Current Alternative Dispute Resolution Appointments:
Chairperson, Foreign Service Grievance Board, appointed to the Board by Secretary of State Pompeo in 2018, reappointed by Secretary of State Blinken in 2021, and appointed as Chair by Secretary Blinken in 2022.
Member of Appellate Mediation Panel, District of Columbia Court of Appeals
Mediator, District of Columbia Superior Court Multi-Door Dispute Resolution Division
Prior Experience:
Hearing Officer, Fairfax County Virginia Civil Service Commission (2016-2022)
Public Arbitrator, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (2017-2019)
Mediator, Northern Virginia Association of Realtors (2012-2020)
Commissioner, Alexandria, Virginia Human Rights Commission (2015-2017)
Hearing Officer (administrative judge) and mediator for special education and disputed residency cases for District of Columbia Public Schools and Public Charter Schools (2011-2015)
Director for Workforce Management and member of Strategic Planning Team, Library of Congress (2002-2011)
Commissioner, Arlington Virginia Human Rights Commission (2003-2005)
Senior Attorney - Labor & Employment, Verizon (1993-2000)
Labor & Employment Counsel, Verizon and predecessor companies (1980-1993)
Major Accomplishments:
Adjudicated over 50 appeals of Foreign Service members' grievances as panel chair and reviewed work product of other Foreign Service Grievance Board members.
Adjudicated over 150 special education due process complaints, including conducting hearings and issuing formal written decisions in 48 cases, none of which were remanded by the court on appeal.
Mediated over 150 civil court cases.
Guided development of staffing, job evaluation, performance appraisal and compensation programs to attract, retain and motivate sales and operations employees and management while minimizing risk of employee claims.
Successfully managed employee issues in mergers, facilitating downsizing and reassignments without legal liability.
Developed and implemented "zero tolerance" harassment policies and counseled senior management and human resources managers on race/sex hostile work environment issues.
Managed alternative dispute program (mediation and conflict resolution) averting hundreds of grievances and discrimination complaints; personaly mediated dozens of cases.
Supervised team of senior Equal Employment Opportunity specialists who investigated hundreds of discrimination complaints each year, ensuring prompt identification and correction of civil rights violations at minimal cost to companies while avoiding potential class-based claims.
Served as chief negotiator and supervised team of labor relations specialists who negotiated and administered collective bargaining agreements, responded to grievances, and tried arbitration cases.
Guided Human Resources and Purchasing organizations in developing and improving affirmative action programs and minority subcontracting programs, earning the highest letter grade on the NAACP Reciprocity Initiative.
Advised ERISA fiduciaries on benefit claims and appeals.
Negotiated contracts involving billions of dollars of pension and welfare benefit plan assets and liabilities.
Successfully resolved legal, public relations, employee relations and political challenges of class action discrimination suits in Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia.
Audited and revised personnel policies and procedures and employee handbooks ensuring full compliance with employment laws.
Analyzed federal and state legislation on issues ranging from civil rights to electronic monitoring, advised Human Resources clients on compliance with new laws and regulations such as the Family and Medical Leave Act, and conducted live and videotaped training seminars.
Wrote employment and consulting contracts and separation agreements.
Education:
Stanford Law School, J.D.
Princeton University, A.B. in Economics, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa
George Mason University, Northern Virginia Mediation Service, certificate in mediation and workplace dispute resolution
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