Joshua Gordon

Senior ADR Consultant at Consensus Building Institute

Greater Boston Area

Current
  • Board Member at ImprovBoston
  • Senior ADR Consultant at Consensus Building Institute
  • Board of Directors at Community Dispute Settlement Center at Community Dispute Settlement Center (CDSC)
  • Dispute Resolution Professional at Part of the Solution ADR Services (www.potsadr.com) (Sole Proprietorship)
Past
  • Senior Business Analyst / Project Manager at John Hancock Financial Services
  • Organizational Developer at Massachusetts Department of Social Services
  • Mediator / Trainer at Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General
  • Social Worker at Massachusetts Department of Social Services
  • Residential Counselor at Northampton Center for Children and Families
  • Service Planner at Massachusetts Department of Mental Retardation
  • One to One Behavioral Therapist / Physical Therapy Assistant at Mediplex / New Medico Rehabilitation Center
Education
  • Suffolk University Law School
  • University of Massachusetts Boston
  • University of Massachusetts Boston
  • University of Massachusetts at Amherst
  • Brandeis University
  • Amherst Regional High School
Connections
382 connections
Industry
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Websites

Joshua Gordon’s Summary

A dispute resolution professional with a strong background in organizational development and training. With a depth of experience in corporate, government, and educational environments, I hold a strong belief that assessment, coaching, and training integrate to form the foundation for successfully putting theory to impactful practice. Emphasis is on creating value in developing more productive negotiations by developing negotiation skills as a core competency. .

This core competency is an organizational capability. Organizations that want to achieve sustainable improvements in their negotiations must understand how to align existing organizational processes, structures, and incentives with an approach that can create value while protecting relationships. Building individual insight and skill is a start, but without larger changes, individual negotiations often return to their organizations find themselves swimming against strong currents, or getting lost among competing priorities and initiatives

Joshua Gordon’s Specialties:

Organizational Assessment, Coaching, Training, Negotiation, Mediation, Consensus Building

Sample Courses Offered: The Art and Artifice of Public Apology; Building A World Class Negotiating Organization; Building Relationships into Project Design and Policy Development; Negotiating with Internal and External Auditors: Sarbanes-Oxley and Beyond; Developing Requirements and Specifications by Negotiation


Joshua Gordon’s Experience

  • Board Member

    ImprovBoston

    (Entertainment industry)

    November 2008Present (1 month)

  • Senior ADR Consultant

    Consensus Building Institute

    (Non-Profit; 11-50 employees; Alternative Dispute Resolution industry)

    September 2008Present (3 months)

    The Consensus Building Institute (CBI) improves the way leaders use negotiations to make organizational decisions, achieve agreements, and manage multiparty conflicts and planning efforts. We use proven principles, processes, and techniques that improve group decision-making on complex public and organizational issues.

    Professional services include training, organizational capability building, facilitation, mediation, and consensus building.

  • Board of Directors at Community Dispute Settlement Center

    Community Dispute Settlement Center (CDSC)

    (Non-Profit; 1-10 employees; Alternative Dispute Resolution industry)

    January 2007Present (1 year 11 months)

    The Community Dispute Settlement Center Inc. (CDSC) has served the Greater Boston area since 1979, providing mediation and training services to organizations and individuals.

    The mission of CDSC is to provide and promote effective, cost-efficient and participatory approaches for resolving conflict, and to make them accessible to all members of the community.

  • Dispute Resolution Professional

    Part of the Solution ADR Services (www.potsadr.com) (Sole Proprietorship)

    (Sole Proprietorship; 1-10 employees; Alternative Dispute Resolution industry)

    September 1992Present (16 years 3 months)

    Part of the Solution Appropriate Dispute Resolution Services (POTSADR) was founded in 1993 to provide a range of conflict resolution services. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, POTSADR offers mediation, negotiation, and facilitation services. In addition, we offer customized training on mediation and conflict resolution, ombuds services, and program development for your organization.

    Conflict is normal and common in our professional and personal lives. It can serve as an opportunity for change when handled appropriately. However, if unmanaged, conflict can lead to corrosive and costly disputes with significant negative impact.
    We are experienced in developing and designing programs for your organization to systemically address conflict in a constructive manner.

    With experience in corporate, non-profit, community, familial, educational, and legal environments, we are positioned to help with a wide-range of needs.

  • Senior Associate of Assessment, Coaching, and Training

    Consensus Building Institute (CBI) - www.cbuilding.org

    (Non-Profit; 11-50 employees; Alternative Dispute Resolution industry)

    July 2007September 2008 (1 year 3 months)

    Over the last fifteen years CBI has offered on-site negotiation training for hundreds of agencies, corporations, and non-profit organizations and groups. We’ve worked with organizations across more than 25 countries. Our tailored courses are grounded in careful application of the Mutual Gains Approach, with up-front assessment of the kinds of negotiation challenges each audience is likely to face. We use an ever-growing library of simulations and cases -- and our expertise in writing them -- to directly tackle the negotiation problems at hand.

    Over the years we’ve found training alone is typically not enough to create and maintain real organizational improvement in negotiations. Our approach focuses on providing the coaching and support on the back end of courses, so that gains can be implemented in the form of sensible models, processes and incentives. It is essential to focus on developing capability to support individuals and to realize the desired ROI.

  • Policy Analyst / Auditor and Compliance Manager

    Manulife Financial Services

    (Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; MFC; Insurance industry)

    May 2006January 2007 (9 months)

    • Planned, conducted, and managed information technology audit activities in support of Sarbanes-Oxley Act compliance and Risk Management Objectives
    • Advised on policy concerns and evaluated existing processes and tools and implemented enhancements to support more effective and efficient use of resources

  • Organizational Developer / Quality Assurance Manager

    John Hancock Financial Services

    (Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; JHF; Financial Services industry)

    May 2000January 2005 (4 years 9 months)

    • Analyzed, evaluated, developed, implemented, and sustained processes and best practices to support optimal project management in corporate, legal and information technology departments
    • Developed organizational capability to bring high quality projects to completion on-time and under-budget; resulted in company receiving recognition for industry best practices and employee satisfaction to soar
    • Facilitated multinational corporate transition from mutual company to public company and subsequent merger with Manulife Financial
    • Designed and presented effective metrics and reporting program executive committee

  • Senior Business Analyst / Project Manager

    John Hancock Financial Services

    (Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; Financial Services industry)

    June 1998May 2000 (2 years)

    • Managed high profile and complex process and information systems projects
    • Implemented effective changes to both external and internal business strategies to reduce costs, increase efficiency, and expedite entire systems workflow
    • Managed project plans, schedules, budgets, resources, and all other relevant deliverables

  • Organizational Developer

    Massachusetts Department of Social Services

    (Government Agency; 1001-5000 employees; Government Administration industry)

    June 1997June 1998 (1 year 1 month)

    • Evaluated and implemented strategic change implementation process for a large government organization in a highly resistant environment with a high degree of success
    • Managed full lifecycle of $50M information systems and process engineering project to ensure compliance with the State Automated Child Welfare Information legislation (SACWIS)
    • Effected standardization of business processes utilizing best practice models across statewide agency

  • Mediator / Trainer

    Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General

    (Government Agency; 501-1000 employees; Alternative Dispute Resolution industry)

    May 1993June 1998 (5 years 2 months)

    • Instituted mediation and conflict resolution training programs in school systems throughout Massachusetts
    • Evaluated program efficacy and communicated policy and process recommendations to all levels of staff
    • Intervened in youth gang conflicts in order to restore peace to schools

  • Social Worker

    Massachusetts Department of Social Services

    (Government Agency; 1001-5000 employees; Individual & Family Services industry)

    February 1996June 1997 (1 year 5 months)

    • Assessed families in child protective agency and provided supportive and therapeutic services to parents and children in need of resources to establish a safe and healthy home environment
    • Evaluated and implemented individual education plans for children receiving protective services from the Department of Social Services
    • Developed and implemented mediation program to assist with family reunification efforts
    • Specialized in domestic violence awareness, prevention, and intervention
    • Received Department of Social Services Certificate of Achievement

  • Residential Counselor

    Northampton Center for Children and Families

    (Non-Profit; 11-50 employees; Individual & Family Services industry)

    June 1995April 1996 (11 months)

    • Coordinated supportive living and therapeutic day school for troubled adolescents
    • Counseled clients on issues related to education, work, family, and safety
    • Clinically assessed families and evaluated therapeutic needs
    • Organized case reviews, family interventions, and recreational activities

  • Service Planner

    Massachusetts Department of Mental Retardation

    (Government Agency; 1001-5000 employees; Individual & Family Services industry)

    May 1993February 1996 (2 years 10 months)

    • Developed and implemented individual service plans for the integration of previously institutionalized developmentally disabled individuals into the community
    • Served as Human Rights Officer for disempowered population with emphasis on legal rights and policy
    • Represented bargaining unit as union representative to ensure employee rights were protected

  • One to One Behavioral Therapist / Physical Therapy Assistant

    Mediplex / New Medico Rehabilitation Center

    (Privately Held; 501-1000 employees; Hospital & Health Care industry)

    May 1991July 1993 (2 years 3 months)

    • Counseled geriatric and head injury patients and their families
    • Structured and implemented physical therapy programs for elderly and head injury patients alongside occupational and physical therapists


Joshua Gordon’s Education

  • Suffolk University Law School

    Juris Doctor, Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Labor and Employment, 20052008

    Finished 3rd in region in ABA Client Counseling Competition, Honorable Mention Best Brief, Semi-Finalist in Suffolk Negotiation Competition, Finalist in Sports Negotiation Competition

    Courses: Civil Procedure, Contracts, Criminal Law, Legal Research & Writing, Torts, Constitutional Law, Children & The Law, Property, Evidence, Family Law, Tax, Professional Responsibility, Consumer Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Employment Law, Labor/Employment Arbitration, Research Assistant For ADR, Employment Discrimination, Legislation, Terrorism Law, Mediation, Public Interest Law, Directed Study On The Fallacy Of Training, Labor Law, Public Health Law, Justice/Morals In Film, Technology Law, Energy Law, Environmental Law, Sports Law, Mediation Video Creation

    Activities and Societies:
    ABA Client Counseling Competition, ABA Negotiation Competition, Alternative Dispute Resolution Association, Client Counseling Team, Research Assistant for ADR Professor Dwight Golann, Directed Study on the Role of Training and Organizational Change in Organization Capability Building
  • University of Massachusetts Boston

    MA, Dispute Resolution, 20032005

    GPA 3.92 / 4.00

    Courses: Negotiation, Conflict in Workgroups, Family Mediation, Conflict and Systems, Cross-Cultural Conflict, Dispute Resolution Theory, Ethics and Public Policy, Internship in Probate Court

    Activities and Societies:
    Teaching assistant for Conflict in Workgroups course, Master's Project: Outside the Box / Inside the Ring: Developing and Implementing a Conflict Resolution Program for an At-Risk Public Middle School
  • University of Massachusetts Boston

    Graduate Certificate, Dispute Resolution, 20022003

    GPA 3.92/4.00

    Activities and Societies:
    Presented at Next Generation of Ideas conference
  • University of Massachusetts at Amherst

    BA, Psychology, Sociology, Criminal Justice, Dispute Resolution, 19931995

    GPA 3.87/4.00

    Courses: Biology of Cancer and AIDS, Adolescent Psychology, Statistics in Psychology, Spiritual Autobiography, Nutrition and People, Research Methods in Psychology, Educational Psychology, Spanish, History of Modern Boston, Legal Studies, Psychology of Motivation, Social Psychology, Sociology of Law, Conceptual Physics, American Politics, Cognitive Psychology, Deviance and Social Order, Sexuality and Society, Economics, Abnormal Psychology, The Family, Criminology, Computer Science, Representing the Holocaust, Data Collection and Analysis, Gender and Crime, Cognition

    Multiple Research and Teaching Assistantships in Psychology and Sociology

    Activities and Societies:
    Ombuds Office Campus Mediation Team (Mediator and Trainer with emphasis on cross-cultural conflict), Chancellor's Grant for Conflict Resolution, Student Conflict Resolution Experts, Teaching Assistant for four courses in psychology and sociology departments, Cross Country Running, The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, Golden Key National Honor Society, Psi Chi - The National Honor Society in Psychology, Dean's List all semesters
  • Brandeis University

    BA, Psychology, 19921993

    Transferred for financial reasons

    Courses: Writing, Spanish, Humanities, Psychology

    Activities and Societies:
    Cross Country Running, Track and Field
  • Amherst Regional High School

    High School, High School, 19881992


Additional Information

Joshua Gordon’s Websites:

Joshua Gordon’s Interests:

Improvisational Theatre, Travel, Coaching Runners, Competitive Running, Yoga,

Joshua Gordon’s Groups:

QAI / QAIUSA (Quality Assurance Institute), IOA (International Ombuds Association), NEACR (New England Association for Conflict Resolution), BAA (Boston Athletic Association), Dead Runners Society, CDCS (Community Dispute Settlement center) Board Officer, ImprovBoston Board of Directors

  •    Boston Young Entrepreneurs
  •    Citizen Schools
  •    Leader
  •    University of Massachusetts at Amherst Alumni
  •    Boston Athletic Association
  •    Software Testing & Quality Assurance
  •    Boston Young Professionals Association
  •    Dead Runners Society
  •    University of Massachusetts at Boston Alumni
  •    Sports Industry Network™
  •    SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL
  •    Quality & Regulatory Network
  •    Program on Negotiation - Harvard Law School
  •    Brandeis University Alumni Networking Group
  •    Negotiation Specialists
  •    Online Dispute Resolution
  •    Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Professionals
  •    Part of the Solution ADR Services

Joshua Gordon’s Honors:

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Excellence Award for work on FamilyNet Initiative; Outside the Box / Inside the Ring Conflict Resolution Curriculum was recognized for excellence; Developed QA organization recognized as best in industry


Joshua Gordon’s Contact Settings

Interested In:

  • consulting offers
  • new ventures
  • expertise requests
  • business deals
  • reference requests
  • getting back in touch

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