John Settle is a mediator, group facilitator, coach, trainer and consultant on workplace conflict and communication. John is on the Board of, and a mediator and trainer for, the CMG Foundation of Richmond, VA, mediation and training services provider. Among the rosters of mediators and ADR trainers he serves or has served are the Beacon Group; JDG associates; RGS Inc.; Curtis Lewis and Associates; Virginia’s Office of Employment Dispute Resolution; the Northern Virginia Mediation Service; and others. John also has performed as a mediator and facilitator for the Washington, DC, and Baltimore MD, offices of EEOC, and currently is among the cadre of neutrals for EEOC’s new WISE program serving mainly Federal cases pending at the formal hearing stage. He received the “2018 Distinguished Mediator Award” from the Virginia Mediation Network.

John 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 has mediated many hundreds of EEO and workplace disputes, many for Federal Agencies. He is a retired member of the Virginia Bar. He is on the faculty of George Washington University’s Center for Excellence in Public Leadership, where he teaches on negotiation skills, conflict management, ADR and mentoring, and has served as adjunct faculty at GWU’s Law School, teaching on negotiation. He served under contract as the Ombudsman for the U.S. Architect of the Capitol, and as a “Long-Term Care” Ombuds in Virginia. He was trained as a coach by Advantage Coaching of Chicago, IL, and performs as a mentor for the Senior Executive Association and the Federal Young Government Leaders group.

John is a past President of the Virginia Mediation Network and a Co-Chair of the Workplace Section of the Association for Conflict Resolution. He speaks widely for such organizations as the Federal Dispute Resolution Conference. His background includes federal executive positions, and he was active in the Federal ADR Network and developing the “Shared Neutrals” program.

John spent his federal career in various legal positions (including as a manager and member of the SES) at the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). His last position was directly on the staff of the Secretary of HHS as Chair of the Departmental Appeals Board, which adjudicated disputes in Medicaid, Medicare, and various programs of HHS. The Secretary designated him as the Department’s “Dispute Resolution Specialist” with responsibility to promote mediation throughout the Department. John received the Presidential award of Meritorious Executive in the Senior Executive Service.

A “how-to” approach to mediation with advice on how best to achieve client goals and tips on finding creative solutions for dispute resolution. This guide presents a brief, but thorough explanation of the uniqueness, benefits, and purpose of mediation. Major topics include how mediation is useful, a step-by-step overview of the mediation process, mediators, preparing for and participating in mediation, confidentiality, understanding and using the caucus, working toward resolution, impasse and difficult passages, and concluding the mediation. (more details)