Manousso Mediation and Arbitration, LLC: Conflict Resolution Coaching & Training, was founded in 1993 by Dr. Barbara Sunderland Manousso, a 100% woman-owned business and co-works, now, with attorney, mediator, arbitrator, Melissa Back McAlpine.   Melissa McAlpine is the immediate past president of the Texas Association of Mediators and co-convener of the Texas Mediators Trainers Roundtable, as well as past president of the Association for Conflict Resolution Houston Chapter.

Dr. Barbara Sunderland Manousso, Ph.D., M.P.H. and CEO of Manousso Mediation and Arbitration, LLC,  has been an author, mediation arbitration trainer, and professor of Global Conflict Management at the University of St. Thomas.  She was recognized by the Texas Association of Mediators as the top Texas mediator for 2019.   In 2018, she was recognized for a Lifetime Achievement Award in Mediation by the Association for Conflict Resolution and in 2018 the Houston Business Journal recognized her as a Woman Who Means Business and a Professional Business Mentor.  Moreover, since 1972 she has been recognized as an entrepreneur, she was Rhode Island’s Outstanding Small Business Owner by the United States White House.  She has been listed in the Marquis Who’s Who in the World since 1982.  In 2010, she was recognized as One of Fifty Most Influential Women in Houston.  In 1992, the government of Suez, Egypt, recognized her with a humanity award.

In Houston and internationally, Dr. Barbara Sunderland Manousso is actively involved with mediating and arbitrating for local civil and federal clients.  She belongs to a variety of professional organizations, such as the Texas Association of Mediators, Texas Mediation Credentialing Association as a Distinguished Mediator, the New England Chapter of the Association of Conflict Resolution, The Texas Mediation Training Roundtable, and a variety of international rosters and serves on their leadership for training and standards.  Barbara is a former president of the Houston Chapter of the Association for Conflict Resolution and current board member.  She serves on the editorial board of the ACResolution Magazine and serves on section committees of the international Association for Conflict Resolution.  She is a frequent trainer and lecturer on mediation nationally and internationally.  She is immediate pasts co-chair of the Health Care Section of the international Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR) and is the current chair for the international ACR Education, Research, and Training section.

Dr. Manousso’s baccalaureate degree is from Brown University in Rhode Island, masters of public health degree is from the University of Texas School of Public Health in Houston, Texas, and doctorate from Nova Southeastern University in Florida.

Dr. Manousso was a certified Nationally Registered Guardian and Texas Registered Guardian.  So when it comes to elder care and special need clients, she is well versed in community resources and opportunities to help families have quality conversations and make informed decisions.  Sometimes, all that is needed is conflict coaching to help family members address difficult situations, which can be done over the phone.  If discussion needs to take place in a private venue, such as as nursing home, Manousso or her team of mediators will go to the facility to accommodate the parties.  She served at the request of former Texas Governor Rick Perry and current Governor Abbott on the statewide regulatory agency for nursing homes for over 10 years, the Nursing Facility Administrator Advisory Committee.  She has now been appointed as a commissioner on two board for health care and insurance.

Over the years, she has formed a conflict resolution network with an international panel of professionals who practice with expertise in elder care mediation, probate, divorce, real estate, religious organizations, environmental protection, and consumer issues.  She has trained hundreds of mediators to mediate, arbitrate, and facilitate.  She has taken thousands of hours of training and earned numerous certificates and a doctorate in mediation, arbitration, and facilitation. 

No matter where your conflict might take you, or take place, we have a network of seasoned, credentialed mediators, including Dr.Manousso, who can help with your dispute.  Instead of litigating, mediate with Manousso.  Mediation can save you substantial money and time; your case can usually be mediated in a timely manner for a modest amount of money, sometimes within days; and you can keep your dispute private, totally out of public records, unlike litigation.

Moreover, wherever you take your training, make sure that your lecturers are part of the professional mediation and ADR communities and are active mediators.  Your best training depends on it.  Of course, we hope that you will bring your skills and passion for being a peace maker to Manousso Mediation, so come train with us.