Summer 2010

High Hopes and Best Wishes: When Transitions are Hard
By Vickie Samland

contractor; training for us when he comes to the U.S.. Perhaps he can even connect TCC and its valuable work to Argentina. We are confident that he will continue to be a peace builder as he travels the globe.

 

Both are talented with a variety of skills. Their devotion to making the world a more peaceful place is unmatched, whether  with students, staff or family. Bringing the daily practice of peace building into all their interactions and experiences. They know how to walk the talk! They will be greatly missed.

 

Saying goodbye is such sweet sorrow. In June The Conflict Center said goodbye to two very enthusiastic and well loved employees, Nikki Schmidt and Jorge Gibbons.

 

Both Nikki and Jorge had a niche at TCC,  Nikki was instrumental in strengthening the Effectively Managing Conflict in the Workplace presentation. This daylong training has  received positive feedback from attendees in the government, nonprofit and business sectors.

 

One of Nikki’s most outstanding accomplishments was based on her strong interest in generational issues and the conflicts that ensue from having multiple generations in the workplace. She created an exciting workshop focused on understanding each of the generations, building relationships and solving problems with the diverse ages and experiences in intergenerational staff environments.

 

Jorge speaks English, Spanish, and Portuguese. His multilingual skills enhanced his relationship with teachers, students, and families. He

respected their language experiences, which was bonding. Many different groups requested Jorge for their workshops because he is such an outstanding trainer. He is engaging, fun, and demonstrates expertise. Nikki brings energy, expertise, and flexibility to the work of peacemaking; all essential qualities for a great trainer. She is an excellent listener and responsive to the needs of those attending a workshop whether they are youth or adults. 

 

Team building and engagement are Jorge’s strengths. He brought prior experience from high ropes courses and other experiential learning to TCC. The staff will forever be grateful to Jorge for teaching them his active ways to engage an audience.  

Nikki’s energy, humor and insights will be missed in our daily staff interactions, but we look forward to working with her under this new structure as a contract employee. Nikki has recently been hired as a research assistant at the University of Colorado Boulder. Although Nikki will no longer be

in  the office on a day-to-day basis she will continue to provide training and workshops for The Conflict Center and its clients as needed.

 

One of Jorge’s goals is to expand his international training business. In August, he is returning home to Argentina to be closer to family and friends. We expect he will continue his relationship with TCC as a

Nikki Schmidt and Rose Kauffman

Harold Fields and Jorge Gibbons

Nikki Schmidt and Jorge Gibbons