Qualifications
MARK D. BENNETT, Professional Summary
In 1979, after practicing law for five years, I was blessed to find my true vocation in the field of conflict resolution as a peace-maker. For the past twenty-five years, I have assisted families, individuals, groups and organizations, from small non-profits to large corporations, to face challenges and find the path forward. In the roles of mediator, teacher, facilitator, trainer, coach, and author, I have observed and learned about the dynamics of human conflict, meaningful dialogue, and effective decision-making. I am a life-long learner committed to the use of best practices to help my clients transform conflict, make difficult decisions, achieve their goals, and work together beneficially.
Experience
My mediation work includes employment, civil rights, organizational, health care, divorce and family, land use, public policy, and commercial cases.
I regularly facilitate significant decision-making processes for a wide range of clients including strategic planning, team-building, partnering, and crisis management.
From 1987-2005, I was adjunct professor at the University of New Mexico School of Law teaching courses in basic mediation skills, family mediation, and advanced mediation.
I have introduced mediation skills to thousands of people from many different backgrounds including managers, health care professionals, educators, realtors, mental health professionals, human resource managers, lawyers, and judges.
In the past twenty-five years, I have presented hundreds of skills trainings for leaders, managers, and staff on a wide variety of topics: ethical decision making, conflict transformation, effective communication, working with change, and negotiation skills.
For the past sixteen years, my focus has been on organizational and personal integrity when making difficult decisions. I have coached leaders and managers, facilitating the development of their skills to make better decisions by putting ethical, professional and personal values into action.
Publications
A Field Guide to Good Decisions: Values in Action (Praeger, 2006)
The Art of Mediation (NITA, 1996, second edition, Dec. 2005)
Negotiation Skills (ALI-ABA, 1996)
"Using Mediation for Employment Disputes" (chapter in Labor and Employment in New Mexico (Butterworth, 1995)
"Designing Dispute Systems for Organizations" (New Mexico Bar Bulletin, June 1992)
Special Education Mediation and Negotiation (New Mexico State University, 1990)
Education
I received a J.D. degree from law school at the University of Texas at Austin (1975) where I also received graduate and clinical training in psychology (1978-79). My training in mediation is with the Family Mediation Association, Washington, DC, CDR Associates, Boulder, CO, and National Center Associates, Tacoma, WA
Partial Client List
| Centura Health (Colorado’s largest health care organization) | Center for Disease Control |
| Federal Executive Board | Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center |
| Mater Private Hospital - Dublin, Ireland | Museum of International Folk Art |
| Museum of Indian Arts and Culture | New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs |
| New Mexico Environment Department | New Mexico History Museum |
| New Mexico Municipal League Leadership Program | New Mexico Highlands University |
| New Mexico Grantmakers | New Mexico Attorney General’s Office |
| New Mexico Department of Education | New Mexico State University |
| New Mexico State University | Public Servant Leadership Program |
| Realtors Association of New Mexico | Saint Vincent Hospital Foundation |
| Sandia National Laboratories Energy, Resources, and Nonproliferation | Saint Vincent Hospital |
| Santa Fe Community College Intercultural Leadership Program | Santa Fe Public Schools |
| University of New Mexico School of Medicine | United Way/Center for Nonprofit Excellence |
| U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
| W.K. Kellogg Foundation |