Board of Directors

Anne is an experienced Mediator, Facilitator and Conflict Resolution Consultant with over 10 years in the dispute resolution field. Anne has served as the Executive Director of the Southern California Mediation Association for the past 6 years. In that capacity, Anne has passionately promoted the practice of mediation and alternative dispute resolution with a dedicated commitment to expand the field and draw awareness to the process. In addition, Anne is committed to supporting the practice, teaching and promotion of dispute resolution professionals. Prior to becoming a Mediator, Anne was a law firm administrator with over 30 years in the legal field. Anne has raised 5 children and lives in Huntington Beach, California.

After a fulfilling career as a Social Worker, Investigator, and Training Manager, Cheryl retired as a Children’s Services Administrator from the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, with 27 years of service. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience with youth and underserved communities. Her recent work includes facilitating dialogues with high schools and colleges nationwide, addressing how to improve the relationship between students and local policing agencies. As a Senior Mediator with the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Dispute Resolution Program, Cheryl conducts mediation sessions between community members and Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers whenever a suitable complaint is filed. Cheryl has collaborated with the Institute of Non-Violence, Police2Peace, the Portland Oregon and Pasquotank North Carolina Peace Initiatives, the Ashland Police Department, the Los Angeles Police Department, and Mediators Beyond Borders International (MBBI).

Dr. Debra Dupree, the MINDSET Doc, transforms challenging confrontations into learning conversations, taking the ‘sting’ out of conflict.  She saw her own family-owned business embroiled in differences, leading to dashed dreams, damaged relationships, and broken hearts.  She turned these early experiences into a lifeline for smart people who fear conflict by bringing in the brain science behind blow-ups and emotional reactions.  She now turns “fear and conflict into peace and profits.”

Her goal is to help professionals in all walks of life to build climates of courage and curiosity for the people they serve, and set the tone and model the way for meaningful exchanges to “learn, listen and grow” to stop the cycle of conflict.

Dr. Debra is a Dispute Resolution Specialist, Conflict | Leadership Coach, and International Trainer |  Keynote Speaker.  She hosts the podcast ‘Decoding the Conflict Mindset’ to bring ‘thought leaders’ to her community worldwide to gain insight when high emotions run high and tough negotiations are at stake. Dr. D is the author of three eBooks to date and numerous articles. Her book “Your Emotional Potential:  How You Show Up Matters” is available on Amazon with all proceeds dedicated to “Kids Managing Conflict” (a non-profit subsidiary of Southern California Mediation Association where she serves on the Board of Directors).

Serving since 2024

Dr. D is also an accomplished TEDx Red Carpet Speaker  on the topic of “We’re Talking but Are We Communicating?”

Listen to Dr. Debra’s Podcast: Decoding the Conflict Mindset

Decoding the Conflict Mindset with Dr. Debra Dupree (Podcast) – YouTube

Charles Ervin has pursued a career in the legal community for 38 years. Among various outreach activities, he recently served for three years as President of the California Association of Youth Courts. He believes in promoting Justice for Youth by Youth to help stop the flow of the school-to-prison pipeline. As a member of the board for Kids Managing Conflict, he supports the proliferation and teaching of peer mediation skills which save and improve the lives of our younger generations and last a lifetime. He is committed to getting youth a seat at every table where decisions are being made about their futures.

Wendy W. Kramer is a highly effective full-time mediator. Formerly a partner with Kramer & Kramer handling a wide variety of insurance-related matters, she has developed particular expertise in matters involving personal injury, business disputes, professional malpractice, landlord tenant disputes (habitability) and complex commercial litigation. In addition to serving as the 2013 President of the Southern California Mediation Association, Ms. Kramer previously served as the ADR Chair for the Santa Monica Bar Association, the Los Angeles and Ventura Superior Courts ADR Programs, a Fee Dispute Mediator for both the Beverly Hills and Santa Monica Bar Associations, the chair of the SCMA’s Mentorship Program, as well as on the Board of Governors for the International Academy of Mediation (IAM). She currently serves as the Chair of the IAM’s Mentorship Program. She has mediated over 3,500 matters and arbitrated over 300 matters. She is known for her ability to deal with difficult personalities, multi-party matters and complicated legal issues.

Serving since 2020

Daisy Nava is a current senior at California State University, Long Beach, and is completing a B.A. in Communication Studies and a B.A. in Physics. After taking a Communication in Conflict Resolution course, Daisy discovered she is more interested in analyzing transgressions, instead of shock waves. Throughout her 6 years of working with children with developmental and/or learning disabilities, she noticed a lack of empathic communication from educators. When trying to resolve student-teacher conflict, Daisy applied her conflict resolution skills and wanted to help others resolve their own issues. Currently, she is a DRPA trained mediator and volunteers her mediation skills with Orange County Human Relations(OCHR).

Ashley Rosenthal, is a mediator, IEP facilitator, and alternative dispute resolution consultant. With over 12 years in special education as a classroom teacher, coordinator, and program director, she has extensive experience working with students, families, teachers, and administrators across various educational settings; private, public, charter, and non-public schools (NPS). She holds a California single-subject teaching credential as well as an education specialist instruction credential. Ashley earned her Master’s in Dispute Resolution from the University of Southern California (USC), Gould School of Law, after completing her Doctorate in Education from USC and a Master of Arts in Education from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA).

With 26 years of public service experience, Wendy Betancourt works in the Office of the Ombudsman for the County of Los Angeles. Her extensive work experience has equipped her to be an impartial and neutral resource for clients, their families, victims, and the community. She enjoys working in collaboration with external and internal stakeholders to develop and implement efficient and creative procedures for delivery of services within her organization. Wendy has achieved a Master of Public Administration Degree from the California State University, Northridge and a Bachelor’s in Science Degree, Criminal Justice from the California State University, Los Angeles. She has earned a certificate as a Mediator, Conciliator and Facilitator from California State University, Dominguez Hills and a Master Degree for Negotiation, Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding from California State University, Dominguez Hills. Wendy has experience designing and facilitating community dialogues and has co-mediated community concerns with the public.

Serving since 2020

Sadie Cort is an Alternative Dispute Resolution Consultant specializing in mediation, conflict coaching, training, and facilitation. Drawing on her background in early childhood development and special needs behavioral therapy, Sadie excels in resolving school and family-based conflicts, aiming to foster productive and meaningful dialogue among students, families, and educators.

Employing a collaborative approach, Sadie mediates a wide range of disputes, including small claims, civil harassment, workplace, landlord/tenant, family, and educational conflicts. In addition to her consulting work, Sadie is dedicated to supporting youth and adults with special needs as a one-on-one aide.

Sadie holds a degree in Conflict Resolution from Portland State University. She currently serves as a leader of the Southern California Mediation Associations (SCMA) Making Money Mediating Professional Development Group and is a mediator with the Bar Association of San Francisco and the East Valley Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA).

Matthew Carroll is a dedicated educator and leader in the field of mediation. He serves as an Adjunct Lecturer at Northwestern University’s School of Professional Studies in Chicago, Illinois, where he co-instructs the Divorce Mediation class with Sandra Crawford, JD. He also teaches at Aurora University’s Scott Center for Online and Graduate Studies in Aurora, Illinois, introducing future mediators to the field.

Matthew’s passion for training and educating mediators is evident in his numerous contributions to the field. Through Keystone Mediation, he developed an Advanced Divorce Mediation program, bringing together a group of highly talented and respected professionals from various fields. Additionally, he created a six-part mediation skills workshop series, showcasing his innovative approach to professional development.

In his role as the current President of the Indiana Association of Mediators, Matthew leads a diverse group of professionals, advocating for increased application of mediation across the State of Indiana. He is the co-owner of Keystone Mediation in Dyer, Indiana, where he has established a thriving practice addressing a wide range of disputes, including divorce, parenting plans and paternity, property division, child support, post-decree issues, prenuptial agreements, small business conflicts, couples mediation, and family mediation. Matthew’s approach focuses on facilitating effective communication between parties, believing that when people truly understand each other, they’re more likely to find mutually acceptable solutions.
Matthew is a Certified Practitioner with the Academy of Professional Family Mediators and a registered Parenting Coordinator with the Supreme Court of Indiana. His memberships in the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, Academy of Professional Family Mediators, American Bar Association, and the Lake County (IN) Bar Association underscore his commitment to professional excellence.

A sought-after speaker, Matthew has presented at seminars for the American Bar Association, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Maryland Judiciary – Program for Mediator Excellence, Southern California Mediation Association, and the Indiana Association of Mediators. He recently spearheaded the development of a peer mediation program for local schools, demonstrating his dedication to expanding mediation’s reach.
Matthew’s unique background as a Grammy® and Emmy® Award-winning musician and former labor negotiator for the American Guild of Musical Artists brings a creative, harmonious approach to conflict resolution. This experience in high-stakes negotiations and collaborative artistry influences his mediation philosophy: that even in discord, there’s potential for resolution and growth.

Committed to community service, Matthew volunteers with the Center for Conflict Resolution in Chicago, Illinois and the Community Justice and Mediation Center in Bloomington, Indiana. He is dedicated to mentoring aspiring mediators, having mentored professionals in advanced mediation techniques.

Matthew’s approach to mediation is characterized by empathetic listening, creative problem-solving, and a deep understanding of human dynamics. His diverse life experiences – as a father, husband, musician, hiker, sports enthusiast, and arts advocate – enrich his perspective and enhance his ability to connect with clients from all walks of life.

With a proven track record of resolving complex disputes and a passion for advancing the field of mediation through both practice and education, Matthew Carroll stands as a respected and innovative leader in the mediation community.

Brenda Munoz graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Cal State Long Beach in 2009. Fascinated by the English language Brenda majored in English literature with an emphasis in education. Her field work consisted of grading assignments, tutoring, etc. However, teaching was not enough and so Brenda began looking for a different field.

After graduation, Brenda began looking for work. When she interviewed by Dispute Resolution Program’s director for three weeks. At that time, she was not aware of what mediation is and the role it plays in the legal field. Once hired and as part of her employment, Brenda underwent the free mediation training and has since supervised over 300+ mediations/facilitations. During her employment, in order to learn more about mediation and its role in law, Brenda attained her Masters in Law from University of Southern California in 2018. Since then, her focus has been in law and mediation practice.

Currently, Brenda is in charge of all Spanish mediations and/or facilitations, co-mediates English mediations, trains new volunteer mediators, and manages all volunteer mediator’s cases with the Dispute Resolution Program in the City of Los Angeles