steven-menack-photoSteven Boyd Menack – an interview

 

October 2016

1)  Who are you? Where do you come from? What is your background?

I am a highly experienced professional divorce and family mediator with professional and educational backgrounds in both law and psychology.  I have been involved in the field of mediation since the early 1980’s, nearly two-thirds of my life.  Having been born in Phoenix, Arizona, I have lived throughout the United States and in Mexico.

2)  What do your current professional practice and activities look like?

I have a very active private professional divorce mediation practice serving New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut. Additionally, as the current Vice President of the national non-profit Professional Mediation Board of Standards (PMBS), I am in the process of helping to develop a professional certification in divorce and family mediation and promoting professionalism in this fast growing field.

3)  How did you first learn about mediation?

I first was exposed to divorce mediation while pursuing graduate-level coursework in law and psychology at Harvard University; my project was titled “Successful Techniques in Divorce Mediation.”

4)  What do you hope to accomplish as a Board Member of APFM?

As a Board Member of APFM, I hope to enhance the professional practice of mediation, increase public awareness of mediation as the most effective and efficient dispute resolution mechanism, and serve as the liaison between the Academy and the various national, state, regional and local mediation organizations.

5)  Where do you see the field of Family Mediation going?

I see Family Mediation becoming even more prevalent with every passing year. With that expansion of mediation, I expect the educational and experiential standards defining an experienced professional mediator to be heightened (thereby raising the bar for our profession), and making the certification of professional family mediators far more likely and widespread.

6)  What do you like to do when you are not mediating?

On those very rare occasions when I am not mediating, I enjoy travel, photography, exploring spirituality and spending time with my wife and two children.

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