Melinda S. Gehris

Melinda has been mediating professionally since 1994. Her practice includes both private clients and work for the New Hampshire Probate and Superior Courts, the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire, the EEOC and the Human Rights Commission. She is also a New Hampshire Certified Family Mediator.  Melinda is trained in Powerful Non-Defensive Communication.  The disputes she has mediated range from personal injury to business disputes, sexual harassment and employment matters, easements, family and probate matters and prperty disputes. 

As an experienced trainer, Melinda develops and leads programs in dispute resolution from basic mediation skills to advanced, specialized dispute resolution training. She has also developed programs in negotiation, arbitration and other dispute resolution processes.

Melinda also provides support and resources to people in conflict.  Many of those people are dealing with conflict at work.  She seeks to assist individuals and groups to develop tolerance and cooperation in the workplace and enhance skills in key areas of human interaction to decrease conflict and increase productivity and effective communication. 

Melinda designs and implements conflict management systems for businesses and other organizations.  She works with groups and managers focusing on how to become more productive through better communication and conflict management.  She also works with organizations and businesses dealing with discreet conflicts that have existed for years.  She provides consulting for organizations dealing with these types of specific conflict-based issues, and works at the individual, team, and organizational levels to assist employees and managers grappling with personal conflict.  She identifies the reasons for conflict and provide resources for those in conflict.  She can ask the difficult questions, get to the heart of conflict, and help those involved reach solutions without the inherent bias that typically exists when an internal manager seeks to solve these types of issues. 

Melinda provides both customized training and pre-designed solutions to meet specific organizational needs. Some of the training topics she often covers include: effective communication; conflict management; constructive conversations in the workplace; dealing productively with difficult clients and co-workers; leadership and management skills; and negotiation.

Melinda also offers coaching services at both the individual and group levels.  Coaches engage in a collaborative relationship with an employee or group to analyze the reasons for conflict, assess individual conflict management styles and identify strengths and consider ways to improve communication and collaboration.  Coaches present opportunities for employees and managers to receive honest, private, feedback and work toward agreed-on individual goals. Coaches support work groups in using the information they have developed individually to enhance the collaboration in the work group. 

• Northeastern University School of Law: J.D.
• University of Massachusetts: Certificate in Dispute Resolution
• Albright College BS Business Administration/Spanish

Melinda is a member of the New Hampshire Bar Association's Dispute Resolution Section, the ABA Dispute Resolution Section, the Association for Conflict Resolution and the New England Chapter of the Association for Conflict Resolution (Past-President of the chapter).  Melinda was appointed to the New Hampshire Supreme Court Committee on Dispute Resolution. She has also served as the Vice-Chair of the New Hampshire Bar Association’s Dispute Resolution Committee. She is also a member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals.

Melinda serves as the President of the Board of the Non-Defensive Voice International and The Non-Defensive Voice, Inc.

Please call for details.