| Ron
Ludwig, BA 
Executive Director (full time)
• received his Bachelor’s degree
in History from the University of Colorado at Denver
• completed a leadership training program with Center
for Creative Leadership in Colorado Springs
• gained teaching and training experience through instructing
a class on Non-profit Management and Accounting at Metro State
College of Denver
• performed trainings in non-profit accounting for various
leadership programs
• has received training and attended conferences on Social
Norming
• Presented on The Conflict Center’s Social Norms
Anti-Bullying Campaign at the Colorado Council of Mediators
2006 Fall Conference
• has provided accounting and business management services
to both small business and non-profits since 1980
• served on the board of low income housing development
and several non-profits and church organizations
• demonstrated cultural competency and has worked with
diverse populations
• trained in restorative justice in schools
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Ronnie
Weiss, MSW
Manager of Resource Development (part time)
• received a Master’s degree in
Social Work from the University of Maryland
• has extensive experience in the non-profit arena that
includes working for the United Way of Central Maryland and
acting as director of the Gateway Battered Women’s Shelter
in Colorado
• has held a number of leadership positions, including
acting as co-chair of the Colorado Domestic Violence Coalition
• helped pass Colorado legislation to set up a system
for perpetrator treatment standards
• has 24 years of grant writing experience
• demonstrated cultural competency and has worked with
diverse populations
• trained in restorative justice in schools
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Pearl
Bell, MA MA
Manager of Operations and Administration(full time)
• received Master’s degrees in Conflict Resolution
and International Studies from the University of Denver in
2005
• received Alternative Dispute Resolution certificate
from University of Denver’s University College in 2004
• participated in the Restorative Justice in Schools
training
• has participated in numerous conferences around dialogue
and has conducted dialogue groups
• chaired the planning committee for the 2006 Colorado
Council of Mediators (CCMO) Fall Conference and continues
to serve on the CCMO Board
• experienced in group facilitation
• experienced in organizational development as
a co-founder for the Society for Conflict Resolution at
the
University of Denver
• managed small business computer servers for several
organizations
• conducted extensive research on Transformative Mediation
and Tolerance for her Master’s thesis
• demonstrated cultural competency and has worked with
diverse populations
• trained in restorative justice in schools
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Maria
Zayas
Administrative Assistant (full time)
• has over 20 years of experience working
as an administrative assistant
• has volunteered 20 hours per week as the office manager
at a local church for the past 25 years
• is fluent in both Spanish and English
• received a Microsoft Office Specialist certificate from
the Community College of Denver
• trained in restorative justice in schools
• has served as staff member of The Conflict Center for
15 years
• teaches classes to parents, youth, adults, seniors,
and elementary-aged children
• demonstrated cultural competency and has worked with
diverse populations
• trained in restorative justice in schools
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Maggie
Helseth
Research Associate (part time)
• received her Bachelor’s Degree
in psychology from Minnesota State University, Moorhead in 2002
• completing her Master’s thesis in
conflict resolution
• serves on the board of directors for the Colorado
Council of Mediators and has diverse leadership experience
that includes serving on multiple other organizational boards
• received a certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution
from the University of Denver in 2005
• acts as a volunteer mediator for a local restorative
justice organization
• gained multidisciplinary teaching experience through
acting as music instructor and school tutor
• demonstrated cultural competency and has worked with
diverse populations
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Pierce
Green
Business Coordinator and Trainer(full time)
• received his Bachelor’s degree
in Communications from University of Texas, Austin
• received his Master’s degree in Professional Counseling
from Texas State University
• received mediation training from Arapahoe Community
College
• experienced Montessori instructor (10 years) and middle-school
math instructor
• taught bullying prevention
in Denver middle
schools for St. Anthony’s Hospital in 2004
• acted as an education counselor for at-risk boys at
Denver Kids Incorporated in 2005
• creating
character education classes for a Denver elementary
school
• demonstrated cultural competency and has worked with
diverse populations
• trained in restorative justice in schools
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Jorge
Gibbons, MS
Manager of School Programs(full time)
• received his Master’s degree in
Biological Sciences from Universidad de Buenos Aires
• participated in the Teacher in Residence Program at
Metropolitan State College of Denver in 2004
• received his Professional Teacher’s License from
State of Colorado Secondary Science in 2005
• gained training experience as a science teacher at Lake
Middle School from 2003-2007
• managed projects for over nine years, including matrix
structures, facilitation models, and facilitator training
• served as executive director of a nongovernmental
organization in Brazil
• facilitated experiential education programs in South
America with Dinsmore Associates
• demonstrated cross cultural competency and has worked
with diverse populations
• trained in restorative justice in schools
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Brenda
McChesney, MA
Volunteer and Events Coordinator (full-time)
Phone: 303.865.5644
- received Master’s Degree in Sociology
from California State University Bakersfield
- received degrees in
Speech
Communication, Child Development
and Social Science from California State University Chico.
- coached speech and debate
at the collegiate and secondary grade levels for ten years.
- trained youth in bullying
prevention, conflict management, and teen pregnancy &
tobacco prevention as
both classroom instructor and program director.
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Nikki
Schmidt, BA
Programs Assistant (full-time)
-
Received
BA in Communication with an emphasis on Family, Conflict,
and Intercultural Communication
-
Certificate
in Mediation
-
Experience
working with internationally diverse populations, youth-at-risk,
parental involvement, early childhood development, marketing,
and coordinating special events for community interaction.
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Vickie
Samland, M. Div.
Programs Coordinator (full time)
• received her Bachelor’s degree
in Sociology from Bridgewater College in Virginia
• received her Professional Teacher’s License in
Colorado in 1974
• received her Master of Divinity from Iliff School of
Theology in Denver
• trained in mediation through the University of Denver
and is a member of the Colorado Council of Mediators
• is an experienced facilitator and mediator
• developed leadership skills serving on the national
board of directors of a church denomination
• has 30 years of experience in the education field and
as a teacher
• demonstrated cultural competency and has worked with
diverse populations
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Mediators |
| Vickie Samland has a BA in Sociology
(1972) and a Master of Divinity degree (1997). She has mediation
and facilitation training from University College at University
of Denver (1995) as well as victim/offender training from VORP of
Denver (1995).
Vickie has conducted mediations and facilitations with individuals,
families, community members, non-profit organizations, and in
schools. She has experience in working with the elderly in assisted
living settings, directors and pastors in faith communities, staff
and directors within justice and peace groups, administrators
and staff in school settings, and administrative staff in the
field of immigration services.
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