Linda Lazarus, J.D.
Linda Lazarus designs and delivers negotiation, mediation, leadership and communications skills training with an emphasis on the connection between contemplative practices and individual effectiveness. Among other things, she teaches individuals and groups to use meditation for relaxation and to enhance human potential and leadership qualities. Ms. Lazarus is the CEO of the Healthcare Consensus Initiative, and also serves as a mediator with the United States District Court for the District of Columbia and the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Ms. Lazarus is the Spirituality Editor for Mediate.Com and is the founder and coordinator of the DC Contemplative Law Group. She is listed in Who’s Who in American Law and Who’s Who in American Women.
Dianne Lipsey, M.A.
Dianne Lipsey has been conducting training for managers for the past twenty years. She teaches several workshops for Northern Virginia Mediation Service including Facilitating Public Disputes and Mediating Disability Disputes. She is co-president of a national conflict management and dispute resolution firm, based in Washington, DC. She has trained and mentored federal workplace/EEO mediators at US EPA, the Department of the Navy, and the Department of Homeland Security. Ms. Lipsey teaches as adjunct faculty at Northern Virginia Mediation Service, an affiliate of George Mason University. Ms. Lipsey also is a professional mediator and facilitator with specific expertise in complex workplace cases and disability issues. She regularly mediates workplace, EEO, and public policy disputes. Ms. Lipsey holds a M.A. degree in rehabilitation counseling from the University of Alabama and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Political Science from Auburn University and is certified as a mediator, mentor and trainer by the Supreme Court of Virginia.
Ervin J. Mast, MSW, LCSW, ACSW
Ervin Mast is a senior mediator, trainer and consultant with the Northern Virginia Mediation Service with which he has been affiliated since 1992. He has trained thousands of people in mediation skills including attorneys, business people, therapists, counselors, federal government employees, clergy, educators and those from many other walks of life. He holds all levels of Virginia Supreme Court Certification, including those for General District Court, Juvenile & domestic relations court, Circuit Court Family and Circuit Court Civil. His work in mediation and training has taken him to Ukraine where he has served as a consultant and provided training for mediators and mediation trainers. Mr. Mast has been training and practicing mediation since 1982. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Eastern Mennonite University, Masters in Social Work (MSW) degree from Tulane University, and has completed substantial post-graduate work in family studies at Virginia Tech. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).
Kathryn Shane McCarty, MPA
Kathryn Shane McCarty has been working as a professional facilitator, trainer, and mediator for a wide range of public policy issues since 1993. She presents several workshops for Northern Virginia Mediation Service including Facilitating Public Disputes and Mediating Disability Disputes. Ms. McCarty often facilitates staff retreats, public policy discussions, and consensus-based decision meetings for the Arlington County government. Additionally, she recently facilitated meetings for the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Agriculture, the International City-County Management Association, Page County government, Loudoun County government and the Town of Leesburg. Ms. McCarty serves as adjunct faculty for USDA Graduate School and George Mason University’s Northern Virginia Mediation Service where she conducts facilitation and ADR skills training. Ms. McCarty received her B.A. degree in psychology from Denison University and received her Masters degree in Public Administration with an emphasis in urban planning from the University of Washington.
James R. Meditz, M.A.
Jim Meditz is a mediator certified by the Supreme Court of Virginia. He provides mediation services through Northern Virginia Mediation Service (NVMS), Inc., as well in his own private practice, for commercial, family, divorce, and community clients. He also is a mentor to mediators-in-training. Mr. Meditz received specialized training in Facilitation and Group Consensus Building, Complex and Multiparty Civil Cases, Facilitating Public Disputes, Problem Solving in Organizations, and ADA and EEO matters. Mr. Meditz holds an MA degree in International Relations, Boston University, a BA in Chemistry, UNC-Chapel Hill, is a graduate of the National War College (Washington, DC) and the Federal Executive Institute (Charlottesville, VA), and received extensive management and other training throughout his federal career.
Julia Morelli, M.A.
Julia Morelli has over fifteen years of experience as a mediator, facilitator, manager and consultant. She is the Director of Operations for the George Mason University (GMU) Instructional Foundation and President of Holistic Solutions, Inc. Her practice includes mediation and facilitation, organizational assessment and development, strategic planning; and training related to conflict management, the use of technology in dispute resolution, diversity and cultural issues, and communication. Julia provides the GMU community with conflict management training, workplace coaching and group facilitation; and serves as mediator for individual and group mediations for state agencies through the Virginia Department of Employment Dispute Resolution. Her private practice includes work with government, private and non-profit organizations.
She received an M.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on Organizational Conflict and Diversity Management. She has also received a Professional Certificate in Human Resource Management