Susan D. Mainzer

Name: Susan D. Mainzer

Location: Available throughout Wisconsin

Video: https://youtu.be/us_7UYmnS-w

Education:

• Law Degree (JD) and Bachelor of Arts, University of Wisconsin, Madison

• Special Education Mediation & IEP Facilitation Training – WSEMS/Marquette University.

• Participated in and presented hundreds of hours of mediation classes.

Current Positions: Mediator, Coach, Trainer & Organization Consultant

Past Positions:

• Private Practice Mediator for more than 20 years

• Special Education Mediator in Wisconsin (WSEMS)since panel’s inception in 1999

• Minnesota’s Special Education Mediation panel for over ten years

• Mediation trainer and instructor in classes on communication, conflict management and creative problem solving to business staff and families.

• Adjunct Professor, Conflict Studies, MBA – Hamline University

• Life Coach – help people meet work and personal goals

• Trainer, Facilitator and Workplace Consultant, Human Resources Department, Metropolitan Council, St. Paul, MN

Mediation Experience:

• Community Mediator: Disputes between upset neighbors, landlords and tenants, police and citizens. (1984-Present)

• Divorce Mediator: Financial and parenting decisions; communication and high emotion disputes; diversity issues.(1986-Present)

• Workplace Disputes: Employer – employee, as well as employee-employee disputes that arise in the workplace environment.(1988-Present)

• Personal Injury Mediation: Settlement negotiations with attorneys, insurance representatives and injured people. (1990-Present)

• Farm Mediation: Disputes involving farmers and lenders in Wisconsin. (1993-Present)

• Special Education Mediation: Issues related to the provision of special education services. (1999- present)

Philosophy: I believe in creating a safe environment for people to talk honestly and communicate effectively with each other. I encourage everyone to listen deeply and to be open to new ideas. I find that often people come up with creative resolutions that surprise each other. In working as a team, people can create durable, doable, agreements. Oftentimes, stronger relationships can occur or be rebuilt. It’s my pleasure to be a witness to the hard work done in mediation.