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Board of Directors
John Lemieux - President John is a Portland native and a graduate of Cheverus High School, College of the Holy Cross and Boston College Law School. He has been practicing law in Maine since 1980. After starting out as a community organizer and attorney for Pine Tree Legal Assistance, he spent 11 years, primarily as Chief Legal Counsel, with the Maine State Employees Association in Augusta. To be more available to raise his sons, he managed his own law office based in Readfield for several years. After practicing with respected firms in Gardiner and Westbrook, Attorney Lemieux decided to open his office in the Woodfords Corner area of Portland in 2011. During his years in private practice, John was engaged in civil litigation of a variety of disputes including employment, business, probate, real estate and family law cases. Since acquiring his Mediation Certificate from USM in 2012, John has focused upon expanding his mediation practice. He currently serves on the CADRES Family Law panel and the Department of Education panel.  Andy Kull - Vice PresidentAndy brings a wealth of experience as an attorney, litigator and facilitator to his role as a dispute resolution professional. Offering both traditional mediation and alternative mediation process, Andy supports parties to resolve both the symptoms and the causes of dispute. Also offering group facilitation for leadership teams, relationship building, and healing and reconciliation. Andy lives in Brunswick, Maine with his family.
Jay Wilgus is a lawyer, mediator, educator, consultant, and facilitator who serves as Principal of Klancy Street, LLC – a specialized law, consulting, and dispute resolution practice focused on helping parties find common ground. Prior to forming Klancy Street, he served as Director of the Office of Student Conflict Resolution at the University of Michigan and Assistant Dean of Students at the University of Utah. His written work has addressed, among other things, the utility of facilitated dialogue in addressing campus conflict, the application of restorative justice practices to student sexual misconduct cases, and the use of specialized risk assessment and treatment interventions for college students found responsible for sexual misconduct. He is now regularly called upon to assist postsecondary institutions, federal agencies, academics, and others seeking to improve institutional responses to student conduct, student conflict, and sexual misconduct. He holds an Honors B.S. from the University of Utah, a Master’s in Dispute Resolution from Pepperdine University, and a J.D. from the University of Utah where he served as a member of the Utah Law Review. He is licensed to practice law in the State of Utah.
Linc (they/he) got their start in conflict transformation work in Northern California in 2019, after witnessing a local social and political disagreement escalate to tear apart a national organization. They co-created a team of 12 young adult mediators, aimed at expanding this youth climate justice organization's capacity to hold conflict with nuance and grace. After spending three years leading this team of youth mediators, Linc returned to the East Coast and opened up Community Care Mediation to continue their conflict transformation work. They serve as a mediator for the Maine Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Service (CADRES) and the Maine Agricultural Mediation Program (MAMP). Linc grew up on unceded Narragansett territory, otherwise known as Providence, RI, and are currently living between there and Rockland, ME. They enjoy playing cribbage, wildcrafting meals and medicine from the woods, and singing with friends new and old.
Terri is a mediator and parent educator and co-parenting consultant with a private practice in Falmouth, ME. Terri has a Master of Counseling Psychology from Alaska Pacific University and BA from Syracuse University. She has been involved with the Kids First Center in Portland, ME for over 20 years; as a founding member, past Board President, and current program facilitator. She is an experienced facilitator of psycho-educational groups for children, adults going through separation and divorce, and parents with new partners and stepparents. In May of 2018, Terri was honored with the Kids First Center Outstanding Service Award. She was also active in The Opportunity Alliance Mediation Services Program. Currently, Terri serves on the court roster for family matters in Portland and Biddeford, ME. She specializes in supporting families and individuals in transition through education, effective communication, parenting, and compassion giving special consideration to the experience of the child.
Sharon McMahon Sawyer, J.D., LL.M. is Associate Professor of Justice Studies and Coordinator of the Mediation Certificate at the University of Maine at Augusta. A member of the Massachusetts Bar, she has taught mediation and conflict resolution courses over the past ten years, including a semester at the Technical University of Liberec in the Czech Republic. She has mediated a wide range of conflicts, including intergenerational family disputes, consumer issues, and business relationships.
Joseph Smith is a full-time mediator specializing in business negotiations and multi-party disputes. He works with organizations of all sizes, from family-owned businesses to Fortune 100 companies, and serves with the State of Maine’s CADRES program, handling cases from the Biddeford, Portland, and Lewiston courts. Influencing his professional work, Joseph has focused on peacebuilding and dialogue. He directed a multi-year reconciliation effort between Brigham Young University and various student and residential communities in Provo, Utah, and facilitated policy discussions between students, administrators, and church leaders that resulted in meaningful institutional changes. In all disputes, Joseph seeks to blend a collaborative approach that builds trust between parties with practical, forward-looking solutions. He lives in Portland, Maine, with his wife, a resident physician at Maine Medical Center.
Laura
Seaton
has
been
helping
Maine
families
navigate
relational
conflicts,
including
divorce,
custody,
and
child
support
conversations,
since
2021.
Additionally,
she
is
an
organizational
development
consultant
helping
small
and
nonprofits
navigate
periods
of
and
growth.
Her
prior
professional
roles
include
NonProfit
Executive
Director,
State
Senate
Campaign
Manager,
Certified
Professional
Midwife,
Early
Childhood
Music
and
Movement
Teacher,
and
Music
Store
Owner.
She
holds
a
Master
of
Arts
in
Leadership
and
a
Bachelor
of
Science
in
Political
Science.
Laura
lives
in
Searsport
with
her
four
kids,
and
one
cat.
In
her
leisure
time,
she
likes
to
knit,
read,
garden,
hike,
dance,
travel,
and
research
whatever
burning
question
has
captured
her
that
day.
She
is
a
student-practitioner
of
NonViolent
Communication
and
Resonant
Language.
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Jay Wilgus - Treasurer
Terri DeCoster - Co-Chairperson of Meetings and Events
Sharon McMahon Sawyer - Co-Chairperson of Meetings and Events
Joseph Smith - Chairperson Public Information and Outreach.jpeg)
Melissa Maker - Chairperson Membership Committee
Melissa is a mediator with a background in liberal studies, a minor in justice and human resources, and years of experience as a Broker in real estate bringing a unique set of skills and knowledge to the field. She has knowledge and experience in the healthcare industry and has a Life and Health license. Melissa’s unique background equips her with the necessary skills, knowledge, and empathy to excel as a mediator. Through her diverse experiences, she has developed strong communication skills, a deep understanding of cultural nuances, and the ability to navigate complex interpersonal dynamics. Her analytical thinking, impartiality, and commitment to fairness allow her to approach disputes with an open mind and seek innovative solutions that satisfy all parties involved. With a genuine passion for fostering harmony and facilitating constructive dialogue, her background makes her a highly effective mediator, capable of resolving conflicts and promoting peaceful resolutions in a variety of contexts. Melissa is a member of MAMP, CADRES, MAM and has a private practice Melissa Maker Consulting, LLC.
Rebekah Smith - Ombudsperson
Rebekah has provided exclusively neutral legal services since 2005, serving as a mediator, arbitrator, independent investigator, and administrative hearing officer. She has mediated hundreds of disputes to successful resolution in a variety of settings from family inheritance disagreements to human rights violations through various rosters and private appointments. She also serves as an arbitrator in labor matters throughout New England. Rebekah serves as a neutral for several state agencies, including the Maine Department of Education, the Maine Labor Relations Board and its Fact Finding Panel, the Maine Human Rights Commission, the Maine Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, the Maine Public Employees Retirement System, and the Maine Department of Public Safety.
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