ELIZABETH A. WINTER has been actively involved in the practice of law since 1975 with an emphasis in Alternative Dispute Resolution. She is an attorney mediator at Center For Families In Transition, Inc. It is her philosophy that positive change occurs more readily and productively in a supportive and confidential environment. ELIZABETH is the only licensed attorney in the state of Arizona that is a Court approved presenter of the Parent Information Program. ELIZABETH was recognized in the publication Outstanding Young Women of America for two consecutive years and was quoted on her definition of "success" in the publication Who's Who of American Women.

"SUCCESS lies within the attainment of sought after inner treasures. It is not measured by such external means as position. power, prestige or prosperity."

EDUCATION:

• B. A. in Psychology and Sociology, Arizona State University
• Doctor of Jurisprudence, University of Tennessee

In addition to the above training programs, ELIZABETH has over 400 Hours of supplemental mediation training.

CONFERENCES:

• Arizona Dispute Resolution Association Annual Conference: 96; 97; 98; 00 (Presenter); 01; 02
• Academy of Family Mediators Annual Conference: 98; 01
• Arizona Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts Annual Conference: 98
• National Conference on Peacemaking and Conflict Resolution: 99 (Presenter)
• American Bar Association, Alternative Dispute Resolution Section Annual Conference: 00
• Center For International Legal Studies, Heidelberg, Germany: 03 (Presenter)
• Arizona Department of Education, Exceptional Student Services 8 Hour Mediation Training: 04 (Presenter)

EXPERIENCE:

ELIZABETH has over 800 Hours of face to face Family Mediation experience.

In addition, ELIZABETH volunteers in the following community programs:

• Judge Pro Tempore, Maricopa County Superior Court since 94
• Guardian Ad Litem, Maricopa County Superior Court since 99
• Mediator, Tempe and Scottsdale Justice Courts since 95
• Mediator, City of Phoenix, Office of the City Prosecutor from 96 to program end in 02
• Mediator, Arizona Department of Education Exceptional Student Services since 98
• Mediator, City of Scottsdale Community Mediation Program since 00
• Volunteer Lawyer, Paiute Neighborhood Center in City of Scottsdale since 96
• Citizen's Police Academy, City of Scottsdale, 00

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:

• Member, State Bar of Arizona
• Member, Maricopa County Bar Association; Past Chair of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee
• Member, Scottsdale Bar Association
• Member, Arizona Women Lawyers Association
• Practitioner Member, Association for Conflict Resolution
• Practitioner Member, Maricopa County Association of Family Mediators, Past President
• Arizona Dispute Resolution Association, Past President
• Maricopa Alternative Dispute Resolution Association, Past President

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Kathryn Whittaker

Parent Information Program Presenter

KATHRYN K. WHITTAKER received her Master of Counseling Degree from Arizona State University and has had a practice as a counselor and mediator. In the past ten years, she has mediated family disputes in the areas of divorce, legal separation, custody issues, guardianship, probate, family relational disputes, and family business issues. The pursuit of Mediation began during her final studies for her Master of Counseling Degree, and she has pursued professional development through continuing education. Kathryn has provided volunteer mediation services to the City of Phoenix, the Justice Courts in Tempe and Scottsdale, the Superior Court in Maricopa County, as well as facilitation of mediation training and coaching.

Additionally, Kathryn teaches the Parent Information Program as one of the Community Providers for the Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County. Kathryn has also provided presentations on family issues and conflict resolutions to groups, including churches, schools, parent groups, and training programs.

Kathryn has been a member of the following organizations:

Certified Professional Counselor, Board of Behavioral Health, State of Arizona, #1998

Certified School Guidance Counselor K - 12, Arizona Department of Education

Member of American Counselors Association.

Practitioner Member of Association For Conflict Resolution

Member of Arizona Dispute Resolution Association

Member of Maricopa Alternative Dispute Resolution Association, Past Secretary

Practitioner Member of Maricopa County Association of Family Mediators, Past Secretary

Kathryn Whittaker has provided consultation, training, and seminars in a variety of community organizations over the past nine years. These are some of the services in which she has provided children's, adult education and support groups:

Divorce Recovery Groups for Northridge Community Church and Orangewood Church of the Nazarene

Mediation training to staff at Christian Family Care Agency

Mediation training for the City of Phoenix Employee Mediation Program

Training Seminars for Single parents for Northridge Community Church

Parenting Education Program for Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Fountain Hills

In-staff training for Larkspur Elementary School, Paradise Valley School District

Mediation and ADR training and presentation for ASU School of Business

Mediation and ADR training and presentation for ASU West Communications Program

Divorce Recovery Programs for children at Larkspur Elementary School in Paradise Valley School District

Presentations on depression, friendship, and communication skills to Women's Ministry at Northridge Community Church

In-staff Training to teachers at North Valley School of the Arts on signs of child abuse and response to child abuse

In-staff training for Stephen's Ministries, on Care-giver burnout, at Bethel Lutheran Church

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Clay Jones, M.Ed.

Parent Information Program Presenter

Clay Jones has been working in the field of child abuse prevention and advocacy for the last 6 years. As a former Case Manager and Therapist, Clay has extensive experience working with families who are dealing with serious Child Protective Services referrals. Clay currently manages a team of social workers for a child abuse prevention program. Clay has experience facilitating court-ordered domestic violence groups for male offenders, and working with victims of domestic violence, primarily women and children. A former probation officer, Clay has also volunteered in the Court Appointed Special Advocate program, (CASA), in Maricopa County, advocating to the Juvenile Court in the best interest of children in the fost/adopt system. Clay has served as a facilitator/consultant in the Family Group Decision Making process, a program managed by DES designed to empower families to protect their children from potentially unsafe parents and other caregivers. As a member of the National Alliance of Mental Illness, (NAMI), Clay advocates for families impacted by mental illness to seek support and education for themselves and their affected loved ones. For the last 6 years, Clay has served as a court-approved presenter of the Parent Information Program, a 4-hour program designed to help parents of minor children who are in the process of divorcing. The program focuses on the importance of divorcing parents to recognize and reduce the negative effects on their children of conflict between themselves and their former spouse. As a public speaker, Clay has conducted public forums/lectures on various topics including the effects of parental conflict on children and anger management.

Having grown up in South and Central America, Clay has an appreciation for the cultural diversity of the Southwest, and is fluent in Spanish, serving many Spanish speaking families in various capacities. Clay is a single parent of two wonderful children, and brings a richness of personal and professional experience to a variety of family issues.

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Martin L. Jones, MA, NLP, CHT

Parent Information Program Presenter

Martin began his education at Rio Salado Community College in 1990 where he first obtained level I & II certificates in the field of Chemical Dependency Counseling. He later progressed to Ottawa University where he gained a bachelors degree in Psychology and a masters degree in Counseling.

Martin brings his knowledge and experience in substance abuse counseling, domestic non-violence, child welfare and mediation to the Parent Information Program. Martin expressly immersed himself in the practice of "Family Group Decision Making" from its inception in Arizona Administration for Children, Youth and Families since 1999, where he took part in the original research, policy foundation, coordination and facilitation of the process. He is also well versed in the practice of "Child and Family Team" processes.

Martin continues to serve the community of divorced families as a certified Hypnotherapist, Neurolinguist Programming Practitioner and a Past-Life Regressionist, as they cope with the post-relationship physical and emotional stressors of restructuring.

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