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2008 Board of
Directors Candidates
For
President-Elect
Michael Aloi
- candidate statement
For Director-at-Large
Rachel Barbour - candidate statement
Connie Barnaba - candidate statement
Jeffrey Cohen - candidate statement
Cristina Franco - candidate statement
Barbara Johannessen - candidate statement
Perri Mayes - candidate statement
Kathy McCormick - candidate statement
For Sections Director
Russell Gerrard - candidate statement
Marya Kolman - candidate statement
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Candidate(s) for President-Elect |
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Michael Aloi
1.
President-Elect candidates, please state
why you are seeking that office?
My professional and
personal passion is peacemaking. I
believe that professional organizations
are essential to the promotion of the
field of conflict resolution and the
education and support of persons engaged
in the profession. Of the many
organizations that I belong to, ACR is
the one that I value most because of the
diversity of its members and the many
fields of conflict resolution that it
embraces.
2. What do you
see as the main issues and challenges
that ACR's Board and membership need to
address during the corning year (from
2008 Annual Conference to 2009 Annual
Conference) and beyond?
(a) Restoring and
maintaining fiscal responsibility;
(b) Continue to focus on
being a member-friendly organization;
(c) Expanding the
membership; and
(d) Seeking out
coalitions with other groups and
organizations to promote the work we do.
3. List the
skills and experience you would bring to
ACR's Board.
I am a collaborative
leader by nature and by choice and find
it to be the most effective way to lead.
My leadership experience is varied as
set forth in #4. I have served as
President of Rotary, a group of business
leaders in the community and I have
served as President of the United Way, a
group of social service agencies.
4. Describe your
leadership involvement, including dates
of service, first in ACR and then, if
relevant, in any of the founding
organizations (AFM, CREnet and SPIDR).
Spirituality Section
Co-Chair 2005-2007
ACR Board of Directors
2007-2010
ACR 2007 Conference
Tri-Chair (Phoenix)
5. Describe your
relevant leadership experience with
other nonprofit associations and
organizations, and in other spheres:
Past President West
Virginia State Bar (a mandatory bar of
4000 lawyers) 2002-2003
Past President United Way
of Marion County
Past President of Family
Services of Marion and Harrison County
Past President Marion
County Bar Association
Chairperson West Virginia
State Bar ADR Committee
Chairperson West Virginia
State Bar ADR Education Sub-Committee
Past President Action
Marion (leadership organization)
Past President South
Fairmont Rotary
6. Include any
other items you would like people to
know about you.
I am an adjunct professor
at West Virginia Wesleyan College MBA
program (Conflict Resolution in the
Workplace) and a Clinical Law adjunct
professor at the West Virginia
University College of Law. I have
trained over 2000 lawyers in West
Virginia in mediation and I have
presented nationally at conferences.
My work in conflict
resolution involves many diverse subject
matters, including commercial property,
employment, environmental and family
disputes which I believe is beneficial
experience in an organization as diverse
as ACR.
I was recognized as Pro
Bono Attorney of the Year by the
Appalachian Center for Law and Public
Service in 1997 and was recognized at
the West Virginia Trial Lawyers Member
of the Year in 2001. In April 2006, I
was honored as a Foundation Fellow of
the West Virginia State Bar Foundation.
I serve as an Arbitrator for the
American Arbitration Association (AAA),
and I have been selected for inclusion
in "The Best Lawyers in America" for ADR
2007 and is listed as one of only five
lawyers in the state of West Virginia as
a Super Lawyer in the field of ADR. I am
the only lawyer in West Virginia to be
Fellow of the College of Civil Trial
Mediators.
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Candidate(s) for Director-at-Large |
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Rachel
Barbour
1.
Please state why you are interested in
serving on the ACR Board.
As an
active member of the field, I am
committed to the success of ACR. ACR is
at a turning point in its history and I
can play a strong and positive role as
the organization matures into a stable,
healthy, nationally known, relevant
organization.
2.
What do you see as the main issues and
challenges that ACR’s Board and
membership need to address during the
coming year (from 2008 Annual Conference
to 2009 Annual Conference) and beyond?
Identifying new streams of funding.
ACR needs big money for the conference
in order to bring in bigger name
speakers. Bigger names will draw more
conference attendees, which will create
a richer, more diverse conference, as
well as generate more revenue. This
effort would also allow for expansion of
activities and programming that will
connect members and advance our field.
Membership retention and increasing
membership. ACR needs to rebuild
relationships with leaders in the field
who have left ACR and build new
relationships with leaders in the field
who are not members. Bringing in big
name members will help bring in other
members.
Recovering and stabilizing from the
disruption of staff turnover.
Supporting the Executive Director and
staff should be a priority as the
organization is rebuilt. A stable HQ
will make it easier to address other
pressing challenges.
Becoming relevant at a higher level,
beyond our own practice areas and beyond
the field. ACR should be a leader
in raising innovative ideas and
addressing cutting edge issues. ACR
should consistently reach out to policy
leaders as conference speakers and as
potential partners for programs with ACR
headquarters, sections and chapters. ACR
should also look to other fields that
can inform the work of members. By doing
so, ACR can help generate business
opportunities for its members. This will
influence funding—the higher level
involvement will make it easier to
promote ACR.
Identifying new connections among
practice areas and chapters to create
structures for collaboration.
Linkages can generate new ideas and new
ways of approaching conflict.
3. List the skills and experience you
would bring to ACR’s Board.
- I have
diverse international and domestic work
experience that helps me see connections
between seemingly disparate conflicts
and practice areas.
- I
think “outside the box” and am forward
thinking when approaching issues or
problems.
- I
bring an extensive network of
connections that have greatly
contributed to the success of ‘08
conference planning that can continue to
benefit ACR.
4.
Describe your leadership involvement,
including dates of service, first in ACR
and then, if relevant, in any of the
founding organizations (AFM, CREnet and
SPIDR).
-
Currently a tri-chair for 2008
Conference
- Member
since 2001; presented in 2001, 2002,
2004, 2005, 2007 (missed ’03 and ’06 b/c
of the birth of my children)
- Active
ODR Section member
5.
Describe your relevant leadership
experience with other nonprofit
associations and organizations, and in
other spheres.
-
Regularly advise President of
InternetBar.org, on the direction and
development of its core programming.
- I have
extensive project management experience
working in nonprofit world. I have:
-
Written many successful proposals
and marketing materials for wide
variety of clients for diversity
training and consulting firm.
-
Managed large, multiple grants for
two non profits.
6. Include any other items you would
like people to know about you.
I will
bring new energy, excitement and ideas
to the Board and am enthusiastic about
moving ACR to the next level in its
growth and maturity. I am also committed
to carrying the torch of those before me
on critical issues such as diversity and
inclusivity. I have a MS from the
Institute for Conflict Analysis and
Resolution, George Mason University and
a BA from Mount Holyoke College.
Candidate statements are provided by
the candidates and presented
verbatim and unedited.
Return to
Candidate List
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Connie
Barnaba
1.
Please state why you are interested in
serving on the ACR Board.
ACR is an
international organization comprised of
members who are diverse in terms of
their perspectives, methodologies,
tenure, priorities, and values. It is an
organization on the brink of exciting
changes and it will require effective
leadership to build consensus and to
address the needs of such a diverse
membership. With strong human resources
credentials and previous “hands-on
experience” in strategy development and
change management, I believe that I can
contribute in a meaningful way to moving
the organization forward in positive and
productive new directions.
2.
What do you see as the main issues and
challenges that ACR’s Board and
membership need to address during the
coming year (from 2008 Annual Conference
to 2009 Annual Conference) and beyond?
- I see
the main issues as:
-
Continuing to build involvement and
trust between the ACR and its Chapters
and members
-
Building consensus around organizational
change initiatives
-
Increasing membership
-
Stabilizing organizational finances
-
Creating increased public awareness
about the value of conflict resolution
and identifying opportunities for the
ACR and its Chapters to demonstrate the
value of peace-making in our families,
our workplaces, our communities, and our
world.
3.
List the skills and experience you would
bring to ACR’s Board.
-
Previous executive leadership
skills/experience
-
Customer relations management experience
in for profit and nonprofit
organizations
-
Strategy development and implementation
skills
- Change
management skills and experience
-
Consensus-building skills and experience
- Policy
development and implementation
- Strong
communication and training skills
4.
Describe your leadership involvement,
including dates of service, first in ACR
and then, if relevant, in any of the
founding organizations (AFM, CREnet and
SPIDR).
• ACR, 2003-present
Consumer Section, Election Chair,
2003-2004
• ACR, Houston
Regional Chapter
Houston, D&E Point Person, 2006
Houston,
President-Elect, 2007
Houston, President, 2008
5.
Describe your relevant leadership
experience with other nonprofit
associations and organizations, and in
other spheres.
• Ohio Education
Association
Executive Manager, Affiliate
Services, 1990-1994
Director, Bargaining and
Research, 1988-1990
Manager, Organizing and Bargaining,
1984-1988
Ohio Education Association,
Affirmative Action Officer,
1984-1994
• Michigan
Education Association
Leadership
Training and Development, 2007
Inclusion Strategy Development
and Implementation
• United Way of the
Texas Gulf Coast
Leadership
Training and Development, 2006
Core Values and Diversity and
Inclusion
• DeVry University
Leadership
Training and Development
Core Values and
Conflict Management
6.
Include any other items you would like
people to know about you.
My
qualifications include the following:
- BS,
Education, Clarion University
- MS,
Communication, University of Pittsburgh
- HR
Executive in a Fortune 500 company
- HR
Executive in a non-profit organization
-
Management Consultant, Diversity and
Inclusion Specialty
-
Certified Transformative Mediator, ISCT
-
Certified Family Mediator, WorkLife
Institute (Houston)
-
Certified Child Protective Services
Mediator, Harris County DRC
-
Certified Trainer, Managing Workplace
Conflict, Mediation Training
International
-
Certified Global Professional in Human
Resources, HRCI
-
Certified Senior Professional in Human
Resources, HRCI
Candidate statements are provided by
the candidates and presented
verbatim and unedited.
Return to
Candidate List |
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Jeffrey Cohen
1. Please state why you are interested
in serving on the ACR Board.
I am
committed not only to the practice of
mediation but also to the continuing
development of the field. In order for
mediation to be accepted as a separate
and distinct field, ACR must develop
both certification standards and more
stringent ethical standards than
presently exist.
2.
What do you see as the main issues and
challenges that ACR’s Board and
membership need to address during the
coming year (from 2008 Annual Conference
to 2009 Annual Conference) and beyond?
A
certification process for mediators and
a more stringent set of ethical
standards would bring more credibility
to our organization. Once completed, ACR
should aggressively promote itself
nationally to professions and
organizations that can use the skills of
our membership. I propose that, in
addition to other promotional methods,
ACR create an “Ambassadorship Program”,
where select ACR members give
presentations to groups and
organizations about ACR and the skills
provided by its membership. Increased
awareness will lead to the direct
benefit to our members in the form of
increased referrals. The value added to
members will only help to increase
membership in our organization.
3.
List the skills and experience you would
bring to ACR’s Board:
Although I
have been an attorney in good standing
with The State of New York since 1984, I
have been engaged in a practice
concentrating in mediating divorce,
commercial and workplace disputes since
1992. In addition, I have an extensive
background in the negotiation of complex
commercial contracts. Being a bit of an
entrepreneur, I am currently a co-owner
of two additional businesses.
I am also
currently serving on The ACR Insurance
Committee, whose goal is to provide ACR
members with malpractice insurance
coverage that is tailored specifically
to mediators. I am also serving on The
ACR Certification Task Force. This group
is developing certification standards
for our membership and the testing
procedures necessary to obtain a
certification.
4.
Describe your leadership involvement,
including dates of service, first in ACR
and then, if relevant, in any of the
founding organizations (AFM, CREnet and
SPIDR).
- May,
2007 to Present: Member of ACR Insurance
Committee
- October, 2007 to Present: Member
of ACR Certification Task Force
-
“Advanced Practitioner” of ACR since its
inception.
-
Former “Practitioner-Member of The
Academy of Family Mediators.
5.
Describe your relevant leadership
experience with other nonprofit
associations and organizations, and in
other spheres.
-
1998-1999: Board Member of Family and
Childrens Services, Inc. in Albany, New
York, a community organization committed
to the wellbeing of families.
-
1990 – Present: Founder and presenter of
“Kids First After Divorce”, a New York
State Certified Parent Education Program
for parents experiencing divorce.
-
1992 – Present: Taught various
Continuing Legal Education Courses
regarding mediation and mediation
ethics. Also a frequent lecturer on
these topics to organizations and
educational institutions.
6.
Include any other items you would like
people to know about you.
I am
motivated to “raise the bar” on our
profession. I am willing and able to
travel as often as is necessary to
perform my duties as a board member.
Candidate statements are provided by
the candidates and presented
verbatim and unedited.
Return to
Candidate List
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Cristina Franco
1.
Please state why you are interested in
serving on the ACR Board.
Several
reasons including, I like the
Association, its prestige, what it
stands for, its mission and practices;
like the ADR profession and its
ramifications: mediation,
transformative, directive, arbitration,
community, and so forth; like the people
associated with ACR in most professional
fields and including our International
group. Altogether, by being on the Board
of Directors, one has the opportunity to
contribute and help to shape the future
of our profession - by shaping the
future of the Association.
2.
What do you see as the main issues and
challenges that ACR’s Board and
membership need to address during the
coming year (from 2008 Annual Conference
to 2009 Annual Conference) and beyond?
- Growth
and financial stability, by attracting
more members, including organizational
affiliates.
-
Globalization. Would like to see ACR
International as a household word and
recognized by multinational
organizations, as the ‘Peace Corps’ or
the ‘World Bank’
- Public
Education and public outreach to make
mediation and ADR the first method and
response to any conflict.
- To
work together with ABA Conflict
Resolution Section to widen the
acceptance of mediators and other
practitioners who are not lawyers.
- Search
and find a major sponsor who will be
interested in financing a ‘major’
marketing campaign to help implement all
of the above.
-
* Former Director of the Commission on
Interpreters, Supreme Court. Recruited,
trained and registered over 700
interpreters in 16+ languages to serve
the Court system in Georgia.
-
* Chair of the Compaņeros Campaign of
LatinAmerican Association, 2007, met
funds collecting goal of $275,000 within
one year.
-
* Board member of the Georgia Hispanic
Chamber of Commerce. In 2005 received
their Special Recognition Award for my
work with the community.
- *
Active member of the Board of Kennesaw
State University, Center for Hispanic
Studies; and member of the Advisory
Board on Conflict Resolution.
-
* Member of the Board of the US
Foundation for the University del Valle,
Guatemala.
- *
Member of the Board of Harris County
Chamber of Commerce
3. List the skills and experience you
would bring to ACR’s Board.
Several
years as Board member of various for
profit, and non-for profit
organizations.
Understand
what it takes to attract and keep
diverse membership, maintain interest
and develop activities.
Have
served the International Section in
leadership roles for several years. Also
a member of other Sections.
4. Describe your leadership involvement,
including dates of service, first in ACR
and then, if relevant, in any of the
founding organizations (AFM, CREnet and
SPIDR).
Present:
- Chair,
International Section, and
- Chair,
ACR-GA Chapter
- Member
of the Conference Planning Committee
(past 3 years)
- Lead
and actively participated in the
Interpreter’s Program for the ACR Annual
-
Conference during the past 4 years)
- Member
of the Task Force on Public Education,
2006-07
- Point
Person for the D&E Committee, last 2
years
- Instrumental in obtaining the venue
for 2009 ACR Annual Conference in
Atlanta
5.
Describe your relevant leadership
experience with other nonprofit
associations and organizations, and in
other spheres.
* Former
Director of the Commission on
Interpreters, Supreme Court. Recruited,
trained and registered over 700
interpreters in 16+ languages to serve
the Court system in Georgia.
* Chair of
the Compaņeros Campaign of LatinAmerican
Association, 2007, met funds collecting
goal of $275,000 within one year.
* Board
member of the Georgia Hispanic Chamber
of Commerce. In 2005 received their
Special Recognition Award for my work
with the community.
* Active
member of the Board of Kennesaw State
University, Center for Hispanic Studies;
and member of the Advisory Board on
Conflict Resolution.
* Member
of the Board of the US Foundation for
the University del Valle, Guatemala.
* Member
of the Board of Harris County Chamber of
Commerce
6.
Include any other items you would like
people to know about you.
Bilingual
English/Spanish and offer my translation
services to the International Section
and web site to keep the Spanish
speaking members, from the US and abroad
well informed. Have been an active
member of the International Section and
helped in the development of the Spanish
Track, the International Day, the
Interpreter’s Program, the Regional
Networks, and the e-Membership, among
others.
Candidate statements are provided by
the candidates and presented
verbatim and unedited.
Return to
Candidate List |
Barbara Johannessen
1.
Please state why you are
interested in serving on the ACR
Board.
I
have always believed that
“giving back” is important
generally and within one’s
profession. I am interested in
serving on the ACR Board as a
means of “giving back” to the
organization that has served me
so well. Membership in ACR has
been invaluable to me as a
provider of conflict resolution
services both in terms of
professional networking and
professional development.
2. What do you see as the main
issues and challenges that ACR’s
Board and membership need to
address during the coming year
(from 2008 Annual Conference to
2009 Annual Conference) and
beyond?
With the increase in
participation/enrollment in the
DR Section of the ABA, the IACP,
and the ISCT, I believe it will
be incumbent on the ACR Board to
ensure that ACR remains relevant
for and provides value to its
members. The ACR Board must
continue to represent the
interests of professionals
serving not only a broad array
of conflict types (family,
commercial, relational,
inter-organizational, etc.)
within a broad array of
environments (families, schools,
workplaces, courts, etc.) but
also a broad array of conflict
“engagement” processes
(mediation, arbitration,
coaching, facilitation,
evaluation, assessment, design,
etc.) The ACR Board should work
to be collaborative with other
professional groups, and not
isolationist, so that we may all
share in the collective wisdom
of our common commitment to
party self-determination and
constructive engagement in
conflict. I want ACR to remain a
viable, relevant organization to
which I can refer both lawyers
and non-lawyers that I train in
mediation.
3. List the skills and
experience you would bring to
ACR’s Board.
I
bring to the ACR Board my
experience and skills in leading
local and statewide ADR
organizations where I have been
responsible for working
collaboratively with diverse
personalities and interests. I
also bring experience with
strategic planning processes to
ensure that the valuable but
limited resources of ACR’s paid
staff and unpaid resources are
efficiently and effectively
utilized to serve the needs of
the organization and its
members.
4. Describe your leadership
involvement, including dates of
service, first in ACR and then,
if relevant, in any of the
founding organizations (AFM,
CREnet and SPIDR).
I
served on the Board of Directors
of the Southeast Michigan
Chapter of ACR for two years.
5. Describe your relevant
leadership experience with other
nonprofit associations and
organizations, and in other
spheres.
-
I
was a founding member of the ADR
Committee within my local bar
association in 1995, served as
the Chair-elect and Chair in the
1997-1999 fiscal years
respectively, and continue to be
active in the
Committee. Additionally, I have
assisted with the formation of
other county bar association’s
ADR Committees or Sections.
-
I have served on the ADR Section
Council of the State Bar of
Michigan since 2000 including 5
years on the Executive Committee
of which 3 years were as
Chair-Elect, Chair, and
Immediate Past-Chair. I will
conclude this service in
September 2008.
-
I
have served on the Advisory
Committee of a local Community
Dispute Resolution Center and
continue to serve as a part of
the mediation training team for
one CDRC. I serve as a member of
the Quality Assurance teams for
two local CDRCs providing
periodic supervision of Center
mediators.
-
I
have served for two years on the
Board of Directors of the
Southeast Michigan Chapter of
ACR.
6.
Include any other items you
would like people to know about
you.
I
amapproved by the Michigan State
Court Administrative Office to
provide the 40-hour general
civil mediation training and I
serve as a SCAO approved
assistant trainer for the
40-hour domestic relations
mediation training offered to
individuals seeking placement on
Michigan court rosters.
Candidate statements are provided by
the candidates and presented
verbatim and unedited.
Return to
Candidate List
|
Perri
Mayes
1. Please state why you are
interested in serving on the ACR
Board.
I will use
my expertise to focus on the management
aspects of ACR to help it become a
stronger organization that is responsive
to the needs of its members while
promoting the use of peaceful conflict
resolution practices worldwide. My
collaborative leadership style, combined
with my commitment to work hard, will
make me an effective member of the
Board.
2. What do you see as the main issues
and challenges that ACR’s Board and
membership need to address during the
coming year (from 2008 Annual Conference
to 2009 Annual Conference) and beyond?
~
Increased responsibility in meeting
needs of all members
~
Increased responsiveness to needs of
members
~
Strengthening the value of membership
~
Strengthening the administrative
infrastructure
~
Increased financial stability
3. List the skills and experience you
would bring to ACR’s Board.
As a
consultant I provided conference
management services for the 2007 ACR
Annual Conference, with oversight of all
aspects of conference planning. As a
result, I was in a unique capacity to
gain first-hand knowledge and experience
with the inner workings of the
organization. I also worked on behalf of
ACR with various outside entities. For
the last two and a half years in
particular, I’ve worked closely with
members, including board members,
section and chapter leaders, and with
staff.
My
involvement as a member, volunteer
leader, and consultant allows me to have
a broad understanding of many of the
organizational successes and
challenges. Additionally, my work as a
mediator and administrator in a variety
of settings including family and
juvenile court, workplace, community,
and peer mediation in schools, also
gives me a wide perspective on practice
related issues.
4. Describe your leadership involvement,
including dates of service, first in ACR
and then, if relevant, in any of the
founding organizations (AFM, CREnet and
SPIDR).
ACR Annual
Conference – Tri-chair 2006; Committee
Member 2005, 2008; Presenter 2001,
2005.
ACR Silent
Auction Fundraising Event – Coordinator
2006, 2008.
AFM
Legislative Committee – Member 2000.
AFM Public
Education Committee – Member 1997.
5. Describe your relevant leadership
experience with other nonprofit
associations and organizations, and in
other spheres.
Collaborative Family Law Council of
Wisconsin – Executive Director 2008.
Wisconsin
Association of Mediators – President
1999 to 2001; Board of Directors 1996 to
2004;
Co-editor,
The Mediation Journal 2004 to
2008; Co-chair, Annual Conference 2002
to 2004.
Future
Milwaukee – Board of Directors 1999 to
2000.
6. Include any other items you would
like people to know about you.
I’m a
conflict resolution professional in
private practice in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin. I also teach mediation at
the University of
Wisconsin-Milwaukee. I’m a graduate of
the non-profit leadership development
program Future Milwaukee. I hold a B.A.
in Psychology from Washington University
in St. Louis and a J.D. from Drake
University Law School.
I would
welcome the opportunity to serve ACR
members and help strengthen the
organization as a member of its Board of
Directors.
|
Kathy
McCormick
1. Please state why you are
interested in serving on the
ACR Board.
I
have been involved with ACR
since its inception and prior to
that, with SPIDR. I would like
to be more involved with the
organization that sets the
standards for ADR nationally and
internationally.
2. What do you see as the main
issues and challenges that ACR’s
Board and membership need to
address during the coming year
(from 2008 Annual Conference to
2009 Annual Conference) and
beyond?
In
my opinion, ACR has started this
process with the surveys the
members were asked to
complete. As a member, I
completed the survey. Now, the
Board’s job is to listen to the
members and plan accordingly.
3.
List the skills and experience
you would bring to ACR’s Board.
I
have fifteen years experience as
a mediator and trainer. So, I
believe I am a peacemaker and
collaborator. Consequently, one
of the most important skills I
bring to the Board is the
willingness to listen.
I
helped plan the ACR National
Conference in Phoenix, a good
example of my organizational
skills. As one of the tri-chairs
for that conference, I believe I
was able to be part of a
successful team including Crevon
Terrance and Michael Aloy.
I
was instrumental in starting the
Arizona Chapter of ACR and
served as its first President. I
believe I showed, when needed, I
could be a good leader.
4. Describe your leadership
involvement, including dates of
service, first in ACR and then,
if relevant, in any of the
founding organizations (AFM,
CREnet and SPIDR).
2008: member of the Silent
Auction Committee for the Austin
Conference
2007: tri-chair to the 2007
conference in Phoenix
2006: member of the planning
committee for the Philadelphia
Conference
2004: Founding President of
the Arizona ACR Chapter
1997 – 2008: ACR/SPIDR member
5. Describe your relevant
leadership experience with other
nonprofit associations and
organizations, and in other
spheres.
I
am a member of the Arizona
Chapter of ACR, AFCC and a Board
Member of its Arizona
Chapter. In addition, I am a
member of the Yavapai County
Community Mediation Center.
6. Include any other items you
would like people to know about
you.
I
would look forward to serving
the ACR membership.
Candidate statements are provided by
the candidates and presented
verbatim and unedited.
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Candidate(s) for Sections Director |
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Russell Gerrard
1.
Please state why you are interested in
serving on the ACR Board.
ACR has
been my touch stone throughout my
professional and academic development in
the field of conflict resolution. ACR
has provided me with everything that I
needed to establish myself within the
field and I want to contribute back to
this organization. I hope that others in
this field can benefit from the
experiences that I have had.
2. What do you see as the main issues
and challenges that ACR’s Board and
membership need to address during the
coming year (from 2008 Annual Conference
to 2009 Annual Conference) and beyond?
Developing
highly energetic leaders to “sell” the
organization to current members,
potential members, and the general
public.
3. List the skills and experience you
would bring to ACR’s Board.
As
the Sections Director, I will bring my
knowledge of the latest technology to
increase communication between ACR and its
sections. I will help assess and respond to
the needs of the ACR section members. I will
help sections collaborate to implement
activities and ideas that have been, or can
be, successful.
My sales
background will help sections market
themselves and provide needed member
benefits to improve members’ skills. I
can help sections become credible
sources to which the public can look for
conflict resolution professionals.
I can
quickly identify the value systems of
others. I can adapt quickly to
collaborate with persons of differing
value systems in group decision-making.
I will
bring positive energy to continue
re-branding ACR. I will represent
section members’ interests and will
apprise them of the decision-making
processes of the ACR leaders.
4. Describe your leadership involvement,
including dates of service, first in ACR
and then, if relevant, in any of the
founding organizations (AFM, CREnet and
SPIDR).
- Member,
ACR Legislative and Public Policy
Committee (2005-2007)
-
Chair-Elect, Family Section Advisory
Council (2006-2007)
- Chair,
Family Section Advisory Council
(2007-2008)
-
Co-Chair, 2008 Family Section Conference
Committee
As Family
Section Chair:
-
Implemented teleseminar series
-
Developed new section website
- Reversed
years-long trend of decreasing
membership
5. Describe your relevant leadership
experience with other nonprofit
associations and organizations, and in
other spheres.
- 12 years
of sales management experience
- Senate
Vice President, Associated Students of
the University of Utah
- Senate
President, Utah Intercollegiate Assembly
- Founder,
Gerrard Mediation
-
Co-founder, Conflict Resolution
Technologies, Inc. (a mediation
technology firm developing tools to help
practitioners and educators manage their
activities and practices)
6. Include any other items you would
like people to know about you.
I recently
completed my master’s studies in the
Conflict Analysis and Resolution program
of Nova Southeastern University.
I
graduated Suma Cum Laude from the
University of Utah with undergraduate
degrees in Communication and in
Political Science.
Candidate statements are provided by
the candidates and presented
verbatim and unedited.
Return to
Candidate List |
Marya Kolman
1. Please state why you are
interested in serving on the
ACR Board.
I
would like to serve ACR and the
sections as the Sections
Director. I believe that my
experience working with all the
sections and as a member of
section leadership will make me
a knowledgeable and valuable
Sections Director.
2.
What do you see as the main
issues and challenges that ACR’s
Board and membership need to
address during the coming year
(from 2008 Annual Conference to
2009 Annual Conference) and
beyond?
1. Increasing collaboration
among the sections and between
the sections and the staff
2. Retaining current members and
attracting new members by
providing resources that make
organizational and section
membership more relevant and
professionally rewarding
3. Making ACR more inviting to a
diverse group of practitioners
and different forms of practice
4. Improving ACR’s financial
position
3.
List the skills and experience
you would bring to ACR’s Board.
For the past three years, I have
worked closely with all of the
ACR sections in their selection
of workshops and planning of
section events, meetings and
special programs for the ACR
annual conference. This
experience gave me the
opportunity to interact
extensively and develop a
positive working relationship
with section leadership and to
learn about the culture and
interests of each section.
I
have also served as a member of
the Family Section Advisory
Council and was a member of the
Conference Planning Committee
for the Section’s 2006
conference. Through my
participation in section
leadership, I have gained first
hand knowledge of both the
challenges sections confront and
the benefits and opportunities
that sections can provide to
their members.
4. Describe your
leadership involvement,
including dates of service,
first in ACR and then, if
relevant, in any of the founding
organizations (AFM, CREnet and
SPIDR).
ACR Family Section
Advisory Council (2002 – 2005)
Conference Committee (2006)
Ethics Committee Co-chair (2002
– 2004)
Diversity & Equity Point Person
(2002 – 2005)
ACR Annual Conference
Tri-chair (2005 and 2006)
Consultant (2007)
Planning Committee Member (2003)
ACR Diversity & Equity Network
Planning Committee (2002)
AFM Diversity Committee Member
(1999 – 2000)
5. Describe your
relevant leadership experience
with other nonprofit
associations and organizations,
and in other spheres.
Task Force Member of the
Columbus Coalition Against
Family Violence (2001- present)
Chair of the ADR Subcommittee of
the Family Law Section of the
Ohio State Bar Association (2003
– 2006)
6.
Include any other items you
would like people to know about
you.
I
have been the Director of
Mediation Programs for the
Domestic Relations and Juvenile
Court in Columbus, Ohio since
1999. Prior to assuming the
Court position, I had a private
mediation practice. I have a
B.A. degree in Social Work from
the Pennsylvania State
University and a J.D. degree
from Yale Law School. I am an
adjunct instructor at the Moritz
College of Law at the Ohio State
University and a frequent
lecturer, trainer and conference
presenter on mediation and other
ADR topics.
Candidate statements are provided by
the candidates and presented
verbatim and unedited.
Return to
Candidate List |
How Do I Vote?
Online voting in ACR’s 2008 Board of
Directors election opened at
9:00 am (ET) on Sunday, August 10, 2008.
Voting will be open until 5:00 pm (ET), September 9, 2008.
All eligible voters have been notified by
email and directed to vote at
https://eballot3.votenet.com/acr.
Each voter
will need his/her username and password
to log on.
The deadline for voting online is 5:00 pm (ET), September 9, 2008.
Click Here to Vote Now.
You must enter your
ACR Login ID and Password to access the ballot. If
you have forgotten your password, you can send
yourself an email reminder from the
Member Center
login page.
Once you
click on the green VOTE button, you will not
be able to vote online again.
If you have questions about online voting,
please contact ACR at
membership@acrnet.org.
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Candidate List |
|
Am I Eligible to
Vote?
An ACR
member who is in good standing as of August 10, 2008 at any of the following member levels is eligible to
vote for President-Elect and Directors-at-Large in the 2008 Board elections:
-
Member
-
Advanced Practitioner (AP)
-
Practitioner/Educator/Research (PER)
-
Organizational Affiliate (Primary Contact
Only)
-
Student
-
Retiree
What about Sections Director?
An ACR member who is in
good standing as of August 10, 2008 at any of the above mentioned member levels and is a member of at least
one Section is eligible to vote for Sections Director.
Return to
Candidate List |
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