Staff of Mediators and Trainers
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		John W. Heister, Ph. D. Director, Mediation Center of Rochester B.A. - Syracuse University M.Div. - Yale University Divinity School Ph.D. - Syracuse University (Maxwell Graduate School of Citizenship and Public Affairs) Since completing his training in mediation with O.J. Coogler and John M. Haynes in 1981, Dr. Heister has directed the Mediation Center of Rochester to its current pre-eminent position as one of the largest private practice mediation centers in the nation. In 1983, he became the founding president of the New York State Council on Divorce Mediation. In addition to directing the Center and mediating both institutional and family disputes, Dr. Heister founded the Upstate New York Mediation Training Institute in 1984. He is an approved trainer for the Academy of Family Mediators. (Most of the practicing family mediators between Albany and Buffalo have been trained by him.) In recent years, Dr. Heister's consultation and training work has expanded to include the special needs of conflict management in organizations. He now conducts workshops in conflict management, trains mediators for institutional dispute resolution, and provides consultation in conflict management systems design. In addition, Dr. Heister gives workshops around the country in marketing mediation and on other issues related to the profession.
		Bobbie L. Dillon Mediator A.A.S. Business Administration, Finger Lakes Community College B.A. Communication/Journalism, summa cum laude, St. John Fisher College Graduate-Level Course Work – Roberts Wesleyan College Master of Social Work Program, St. John Fisher College Master of Science in Human Service Administration Program Bobbie L. Dillon has more than a decade of communications experience, working in the for-profit and not-for-profit sector. Her experience includes facilitating groups to reach consensus on topics as far reaching as organizational mission, identity and mergers. Bobbie received her mediation training at the Upstate New York Mediation Training Institute. She is an Advanced Practitioner Member of the Association for Conflict Resolution and an Accredited Member of the New York State Council on Divorce Mediation.  She is the past Secretary and current President of the Rochester Association of Family Mediators. A child of divorce who grew up in a happily blended family, Bobbie believes that divorce can be accomplished in a way that allows everyone, including children, to continue to prosper and grow. “By working together through an emotionally painful experience, spouses can continue to be partners in parenting as they begin living separate lives,” says Bobbie.
		Elizabeth H. Marvald, J.D., L.L.M. Mediator B.A. - Houghton College J.D. - State University of New York at Buffalo, College of Law LL.M. - New York University A practicing attorney, Elizabeth "Lisa" Marvald has chosen to expand her interests and energies into the field of mediation. She has worked in both New York City and Rochester since 1988. Through her experience as an associate in a large New York law firm, an Estate Tax Attorney with the Internal Revenue Service, and currently as a sole practitioner with an emphasis on family law, Ms. Marvald observed an adversarial legal process that is expensive, time-consuming and often non-productive. She concluded that there must be a more effective method of resolving disputes. Ms. Marvald completed training in divorce mediation at the Upstate New York Mediation Training Institute. Her advanced degree in tax law gives her an important expertise to contribute to the Center in helping both business as well as family clients. Ms. Marvald's legal practice includes family law, estate planning and administration, and federal and state taxation. She practices before the New York State Supreme Court, Fourth Department, The United States District Court for the Western District of New York, and the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of New York and is a member of the Monroe County Bar Association.
		The Rev. Dr. Richard W. Harrington Conflict Management Consultant and Mediator B.S. Ed., - Mansfield State University M. Div., - Duke University D. Min., - Drew University Dick Harrington concentrates on mediation and consultation in congregations, as well as teaching the understanding and resolution of conflict. . An ordained minister in the United Methodist Church, he has served as pastor in churches throughout Western New York. In addition, from 1974-80, he directed the work of the Rochester, New York District of his denomination as District Superintendent. In the mid-sixties, he worked on a special assignment with the People To People program of the U.S. State Department. He and his family lived in Cairo, Egypt, while he administered the exchange of farm leaders between the United States and Egypt, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. Dick has had significant responsibility both at the national level of the United Methodist Church and ecumenically. Following union between the Methodist and Evangelical United Breathren denominations, he chaired the denomination’s Study Committee which formulated its theological statement on Ministry; and later, its committee to draft a new statement on Mission. In 1984, he was one of the fifty Methodist scholars invited to deliver a paper for the 200th Anniversary Celebration of Methodism in America. His paper was entitled, Methodism as a Lay Movement - Myth and Reality. He served on the Faith and Order Commission, acting as secretary to its Committee on Ministry. He is author of the study program, Jesus Was a Layman Too! Since retirement from active ministry, Dick has received training at the Upstate Mediation Training Institute. His significant involvement in congregational life at all levels has shown him how important it is even for church people, to have a healthy understanding of conflict and have the skills to resolve it when it comes.
		Jeanne G. Carlivati Peaceable Schools Consultant B.A. - Ohio State MA, M.S. - SUNY Brockport An educator for 25-years, Jeanne Carlivati has worked as an elementary teacher and a school counselor at the middle school, high school and alternative school settings. For the past eight years she has coordinated the peer mediation program at Monroe Middle School and has met with representatives from many other schools and districts to help with setting up similar programs. In addition, she has worked, along with other colleagues, to institute a variety of programs that teach conflict resolution skills to both students and staff. She also has served as a member on the School Based Planning Team in her building for 6-years, including two as its chairperson. In 1996 she received the Rochester City School District Award for TEACHER OF THE YEAR, for which she is very proud. The fact that she is the only counselor to ever receive this award made it even more meaningful. Jeanne also serves as a Grief Resource Specialist for the City School District and has been called into help during times of emergencies. As a counselor, she has run many groups throughout the years for students and even for parents. Currently, she is very involved in a pregnancy prevention program, which seems to be showing promising results. While she has had a variety of experiences throughout the years, middle school is where she wants to stay. Working with students in this age group is challenging but never boring. When not in school, Jeanne enjoys cooking, gardening, reading and traveling with her husband. They have a grown son who currently lives in California.
		Raeleen M. Balta Peaceable Schools Consultant B.S. - Elmira College M. Ed -Counseling - University of New Hampshire Raeleen has worked as a family therapist and a school counselor in elementary, middle, and alternative schools for over 14 years. Over the past 11 years she has been a school counselor at Monroe Middle School. She, along with other colleagues have been instrumental in implementing a wide-ranging Peaceable Schools program at Monroe Middle School. She has assisted in coordinating the Student Court and Peer Mediation Programs. As a member of the School Climate Committee, a sub-committee of the School-Based-Planning Team, she has been directly involved in developing and instituting a significant number of programs promoting the Peaceable School concept. Other areas of expertise include serving as a Grief Resource Specialist for the Rochester City School District and mentor for first year school counselors. In addition, to facilitating many student groups, she, along with a colleague, initiated a successful pregnancy education and prevention program. Working with middle school students consistently brings her new and rewarding challenges. In addition, Raeleen has received training in negotiation, mediation, and conflict resolution skills at the Mediation Center of Rochester. She sees her affiliation with the Center as a way to further enhance her opportunities to share her skills with others in school settings. When not at school, Raeleen enjoys her husband, Jeff, and son, Nicholas both at home and during summers at their cottage on Keuka Lake. Other interests include gardening, needlework, and aerobics.
		James L. Murphy Mediator B.S. Psychology, SUNY Brockport Columbia University Institute for Non-Profit Management Executive Leadership course graduate Currently working towards an MBA, Ashworth College Jim has over a quarter of a century experience working with and for children, youth and families in a variety of both residential and non-residential settings. He has worked as a nationwide Independent Consultant for the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) and WB Kearney & Associates (Atlanta, GA), as well as for the Council on Accreditation (COA). Jim is also an Endorser for both the NYS School Age Care (SAC) Credential and the National AfterSchool Association (NAA) Accreditation systems. Jim has also served on numerous National Advisory and Best Practices Committees for the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA). It is the above extensive involvement with and for the needs of children and families that has motivated Jim to become involved in mediating couples in divorce. He received his mediation training at the Upstate New York Mediation Training Institute and is a member of the Rochester Association of Family Mediators, the New York State Council on Divorce Mediation, and the Association for Conflict Resolution. Jim is also the CEO and co-founder of J&L Business Solutions, llc which provides not-for-profit and for-profit agencies and small businesses with a variety of business solutions to help them serve others better. As a trained mediator, he employs these cooperative skills in his work with agencies around the nation.

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