I graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1989 with a double major in Management and Marketing and from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1992. While in Pittsburgh, I worked for Goldberg, Persky, Jennings & White from 1992 to 1993, focusing on Asbestos Litigation and Workers’ Compensation cases. In 1994, I joined Legal Aid in Missouri as part of their Americorp Project, where I helped develop and establish family mediation programs for child custody and visitation disputes for Legal Aid of Western Missouri. My duties there were to conduct training programs for community groups and students in peer mediation. I also represented victims of domestic violence in dissolutions and protection order hearings.

I moved back to Cincinnati in 1996 to work for Hammond & Associates, establishing a practice in criminal, juvenile, and family law. From 1997 to 1999, I worked in the Guardian ad Litem Division of the Hamilton County Public Defender’s Office representing children of abuse and neglect. In May, 1997 I started my solo practice in Montgomery, Ohio focusing mainly on family and juvenile law and have continued practicing in these areas for almost twenty years. I am currently licensed to practice law in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Missouri.

Mediation Training and Experience

I have been mediating since 1994 when I joined Americorp in Kansas City, Missouri.  Our project was focused on designing and implementing a mediation program for the Kansas City Domestic Relations Courts.  In addition, our mission was to educate the community about mediation and to train community groups and junior high students in mediation skills.  My term with Americorp was for two years.  In 1996, after leaving Americorp, I started my own mediation practice and continue to train others and receive as much training as I can myself in the area of conflict resolution and more specifically mediation.

Currently Mediating for:

• Key Bridge Foundation (ADA)
• Juvenile Court (visitation, abuse, neglect, & dependency) (Hamilton County, Cincinnati, Ohio)
• U.S. Postal Service (Redress Program)
• CAP RV program through DeMars & Associates
• Common Pleas Court (Hamilton County, Cincinnati, Ohio)
• Private mediations (in-house) small business and custody, visitation mediations