ADRA Instructors And Coaches
Guno Ritfeld is the President and CEO of Resolute Mediation & Arbitration Inc. and the Alternative Dispute Resolution Academy (ADRA), where he leverages his diverse and extensive experience to lead the organization toward efficiency and excellence.
A former Commissioned Officer in the Department of Defense, Ritfeld holds degrees in Psychology/Education (BA), Juris Doctor (JD), and a Master of Laws (LL.M.), providing him with a robust educational foundation and a multidisciplinary perspective.
Under his leadership, Resolute Mediation & Arbitration has secured contracts with state and federal agencies, managed by a team of skilled arbitrators, mediators, investigators, instructors, and legal professionals. Ritfeld is certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a mediator for civil circuit, family, and county cases. He also serves as an arbitrator for FINRA and the National Dispute Resolution Center, specializing in Lemon Law cases.
Between 1989 and 2003, he worked as a private investigator in Florida, focusing on white-collar crimes, insurance disputes, and intellectual property issues. Currently, Ritfeld serves as a Human Rights Mediator for the City of Charlottesville, a Special Education Mediator for the Virginia Department of Education, and a Claims Mediator for the Florida Department of Financial Services.
His areas of expertise include intellectual property, insurance, human rights, labor and employment, family law, and consumer manufacturer disputes. This broad scope of experience positions him as a uniquely skilled and versatile professional in the mediation and arbitration field.
Dr. Sara Hoefler works with clients of all ages through executive and life coaching services and as a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Law Mediator specializing in elder mediation. On a national level, she trains family law mediators in Elder Mediation so that they, too, can better serve the elderly. She also serves as an arbitrator at the National Center for Dispute Settlement.
Dr. Hoefler has worked in education for over 25 years and earned master's degrees from the University of Frankfurt in Frankfurt, Germany in Education and English. She earned her doctorate in education from the University of South Africa. During her teaching career, she served several years as a principal for a K-12 school for students on the autism spectrum. Dr. Hoefler has been designated as German Teacher of the Year for the State of Florida as well as Most Valuable Florida Foreign Language Teacher. She has served as a Florida Department of Education German Language Expert, and as an Instructor at Rollins College/Winter Park, Florida and the University of Frankfurt/Germany.
Dr. Hoefler is a certified teacher in the state of Florida, Certified Senior Advisor (CSA), certified Professional Life Coach, certified Executive Coach, and Love and Logic Parent Coach.
Dr. Callaway is an executive coach and serves as Federal employee development advisor with the Alternative Dispute Resolution Academy. Her expertise spans federal training and employee development, workforce development, Equal Opportunity, Equal Employment Opportunity, civil rights compliance, disability employment, workforce and succession planning, strategic planning, budgeting and financial management, multi-year budget planning, human resource management, executive resources, general administrative and resource management, conflict resolution, mediation, procurement and contract management.
Dr. Callaway is also a Certified Clinical Aromatherapist, National Caregiver, and Nutrition Coach, integrating holistic wellness into her coaching practice. Prior to her current professional roles, she was a public servant with 37 years of experience, including 27 years in the U.S. federal government and a decade at Montgomery College, Rockville Campus in Maryland in human resources, admissions, registration, and records.
Dr. Callaway’s key Federal positions included Assistant to the Associate Managing Director, NTSB Training Center, Senior Management & Program Analyst, NTSB Training Center, Senior Administrative Officer, NTSB Office of Aviation Safety, Resource Management Officer & Chief of Administration, USDA Dairy Programs, Budget Analyst, USDA Wildlife Services, Personnel Management Specialist, USDA/APHIS Civil Rights Enforcement and Compliance Staff.
She earned a Ph.D. in Organization & Management (Human Resource Management), an M.S. in General Administration (Human Resource Management), a B.S. in Management & Business, and an A.A. in Accounting. Her dissertation analyzed the relationship between organizational trust and job satisfaction in the U.S. federal workforce.
Dr. Callaway has published several books on strategy formulation, federal workforce development, employee engagement, and aromatherapy. Her awards include: Distinguished Service to Federal Government – NTSB Board Members (2017), Special Service Award – NTSB Managing Director (2017), Chairman’s Team Award – NTSB Diversity Task Force (2011), Chairman’s Group Award – NTSB Training Center Development (2004), and USDA Secretary Group Honor Award for Excellence (2000).
Natalie Smith earned her master’s degree in Conflict Resolution in 2005 and has been a Florida Supreme Court Certified County & Family Mediator since 2008. With those certifications, she volunteered as a campus mediator for the University of Central Florida and for the Orange County Courthouse in Orlando before moving back to New York State.
She has held many workshops, online and in-person classes, and led trainings centered around alternative dispute resolution topics for almost twenty years. More recently, she has become a certified Restorative Practices trainer with a focus on teaching students and educators how to manage conflict more constructively.
Niell Talbot is a Master Emotional Intelligence Coach supporting C-level and heart-led leaders to amplify their impact in the world. He specializes in Transformational Leadership, Accountability Coaching, Relationship Intelligence, and Emotional Wellness.
With 35 years of coaching experience, Niell began his journey as a ropes course instructor with B’nai Brith, helping youth overcome fear through outdoor challenges. He later traveled globally in leadership roles within travel, hospitality, and major sporting brands before dedicating himself fully to emotional intelligence coaching.
Inspired by Tony Robbins over 25 years ago, Niell immersed himself in EQ-based transformational leadership and eventually became a full-time entrepreneur. He has since coached over 500 CEOs, entrepreneurs, couples, and leaders around the world. He’s particularly passionate about helping men rebuild their relationships within the family dynamic.
His certifications and focus areas include group coaching, men’s marriage and relationship coaching, health and wellness, embodiment work, and serving as a business sounding board and accountability mentor. He is also Chief Coaching Officer of multiple ventures and a founding member of “Our World Too,” an initiative focused on global sustainability.
I have been a professional trainer for over 25 years. I am certified to teach adult curricula by three independent organizations, including the Microsoft Corporation. During my career as a trainer, I have delivered training in the standard classroom setting (15 or fewer students), seminars (often over 100 participants), one-on-one training and support, phone training, help desk support, videoconferences and computer-based training.
I pride myself on being personable, clear and engaging and adeptly managing students from various backgrounds and capabilities. My teaching methods have earned me much praise; I’ve been told by both students and supervisors that I am able to make concepts fun and understandable. I enjoy helping students to develop confidence, appreciation for and understanding of information technology and business concepts through teaching strategies that address varied learning preferences.
I pride myself on my ability to quickly learn new tools and concepts and identify and prioritize the core training concepts needed for the successful education of corporate students.
I was fortunate to find my calling as a professional trainer early in my career. Straight out of graduate school, I took a position as an IT Trainer while I searched for a career in Computer Science. I quickly found that I loved the experience of teaching in a corporate setting, and I had great strengths in the field.
My career quickly grew and I found myself enjoying work as an independent consultant. This experience helped me to gain an understanding of the variety of training needs in different corporate settings, law firms, government agencies, small and mid-sized companies, and even individuals looking to grow their skills.
A mindset coach who specializes in assisting clients in identifying and healing past experiences and current behaviors that keep us stuck in negative patterns. I’m fascinated with how the mind works and how to correct the inefficiencies of thinking that we all have, build awareness and maintain health.
Experienced mediator (civil, circuit, and family), and college-level instructor of various psychology and health topics. Present and past certifications include NLP, Reiki, Parenting Coordinator, Guardian Advocate, and various nutrition, health, mediation, and mental health certifications.
Approved subject matter specialist for The Ninth Judicial Circuit, avid reader and lifetime learner.
Alison Bouwmeester is a Certified Professional Career Coach and the Founder/CEO of Futurity, a woman-owned small business providing Executive Coaching and career transition services for individuals, groups, and agencies. Alison is also an authorized DISC administrator, providing Behavioral and Communication Style assessments and workshops for individuals and groups.
Alison’s Career Coaching practice leverages her extensive government, private sector and personal experience to help others through professional development, career challenges, and successful career transitions.
Alison completed a 28-year career as a senior leader in the Central Intelligence Agency’s Directorate of Operations with frequent geographic moves and job transitions. Following her retirement from the CIA, Alison spent 7 years as a senior corporate business executive in the defense contracting sector, rising to Vice President for Business Development.
Her experiences in government, along with small, medium and multinational businesses have given Alison a breadth of knowledge which benefits her coaching practice. Alison is considered to be an accomplished leader, manager, mentor, recruiter, trainer and coach, helping others to navigate the complexities and challenges of leadership, career development and career change.
In addition to leading her coaching practice, Alison is a member of the Board of Advisors of the International Spy Museum, and an Expert commentator for the Cipher Brief. Alison Bouwmeester is also the author of the 2020 book MISSION: CAREER TRANSITION – A Career Change Guide for Intelligence, Military, Foreign Affairs, National Security and Other Government Professionals.
Background Experience:
Mr. Carter holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Emergency and Disaster Management, and an additional master’s in Homeland Security with a focus on Emergency Management and Public Health. His roles include CBRN-E Instructor, Hazardous Materials Instructor, Cybersecurity Instructor, Cybersecurity Exercise Planner, Emergency Management Instructor, and Lead Trainer/Exercise Planner for the U.S. Army 36th Civil Support Team.
With over 20 years of emergency management and exercise planning experience, Mr. Carter brings extensive expertise in FEMA’s six-step planning process, emergency response and recovery programs, and Federal assistance coordination. He has completed the L449 Train the Trainer Course and currently serves as an adjunct instructor for Emergency Management Agencies across the U.S., teaching ICS, HAZMAT, and emergency management topics.
He is a graduate of multiple hazardous materials programs including Awareness, HAZWOPER, Technician, and Specialist courses. Mr. Carter teaches for FEMA, TEEX, CDP, Army Cyber Command, and various public and private sector organizations.
Incident Response:
Mr. Carter has responded to national disasters including Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Sandy, Maria, Katrina, and Wilma. His roles have included Liaison Officer, Incident Commander, and multiple Section Chief positions.
Philosophy of Training Emergency Responders:
“I believe that training emergency responders is one of the most honorable contributions that I can provide others. It makes me very proud to share my operational experience, and academic experience as a responder will be utilized to help another responder make decisions more easily.”
Tonya Dupree, JD, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, CDE — and a member of the Alabama Bar Association — is a results-driven professional known for transforming organizational talent strategies through targeted development initiatives.
With a strong foundation in law, human resources, and organizational development, Tonya has helped organizations unlock potential and elevate performance. As a John Maxwell certified speaker, coach, and facilitator, she brings advanced expertise in conflict resolution, alternative dispute resolution (ADR), and talent acquisition.
Tonya collaborates with senior leaders as a strategist and thought partner, helping them meet business goals while proactively managing legal risk. Most recently, she served as Senior Director of Human Resources and Compliance at a major public university in Alabama, where she led initiatives that aligned talent development with long-term organizational priorities.
With over 30 years of experience across public and private sectors, Reanette is a strategic leadership coach and speaker who helps professionals and business leaders align with organizational goals while understanding behavioral and communication styles to drive a better workplace experience and build leadership trust.
Having worked in restaurants, retail, and banking, she understands the unique challenges of various industries. She has served as an elected city council member and Vice Mayor, and currently serves as a commissioner on a public board and as an NHRMA Board Member.
Reanette is a certified speaker, trainer, and coach with the John Maxwell Team, receiving mentorship from national leadership experts. As a coach, she fosters a safe, empowering space for individuals to reflect on their direction, expand their thinking, and create development plans that drive individual and team growth.
Linda Farley led a $16 million business for AT&T and held the roles of Staff Human Resources Manager and National Training Manager. She is a seasoned facilitator, instructional designer, and train-the-trainer program creator with deep experience in career consulting, large-scale organizational change, and leadership development.
Linda has delivered consulting and training solutions for thousands of individuals across industries. Her client list includes the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Forest Service, and the City of San Antonio. She also served as Senior Instructor at San Antonio College for over five years and is a Certified Corporate Trainer.
Linda holds several advanced coaching and facilitation certifications, including Coaching Mindset Index (AIIR), DiSC™, Manager as Coach, and Create Your Career GPS. She is a past president of the ATD San Antonio Chapter and is deeply passionate about helping individuals reach their highest performance potential.
Client engagement specialist Holly O’Donnell brings over 20 years of consulting and training experience to speaking engagements, team-building sessions, and executive consulting. Her diverse career includes contributions to Lincoln Motor Company, Walt Disney World, Mandalay Resort Group, Benchmark Hospitality, and Dale Carnegie Training.
As a dynamic speaker, Holly has influenced thousands across industries. She’s DISC certified and known for her ability to simplify communication psychology, helping others shift their perspective and improve interpersonal connections.
Holly’s training repertoire includes keynote speeches, workshops, webinars, audio courses, and immersive professional development programs. Her signature topics span: communication styles, conflict, customer service, and “train the trainer” curriculum.
A recognized top Dale Carnegie trainer, she also helped design Lincoln Motor Company’s in-dealership luxury brand experience, leading to a #1 Client Satisfaction ranking by JD Power & Associates. As a founder and entrepreneur, she’s launched multiple ventures through her expertise in event marketing and relationship-driven sales.
Holly actively contributes to the Illinois Food Bank, Anti-Cruelty Society, Toys for Tots, and professional organizations. She earned her BA in Journalism from Indiana University, Bloomington and lives in Aurora, Illinois with her husband and child.
LaKeisha Palmer is a seasoned Pharmacy Operations professional with over 20 years of industry experience and 4 years as an instructor and coach. She holds both a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Business Administration.
With a unique combination of business insight and real-world pharmacy expertise, LaKeisha excels at preparing students for successful careers in healthcare and operations. She is deeply committed to fostering academic and professional growth.
Outside the classroom, LaKeisha enjoys reading, cooking, and traveling with her family. She is excited to contribute her experience and knowledge to support students and teams alike.
Originally from Puerto Rico, Eddie Perez spent 21 years in the U.S. Army Special Forces. Post-military, he has worked with over 150 organizations across public and private sectors in areas including strategic realignment, large-scale mergers and acquisitions, mediation, organizational culture change, and executive coaching.
Eddie holds a Master’s in Organizational Development from the University of Denver and both a Master’s and Ph.D. in Leadership and Change from Antioch University.
In 2013, he co-founded TierraFirma Consulting LLC, an organizational development firm focused on helping leaders and teams thrive amid disruption and rapid technological shifts.
Based in Denver, Colorado, Eddie enjoys reading, the outdoors, and teaching skydiving at iFLY Skydiving Center. His personal mantra: “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it’s faced.”
Dr. Mindy Phillips, Ph.D., is a distinguished leadership coach and executive training consultant with advanced degrees in Transpersonal Counseling and Holistic Life Coaching. She brings over a decade of experience in corporate consulting and national-level instruction for the Department of Defense.
She specializes in organizational leadership, adult learning, and motivational interviewing—offering unique insights from her work in both military and civilian sectors. As a National Program Instructor and Strategist for the Army and Air National Guard, Dr. Phillips has developed and led comprehensive health, wellness, and leadership programs that directly impact military families and leadership structures nationwide.
Dr. Phillips is the founder of Evolvate International Holistic Coaching, where she empowers individuals and organizations through holistic and integrated approaches. She is also board-certified by the American Alternative Medicine Association and the American Association of Drugless Practitioners.
Based in Ohio, her mission is rooted in enhancing self-efficacy, promoting wellness, and elevating human capital through leadership coaching and whole-life development.
Dr. Carrie Register-Haley is the Founder and CEO of Revelation of Investment Coaching (ROI Coaching) based in Alexandria, VA. She is a Certified Professional Coach through iPEC with a Ph.D. in General Psychology from Capella University and a Master’s in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma.
Specializing in Executive and Leadership Development Coaching, her approach centers on re-energizing, re-empowering, and rediscovering individual passion and purpose. Carrie is known for her powerful listening skills and clarity-seeking questions that empower clients to identify their own solutions. Her methodology focuses on the person—not just the problem—uncovering root causes to enable transformation.
Dr. Haley is also a certified facilitator in Emotional Intelligence (EQ-i), Energy Leadership Index (ELI-MP), Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), Diversity & Inclusion, and Core Strength Deployment. She holds certifications in High Performance Leadership and Leading Change (Cornell University), Black Belt Lean Six Sigma, Mediation, and more.
A retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer with 21 years of service, she has held senior leadership roles across the Department of Defense, DHS, USCIS, DISA, DLA, and IRS. Dr. Haley serves as a mentor, facilitator, and coach for the Treasury Executive Institute and the IRS, and remains active in numerous community organizations including the National Coalition of 100 Black Women and Alfred Street Baptist Church.
She is also the author of The Best Investment is Within One’s Self (2nd Edition) and a frequent presenter on leadership, customer service, and empowerment in both federal and military spaces.
Deborah Steele is a seasoned dispute resolution professional with extensive experience in mediation and arbitration across employment, housing, consumer, and securities sectors. She currently serves as a volunteer mediator with the Arizona Attorney General's Civil Rights Division, handling discrimination complaints in employment, housing, and public accommodations. She is also a certified EEO Investigator.
Ms. Steele serves as a public arbitrator for FINRA, overseeing disputes between investors and financial firms. She is also an arbitrator with the National Center for Dispute Settlement and the BBB Auto Line program, where she adjudicates consumer warranty and lemon law claims.
A licensed attorney, Ms. Steele practiced civil litigation in Charlotte, NC, and served frequently as a guardian ad litem. She also supervised Legal Aid paralegal programs and taught a range of legal courses as a paralegal instructor.
She earned her J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law and a B.A. in Economics with Highest Honors from the University of Tennessee. She is a member of both Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi. Debbie currently resides between Tucson, Arizona and Park City, Utah.
Dr. Maura Walden, Ed.D., is an ICF-certified executive coach and organizational development expert with over 25 years of experience supporting leaders and teams across healthcare, higher education, and nonprofit sectors. She is the founder of Leadership Consulting Strategies and brings both deep coaching credentials and real-world leadership experience.
In her most recent role as Executive Director of Organizational Effectiveness and Performance at Johns Hopkins Health System, she led major initiatives that strengthened leadership capacity and boosted organizational outcomes. Her clients benefit from her blend of strategy, evidence-based coaching, and empathy-driven leadership insight.
Dr. Walden holds a Doctorate in Human & Organizational Learning from George Washington University and an M.S. in Organization Development and Strategic Human Resources from Johns Hopkins University. She is a certified Diversity Professional from Cornell and trained in a wide array of coaching methodologies and leadership tools including MBTI, EQ-i 2.0, SDI, Firo-B, Insights Discovery, and ProSci.
She has earned credentials from MentorCoach, Potentials Realized, the Co-Active Training Institute, and more. She is certified in 360° feedback tools and is an active member of the International Coach Federation (ICF) at the PCC level.
Her approach is collaborative, experiential, and rooted in psychological safety, creating powerful transformation for individual leaders and teams.
Dr. Abby Woods is an executive coach for transformative change. Her passion is helping individuals reach their highest leadership capacity by fostering environments of honesty and trust. She guides people through challenge and growth by offering structure, reflection, and choice.
With a strong background in education, Dr. Woods earned her Bachelor's degree from Millikin University, a Master's in Organizational Leadership from the University of Illinois, and her Doctorate in Educational Administration from the University of South Carolina. She also holds advanced academic credentials in curriculum and instruction from National Louis University.
Dr. Woods is a graduate of the Executive Leadership Coaching Program at Georgetown University and holds the ACC credential from the International Coaching Federation (ICF). She is certified in a wide variety of coaching and assessment tools including the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), Core Gift Interview, Growth Edge Interview (GEI), and The Leadership Circle Profile (LCP).
She serves as an adjunct professor at The Citadel and lives in Charleston, South Carolina, with her husband, four children, and two dogs.