About Us    "Peace-making is not for wimps."

                                                                                                -- John Bertschler, PhD

Our Mission
As peacemakers, we help those in dispute to resolve their differences civilly and equitably by education and example. We promote a culture of respect which values all members of our diverse community.

If you are seeking a mediator, attorney, licensed counselor, psychologist, or professional trainer or coach, please SEE BELOW for photos and bios.  All of us can be reached by calling (216) 236-6200 or by sending an email via our Contact page.

Northcoast Conflict Solutions, LLC, is a mediation, counseling, facilitation and training practice in Seven Hills, Ohio. Founded in 1996, NCS is staffed by mediators, psychologists, counselors, attorneys, and affiliates with backgrounds in: business, law, education, school safety, anti-bullying, behavioral health, organization development, ministry, human resources.

NCS Advisory Board

Joyce Banjac, PhD, NCS Facilitation
Beveral Briggs, J.D., Attorney, Mediator
Cheryl D'Mello, Freelance writer, Assistant in the Cleveland State Diversity Program
Harrold Spicknall, PhD, Mediator
Kate Varholick, MetroHealth Medical Center
Pamela Ziss, PhD, Cleveland Clinic

Community Outreach Community Outreach nity Support

Northcoast Conflict Solutions supports local charity, Womankind Prenatal Care Center which offers free pregnancy testing, medical prenatal care and related services to women in Northeast Ohio.    For more information, please visit

www.womankindcleveland.com

NCS is the first counseling/mediation practice in Ohio to volunteer for the national non-profit group, GIVE An HOUR which supports returning veterans.  The program, headed by Executive Director Dr. Barbara Romberg provides free counseling to vets and their families.  To access services, veterans go to the web site www.giveanhour.org, and follow prompts to be connected with a therapist in his/her geographical area. 

We also support the Metanoia Hospitality Center in Cleveland, Ohio buy selling recipe books published by four local women and with all proceeds donated to this center for the homeless.

Our NCS Staff and Service Providers

Co-owner Mediator Psychologist Professional Education Crisis Intervention (CISM)

John Bertschler, PhD
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 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.

Co-owner Prof'l Clinical Counselor Mediator Professional Education Author

Patricia Bertschler, MA, LPCC
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 two books on Elder Mediation (2004,2009) and 88 Tips for Shy Introverts: Becoming Personally and Professionally Assertive (2010). 

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 Bachelor of Arts 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 at Womankind Prenatal Care Cente, enjoys

beating her husband at Scrabble, and designs creative silk floral arrangements.

Diversity Education Atlanta , GA

Debra Day, MS
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.

Organization Development Consultant

Norma Delp, MA, MS
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.  She can be reached at www.signaltree.org

Attorney and Mediator

Santiago Feliciano, Jr., JD
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 Bachelor of Arts in history from John Carroll University, and his J.D. degree

                                              f rom 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.

Professional Education

Kim Langley, M.Ed.
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 in which you've ever participated. 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!

Professional Facilitator Strategic Consultant, Mediator Vice-president, Chief Strategist for Organizational Markets

Joyce Banjac, Ph.D.

Joyce Banjac is an entrepreneurial educator with a powerful mission.  She strives to unleash individual, organizational, and community potential by facilitating change, transforming conflict, building collaborative mindsets and strengthening character.  As a trained facilitator, professor, business founder, university (interim) president and vice president, she motivates those around her to embrace change.  She inspires individuals and organizations to build trust and measure results, foundational prerequisites for advanced work in professional and organizational achievement.    

Dr. Banjac has taught in graduate and undergraduate divisions at Baldwin Wallace College, and has researched, written, and presented on inter-organizational collaboration, ethics, leadership, personal improvement and social marketing.

Joyce pinpoints strategic opportunities and diagnoses an organization’s current situation. She facilitates coaching, consulting, professional retreats, meetings, presentations, and targeted communications to create and sustain individual, organizational, and collaborative change.  Schooled in higher education policy, business systems, and economics, Banjac has earned leadership and strategy certificates from

                                              Harvard University and Case Western Reserve University. She is aCertified Focus Group Moderator and a

                                              Certified Curriculum Designer (DACUM).    

                                               Joyce lives in Northeastern Ohio with her husband, Bob, two children, and an aging mutt that still

                                               acts like a puppy.    She loves to run, recently completing two marathons---especially relishing the

                                               moments after passing the finish line, enjoys the contemplative side of nature, participates in cerebral

                                               activities, such as reading, writing, and piano practice, and delights in dance, especially of the Rock-n

                                               Roll variety.  She can be rached at www.ncsfacilitation.com

Mediator Attorney at Law Professional Education Manager, Mediation & Legal Development

Mark Newton, JD, M.Ed.
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 and can be reached by visiting www.newtondivorcemediation.com