My 1992 training in basic and family mediation was a life-changing experience that confirmed a calling to the practice of mediation. As a child of divorce, mediation revealed a far better way to end a marriage than was my family's experience. 25 years later as minister in a sharply divided congregation, mediation offered promising possibilities for people caught in conflict, allowing them to work through their issues while maintaining their dignity and core values. I have been a mediator with the Lincoln Mediation Center, co-mediating a number of cases through the center since 1992. In order to pursue a career in the field of dispute resolution, I attended law school and clerked in the State Ombudsman's Office. Upon graduation I was employed in that office and am currently in the position of Deputy Ombudsman. Lastly, I have also had the opportunity to work for the advancement of mediation as a member of the Advisory Counsel of the Nebraska Office of Dispute Resolution.