Collaboration • Conflict Readiness •
Leadership Development
Workplace conflict isn’t just a people problem, it’s a business problem. Every unresolved conflict has a cost. Lost productivity. Delayed decisions. Manager time. Employee turnover. HR burden. Left unaddressed, these hidden costs quietly undermine organizational performance.
The strongest organizations don’t avoid conflict — they learn how to navigate it well. When leaders and teams have the skills to address difficult issues early, organizations become more resilient, more innovative, and more capable of bringing out the best in their people.
We help organizations:
We reduce the friction that keeps good people from doing great work.
Whether conflict is already disrupting your organization or you want to build stronger teams before problems escalate, we help you get beneath the symptoms and create lasting change.
Address Conflict at the Root
Our process helps teams navigate recurring conflict, rebuild working relationships, and move forward with greater clarity, accountability, and connection.
Build More Capable Leaders
Equipping managers and leaders to navigate difficult conversations, give meaningful feedback, hold people accountable, and lead through conflict and change.
Strengthen Teams
Building the communication, collaboration, and conflict skills teams need to collaborate effectively — even under pressure.
Navigate Change
Helping employees and leaders work through transitions, competing priorities, and uncertainty without losing connection to each other or the mission.
Develop Organizational Resilience
Strengthening the systems, policies, and practices that shape how people work together—building greater accountability, conflict readiness, and resilience into the organization itself.
Our multidisciplinary team works with organizations across the country, drawing on expertise in organizational development, mediation, HR, leadership, psychology, communications, project management, facilitation, systems design, and restorative practice.
Conflict transformation specialist, communication strategist, Executive Director of Restorative Justice Institute, Founder of Cambridge Creative Group, author of Brave Talk and co-author of the I-IMAGINE Framework
Melody Stanford Martin is a social ethicist, communication expert, restorative justice practitioner, and Executive Director of the Restorative Justice Institute. She is the co-author of I-IMAGINE: A Restorative Framework for Transforming Conflict & Culture, and author of Brave Talk: Building Resilient Relationships in the Face of Conflict. Melody is the Founder & CEO of Cambridge Creative Group, a narrative marketing and design company specializing in non-profit visual design and messaging, a TEDx speaker, and a contributor to Psychology Today. Melody obtained her Masters of Divinity in 2016 where she focused on Conflict Transformation at Boston University School of Theology. Since then, she has supported teams and leaders at a wide range of organizations, from municipal governments to corporations, universities, faith communities, and the legal team at NASA. Melody is passionate about courageous communication, building right relationship, and out-of-the-box thinking to address social challenges.
Bringing 20 years of coaching, facilitation, and conflict-transformation experience, along with more than a decade of experience supporting organizational culture change. Certified Nonviolent Communication (NVC) Trainer.
Phoenix Soleil is a coach, mediator, restorative circle keeper and organizational consultant who helps leaders and teams navigate conflict, give honest feedback, and work through difficult interpersonal dynamics. Her work focuses on helping people say what needs to be said—clearly and without blame—so that even challenging conversations can lead to understanding, accountability, and real change.
Phoenix facilitates mediations, workshops, company retreats, decision-making processes, and restorative circles. Her work often involves supporting multiple sides of a conflict, coaching individuals, guiding dialogue, and helping teams reach agreements that are workable, accountable, and sustainable over time.
With over 20 years of experience, Phoenix has worked with organizations including Google, the Kellogg Foundation, UC Berkeley, the Insight Meditation Society, and the Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute.
Mediator, facilitator, civil rights and conflict management specialist, restorative justice practitioner, Former Conciliation Specialist with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Relations Service (CRS).
Clay Fong most recently served as a Conciliation Specialist with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Relations Service, where he mediated and facilitated community conflicts involving civil rights and hate crimes and delivered related training across the United States. His work included leading sessions on event marshaling and contingency planning for public demonstrations, advising stakeholders on conflict management, and helping design effective resolution processes in situations involving significant power imbalances, including interactions between communities and law enforcement. He also contributed to an agency working group developing restorative justice strategies for inclusion in the agency’s conflict-resolution toolkit.
Previously, Clay managed the City of Boulder’s Office of Human Rights and Community Relations, where he supervised the investigation and resolution of alleged violations of Boulder’s Human Rights Ordinance, including discrimination based on race, gender, and national origin. He also led internal human resources mediations and group problem-solving facilitations for city employees. He developed mediation strategies for staff and coached parties in expressing their interests across cultural and linguistic differences. Recognizing that the effects of discrimination often extend beyond transactional remedies, he incorporated restorative justice principles to support relational understanding and resolution.
For more than a decade, Clay also led Boulder’s Community Mediation Service, overseeing a team of staff and volunteer mediators and advising thousands of community members on their rights and conflict-resolution options. He was responsible for integrating the city’s mediation and restorative justice programs into a unified structure, recruiting and training restorative justice facilitators and community volunteers, and resolving complex cases. His work also incorporated motivational interviewing and rites-of-passage practices into restorative processes.
Colleen Skemp, SPHR, is the founder of Fractal HR, where she brings restorative and Nonviolent Communication-based approaches to conflict resolution, facilitation, coaching, and workplace culture. She pairs this relational work with HR compliance and policy.
Colleen Skemp, SPHR, is the founder of Fractal HR, where she brings restorative approaches to conflict resolution, facilitation, training, coaching, and workplace culture. Fostering inclusive spaces, deep listening, and a conscious attention to power are central to her practice, as she works to build relationships rooted in shared dignity rather than domination. Her work is distinctive in pairing a relational, restorative approach with HR compliance and policy design, with a specialty in organizations implementing democratic structures and practices.
For more than a decade, Colleen has worked to serve the social economy by designing and supporting resilient people systems. Her practice is grounded in over ten years of Nonviolent Communication, which shapes how she helps teams navigate challenges and stay in connection as they work toward their shared goals together.
Facilitator, consultant, and executive advisor bringing 15 years of experience in leadership development, capacity building, and data analytics, certified in conflict resolution. Co-Founder of Capital H Consulting group.
Julia is a seasoned facilitator, consultant, and executive advisor bringing 15 years of experience in leadership development, capacity building, and data analytics from the global health equity space. Julia is known for her calm presence, systems-based problem-solving approach, and the sense of humor she brings to workshops she leads.
Known for her ability to build trust, foster collaboration, and bring clarity to complex challenges, Julia is described by colleagues as thoughtful, resourceful, and curious. She brings deep expertise to her work with clients, blending data-driven insights with human-centered strategies and experience with culturally, linguistically, and geographically diverse teams to help leaders and teams thrive.
Julia studied Psychobiology and Hispanic Studies at Wheaton College (MA) and earned her MPH in Epidemiology & Global Health at Boston University. She is certified in Conflict Resolution from Cornell University and is a certified Predictive Index practitioner.
Clinical psychologist and founder of Mindbridge, bringing trauma-informed practice and human rights focus to restorative justice for a wide range of clients and organizations.
Laura Ligouri is a psychologist, researcher, and founder working to establish the emerging field of Human Rights Psychology – the application of psychological science to understanding and advancing human dignity, democratic resilience, and social change. Her work examines how trauma, identity, belonging, power, and collective behavior shape societies, and how evidence from psychology and neuroscience can help design more effective responses to today’s most pressing human rights challenges.
As Founder and Chief External Strategy Officer of Mindbridge (www.mindbridgecenter.org), Laura partners with governments, nonprofits, researchers, and advocacy organizations to translate psychological science into practical strategies for preventing extremism, strengthening democratic participation, supporting trauma recovery, and building resilient communities. Her work bridges research and practice, helping leaders understand not only what people believe, but why they believe it – and how meaningful change becomes possible.
Her current scholarship focuses on democratic resilience, authoritarianism, political polarization, belonging, racial trauma, moral injury, and the psychology of collective action. Through research, writing, teaching, and public engagement, she is working to define Human Rights Psychology as a field that places the science of human behavior at the center of efforts to advance justice, strengthen democratic institutions, and expand human flourishing.
Conflict resolution and dispute resolution professional with over 20 years of experience supporting individuals and communities across community-based organizations.
Colette Lima brings more than a decade of experience in restorative justice facilitation, training, coaching, and organizational support. She has designed and led trainings and talking circles in schools, community-organizing spaces, faith-based organizations, and nonprofits, helping groups strengthen communication, navigate conflict, and build collaborative practices grounded in their values.
A former classroom educator, Colette’s approach is rooted in the belief that the people closest to a challenge should be meaningfully involved in shaping the solution. She has consulted with school districts, coached leaders, facilitated difficult conversations, and supported organizations through conflict and change with an emphasis on relationships, shared responsibility, and collective problem-solving.
Community engagement specialist, mediator, and restorative justice practitioner with over 15 years of experience cultivating trusted relationships across corporate, government, education, and community sectors.
Tisha N. Carter-Smith is a dedicated community engagement and restorative justice professional with over 15 years of experience cultivating trusted relationships across government, education, and community sectors to improve public safety and strengthen neighborhood partnerships. As the former Community Impact and Relations Liaison for the City of Des Moines, Tisha led the design and implementation of the city’s Community Mediation Program, utilizing restorative practices to foster community trust and resolve conflict. Her extensive work with public safety agencies includes developing and delivering implicit bias training for the Des Moines Police Department and spearheading research-based recommendations to advance equitable policing and community-centered service delivery.1
Tisha’s consulting expertise is supported by advanced credentials in law enforcement equity and conflict resolution, including a Graduate Certificate in DEI in Law Enforcement from Widener University, a Certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution from George Mason University, and an Executive Certificate in Diversity & Inclusion from Cornell University. By integrating these specialized qualifications with deep experience in trauma-informed engagement and cross-sector collaboration, Tisha offers a comprehensive approach to training and consulting that prioritizes dignity, accountability, and the meaningful repair of harm within the restorative justice field.
Certified Project Manager, restorative justice trainer, facilitator specializing in harm intervention, background as a therapist who brings a clinical and systems design lens to organizational change.
Martin Henson is a systems strategist, restorative justice practitioner, and project management professional who specializes in designing and leading human-centered approaches to complex organizational challenges. With over 10 years of experience in restorative justice interventions, including training, curriculum development, and restorative harm/healing processes, Martin brings deep expertise in building systems rooted in trust and shared responsibility.
Martin has successfully led over 150 projects and initiatives across sectors, ranging from community intervention and conflict resolution to marketing, fundraising, and large-scale program development. His work bridges technical project execution with relational and cultural dynamics, equipping leaders and teams to integrate restorative practices into project environments in practical, results-driven ways. He holds a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).
Conflict resolution and dispute resolution professional with over 20 years of experience supporting individuals and communities across organizations.
Kate Miller is a conflict resolution and dispute resolution professional with over 20 years of experience supporting individuals and communities across education, law enforcement, courts, and community-based organizations. A Certified Anger Management Specialist, Court Certified Domestic Violence Provider, and Victim Advocate, Kate brings a thoughtful and compassionate approach to mediation, crisis intervention, and trauma-informed care. She holds a MA in Dispute Resolution and a BA in Counseling.
Throughout her career, Kate has been deeply committed to the principles of restorative justice, consistently integrating these practices to foster accountability, healing, and meaningful dialogue. She is passionate about helping people navigate complex conflicts—whether interpersonal or systemic—and has extensive experience working within multi-agency environments.
Kate’s work focuses on building collaborative, practical solutions that prioritize safety, accountability, and opportunities for genuine restoration and long-term positive outcomes.
We work with organizations across the U.S., including corporations, municipalities, nonprofits, cooperatives, public agencies, and mission-driven organizations. Our engagements are tailored to your needs—from focused work with a single team or leadership group to complex, organization-wide initiatives.
Supporting teams experiencing conflict, disconnection, unclear expectations, or difficulty collaborating. Our work can help address recurring tension, communication breakdowns, and the need for stronger agreements or a meaningful team reset.
We help leaders navigate difficult conversations, accountability, organizational tension, and change with greater clarity, courage, and consistency.
Partnering with HR and people leaders seeking more relational and restorative approaches to workplace conflict, staff development, internal processes, and organizational culture.
We create structured support for leadership groups navigating strained relationships, complex decisions, competing priorities, governance challenges, or uncertainty about shared direction.
Helping organizations strengthen communication and relational stability through leadership transitions, restructuring, rapid growth, mergers, policy changes, and other periods of uncertainty.
We help organizations translate commitments to belonging and inclusion into everyday relationships, communication, leadership, and workplace practices. Our work supports meaningful participation, communication across difference, greater awareness of power and impact, and cultures where people can contribute, raise concerns, and navigate tension constructively.
We support departments, committees, coalitions, partner organizations, and merging teams that must work across different roles, cultures, priorities, and levels of authority. Our work helps groups navigate competing perspectives, clarify responsibilities, strengthen collaboration, and create shared ways of working.
Organizational Consulting
Systems, policies, leadership practices, conflict readiness, and long-term organizational development.
Conflict Intervention & Mediation
Structured support when workplace conflict, damaged trust, or recurring tension is affecting people or performance.
Leadership & Conflict Coaching
1:1 support for leaders and employees navigating difficult conversations, accountability, change, and complex working relationships.
Customized Training
Practical skill-building in communication, conflict engagement, accountability, leadership, and restorative practice.
Facilitated Discussion & Desicion-Making
Skilled facilitation for difficult conversations, strategic dialogue, complex decisions, transitions, and other moments when teams need to move forward together.
Team Development
Proactive support that helps teams build collaboration, strengthen communication, navigate differences, and develop the habits that drive collaboration and high performance.
Not sure where to begin? Tell us what your organization is navigating, and we’ll help identify next steps.
We will work with you to determine an approach that reflects the complexity of the situation, the readiness of the people involved, and your goals and resources.
Let’s start the conversation.
