Mediation Assistance is Professional mediation through alternative dispute resolution Resources and professional mediators

Professional Background

Judy Brannen holds a certificate in Dispute Resolution from University of California, Riverside and a certificate in arbitration from the institute in conflict management. She is a private practice mediator and real estate broker. Having spent 28 years in the real estate industry, she has superior communication and negotiating skills. Judy discovered mediation in 1996 when the San Bernardino County Small Claims Center for Dispute Resolution was looking for interested parties to train as mediators. With several hundred hours of training and in session mediations, her settlement rate is impressive. Judy is a contract mediator for the United States Postal Service REDRESS program and State of California Department of Fair Employment and Housing in the HUD funded Fair Housing Mediation Program.

Judy's mediation practice is currently specializing in real estate and business matters, with some EEO matters on the calendar. Additionally, Judy is a court certified mediator for Riverside County, she previously served as mediator for the San Bernardino County Center for Dispute Resolution. Judy obtained her real estate license in 1976. She worked in sales and management, including land and crops, 1031 exchanges, income property and residential. Upon entering the title insurance industry she worked as title officer, Department of Real Estate Processor, and Subdivision Supervisor. Judy owned her own top producing brokerage, served as president of the Board of Realtors in 1993 and chaired professional standards committee 3 times. She received the coveted "Realtor of the Year" award in 1996. Additionally, Judy is called upon for expert witness testimony in real estate matters.

Judy co-developed a real estate mediation class approved by the California Department of Real estate for 12 hours of continuing education. The class was provided by California State University, San Bernardino.

Dispute Resolution Training

Institute of Conflict Management, Santa Monica, Certificate in Arbitration. University of California Riverside, Certificate in Dispute Resolution. California State University, San Bernardino Introduction to mediation. California State University, San Bernardino Advanced mediation process. National Association Securities Dealers advocacy course. United States Postal Service Redress Program Advanced Transformative Mediation Skills. Southern California Mediation Association EEO and more, totaling over 400 hours

Mediation Experience

Judy interned for 2 years with the court system, in all types of cases, spending hundreds of hours and driving thousands of miles honing the skills necessary to be proficient in the field of mediation. In private practice since 1996, she has acted as mediator, since 1999, in United States Postal Service Redress mediations. Judy is referred by boards of Realtors to parties looking to resolve real estate matters. Additionally, she is affiliated with the Arbitration, Mediation and Conciliation Centers, the National Mediation Centers and HUD funded housing discrimination program administered by Department of Fair Employment and Housing; Federal Occupational Health services; Court of Appeal Second Appellate District Mediation Panel.

Style of Mediation

A great deal of emphasis is placed on assisting the parties in opening the lines of communication in order to identify issues and give each party ample time to express their views. Confidential private sessions with the parties during the mediation often help with the process.

Personal Values in Mediation

Judy is passionate in her resolve that mediation is for the parties and by the parties. The mediators only involvement is to help guide the process and explore options. The parties, themselves, create any agreement that may be reached.