Search Results for: committee
Membership: What’s it Worth? A Committee Report
Rob Bearden reports:
The Membership Committee has been busy thinking about membership, from the ground up. In general, the Committee is focused on defining the value proposition members consider every time they pay annual dues. In other words, how do members value the benefits they receive as an OMA member? The answer to this question is different for every member.
Grad student, and volunteer, Dani Thompson has been analyzing OMA’s membership statistics to give the Committee a better idea of who members are, how long they’ve been members, and which benefits they find valuable. Past member surveys suggest networking and training opportunities are universally popular benefits and members are willing to pay to support these benefits, at least once, when they join the Association. When members renew their memberships, it suggests they are satisfied with the value proposition membership presents. They believe the value they receive is worth the price they pay for their membership. Alternatively, when members do not choose to renew, logic would suggest that they are not satisfied with the value they received. The cost of benefits received was too high.
Working with limited resources, the Committee is always looking at ways to expand and improve member benefits without exceeding OMA’s operating budget. Calculating this cost-to-benefit ratio is as much art, as it is science. Fortunately, the Committee consists of both scientists and artists. The objective is to provide the best benefits possible and offer them at a price that makes them accessible, yet sustainable.
In addition to its primary focus on defining the value proposition of OMA membership, the Committee is working with interested volunteers to launch a test mentorship program, support more local Ketchup Debriefs, and develop cross-training opportunities with other professional associations. More on these initiatives as they develop.
Communications Committee Update
Update from Meagan Robbins:
Over the last year, the Communications Committee has been contemplating the best way to reach and serve OMA membership. In the past, we’ve had various levels of communication via social media and The Navigator, our biannual newsletter. We may be moving away from the more traditional newsletter format so that we can create more interactivity within our community in the coming year. Current news will be featured on the website and blog (which is what you are reading now). Additionally, we continue to send our monthly Flash emails, containing all the latest news and relevant information for OMA members.
Our focus for 2020 will be exploring how we can incorporate more options for OMA members to engage–with us and with each other. First, make sure to link to us on Facebook. We will be ramping up LinkedIn and Twitter again soon. Additionally, expect to hear more about how OMA’s listserve can add value to your practice and involvement with mediation and ADR. Many OMA members don’t know joining the listserve is an option, or forget to sign up. In an effort to be more inclusive, members will automatically be added to the listserve database when they join or renew their membership. Folks who are uninterested may opt out. We will also be surveying the membership to gather input on what topics or information would be useful to see on the listserve and social media too. This can be a great resource for support and wisdom from the larger community if used well!
Please leave us your feedback, this is your Association and we want to hear from you.
OMA Committees
Committees
Advocacy
Conveners: oma@ormediation.org
The Advocacy Committee is comprised of members who help track legislation and other public policies that affect the practice of mediation. Committee members develop information to share with OMA members, develop responses for the Board to consider making to specific legislation, and, when needed, attend hearings to either hear testimony or make statements about proposed rules and regulations. Ideally, committee members have experience and knowledge of public processes and/or the ability to research and track laws, rules, and regulations.
Communications
Conveners: oma@ormediation.org
The Communications Committee is in the process of forming a new team to help keep members and others informed and engaged across a variety of platforms. We are looking to fill roles that range from Social Media Manager to Blog and Flash Editors to Content Provider. Whether you are interested in helping build out and manage a platform or occasionally provide content, we have a role for you. Contact the co-conveners for more information.
Conference
Conveners: oma@ormediation.org
This committee designs, plans and implements OMA’s Annual Fall Conference. Because of the many tasks to be done to put on the Conference, this committee is OMA’s largest in terms of active participants. It meets monthly from January through October.
Education
Conveners: oma@ormediation.org
This committee works to support, sponsor, and promote educational programs, trainings, and workshops for mediators and those interested in mediation. This includes supporting the fall conference, spring training, and more. Core to OMA certification is ongoing training designed to increase mediation quality throughout the State. The committee will be working closely with Oregon Centers for Conflict Resolution, as well as institutes of higher education and private trainers throughout the State.
Member Services
Conveners: oma@ormediation.org
The Membership Committee is all about helping members connect to OMA, and each other. We also work to increase the value of OMA membership. The committee helps plan and host networking and social events, represent the interests of members by finding innovative ways to enhance membership benefits, and acknowledge members for achievements and contributions to OMA.
Standards and Practices
Conveners: Kate Hall, kate@katehalllaw.com Steven Leskin boardseat5@ormediation.org
Paul Allen vp@ormediation.org
This committee considers other issues that impact the practice of mediation in Oregon and/or the ethical standards of OMA member mediators. In doing so, this team develops, reviews, and implements a wide variety of guidelines for the development and practice of mediation in Oregon. These inclue:
- Core Standards of Mediation Practice
- Voluntary Mediation Process for Resolving Disputes with OMA Mediators,
- Model Guidelines for Private Practice Mediator Education, Training, and Experience
- “Ask OMA” columns and other OMA Newsletter articles.
For full details, visit the Guidelines for Mediators page.
Technology
Conveners: oma@ormediation.org
The Technology committee is not only responsible for reviewing and updating all of the OMA technology, including phones, computers, media and sound systems, but it is in charge of the development and implementation of OMA’s web presence. This committee also makes recommendations for how to update our current systems with regards to efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Please contact the committee conveners or the OMA Office if you are interested in learning more or joining any of the above committees!
Other Committees
Other committees that exist for the orderly functioning and governance of OMA, and which report to the OMA Board, include:
Executive Committee
Convener: Stephanie Leffler, OMA President, president@ormediation.org
This committee includes the President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary. The committee oversees the operations of the Board and helps to bring to the strategic, long-range development of the organization. When OMA has paid staff, the Executive Director reports to this committee and through it to the Board the monthly progress that has been made in support of the business and operational goals set forth by the Board.
Finance Committee
Convener: Treasurer treasurer@ormediation.org
This committee assists the OMA Board of Directors in its oversight responsibilities relating to fiscal management. It reviews and recommends approval of an annual operating budget, reviews financial results, ensures the maintenance of an appropriate financial management structure and oversees the management of organization-wide financial assets.
Nominating Committee
Convener: The OMA Board of Directors, OMA@ORMediation.org
This committee coordinates the process for recruiting new members to the OMA Board of Directors.
– Board of Directors & OMA Staff 2026 –
Does becoming an OMA Board Member interest you? Apply here!
Stephanie Leffler – President
Stephanie began volunteering at Neighbor-To-Neighbor Mediation (CDRC) in 2013 and completed her training that year. She became involved with OMA as a conference helper, served on the member services, conference, standards and practices committees. She is serving her second three-year term as an OMA board member. Stephanie enjoys serving OMA members and the comradery of the OMA board. Serving as a volunteer allowed her to meet, “some of the most amazing humans.”
She worked in wood products in the 1980’s and worked her way up to manage teams in the manufacturing industries. She has experience working or consulting manufacturing, technology, retail, wholesale, hospitality, education and distribution. Her employers have been private, public, and non-profit sectors where she held executive and leadership roles. She spent most of her career in Human Resources and risk management. She owns a consulting firm that opened in 2017. Her areas of expertise include risk assessment, workplace conflict and negotiation. She enjoys helping folks through organizational change and coaching executives on the most difficult subject matters. She enjoys mentoring people and helping them become business owners and leaders.
Stephanie holds degrees in criminal justice, management, human resources, and is a senior certified human resource professional through the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI) and the Society of Human Resource Managers (SHRM).
Email: president@ormediation.org
Jennifer Nackos – Vice President
Jennifer Nackos (she/her) is honored to serve as one of OMA’s Board of Directors, alongside fellow peacebuilders. She was born in South Korea and raised in the United States. She is a certified mediator and Restorative Justice facilitator with a strong understanding of intercultural fluency, whether it be on an international, ethnic, religious, community, or even family level. This perspective allows her to see people broadly with an understanding that “different” can be beautiful. Because of this, Jennifer is also connected to Mediators Beyond Borders International (MBBI).
Jennifer holds a bachelor’s degree in Russian language and culture. In 1995, she lived in eastern Ukraine for over a year, residing in the Donetsk Oblast and Kharkiv. She also completed an M.S. in Conflict Resolution. Formal education taught her valuable concepts and theories that explain why and how conflicts occur. More importantly, real-life experiences have magnified the importance of learning and teaching how to manage them better. She believes this is fundamentally important because angry people do angry things, frustrated people do frustrating things, and sad people can do very sad things.
Email: vp@ormediation.org
Paul Allen – Treasurer
Paul was formally on the OMA standards and practices committee, former OMA board member, and mediation practitioner. He is a positive realist, lover of human beings, curiosity, wisdom of many years of experience.
In 1970, I was an expectant father starting my career. My first promotion was to sweeper. I chose to excel; people smiled and appreciated me! My Secret to success! 50+ years later, bestowed with a myriad of accomplishments, I continue to love who I am becoming! Please consider this thought: Trust me, it is much easier to love others when you first love yourself.
Email: treasurer@ormediation.org
Jack Hollis – Secretary
Jack started on the path of mediation in 2018 as a volunteer with East County Resolutions.
In 2020 Jack served his first term on the OMA board and was elected President from 2021-2023. During his term he transitioned OMA to a digital workspace, increasing accessibility for mediators throughout the state. Jack spearheaded programs to provide free trainings to mediators and to increase access to OMA benefits with rural communities.
In 2024 Jack was trained as a restorative justice practitioner with Beaverton CDRC. In 2025 Jack co-founded Portland Community Mediation, a Community Dispute Resolution Center with a mission focused on providing equity informed mediation services to underserved communities in Portland.
For the last 4 years Jack has primarily focused on working contracts with Oregon Department of Human Services to return children in state care to their families and working with Clackamas County in Eviction Prevention Mediation. He averages about 200 mediations a year as an independent contractor.
Jack is dedicated to removing barriers to entry in the field of mediation and is a long-standing proponent of fair pay for mediators which includes changing the current volunteer system to a pathway to paid work system. He firmly believes that mediation should be provided by our government alongside other essential services.
Jack is dedicated to embedding equity in all the work that he is a part of and is an adamant and outspoken advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights.
Email: secretary@ormediation.org
Steven Leskin – Director
Steve is currently serving on the OMA Standards and Practices Committee. He has spent twenty-five years as a trial attorney in Oregon specializing in tort and professional malpractice litigation, federal administrative law, and domestic relations.
Steve is an experienced trial attorney and mediator with hundreds of mediation, arbitration, and administrative hearing cases. Steve is a long-time municipal judge and two-term Assistant Disciplinary Counsel. Steve is experienced in all areas of law practice management and technology. Since January of 2023 he has focused almost exclusively on mediation and arbitration. His non legal experience includes founding the companies DeNovo Decisions and Pleading Technologies. Steve was the Port Manager for the Port of Siuslaw from 2016 to 2017, and his background is in computer coding.
Email: boardseat6@ormediation.org
Robert Milesnick – Director
An experienced employment law litigator, former Assistant U.S. Attorney, and a certified mediator for the past 23 years, Rob is the principal and founder of Craft Mediation Northwest, an employment and workplace conflict resolution boutique. With almost two decades of workplace litigation experience, and as a participate or mediator in over 200 mediations, during his appointment with the Oregon U.S. Attorney’s Office, he served a collateral duty assignment with the U.S. Department of Justice EEO Mediator Corps to mediate employment disputes for the Executive Office of United States Attorneys.
Rob uses interpersonal, facilitative, and evaluative techniques to mediate litigation disputes, and fact finding, culture and climate audits, and implementation of conflict systems designs (preventative and responsive) to improve group and organizational effectiveness. He received his BA from Virginia Commonwealth University in English and Psychology in 1999 and his JD from Syracuse University College of Law in 2002. He has completed advanced conflict resolution training from the Syracuse University College of Law mediation assistance program, worked as mediator for New Justice Conflict Resolution Services, and has completed advanced mediation and negotiations training from the U.S. Department of Justice and the National Advocacy Center, and from the Harvard Law School Program on Negotiation.
Rob is passionate about helping Oregon, working to resolve individual and organizational conflict, and is excited to support the OMA, its members, and its many court, community mediation, and conflict resolution partners in Oregon and throughout the country.
Email:
Maggie Stahl – Administrator
As a first time mom, I currently enjoy taking my son and daughter on adventures which include going to museums, parks, hiking trails, aquariums and the zoo! When I’m not entertaining my kids I love baking, cooking and reading. I find enjoyment in making my children’s food to provide a healthier alternative to some of the mass-produced options at the grocery store. Being an avid reader; I’m part of a monthly book club.
I’ve used mediation in many situations when working in HR, but after taking mediation classes in college I’ve realized we use mediation frequently in our everyday lives. I believe in mediation and think it’s best first method in many scenarios. I’m very excited to join OMA and hope to help in any way I can!
Email: oma@ormediation.org
Lanie Toledo – Administrator
Lanie is a full-time mom of three, including her eldest child who is on the autism spectrum. Her personal journey as a mother has deepened her appreciation for the value of mediation—not only as a professional tool but as a way of life.
Lanie believes that mediation starts at home. Whether navigating sibling rivalry or teaching her children how to resolve conflicts peacefully, she sees everyday parenting as a living practice of conflict resolution. She draws on these real-life experiences to support the mission of OMA: promoting peaceful, constructive dialogue and solutions across all communities.
Email: oma@ormediation.org
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