Mediators and Trainers
Our multi-ethnic and multi-lingual team of Conflict Resolution Professionals (CRPs) brings a wide range of skills, experience, and perspectives to Catalyst's efforts. All of Catalyst's CRPs bring strong backgrounds and carry a commitment to community mediation as a launching point for conflict resolution education and community empowerment. As a "starfish organization," we rely on the power of peer relationships and believe in building team members to go and replicate the work of Catalyst in their own conflict resolution endeavors.
IRVIN FOSTER, J.D. - Senior Trainer and Project Coordinator
Irvin Foster is the principle mediator and trainer for Catalyst IpF. An experienced mediator and trainer, he received a Juris Doctorate from Catholic University of America and did graduate work in Conflict Resolution at McGregor College, Antioch University. Irvin is the former Executive Director of the Far East Community Services, Washington, D.C, Yellow Springs Community Mediation Center, Ohio, the Saint. Mary's Community Mediation Center, Maryland and the National
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IRVIN FOSTER, J.D. - Senior Trainer and Project Coordinator
Irvin Foster is the principle mediator and trainer for Catalyst IpF. An experienced mediator and trainer, he received a Juris Doctorate from Catholic University of America and did graduate work in Conflict Resolution at McGregor College, Antioch University. Irvin is the former Executive Director of the Far East Community Services, Washington, D.C, Yellow Springs Community Mediation Center, Ohio, the Saint. Mary's Community Mediation Center, Maryland and the National
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JINN WINN CHONG, LL.M, M.A., M.S. - System Designer (Chinese language)
Jinn is from Malaysia and currently serves as Instructional Designer at The Center for Technology in Education (CTE), Johns Hopkins University. With a background in learning technology, law, conflict studies, international affairs, and cross-cultural communications, Jinn specializes in designing and delivering inclusive online learning and professional development programs on behalf of learning institutions, public bodies, non-profit organizations, and community
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MARINA KOLARIC, M.A. - Trainer and Life Coach (Serbian language; Croatian language; Bosnian language; Macedonian language)
Marina Kolaric was born in Novi Sad, Serbia, where she received her Bachelor's degree in Psychology in 2004. Over the next two years she worked in a local media non-government organization, Novi Sad School of Journalism. During the time she was studying and working in Serbia, Marina also completed a two-year university course in Leadership and Developmental Youth Work through the Forum Syd Balkans Program and the School of Education and Communication (Jonkoping University, Sweden), and became a certified trainer. Marina received her Master's degree in Speech/Communication from the University of Hawaii (UH) in 2008, where she also completed a Graduate Certificate Program in Conflict Resolution. After graduating from the UH, she moved to Washington DC where she worked at the Institute for Multi-Track Diplomacy, on international development projects in Montenegro, Russia, and Kosovo. Marina speaks fluent Serbian, as well as the other languages of Former Yugoslavia. Marina is interested in pursuing her career as a mediator and trainer in conflict resolution skills. At Catalyst IpF, she is gaining knowledge that will help her in accomplishing her goals and interests, while assisting in designing programs and trainings.
GURURAJ KUMAR, M.A. - Trainer, Mediator and System Designer
Gururaj is the Training and Policy Program Director for the ICONS Project. He oversees all aspects of ICONS' professional training programs, serving as client manager and course facilitator, as well as managing the administrative aspects for each session. Gururaj served as the Director of American University’s Mediation Services at American University, providing mediation, conflict management, and third-party facilitation services to all faculty, staff, and students on
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JARED ORDWAY, PH.D. - Trainer, Mediator and System Designer (Spanish language; Portuguese language)
Jared is a conflict intervention specialist, researcher, and educator whose diverse intermediary experiences encompass training, consulting, and advising roles for clients that range from government agencies & diplomatic missions, to businesses and civil society organizations. He draws expertise from over 15 years of engagement and experience facilitating conflict & transformation processes, organizational change & intercultural management, team building & leadership
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BARBARA STRAHL, PH.D. - Senior Trainer and System Designer
Barbara Strahl is a long time mediator and conflict professional and received her Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution. Barbara is the Senior Mediation Specialist of the CC Neighborhood Justice Center in Las Vegas, NV. She has served as a co-chair for the National Association for Community Mediation (NAFCM) and chaired their quality insurance committee. Barbara regularly presents and lectures on the design and implementation of conflict resolution systems for
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TOM WAHLRAB, M.ED. - Senior Trainer and Mediator
Tom Wahlrab is the former Executive Director of the City of Dayton (Ohio) Human Relations Council and the Dayton Mediation Center. Mr. Wahlrab received his BA from Central State University, Wilberforce, Ohio and a MS Ed. from the University of Dayton. He is currently a Fellow and Board member of the Institute for the Study of Conflict Transformation (ISCT. He is married with three children, lives in Dayton Ohio and, with his wife, stewards a piece of land in Highland County, Ohio. He is one of the principal facilitators of the community conversation that resulted in the Welcome Dayton Plan. He has thirty years of results-oriented experience in government and private sector environments involving equal employment opportunity, mediation, conflict management systems development and implementation, team building, program management, teaching and training. He is one of the principal facilitators of the community conversation that resulted in the Welcome Dayton Plan.
MAËLLE NOE, M.A. - Dialogue Facilitator and TrainerMaëlle Noé is an illustrator, mediator, dialogue facilitator, conflict transformation coach and trainer currently based in Brussels, Belgium. Maëlle has been bridging the arts and conflict transformation through trainings, coaching and dialogues, both online and in person, in North America, East Africa, and Western Europe. She received her BA (Hons) in Illustration from the University of the Arts London, her MA in International Peace and Security from Korea University, Seoul, her MA in International Communication from American University, Washington DC, was trained in the transformative approach to mediation in DC and Dayton Ohio, went on to get a Mediation University Diploma from IFOMENE, Paris, and successfully completed complementary Social Psychology MA courses at the Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium. She is currently spending the time not used on mediations to work on an illustrated book project to share her love for humans in conflict.
HASSHAN BATTS, PH.D. - Trainer and Mediator
Hasshan Batts is a survivor, healer, son, father and friend. He is the Director of Education and Training for Practitioners Research and Scholarship Institute, founding member of The Society for the Healing and Study of Historical Trauma, founding board member of WEER (Healthy) Africa, current Collective Impact Fellow through the Rider-Pool Foundation and a leading expert in trauma informed care, resiliency, restorative practices, reentry and community
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Remembering Deborah Lynn Taylor
Deborah Lynn Taylor served the Mediation Coordinator of Montgomery County Juvenile Court in Dayton, OH. She earned a bachelor degree in Sociology from the College of Wooster, in Wooster, OH. Deborah was a preliminary hearing officer, a probationer officer and a youth program manager. Deborah specialized in family and parent-teen mediation and training and dialogue facilitation. Her legacy and impact live on through Catalyst's work.
Jinn is from Malaysia and currently serves as Instructional Designer at The Center for Technology in Education (CTE), Johns Hopkins University. With a background in learning technology, law, conflict studies, international affairs, and cross-cultural communications, Jinn specializes in designing and delivering inclusive online learning and professional development programs on behalf of learning institutions, public bodies, non-profit organizations, and community
Read More >
MARINA KOLARIC, M.A. - Trainer and Life Coach (Serbian language; Croatian language; Bosnian language; Macedonian language)
Marina Kolaric was born in Novi Sad, Serbia, where she received her Bachelor's degree in Psychology in 2004. Over the next two years she worked in a local media non-government organization, Novi Sad School of Journalism. During the time she was studying and working in Serbia, Marina also completed a two-year university course in Leadership and Developmental Youth Work through the Forum Syd Balkans Program and the School of Education and Communication (Jonkoping University, Sweden), and became a certified trainer. Marina received her Master's degree in Speech/Communication from the University of Hawaii (UH) in 2008, where she also completed a Graduate Certificate Program in Conflict Resolution. After graduating from the UH, she moved to Washington DC where she worked at the Institute for Multi-Track Diplomacy, on international development projects in Montenegro, Russia, and Kosovo. Marina speaks fluent Serbian, as well as the other languages of Former Yugoslavia. Marina is interested in pursuing her career as a mediator and trainer in conflict resolution skills. At Catalyst IpF, she is gaining knowledge that will help her in accomplishing her goals and interests, while assisting in designing programs and trainings.
GURURAJ KUMAR, M.A. - Trainer, Mediator and System Designer
Gururaj is the Training and Policy Program Director for the ICONS Project. He oversees all aspects of ICONS' professional training programs, serving as client manager and course facilitator, as well as managing the administrative aspects for each session. Gururaj served as the Director of American University’s Mediation Services at American University, providing mediation, conflict management, and third-party facilitation services to all faculty, staff, and students on
Read More >
JARED ORDWAY, PH.D. - Trainer, Mediator and System Designer (Spanish language; Portuguese language)
Jared is a conflict intervention specialist, researcher, and educator whose diverse intermediary experiences encompass training, consulting, and advising roles for clients that range from government agencies & diplomatic missions, to businesses and civil society organizations. He draws expertise from over 15 years of engagement and experience facilitating conflict & transformation processes, organizational change & intercultural management, team building & leadership
Read More >
BARBARA STRAHL, PH.D. - Senior Trainer and System Designer
Barbara Strahl is a long time mediator and conflict professional and received her Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution. Barbara is the Senior Mediation Specialist of the CC Neighborhood Justice Center in Las Vegas, NV. She has served as a co-chair for the National Association for Community Mediation (NAFCM) and chaired their quality insurance committee. Barbara regularly presents and lectures on the design and implementation of conflict resolution systems for
Read More >
TOM WAHLRAB, M.ED. - Senior Trainer and Mediator
Tom Wahlrab is the former Executive Director of the City of Dayton (Ohio) Human Relations Council and the Dayton Mediation Center. Mr. Wahlrab received his BA from Central State University, Wilberforce, Ohio and a MS Ed. from the University of Dayton. He is currently a Fellow and Board member of the Institute for the Study of Conflict Transformation (ISCT. He is married with three children, lives in Dayton Ohio and, with his wife, stewards a piece of land in Highland County, Ohio. He is one of the principal facilitators of the community conversation that resulted in the Welcome Dayton Plan. He has thirty years of results-oriented experience in government and private sector environments involving equal employment opportunity, mediation, conflict management systems development and implementation, team building, program management, teaching and training. He is one of the principal facilitators of the community conversation that resulted in the Welcome Dayton Plan.
MAËLLE NOE, M.A. - Dialogue Facilitator and TrainerMaëlle Noé is an illustrator, mediator, dialogue facilitator, conflict transformation coach and trainer currently based in Brussels, Belgium. Maëlle has been bridging the arts and conflict transformation through trainings, coaching and dialogues, both online and in person, in North America, East Africa, and Western Europe. She received her BA (Hons) in Illustration from the University of the Arts London, her MA in International Peace and Security from Korea University, Seoul, her MA in International Communication from American University, Washington DC, was trained in the transformative approach to mediation in DC and Dayton Ohio, went on to get a Mediation University Diploma from IFOMENE, Paris, and successfully completed complementary Social Psychology MA courses at the Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium. She is currently spending the time not used on mediations to work on an illustrated book project to share her love for humans in conflict.
HASSHAN BATTS, PH.D. - Trainer and Mediator
Hasshan Batts is a survivor, healer, son, father and friend. He is the Director of Education and Training for Practitioners Research and Scholarship Institute, founding member of The Society for the Healing and Study of Historical Trauma, founding board member of WEER (Healthy) Africa, current Collective Impact Fellow through the Rider-Pool Foundation and a leading expert in trauma informed care, resiliency, restorative practices, reentry and community
Read More >
Remembering Deborah Lynn Taylor
Deborah Lynn Taylor served the Mediation Coordinator of Montgomery County Juvenile Court in Dayton, OH. She earned a bachelor degree in Sociology from the College of Wooster, in Wooster, OH. Deborah was a preliminary hearing officer, a probationer officer and a youth program manager. Deborah specialized in family and parent-teen mediation and training and dialogue facilitation. Her legacy and impact live on through Catalyst's work.
