Rita Callahan, Principal and Senior Consultant of Working It Out, is a collaboration and conflict management consultant who works with individuals, companies and organizations to improve interpersonal and organizational communication, and to develop the ability of people, groups and companies to manage conflict and to collaborate effectively. As a conflict management consultant for over 12 years, she mediates, trains, facilitates, conflict coaches, consults, speaks nationally, designs ADR programs and conflict management systems, and is a leader in the conflict resolution field.

Rita has worked with thousands of individuals and groups to communicate, collaborate and manage conflict more effectively. She has worked with

·         thousands of people to communicate more effectively and manage conflicts earlier

·         employees and managers to improve working relationships

·         workgroups to become better teams

·         parties in workplaces and court cases  to mediate agreements

·         individuals to improve communication and conflict management skills

·         blended families to communicate better

·         church groups to address internal tensions

·         business partners to resolve differences

She has contributed to the goal of many organizations to change organizational culture, improve productivity, develop decision-making, collaborate to solve problems, and manage conflict more effectively on projects that:

• trained thousands of people to develop skills in conflict resolution, mediation, facilitation, communication,  collaborative problem-solving, negotiation
• improved effectiveness and efficiency of group meetings
• transformed high conflict, tense, unproductive offices to effective teams
• mediated hundreds of cases for federal agencies, organizations, companies and courts to effectively resolve conflict. Specific expertise in workplace, business and multiparty cases.
• trained new and experienced mediators

Through applying business school principles of strategic planning, decision-making, system design and implementation, Rita has consulted and managed projects in organizational areas of Alternative Dispute Resolution, human resources, operations, sales, marketing, billing, risk management, transportation, information management and other functional areas.

By combining a business-oriented academic background (BS-Mathematics; MDS- Master’s in Decision Science) with a results-oriented focus, and with expertise in dealing with people in conflict or having communication challenges, Rita manages a wide range of processes designed for client results and satisfaction. Rita is recognized as a leader in the conflict resolution field through her state and national positions in the Association for Conflict Resolution and the American Bar Association – Dispute Resolution Section.

Mediation

·         Mediated hundreds of cases for federal agencies, workplaces and courts. Specific expertise in workplace and business cases, probate, special education, and multiparty cases.

·         Mediation training participant in general civil mediation, advanced mediation, probate mediation, workplace disputes mediation, special education mediation, juvenile court mediation, dependency mediation, and transformative mediation courses.

·         Serves on mediation panels with several Georgia court systems, US Postal Service, Justice Center of Atlanta and Peninsula Mediation Center

·         Presented over 100 mediation trainings in general civil mediation, advanced mediation, workplace disputes mediation, special education mediation, juvenile court mediation, and dependency mediation.

·         Advanced Practitioner in Workplace Mediation through the Association of Conflict Resolution

·         Mediated Georgia’s first multi-party dependency case in 1999.

·         Registered neutral in Georgia since 1996.

Training

·         Designed and delivered over 200 trainings in conflict resolution, mediation, advanced mediation, workplace mediation, facilitation, negotiation, communication, team building, listening, conflict coaching, problem-solving and other topics for federal agencies, corporations, organizations and groups.

·         Presented over 100 mediation trainings in general civil mediation, advanced mediation, workplace disputes mediation, special education mediation, juvenile court mediation, and dependency mediation.

·         Senior Trainer in Interest-Based Negotiation for U.S. Air Force project.

·         Delivered proprietary sales and financial training programs for companies in financial, pharmaceutical, and technology industries.

·         Trainer and Facilitator in the Transportation Security Agency’s Model Workplace Program.

·         Master Trainer of Conflict Dynamics Profile®

Conflict Coaching

·         Developed and delivered conflict management coaching and team building projects that are significant components of national ADR workplace program for federal agency.

·         Coaches managers and employees by telephone and in person to improve workplace communication, to resolve conflict effectively and to increase effective collaboration.

·         Designed and delivered group coaching programs for new and experienced mediators to develop mediation skills.

Facilitation

·         Facilitated group meetings for federal agencies and companies with groups in high conflict situations to communicate more effectively and increase productivity.

·         Designed and delivered facilitation skills training for special educators in NC, GA, FL, PA, WV, and AL.

·         Was one of 500 facilitators in NYC in July 2002 for the 5000 person Listening to the City facilitated event.

·         Trainer and Facilitator in the Transportation Security Agency’s Model Workplace Program.

Organizations

Association of Conflict Resolution, elected Board Member, 2006-2009

     Co-Chair, Workplace Section, elected for 2002-2004

Co-Chair, Public Education Task Force 2004-2008

Certification Task Force 2003-2004

Chapter Advisory Council 2004-2006,

2004 ACR Conference Planning Committee

     Co-founder and President, Georgia Chapter, 2002-2004

     GA Chapter Board Member 2004-2006

     Greater New York Chapter, Member, since 2007

American Bar Association, Associate Member

     Chair, Expanded Conflict Management Processes Committee, 2005-current

     Co-Chair of Associates Committee of Dispute Resolution Section, 2004-2005

Society for Human Resource Management and HR – NY, Member, since 2007

American Society for Training and Development

     Atlanta Chapter, Consultant to the Board

     Co-Chair, Independent Trainers and Consultants Network, 1997

     New York Chapter, member, since 2007

International Coach Federation; Georgia Speakers Association

Toastmasters International, President of club, 1996

World Future Society, Annual Conference Co-Chair, 1995

International Systems Consultants Association, President, 1987-1988

   Consultant of the Year Award, 1988

   Chair, Standards and Ethics Committee, 1986-1992