In his therapy practice, Dr. Bertschler specializes in mood disorders, marital and relationship issues, parent-child conflict, crisis intervention, and life transition work. He has completed research in the field of physio-psychological disorders and health psychology. John has lectured in psychology at North Texas State University and Lakeland Community College. He is currently an adjunct professor at Notre Dame College of Ohio and the University of Phoenix, Independence, OH campus, teaching conflict resolution courses.

As a trained mediator, John has over 120 hours of conflict resolution training and has resolved hundreds of mediated cases since opening Northcoast Conflict Solutions in 1996. He has lectured on the topics, “Getting Past Impasse” and “Conflict in the Workplace” extensively and has mentored several mediators in training as they begin their practices. John’s specialties include divorce, family, church and business mediation. An avid golfer, pilot, and aspiring Jeopardy champion, John lives with his wife, Patti, in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio.

Patricia (Patti) Bertschler, founding partner of NCS, speaks extensively throughout Ohio on topics related to behavioral health and conflict in the workplace with her background as a licensed clinical counselor (Ohio #E1638), trained mediator, and her work at Parma Community General Hospital’s Behavioral Center for Older Adults and at Windsor Behavioral Health Center, Chagrin Falls, OH.  Patti is co-author of TRUCE! Using Elder Mediation to Resolve Conflict among Families, Seniors, and Organizations published in 2004. 

In her private practice with a gentle version of the “Dr. Phil approach,” Patti specializes in wellness in transition, assertiveness training, relationship issues, eldercare, post-abortion syndrome, low-grade trauma and conflict resolution. She earned her BA in English and Social Psychology from Notre Dame College of Ohio and her MA in Counseling and Human Services from John Carroll University. Patti is active in her church, volunteers on the Advisory Board at Womankind, Inc., enjoys beating her husband at Scrabble, and designs very creative silk floral arrangements.

Debra Day is a diversity facilitator and Career Development Coach. She administers the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator as well as other assessment tools in her practice. As a diversity trainer, she emphasizes that training provides participants with concrete tools necessary to transfer cultural competence skills learned in the classroom to their personal and professional lives.

A native of New York City, Debra Day has served as an active duty Army Officer and Civil Servant for over 20 years. During her military career, she participated in “Operation Just Cause”--- the U.S. Invasion of Panama, and also served as Manager of Human Resources. Debra earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from Georgia Southern University and a Master of Science degree in counseling from Long Island University.

Norma Delp specializes in the design and implementation of leadership, team, and organization development processes, performance management and compensation systems, and conflict assessment and resolution. The following training programs are included in Norma Delp’s services: Negotiation Skills, Mediation Skills, Project Management, and Increasing Human Effectiveness.

In his practice of law and mediation, Mr. Feliciano has specialties in Education Law, Domestic Relations, employment issues, and church conflict. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from past employment with Gallagher, Sharp, Fulton and Norman, the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, and the Federation of Catholic Community Services. “Charlie,” as he is known by many, has a passion for mediating disputes between schools and children with special needs. As a bilingual practitioner, Charlie also has tremendous impact working with and for the Spanish-speaking community.

Mr. Feliciano received his B.A. in history from John Carroll University, and his J.D. degree from Cleveland Marshall College of Law. He is certified in School Safety by Pepperdine University and The National School Safety Center. Mr. Feliciano also works on behalf of the mentally ill in the Cuyahoga County mental health court.

 Kim Langley is an experienced professional trainer, conducting 150+ workshops annually for agencies, foster and adoptive parents, corporations, professional groups, and associations.  Her areas of expertise include Emotional Intelligence, Conflict Management and Communication Skills, Stress Management and Wellness, Family Life Skills, Work and Family Issues, Partnerships between Parents and Helping Professionals, and Professional Development.  Kim aims to provide the best seminars you've ever participated in. Period. She designs each session with an eye to how adults learn, maximizing retention, and presenting participants with the kinds of people skills that enable them to be part of the solution instead of part of the problem.

Kim's Personal Mission Statement is to be of service to the world, delivering exceptional workshops that reflect best practice, enable personal and professional growth, enhance authentic interpersonal and self-reflection skills, and make people want to get up for work on Monday morning!

Judi has a BS in Education, MA in Clinical Pastoral Counseling and is licensed by the State of Ohio as a Professional Counselor. In her private counseling practice, she works with children, teens, and adults in the areas of grief and loss, life transitions, depression, anxiety, anger, stress, relational conflicts, self-esteem difficulties and spiritual concerns. She offers educational programs and trainings on a wide range of topics for professionals, communities, and students at universities, schools, hospitals, senior care communities, churches and conferences.

Mark Newton is a divorce and family mediator and divorce attorney.  His career has focused on helping others, and his background as a trial and divorce attorney, public defender and teacher have led him to his passion—divorce mediation.  Mark is committed to the process of mediation for divorcing couples as an extraordinary alternative to traditional litigation.  In his private practice as a mediator, divorce attorney, and collaborative divorce practitioner, Mark’s approach is to carefully listen to his clients while empowering them to resolve their conflicts.

Mark earned his law degree from The University of Toledo and his Masters Degree in education from Ursuline College.  He is a fanatical runner with a hazy dream of some day qualifying for the Boston Marathon.    Mark loves coaching girls fast pitch softball, cooking, and is a University of Michigan sports nut.  He lives with his wife and two children in Shaker Heights. 

As a workshop presenter, mediator, and author, Ned brings over 20 years of experience and passion to inspire organizations to “invest in themselves with grace, invest in others with humility, and improve with dignity.”

Ned began his early training in the US Army, is a Certified Laughter Leader through the World Laughter Tour of Columbus, Ohio, and is a certified leader in presenting “Increasing Human Effectiveness” through Edge Learning of Tacoma, Washington. He also writes and trains in areas such as self-esteem, personal development, mediation and negotiation. Ned lives with his wife, Brenda and daughter, Samantha, in Bath, Ohio.

Michelle has over 14 years of experience as a Debt and Credit Administrator. Her interests are in Business Mediation and Debt and Credit Mediation, having received her B.A. in Conflict Resolution in 1999 from Kent State University with a double minor in Criminal Justice and Psychology. Michelle received her MBA from the University of Phoenix in 2004.  She acts as the Parliamentarian for the Urban League of Greater Cleveland Young Professionals, is a member of the National Black MBA Association, and very active member of each organization’s membership committees in recruiting, orientation training, and event planning. She currently mediates in Lexington, KY as our affiliate.

An affiliate since 2000, Loyal specializes in divorce, family, school, and small business mediation having received training in mediation and conflict resolution fro the Better Business Bureau.

Loyal earned his BA in Business Administration from Baldwin-Wallace College, Berea, Ohio and his MBA from Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio. Loyal is a member of the Mediation Association of Northeast Ohio (MANO), is active in his church and other civic organizations.

Debra Tkac has provided counseling services in community mental health since 1989.  She is a graduate of Kent State University and is licensed in the state of Ohio as a Professional Clinical Counselor with Supervisory status.  Debra's clinical expereince includes work with adults, families, and adolescents. Her areas of specialization include depression, anxiety, stress management, and problems in daily living (i.e., life choices, financial stressors).  Debra has also worked with individuals who have been victims of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse and/or who have struggled with issues of substance abuse.  In the treatment process, her gentle demeanor is balanced by her persistence and solution-focused techniques.