(Alexandria / Washington D.C.)

Marialuisa “ML” Gallozzi is a partner in the insurance practice of Covington & Burling LLP with decades of experience representing policyholders in the mediation and settlement of a broad range of insurance disputes; her areas of expertise include coverage for cyber risks and business interruption losses. She previously mediated in the District of Columbia Superior Court Multidoor Dispute Resolution program (civil and child protection) and is currently a Certified State of Virginia Mediator and a member of the NVMS roster of mediators. ML has extensive experience as counsel in complex, multiparty, high stakes disputes and as a mediator in matters involving family relationships and small claims.

ML is a member of the Board of Regents of the American College of Coverage Counsel (ACCC), which was established in 2012 and is the preeminent association of U.S. and Canadian lawyers who represent insurers and policyholders. The ACCC mission includes advancing the creative, ethical and efficient resolution of insurance coverage and extra-contractual disputes. ML also has been the chair of the ACCC ADR committee for a number of years. ML also serves on the board of the nonprofit DC Appleseed Center for Law and Justice and as corporate secretary and counsel to Union Station Redevelopment Corporation. 

ML is a frequent writer and speaker on insurance coverage and dispute resolution topics. Her professional accolades include recognition in Chambers and Washington DC Super Lawyers "Top 100 Lawyers" and "Top 50 Women Lawyers." She is a graduate of Harvard-Radcliffe Colleges and New York University School of Law.

ML joined the VMN Board of Directors in 2022.  She serves on the Communications Committee.

(Reston)

Steven M. Garver is an accomplished trial attorney and divorce mediator. He moved to Reston, Virginia in 1974 with his family, and has developed a diverse legal practice, with litigation experience in personal injury, medical malpractice, civil rights actions, domestic relations, and criminal cases. He also has significant experience in corporate, business and transactional work. Mr. Garver has tried to verdict personal injury cases, medical malpractice cases, felonies and business litigation. He has also tried numerous domestic relations matters.

In 1979, Mr. Garver became one of the first attorney mediators handling divorce cases. He was self-taught and driven to the field by what he saw as unnecessary expense – emotionally and financially – in the divorce process. He has more recently studied at the Harvard Mediation and Negotiation project to expand his skills as a mediator, and is now doing divorce mediation through Divorce Mediation Associates, Ltd. His diverse legal background gives him a special advantage in understanding many of the legal issues faced by families in this complex world.  He has trained at Harvard Law School over two summers, Northwestern University and participated in other continuing education programs.

He is an adjunct professor for George Mason University Law School teaching classes including a course in negotiation.  Mr. Garver is a certified mediator by the Supreme Court.

Steven joined the VMN Board of Directors in 2022.  He co-chairs the Bylaws/Legislative Committee.

(Staunton)

Christine Poulson is the Executive Director of Resolution Virginia where she advocates for the expanded use of community-based dispute resolution and coordinates the Virginia Trust Network.  

Christine earned a master’s degree in Conflict Transformation from Eastern Mennonite University to prepare herself to more adequately assist with issue affecting communities at home and abroad.  While earning that degree she worked with the Mountain Institute in Franklin, WV on a project linking people in mountain communities worldwide.

After serving as a private mediator in Blacksburg, VA, Christine became the Executive Director of the Conflict Resolution Center in Roanoke.  There she mediated for all levels of court, for the United States Postal Service, and for the Department of Forestry.  She trained hundreds of people in conflict resolution skills, including incarcerated women at the Virginia Correctional Center for Women, and taught leadership and conflict resolution at Virginia Tech.  Her favorite work involves bringing groups of people together to discuss difficult issues. 

Christine currently resides in and runs the statewide association of not-for-profit dispute resolution centers, Resolution Virginia, from the beautiful city of Staunton, VA.  She has two children who attend Staunton City Schools and was elected to the school board where she has the opportunity to use her dispute resolution skills to assist with controversial issues.  Christine also serves on the board of the Boys and Girls Club of Waynesboro, Staunton and Augusta County.

Christine joined the VMN Board in 2020, and she chairs the Membership Committee. 

Amy joined the VMN Board in 2021, and she co-chairs the Webinars Committee with Ray Schmidt.  She also serves on the Conference Planning Committee.

(Round Hill)

Raymond Schmidt is a Virginia General District and Circuit Court certified mediator, mentor and trainer with over 22 years of experience in mediation and ADR. Ray became a mediator in 1999 and has mediated many court-referred and private civil cases. Recently retired, Ray has over 39 years of senior level Human Resources experience in both union and non-union manufacturing and health care workplaces. As the company spokesperson during collective bargaining negotiations and arbitrations, he has acquired extensive experience in dealing with a myriad of employee and management conflicts and issues including a rare successful union decertification election in a heavily unionized industry.

Ray received his BBA from Temple University, Philadelphia. He also received the Senior Professional Human Resources certification (SPHR) from the Human Resources Institute and the SCP certification from the Society of Human Resources Management, SHRM. Ray has also received certification as a Management Coach and Employee Relations Specialist. Throughout his career he has been an “internal adjunct educator” providing positive employment training for all levels of leadership. In the last 3 years of employment he was the lead for transitioning his previous employer on a journey of formal recognition of being an Employer of Choice; by Fortune 500’s Top 500 employers.  He practices in Northern Virginia, primarily in the City of Winchester, Frederick County, Warren County, and Shenandoah.  He previously practiced in the Hampton Roads area.

Ray joined the VMN Board in 2021, and he co-chairs the Webinars Committee with Amy Pruett.  He also serves on the Outreach and Conference Planning committees.

(Salem)

Henry Yampolsky is a mediator, educator, author, and TEDx speaker. Henry’s critically acclaimed book, Dis-Solving Conflict from Within: an Inner Path for Conflict Transformation explores how mindfulness can transform even the most challenging interactions into opportunities for growth, connection, and dialogue. Henry serves as the Assistant Director for Education, Outreach, and Conflict Resolution at Virginia Tech’s Office for Equity and Accessibility and teaches Mediation, Conflict Resolution, and Peace Building as part of Virginia Tech’s Center for Peace Studies and Violence Prevention. Henry has taught and lectured around the world, including at: Columbia University School of Law, the New York Peace Institute, Bellevue Mediation (Zurich, Switzerland), the National Museum of American Jewish History, Bharathiar University (Coimbatore, India) and the International Gandhi Center and Museum in New Delhi. Before embarking on a path in peacebuilding, Henry was a trial lawyer in Philadelphia. He holds a JD from Temple University and a BS from the University of Scranton. Henry is also a Master-level instructor of Sattva Yoga, trained in Rishikesh, India. He is often on his motorcycle in the mountains of Southwest Virginia.

Henry joined the VMN Board in 2021, and serves as Chair of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Accessibility Committee.  He also serves on the Outreach Committee. 

(Richmond)

Dan is the Dispute Resolution Services (DRS) Manager in the Office of the Executive Secretary’s Department of Judicial Services. DRS staff oversee and support the work of dispute resolution service providers, and promote the use of mediation and other DR services in Virginia. Before relocating to Richmond, Dan filled several roles with the Kansas Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, including Manager of the Institute’s Community Mediation Center (CMC). He mediated many types of conflicts, with a focus on court-referred custody and visitation cases, and coordinated CMC’s unique Dispute Resolution Triage Program for divorcing and separating parents. Dan also taught and coordinated the Center’s various educational classes for divorcing and separating parents, served as a co-trainer for the Institute, and was a Restorative Justice practitioner. He also served in all three branches of Wisconsin state government, including as a Senior Policy Analyst with the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and holds a Master in Dispute Resolution degree from Marquette University.