Who We Are

Cynthia Olson is a leader and innovator in the field of mediation and dispute resolution. As an internationally respected educator, mediator, facilitator and consultant, she has worked with culturally diverse groups for over 20 years. Her expertise includes designing and implementing cutting edge mediation programs and conflict management systems for organizations. Cynthia specializes in teaching mediation, conflict management and communication skills. Her focus as a mediator is complex, multi-party organizational disputes. She is the former Director of the Albuquerque Mediation Center. Member, NMMA and ACR * (M.S. Community Education; M.S. Administration, College of St. Thomas, St. Paul Minnesota; B. Ed. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. )

Lynn Billings is a mediator and an attorney. She began a traditional legal practice in 1980 and soon began to actively incorporate mediation and settlement facilitation into her practice. Lynn has more than 30 years experience as a member of nonprofit boards of directors. Other areas of interest in mediation and settlement facilitation include: family related conflict (division of assets, allocation of debt, child custody, visitation and support, guardianship, alimony, decision-making regarding eldercare, etc.); zoning/development disputes and business partnership conflicts. Lynn has been a mediation training coach for many years. Member, NMMA and ACR *. (J.D. University of New Mexico; Bachelor of University Studies, Phi Beta Kappa, UNM.)

Jean Civikly-Powell is a professor emerita of communication at the University of New Mexico and Director of the UNM Faculty Dispute Resolution program. Her work in mediation and conflict resolution is grounded in over 30 years of teaching, research, and training in interpersonal communication effectiveness. Jean provides basic and advanced mediation trainings and coaches learners in their developing skills. She is a volunteer mediator at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court in Albuquerque, NM. Her areas of interest include: workplace disputes, divorce and child custody, family conflicts, group facilitation, settlement facilitation, and environmental/public policy. Member NMMA and ACR *. (Ph. D., Communication, Florida State University; B.A. Communication, Herbert H. Lehman College of the City University of New York.)

Wallace Ford has worked primarily with non-profit organizations, faith communities and healthcare providers. He also has conflict resolution experience with neighbor complaints, civil claims, family systems, and victim-offender disputes. Wally works with organizations for strategic planning and conflict management. He is an on-call mediator in the UNM Department of Pediatrics Continuum of Care Program. Member, NMMA (D. Min., Iliff School of Divinity, Denver; M. Div., Brite Divinity, Ft. Worth, Texas; B.A., Texas Christian University.)

Anne Lightsey's experience mediating and training mediators dovetails perfectly with her twenty years of expertise as a trainer and facilitator specializing in intercultural dynamics, communication skills, conflict management, customer service, time management, problem solving skills, effective supervisory skills and team building. Anne is also a Personal Organizer with clients around the US and in Europe. She has served as Executive Director of a YMCA and as Training Manager at Sprint PCS. Member NMMA and ACR *. (B.S. Communication, University of Texas at Austin.)

Federico Zerger specializes in leadership development, team effectiveness, diversity utilization, and alternative dispute resolution. He brings over 20 years of executive and organizational consulting to his work. His mediation interests include employment, environment, and public policy. His practice enables businesses, organizations, community groups and individuals to communicate and collaborate more effectively. Federico is a facilitator with the City of Albuquerque's Land Use Mediation Program, a mediator in Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court system, and a coach for trainees in basic mediation training. Member, NMMA and ACR *. (M. Ed., Organizational Psychology, Cambridge College, Boston, MA.)

* New Mexico Mediation Association and Association for Conflict Resolution (national).