COP Event: Breaking Impasse

Speaker: John (Norval) Settle, MPA, JD, Certified Mentor Mediator
CME: 2 (pending)

Description: Sometimes we find ourselves confronted with parties that in spite of our best efforts, come to a standstill. Impasse can take many different forms and so do the strategies that can break it. In this session, Mr. Settle will facilitate an in-depth discussion on the causes of impasse and proven strategies to overcome it. The second part of the session will provide participants an opportunity to test out some strategies for themselves on real scenarios mediators have come up against.

About the facilitator: John Settle has over twenty years experience as a mediator and trainer.  He is certified as a mediator and Mentor Mediator by the Supreme Court of Virginia, and he holds Advanced Workplace Mediator status from the Association for Conflict Resolution.  He heads his own mediation and consulting firm (SETTLEment Associates, LLC) and is among the cadre of consultants for several national firms providing ADR services.  He has been a trainer and mediator with the Northern Virginia Mediation Service since 1998.  He is a contract mediator for three offices of EEOC (including EEOC’s internal “Resolve” program) and has mediated and trained for many federal agencies.  He served as the contract Ombudsman for the U.S. Architect of the Capitol.  Mr. Settle is on the faculty of George Washington University’s Center for Excellence in Public Administration, teaching conflict management and negotiation skills, and has taught negotiation skills at GWU Law School.  He is a retired member of the Virginia Bar. Mr. Settle formerly held senior federal management positions, and he received the Presidential Award of Meritorious Executive in the Senior Executive Service.