Displaying the awards at the Resolution Center’s “Evening at the Movies” event on March 26 were (left to right) Barbara Johannessen, Brenda Lewis, and Myla Ford accepting on behalf of Judge Gregory Ross who serves on both the Sanilac County Probate Court and 73-A District Court benches.
– Photo by John Meiu
Honoring those who work to resolve conflict
By Melanie Deeds
Legal News
One might safely assume that Brenda Lewis never worried about how to fill her days once she retired.
Though the Shelby Township resident had been mediating for The Resolution Center since 1998, she revved that involvement into high gear upon retirement from the U.S. Army’s TACOM division in Warren.
For her efforts, Lewis was honored during the center’s annual “Evening at the Movies” fundraiser on Tuesday, March 26, at the MJR Marketplace Sterling Heights Cinema 20 in Sterling Heights.
She was presented with the Lawrence W. Beckett Volunteer of the Year Award.
Craig Pappas, executive director, said Lewis played a crucial role as the center launched its small claims mediation program at the 41-A District Court in Shelby Township.
“Brenda has helped the agency out in other capacities such as fundraising and advanced trainings,” he said.
During 2018, Pappas said Lewis mediated more than 200 cases and volunteered more than 150 hours of mediation time.
The recipient of the Conflict Resolution Advocacy Award was Judge Gregory Ross, who serves on both the Sanilac County Probate Court
and 73-A District Court benches.
In 2013, the Resolution Center began providing mediation services in counties in Michigan’s Thumb area as part of its contract with the State Court Administrative Office, Pappas said.
Ross was the first judge in the area to reach out and develop a collaborative partnership with the center, according to Pappas.
“We handle approximately 150 case referrals annually from Judge Ross,” Pappas said. “He continues to be an advocate for alternative dispute resolution and we appreciate the support he has demonstrated.”
Barbara Johannessen of Rochester Hills was honored with the Laurence Harwood Distinguished Mediator Award.
Johannessen has been a volunteer mediator at the center for more than 20 years. Additionally, she is a certified mediation trainer through the Michigan State Court Administrative Office.
Johannessen, the past chair of the State Bar of Michigan’s ADR Section, has trained hundreds of mediators throughout Michigan, Pappas added.
She was chosen for the award because she mediated more than 200 cases at the center, the highest number last year, he said.
Overall, the center processed 3,100 cases during 2018, of which 2,377 were mediated to settlement and 392 were mediated without settlement. Pappas said $1.2 million exchanged hands as result of mediation settlements, an average of $3,500 per case.
Just over 6,000 people took part in a mediation through the Resolution Center office during 2018, he said. Meanwhile, 1,100 cases were court ordered and 1,950 were referrals from programs the center operations in connection with area schools.
For additional information on The Resolution Center, visit www.theresolutioncenter.com.
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