The professionals who work with Mediation Training Institute and Atlanta Divorce Mediators, both as trainers and mediators,  are all talented, skilled people who believe in the mediation process.  

We believe that mediation skills are life skills. We believe that mediation clients have the right of self determination, and that the mediation process does change the way people have of resolving differences.

Our staff of trained, experienced mediators, continues to grow.  

Melissa Heard has been mediating since 1993, and training mediators since 1998.  She entered the mediation field after working in social services for eleven (11) years.  She has been actively involved in training, in mediating employment disputes, family and juvenile matters, as well as other general civil cases.  Melissa is a member of the Association for Conflict Resolution (formerly SPDR, AFM and CRE-Net), and the Family Mediation Association of Georgia.  Melissa is actively involved in training meditors in both General/Civil/Business, Divorce Mediation and Juvenile Mediation.

Kathy Marth, M.A.  has been mediating since 1990 and training since 1994.  She is an Advanced Practitioner Member of the Association of Conflict Resolution, and dedicated to promoting collaborative and creative decision making processes between individuals and groups..  Kathy has worked as a mediator in a variaty of settings.She is currently registered with the state of Georgia and the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commision, working both for the NC Administrative Offices of the Courts Custody Mediation and with the Family Financial Mediation programs, as well as private practice in family mediation, .   She continues to be actively involved in training mediators with Atlanta Divorce Mediators. Kathy also works as a facilitator and a trainer of facilitation methods.

Maryann Lopez Locklin, B.A. has been mediating since 1995, and coaching and assisting in the training of mediators since 2002.  Prior to mediating and training, Maryann was a Case Coordinator, Child Advocate, Juvenile Court Mediation Program Coordinator and a Court Dispute Resolution Coordinator.  Maryann is a Charter Member of the Association for Conflict Resolution, Georgia Chapter.  She has presented numerous programs on Diversity.  She continues to be actively involved in training mediators in General/Civil/Business Mediation, and coaching in the Divorce Mediation Training role-plays.

Lee Borden, J.D. (Divorceinfo.com). (no stranger to many of you), an attorney and mediator in Birmingham, Alabama, with extensive experience in the areas of tax consequences of divorce, valuing family assets and dealing with family businesses.  Lee goes "beyond basics" but does it in a way that keeps everyone "on the same page".  He has an exceptional presentation style.  Lee makes even taxes "fun"! He also has the most extensive web site on divorce and mediation.

Robert Bordette, CFP, CDP,  is a mediator and financial planner in Atlanta, Georgia.  He is also on the teaching staff of the Institute of Certified Divorce Planners. Robert has extensive experience with tax consequences of divorce and financial planning matters.  He has been mediating since 1995.

Ann Dettmering, J.D. is a mediator and attorney in Marietta, Georgia, and a past President of the Family Law Section of the Cobb County Bar Association.  She has extensive experience in divorce and custody matters.  Ann teaches new mediators in the area of domestic law issues.  Ann has been mediating since 2000.