Mady Shumofsky

A graduate of Brown University and an award-winning mediator, Mady Shumofsky does a wide range of mediations and teaches conflict management skills to individuals and organizations, including corporations, small businesses, city governments, police and fire departments, non-profit organizations, and neighborhood groups. Mady has ten years of experience working with attorneys on employment disputes. She offers basic and advanced training to attorneys and mediators in communication and alternative dispute resolution theory and skills.

A black belt in Jujitsu, Mady has headed a Jujitsu school for people of all ages and abilities and has coached martial arts students and instructors for many years. Mady says, "My Jujitsu training carries over into all my work. In dealing with conflict resolution, it directs how I think strategically and helps me empower disputing parties to resolve their conflicts." A creative facilitator and teacher, she utilizes this discipline, including simple Jujitsu exercises in her trainings and presentations. She finds that participants learn more rapidly and integrate the learning more thoroughly when they experience the internal state of non-defensive alertness compared to defensive reactiveness.

Mady also designs conflict management systems tailored to the needs of various organizations. For example, she consulted with a Bay Area city on the design of its internal conflict management system, trained the in-house mediators, and provides continued workshops and consultation.

In addition, Mady offers facilitation workshops such as "Making Fun of Work." Participants in this popular workshop learn how to use icebreakers, energizers, and content-oriented exercises to create openness, build relationships and teams, reverse negative and tired communication patterns, stimulate creative thinking and increase productivity. This workshop as given new tools and new energy to hundreds of trainers, facilitators, retreat planners, youth organizers, teachers, curriculum developers, program directors, board members and community organizers. Having fun while you learn or work is a proven ingredient for success.

Mady is on the Board of Directors of the Association for Dispute Resolution of Northern California. She has served as Interim Training Director of Conflict Resolution Panels of Contra Costa County and was awarded "Mediator of the Year" by Conciliation Forums of Oakland. Mady also is a member of the Bay Area Facilitators Guild, the American Society for Training and Development, and the National Association for Community Mediation.

Areas of Expertise

• Powerful Non-Defensive Communication
• Mediation
• Collaborative Problem Solving
• Team Building
• Community Building
• Designing Organizational Conflict Management Systems
• Employment Disputes
• Conflict Management
• Diversity
• Group Facilitation
• Training Mediators
• Training Facilitators