Bio: Barbara Ann Davis, PLLC

EDUCATION
University of Florida School of Law, Gainesville, Florida,
JD (Juris Doctor), 1977
Activities/Honors: Writing Honors, Dean's List, Criminal Law Intern
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
BA in Interpersonal Communications Studies, 1974
Magna Cum Laude with highest honors
Activities/Honors: Phi Beta Kappa, Regent Scholar, President's List, Women's Honor Society
EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE
Barbara Ann Davis, PLLC -- Private Mediation, Collaborative Law & Consulting Practice, Asheville, NC,
1997 to present
- Mediation services for individuals and organizations (including family, business, worker' s comp, employment, special needs, personal injury and community cases)
- Collaborative Law legal representation for clients wanting to resolve issues without court, by agreement
- Meeting Facilitation services – design meeting Agendas and facilitate meetings (intra-agency policy change, city- and county-wide public input and planning, strategic planning for businesses or nonprofits)
- Training Seminars – design and lead conflict resolution, Mediation, communication skills, Collaborative Law educational seminars for individuals, businesses, schools, government agencies
- Adjunct Professor: Resolving Conflict Through Mediation, Warren Wilson College
Asheville-Buncombe VISION, 2003 - 2004
- Coordinate Community Dialogues on Housing and Facilitator Training Workshops
- Recruit, train and supervise volunteer meeting facilitators and student intern
- Plan town hall community meetings for public input, including public speaking
University of North Carolina, Campus Mediation Center Coordinator (Asheville)
Adjunct Professor (Charlotte and Asheville),
1995 - 2002
- Teach undergraduate and graduate level Mediation course in Sociology, Political Science and Public & Health Administration depts.
- Facilitate departmental conflict resolution sessions for internal and external disputes; design and lead inter- and intra-departmental training workshops for faculty, administration and staff
- Train and supervise volunteer student and staff mediators
The Mediation Center, Asheville, NC, Founding Executive Director, 1984-1992 & Outreach Director, 1992-1997
- Oversee staff and volunteers of nonprofit community dispute settlement center, manage daily operations, and coordinate with Board of Directors
- Facilitate dispute resolution meetings regarding neighborhood issues and local planning efforts (placement of group home, neighborhood concerns about industry noise, church parking lot expansion, etc.)
- Conduct training workshops: including developing materials and site-specific role plays (for county employees, school teachers/administrators, corporations, U.S. Forest Service, nonprofits, ...)
Pisgah Legal Services, Asheville, NC, Staff Attorney for low income clients in civil cases in 5-county area, Family Law Supervisor, 1979-1983
Office of the Public Defender, Gainesville, FL, Assistant P. D. providing legal representation for low income clients in criminal cases in 3-county area, Misdemeanor Division Supervisor, 1977-1979
Summer jobs including: Florida Dept. of Insurance, lumber sales clerk, donut shop waitress, 1968-1971
CERTIFICATIONS
Mediation Network of N.C. Community Mediator | 1992 |
N.C. Superior Court Mediator and Mediation Trainer | 1995 |
U.S. Federal Court Mediator | 1995 |
N.C. Dept. of Mental Health Mediator for Special Needs Children | 1996 |
N.C. Industrial Commission Mediator (Workers' Comp) | 1997 |
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Mediator | 1998 |
N.C. Family Financial Settlement Mediator | 1999 |
N.C. Vocational Rehabilitation Mediator/Arbitrator | 2003 |
N.C. Permanency Mediator (parental rights) | 2007 |
N.C. Agriculture Mediator | 2007 |
U.S. Postal Service REDRESS Mediator | 2008 |
Institute of Cultural Affairs - Technology of Participation Facilitator | 2009 |
PROFESSIONAL LICENSES
- Licensed to practice law in North Carolina since 1979, Member No. 8721
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
- IACP International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (collaborativepractice.com)
- WNC Collaborative Law Group (WNCCollaborativeLaw.com) - Founding Member
- NCAPFM - NC Association for Professional Family Mediators (NCAPFM.com)
- Mediation Network of NC (NCAPFM.com) - Founding Member
INTERESTING THINGS I'VE DONE
- Participated in Asheville Synergy Story Slam on the spur of the moment in 2011, and won!
- In 2003, I rode my bicycle across the United States – from the Atlantic Ocean in St. Augustine Florida to the Pacific Ocean in San Diego, California. It took 51 days, and 3,000 miles, and was one of the most challenging and amazing journeys in my life. This was a self-organized group, just 5 women, and we raised funds – nearly $30,000 - for women's cancer programs in our local communities.
- Guitar player in a contra-dance band
- Cape Breton step dancer ... kind of a cross between Irish step dancing (like River Dance), clogging and tap dancing, but cooler
- Raspberry grower
Counselor-at-law / dispute resolution professional with heart.
A calm presence amidst the turbulent sea of life.