QA, Senior ADR Consultant, Mediator, Negotiator, Facilitator, Trainer, Ombuds, Coach, Advisor, Organizational Developer
Greater Boston Area
- Current
-
- Mediator, Conflict Resolution Trainer, Facilitator, Consultant at OptionBridge, LLC
- 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 and Principal at Part of the Solution ADR Services (www.potsadr.com)
- Past
-
- Senior Associate of Assessment, Coaching, and Training at Consensus Building Institute (CBI) - www.cbuilding.org
- Policy Analyst / Auditor and Compliance Manager at Manulife Financial Services
- Organizational Developer / Quality Assurance Manager at John Hancock Financial Services
- 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
- Recommended
-
10 people have recommended Joshua - Connections
-
500
connections
- Industry
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Websites
Joshua Gordon’s Summary
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE LEADER
Strategic Planning Dispute Resolution Learning and Development
Highly accomplished professional with demonstrated achievements and impressive leadership in the management of complex learning and development initiatives. Solid organizational development experience with the ability to ascertain and analyze needs, forecast goals, streamline operations, and envision new program concepts. Excellent communication, negotiation, mediation, and interpersonal skills serve as the foundation to effectively network, collaborate, and maintain positive partnerships. Recognized as a dependable leader with exceptional problem-solving skills, expertise in maximizing resources, and the ability to motivate and encourage staff.
Visionary who synthesizes facts, events, and concepts to develop realistic and long-range plans while directing, coordinating, and managing change initiatives on a timely and cost-effective basis.
Specialized ability to standardize, simplify, and stabilize operations and business processes while demonstrating project management and operational expertise in decision-making and team building.
Exceptionally well organized with track record of applying influential use of technology to achieve both personal and corporate objectives.
Empowering and participatory management style that breeds accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
Joshua Gordon’s Specialties:
Management Consulting Technology Learning and Development Change Agent Workshop Delivery
Quality Assurance Organizational Development Business Relations Operations Management Budgeting
Process Improvement Project Management Staff Development Research/Analysis Consensus Building
Individual and Organizational Assessment Program Management Strategic Planning Curriculum Development
Joshua Gordon’s Experience
-
Mediator, Conflict Resolution Trainer, Facilitator, Consultant
OptionBridge, LLC
(Alternative Dispute Resolution industry)
January 2009 — Present (7 months)
Single-source consultant organized to help others learn how to better deal with difficult people and business issues that can escalate to create conflict, contribute to miscommunication, damage relationships beyond repair, interfere with productivity, create deals that don't meet everyone's needs, cause loss of important resources - human, time, money, and other, and can be the difference between success and failure on many levels.
-
Board Member
ImprovBoston
(Entertainment industry)
November 2008 — Present (9 months)
-
Senior ADR Consultant
Consensus Building Institute
(Non-Profit; 11-50 employees; Alternative Dispute Resolution industry)
September 2008 — Present (11 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 2007 — Present (2 years 7 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 and Principal
Part of the Solution ADR Services (www.potsadr.com)
(Alternative Dispute Resolution industry)
September 1992 — Present (16 years 11 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 2007 — September 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 2006 — January 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 2000 — January 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 1998 — May 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 1997 — June 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 1993 — June 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 1996 — June 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 1995 — April 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 1993 — February 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 1991 — July 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 , 2005 — 2008
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 , 2003 — 2005
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 , 2002 — 2003
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 , 1993 — 1995
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 , 1992 — 1993
Transferred for financial reasons
Courses: Writing, Spanish, Humanities, Psychology- Activities and Societies:
- Cross Country Running, Track and Field
-
Amherst Regional High School
High School , 1988 — 1992
Additional Information
Joshua Gordon’s Websites:
Joshua Gordon’s Interests:
Improvisational Theatre, Travel, Coaching Runners, Competitive Running, Yoga,
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
