John Bernard Wisenberg Ford
318 Capricorn Avenue
Oakland, CA 94611
(510) 594-1728
(510) 588-4071 Fax
johnford@mediate.com
www.johnford.com
Professional Experience
John Ford and Associates 1996 to date
Owner
Provide mediation, training, and conflict management consulting services for organizations.
JFK University 2002 to date
Director, Certificate Program-Organizational Conflict Management
Manage program and present courses on conflict management to organizational psychology students.
San Francisco State University 2000 to date
Faculty Member-Human Resource Certificate Program
Present classes on mediation and organizational conflict management to Human Resource professionals.
Mediate.com 1999 to date
Managing Editor
Responsible for content on most visited mediation web site on the Internet.
Lorentz and Bone (Namibia) 1988 to 1995
Attorneys, Notaries, and Conveyancers
Associate and Partner
Responsible for firms’ employment and labor law practice.
Mediation Experience
Mediated numerous workplace (wrongful termination, team and personality), employment discrimination (ADA, Race, Harassment, National Origin, Religion, Sex and Retaliation) and labor (wage and conditions of employment) disputes.
Currently serve as mediator for the Contra Costa Superior Court, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, United States Postal Service (REDRESS), Conciliation Forums of Oakland, World Bank, Mediator Network and Online Resolution Inc.
Training Experience
Presented numerous seminars and workshops on mediation, negotiation, conflict resolution and organizational conflict management to employees, managers, and HR professionals.
Currently serve as a trainer for the Mediation Training Institute International, Training and Development Solutions (Chabot Las Positas Community College) and the Regional Training Institute (Contra Costa, CA).
Conflict Management System Design Experience
Consulted with a variety of organizations about their conflict management systems. Drafted conflict resolution procedures, grievance procedures, harassment policies, and disciplinary codes and procedures.
Legal Experience (Namibia)
Litigated in the Civil, Criminal and Labor Courts; Mediated Labor and Employment Disputes; Arbitrated wrongful termination cases; Negotiated collective bargaining contracts between management and labor; Drafted employment codes for organizations; Represented Ju/'hoansi (San) and other victims of human rights abuses; Represented spouses in divorce actions; Conducted fact finding investigations and wrote reports; Issued legal opinions on local law; Drafted first rules of Namibian Labor Court as Board member.
Education and Training
Certificate in Training and Human Resource Development, (210 Hours)
University of California, Berkeley, April 1999 (with honors)
Mediation Certificate, (80 hours)
Conflict Research and Resource Institute, October 1998
Business Mediation Training, (40 hours)
University of California, Berkeley, October 1997
Mediator Certificate, (205 hours)
Humboldt State University, September 1996
LL.B., University of Cape Town, 1987 (Deans Merit List)
BA, University of Cape Town, 1984
Articles and Research
“Dreams and Conflict: The Dictatorship of the Viewer”
The NCMA Quarterly Newsletter, Summer 2003, Number 68.
"Cross Cultural Conflict Resolution in Teams"
Diversity PEG Newsletter, National Speakers Association, February 2003
"How to be an Effective Advocate for Your Agency During Mediation"
The Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India (ICFAI) Journal of Alternative Dispute Resolution, November 2002
"Measuring Conflict: Both The Hidden Costs and the Benefits of Conflict Management Interventions"
Mediation Information and Resource Center, August 2002
"Process Choices for Workplace Conflict Management"
Mediation Information and Resource Center, May 2002
"Powerful Non Defensive Communication"
The NCMA Quarterly Newsletter, Spring 2002, Number 63.
"Dealing with Difficult Behavior"
Mediation Information and Resource Center, November 2001
"Confidentiality Issues in Workplace Mediation:
What Every HR Manager Should Know"
The NCMA Quarterly Newsletter, Fall 2001, Number 61.
"Training Conflict Resolution Skills in the Workplace"
Mediation Information and Resource Center, August 2001
"Emerging Cultural Norms For Electronic Communication"
The ADR Bulletin, Vol. 4 No. 2, July 2001 (Australia)
"Integrating the Internet into your Conflict Management System"
Journal of ADR in Employment, Vol 3, No 2 Summer 2001
”Workplace ADR: Facts and Figures from the Federal Sector”
The Conflict Resolution Resource Center, June 2000
”Workplace Conflict: Facts and Figures”
Mediation Information and Resource Center, January 2000
”The Role of the Investigation within a Conflict Management System”
Perspectives Newsletter, Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution,
September 1999
”Bibliography of Organizational Conflict Management”
Mediation Training Institute, March 1999
”Defining Discrimination:
Employment discrimination law in Namibia and the USA”
September 1996 (unpublished)
”Act in Conformity with ILO Recommendations”
Namibia Brief, No. 17, September 1993
”The Labor Act: How it affects your business?”
Namibia Business Journal, Issue 1, Volume 3, January 1993
Community Service
· Association For Dispute Resolution Of Northern California
Board of Directors, 2001 to date
President, 2004 to date
· East Bay Community Mediation Center
Volunteer Mediator, 1997 to date (USA)
Professional Affiliations
Member, Association for Conflict Resolution
Member, Northern California Human Resources Association
President, Association For Dispute Resolution Of Northern California
Admitted Attorney in South Africa and Namibia