الموظفون
Leslie Ann Grove (she/her) – Executive Director
After a BA in Music Education, graduate study in both education and philosophy, and law school at Gonzaga University, Leslie began practicing law in 1985 and mediating in 1987. Her very first mediation training was from Community Boards of Spokane, the predecessor to what has evolved into Northwest Mediation Center. Certified as a mediator through Washington Mediation Association, Leslie is a highly experienced mediator, trainer, and conflict resolution facilitator. Leslie is passionate about the crucial role of alternative dispute resolution and restorative practices in the 21st century. She is excited to work with Northwest Mediation Center, whose board is committed to providing affordable mediation and conflict management education to the community with integrity and creative energy. Leslie’s other passion is music, singing, and playing trumpet professionally. “It’s all about harmony” in music and in peaceful problem solving.
Clare Brown (she/they) – Assistant Executive Director
Clare earned her AA in Business from Spokane Falls Community College in 2006, their BA in Advertising and Marketing from Loyola University Chicago in 2009, and most recently her Master's Certificate in Women's Leadership from Gonzaga University in 2022. Clare was born and raised in Spokane, has worked in marketing since 2007, and been part of the local nonprofit community for 10 years. Clare is passionate about authentic storytelling to leverage support for our community through fundraising, grant writing, marketing, and communications. They are excited to work with Northwest Mediation Center to promote safe space and build community, particularly for marginalized and low-income folks, and to support people as they find a place of empathy during conflict. In her free time, Clare is passionate about dogs, iced coffee, reading books, and combining all those things on sunny patios.
Laurel Newnham (she/her) – Program Producer
درست لوريل في جامعة كارديف وحصلت على درجة الماجستير في الدراسات الثقافية، وانتقلت بعدها إلى سياتل وعملت في كل من المنظمات غير الربحية والفنون. وتعزو لوريل الفضل في حبها الجديد للوساطة المجتمعية إلى تعرضها للعديد من طرق التفكير وحل المشكلات الإبداعية. انضمت لوريل إلى مركز نورث ويست للوساطة في عام 2022. إن الشيء المفضل لديها في مشاركتها في مركز وساطة الشمال الغربي هو مساعدة الناس على إيجاد الراحة والتمكين عند معالجة النزاعات في محادثة مثمرة. في أوقات فراغها، تستمتع لوريل بالطهي مع الأصدقاء وصناعة الفن وتعلم اللغة الويلزية.
Deb Nielsen (she/her) – Mediation Case Manager
Deb completed her BA in Sociology at Gonzaga University in 2015. Following her interest in social justice-related topics and volunteer possibilities, along with a long-time focus on effective communication, she decided to take the Basic Mediation Training from NMC in April 2016, and completed the practicum program to become a certified mediator in December 2018. After serving as a volunteer in the office as part of her practicum experience she began working for the center part-time, and is now NMC's Case Manager.
Lindsey James (she/her) – Program Assistant & Office Manager
Lindsey graduated from University of Portland with a BS in Secondary Education and English, and earned her MS in Curriculum and Instruction from WGU. During her teaching career, she had the opportunity to facilitate professional learning and to become a new teacher mentor, and discovered a passion for helping people solve problems and grow both personally and professionally. After more than a decade in the education field, Lindsey decided to pursue new ways to serve her community. She is excited to join NMC, where she can use her skills to guide people toward peaceful, positive solutions. In her spare time, she enjoys tackling home improvement projects, cooking new recipes with her partner, writing fiction, and hiking.
Jorge Amigo Iturbe (he/him) – Mediation & Training Coordinator
Jorge was born in Spain and moved to the US at a young age. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and his law degree from Gonzaga University’s School of Law. Jorge won best negotiator in the Gonzaga Law and University of Florence’s annual mediation competition, and has extensive local, national, and international experience as a legal assistant and academic intern. Additionally, he speaks three languages: Spanish, French, and English. Jorge aspires to build a career as an attorney focused on mediation, where he can help resolve disputes through collaboration and mutual understanding.
Monica Bertucci (she/her) – Bookkeeper
Monica joined NMC in late 2018 to provide bookkeeping and financial support services. She has an undergraduate degree from The Evergreen State College and a Masters in Business Administration from Eastern Washington University. She has a diverse professional history, including non-profit leadership, retail management, and professional services, and currently provides services to NMC through Bertucci & Oxford Bookkeeping. Having used mediation services herself in both business and family matters, Monica is a firm believer in mediation as an essential resource for people working through any type of negotiation, and is very happy to be part of the NMC team.