business, land use, environmental, education, family
and health care issues. A major focus of her work involves mediating
workplace disputes, including discrimination and cross-cultural
issues. She also works with organizations in-house to improve
interpersonal communications and team relationships, to help
address conflicts at an organizational level, and to design systems
for managing conflicts. In addition, she designs and facilitates
community dialogues and collaborative processes for multi-party
public disputes. She especially enjoys working with issues of
trust and respect, and with parties who desire to enhance or
restore on-going working relationships.
E-mail: Theresa.Jensen@mediate.com
Alanna
Hein has a consulting practice in Beaverton, Oregon, established
in 1991, which focuses on building high performing work teams,
planning for and managing change, facilitation skills and valuing
diversity. Her consulting clients have included: City, County
and Federal government agencies, private non-profit organizations,
and corporations of all sizes. Alanna taught graduate and undergraduate
courses in the business and management department for four years
at Marylhurst College. She has been a Director of Human Resources,
Senior Affirmative Action Officer for the State of Washington,
Employment Services Director for the YWCA, Community Advocate,
and Auditor. Her training and consulting are recognized as exceptionally
effective, and her jokes are almost always funny.
E-mail: HeinConsul@aol.com
Training Coaches
During our training sessions you will be individually coached
by some of the most experienced professional mediators in the
Northwest.
Gloria Bryen, M.A., has worked since 1988 in the field
of dispute resolution, focusing primarily on mediation. Working
particularly with couples facing divorce, she has helped hundreds
of couples reach agreement on parenting and custody issues, as
well as decisions concerning child and spousal support and property
division. In addition to her divorce mediation practice,
she also mediates cases involving juvenile offenders, workplace,
real estate and commercial issues. Gloria's office is located
in Beaverton, Oregon.
E-mail: gloria@bryenmediation.com
Donald A. Cole has been a mediator since 1993. He is
the court-connected mediation coordinator for the State Court
in Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson Counties. He also maintains
a private mediation practice.
He can be reached at (541) 385-5728
Anita Engiles is a legally trained professional mediator.
She provides training in conflict management and mediation skills
in addition to mediation. She also provides mentoring on an individual
basis and meeting facilitation for agencies and groups.
E-mail: anitae@efn.org
Clifford
Jones, Senior Consultant, Technical Assistance for Community
Services: specializes in nonprofit consulting and training in
the areas of organizational development, facilitation, cross
cultural alliances, mediation and conflict resolution. Cliff
has over twenty years of experience in working with nonprofits
and has worked with hundreds of organizations.
E-mail: cj@tacs.org
Website: http://www.tacs.org
Molly Rodriguez Keating, M.S.W. has a private practice in mediation,
facilitation, and conflict management coaching. Her clients include
individuals, businesses, and not-for-profit organizations. Molly's
approach to her work is to help create an environment where people can
find their own solutions. She has helped hundreds of individuals and
groups.
E-mail: mk@mollykeating.com
Web: http://www.mollykeating.com
Stephen
Ruffo has been a negotiator and facilitator for over 20 years
and mediates disputes in Small Claims Court, Family Mediations,
Workplace Mediations, Music Industry Mediations, Construction
Mediations, and Peer Mediations involving kids in the middle
schools. He currently works for Bridgewaters and Confluence Center
for Mediation & Training in Oregon and Sound Options in Washington
as a mediation trainer, teaching Mediation and Negotiation skills
to lawyers, judges, and the private sector. Stephen is also involved
in the music industry and is the Executive Director of Bluegrass
at the Beach, a music camp on the Oregon coast.
E-mail: ruffo@olympus.net
Linda Scher has been providing family mediation services
in a private practice setting in Portland since 1990. She provides
mediation to families in the areas of reconciliation, separation,
partnership dissolution, divorce, and post-divorce related matters,
assisting with issues around children, finances and property
division. Linda is a Practitioner Member of the Academy of Family
Mediators and a member of the Oregon Mediation Association (OMA),
having served on OMA's Board of Directors for nine years. Linda
is currently serving on the Oregon Statewide Family Law Advisory
Committee.
E-mail: Linda@Schermediate.com
Website: http://www.Schermediate.com
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Christopher Sheesley has been a full-time, professional
mediator since 1991 and has conducted over 1,000 sessions in
various settings. His company, In-Accord, offers mediation, training
and facilitation services with a focus on employment and organizational
conflicts. He is the EEOC's contract mediator for Oregon and
serves on twelve other mediation and facilitation rosters. As
an active trainer, he helps organizations and individuals address
communication and conflict issues.
E-mail: CSheesly@InAccordNW.com
Website: http://www.InAccordNW.com
Rebecca A. Sweetland, J.D., M.S.W. Experience includes
workplace, community, juvenile victim-offender, cross-cultural,
and public policy. Training and coaching in conflict resolution
skills for 15 years. Member of Shared Neutrals, Oregon Mediation
Association, National Association for Community Mediators.
E-mail: RASweetland@aol.com
Mary
C. Forst, J.D., has been a mediator, facilitator and trainer
since1978. She assists people in organizations and workplaces
in handling conflict creatively and holistically, offering a
combination of mediation, dialogue, team building, system design,
and skills training. She designs and facilitates consensus building
processes for land use and public policy disputes. Mary also
offers training in mediation and related skills to the public
and to organizations on site. She has practiced law, and has
served as an inner-city police officer. Mary's animated, down-to-earth
training style and her personal stories make the mediation experience
come to life for the participants.
Laurel
Singer,M.S., L.P.C. Laurel's focus, since starting her private practice in 1991 as a mediator and facilitator, has been to design and implement the most effective process possible to assist an organization, group, or collection of stake holders to resolve conflicts and make decisions constructively and collaboratively. Drawing on over 20 years of experience as a licensed professional counselor working at both the treatment and management level, Laurel brings a unique blend of expertise and tools to create the conditions needed to enable all parties to become engaged and involved in critical conversations about implementing changes and solutions to make a difference in their situation.
In addition to her private mediation practice, Laurel is a Program Manager with the Oregon Consensus Program at Portland State University. In her role, she is specifically working to foster the use of collaborative practices and approaches for addressing public policy issues in Human Services including the fields of education, health care and other social services.
As a seasoned trainer with over two decades of experience, Laurel has earned a reputation for excellence in designing and implementing customized, skill based training in mediation, resolving conflict, defusing angry/hostile people, workplace violence prevention, and managing the challenge of change. Participants consistently describe her as an engaging, dynamic and effective trainer who combines practical and concrete information with warmth, humor and personal antidotes.
Guadalupe
Guajardo, Senior Consultant, Technical Assistance for Community
Services, specializes in training and consulting in workplace
issues and in systems design and planning. She offers bilingual
and bicultural training and consultation (rooted in Latino culture),
and has over twenty years' experience in organizational development
and transformation. Guadalupe holds a doctorate in Learning and Change in Human Systems, an
MA/ABS in Organizational Development and Transformation, and an MA in
Theology.
JoAnn Jackson was a board member of the Oregon Mediation Association (OMA) for six years, as well as a 10-year member of the Association of Conflict Resolution (ACR). She has a bachelor's degree in Business Management, and a Master's Degree in Business Administration. She was a diversity trainer for City of Portland employees, and a past trainer and employee for the City's Bureau of Emergency Communications. Her career has included being a Manager and Regional Director of Donor Resources Development with the American Red Cross Blood Services, Pacific Northwest Region, in Portland (1994-2006). 
Jamie Damon. For 20 years, Jamie has worked as a mediator and facilitator with
individuals, citizen groups and local, state, and federal agencies to
achieve collaborative decisions. She is recognized throughout the
Northwest for her strong mediation, facilitation, training, and public
process design skills. Jamie has mediated/facilitated over a thousand
cases ranging from neighbor-to-neighbor issues to complex multi-party,
public works, public facilities, emergency services, transportation,
land use, planning, water resources and legislative issues. She has
successfully designed and managed the public involvement and information
process for numerous complex and controversial projects in Oregon,
Washington and Alaska. Jamie has held leadership roles in the Oregon
Mediation Association and the Oregon Dispute Resolution Commission and
is currently completing her Master’s Degree in Conflict Transformation
and Peacebuilding at SIT in Vermont.
Theresa
Jensen has been a mediator, trainer and dispute resolution
professional since 1983, and is recognized as one of the pioneers
of mediation in Oregon. She draws on her background as a teacher,
trial attorney and consultant in cross-cultural conflict. Theresa
has successfully mediated a broad range of disputes, including
employment, business, land use, environmental, education, family
and health care issues. A major focus of her work involves mediating
workplace disputes, including discrimination and cross-cultural
issues. She also works with organizations in-house to improve
interpersonal communications and team relationships, to help
address conflicts at an organizational level, and to design systems
for managing conflicts. In addition, she designs and facilitates
community dialogues and collaborative processes for multi-party
public disputes. She especially enjoys working with issues of
trust and respect, and with parties who desire to enhance or
restore on-going working relationships.
Alanna
Hein has a consulting practice in Beaverton, Oregon, established
in 1991, which focuses on building high performing work teams,
planning for and managing change, facilitation skills and valuing
diversity. Her consulting clients have included: City, County
and Federal government agencies, private non-profit organizations,
and corporations of all sizes. Alanna taught graduate and undergraduate
courses in the business and management department for four years
at Marylhurst College. She has been a Director of Human Resources,
Senior Affirmative Action Officer for the State of Washington,
Employment Services Director for the YWCA, Community Advocate,
and Auditor. Her training and consulting are recognized as exceptionally
effective, and her jokes are almost always funny. 
Clifford
Jones, Senior Consultant, Technical Assistance for Community
Services: specializes in nonprofit consulting and training in
the areas of organizational development, facilitation, cross
cultural alliances, mediation and conflict resolution. Cliff
has over twenty years of experience in working with nonprofits
and has worked with hundreds of organizations. 
Stephen
Ruffo has been a negotiator and facilitator for over 20 years
and mediates disputes in Small Claims Court, Family Mediations,
Workplace Mediations, Music Industry Mediations, Construction
Mediations, and Peer Mediations involving kids in the middle
schools. He currently works for Bridgewaters and Confluence Center
for Mediation & Training in Oregon and Sound Options in Washington
as a mediation trainer, teaching Mediation and Negotiation skills
to lawyers, judges, and the private sector. Stephen is also involved
in the music industry and is the Executive Director of Bluegrass
at the Beach, a music camp on the Oregon coast.