In March of 2007, like a lot of Americans, I became unemployed. At 55, a 4 year degree would not get me back to work, NOW. So with a short evaluation of turning lemons to lemonade, to a profitable lemonade stand, I choose Alternative Dispute Resolution through Mediators without Borders on-line classes.
I already had 20 years experience as a successful Financial Counselor, 10 years as a Credit Manager for a multimillion dollar company, and had seen the need for mediation between the creditor and debtor. My first consideration of mediation was to improve my own communication and negotiating skills. My first idea was an independent mediation practice in loan modification.
I approached a local credit union with the idea of mediation between their collection efforts and legal action. My presentation was well received and I was placed on retainer. After 60 days, average saving for the credit union amounts to over $5,000 in fee’s per month, a 50% increase in members making payments listed as write offs, and with an average of 80 referrals per month.
The one certificate that impressed me more than I thought it would is the Family and Divorce Certificate.This class opened my eyes to the fact that debt is both a cause and result of divorce.Working as a creditor in the middle of this conflict, the need to have a house payment made, can out weight the court’s decision in a property settlement.If the wife and children get the house in a settlement, and the husband skips out on the debt, they all lose. As a creditor, I have had to come up with very creative ways to receive the payments and then submit them to court, yet not change the obligation to the debt on the contract.Anyway, I wanted to let you know I have learned a lot and will continue to improve my skills and education in mediation. I only wish this was a required course for debt collectors everywhere, more today than ever before.
R.Tallada, MwB Mediator and ADR Specialist
Robert launched his new business within days of completing the first MwB Mediation course. He successfully completed the three-course ADR Specialist Program and continues his work as a mediator in the Rocky Mountains.
See what the world is saying about our Mediator and Arbitrator training
I found this Mediator Certification training very helpful, very rewarding and it provided new insights and important skills. The methods are excellent; interactive, hands on training. The blend of theory, principles and practice (simulation) is perfect.
Shauna did magnificently; excellent job. Her presentation, interaction, timing, the way she transmits knowledge mixed with experiences of her own and others was really wonderful. Her sensitivity to every trainee was amazing.
~Tamarat Layne, Former Prime Minister, Ethiopia
This Immersion Mediator Certification Course was fabulous. It was practical, grounded and got very deep in terms of the places we all went and new perspective learned. This is exactly what I was looking for to give me the broader view and specific skills I needed to move forward as a mediator. I am a lawyer and have had training before, but this training is immediately useful and expansive.
Shauna’s knowledge and experience in this field is very deep, solid and accessible. It is obvious to me that Shauna lives what she teaches. Shauna was very organized and allowed us to flow the way we needed. I always felt like we all had enough time to learn what we needed. She is very gifted at communicating the various styles of mediation
~Judy Knight, JD 7/22/10
Excellent connection between Shauna and participants. I played disputant and observer at different times; each role went a long way to aid my learning and ability as a mediator. It was helpful to simulate the Nigerian Sao Tome & Principe Joint Development Authority and getting participants physically involved in the role play.
~Samuel Dimka, Nigeria
Shauna has a wealth of experience, information and tremendous insight on human behavior and feeling. Her compassion and connection with each of us was an unexpected and rich surprise. Both the presentation and interaction were excellent. Shauna enabled us to feel as the co-creators of the training, which is, in my opinion, the highest of educational skills.
I found the balance between the information and the integration of the information (role playing, discussions) the most helpful aspect of the training. Another aspect I’ve particularly appreciated is receiving part of the material at each different step. It motivated me to be very curious and trying to match all the pieces was very exciting to me.
I would love to continue the dialogue with Mediators without Borders in the perspective of developing some educational program in the framework of the organization I have founded in Geneva, Switzerland; Building Healthy Communities.