By Melanie Deeds
Legal News
One of the people instrumental in the creation of The Resolution Center in Mount Clemens two decades ago is being honored for his continuing support of the organization.
New Baltimore attorney Thomas Rombach, who will take over this year as president of the State Bar of Michigan, has been selected to receive the center’s Conflict Resolution Advocacy Award.
Craig Pappas, executive director, said Rombach served on the original steering committee of the Macomb County Bar Foundation that played a role in creating the center more than 20 years ago.
Pappas said Rombach “has been a continual supporter of The Resolution Center and we thought considering he is the incoming president of the State Bar that this is the right time to recognize his ongoing support of Alternative Dispute Resolution and Conflict Resolution services.”
“Tom thoroughly understands the operations of the center and how our mediation programs benefit the communities we serve and we are incredibly grateful to folks in leadership positions that are aware of our role,” he said.
The award will be presented during the center’s annual fundraiser, Evening at the Movies, scheduled Tuesday, April 1 at the MJR Marketplace Sterling Heights theater complex.
Also in the spotlight that night will be Ralph Barbier, Larry Harwood and Wez Ligon, who are recipients of the Lawrence W. Beckett Volunteer of the Year award.
Barbier, a retired attorney, participates as a case evaluator in various circuit courts and regularly mediates for the center.
“His vast knowledge of the legal system and his willingness to regularly make himself available for some of our more challenging cases is what made Ralph stand out over this past year,” Pappas said. “Having folks familiar with certain subject matters in mediation and can be an invaluable resource and Ralph often fills that role.”
Harwood, has been a mediator with The Resolution Center since 1996.
“In fact he received this award two other times (1997 & 2000) and continues to routinely log the most number of hours and mediations conducted for agency annually,” Pappas said.
In addition to the time he dedicates to the center, Pappas said Harwood also was being recognized for his service as chair of the center’s operations committee.
The committee monitors the various programs at the center and, according to Pappas, seeks to expand programs and collaborate with other agencies to increase the visibility of the center.
“Larry is always looking for advanced mediation training opportunities for his fellow mediators and brainstorming fundraising avenues for the center,” Pappas said. “Larry is always looking for ways for the center to better itself in the community.”
Ligon “has been an incredible asset to the center, especially in light of recent expansion into Lapeer, Sanilac, Huron and Tuscola Counties,” Pappas said.
“Wez donated her building in Almont as well as all of the catering for The Resolution Center’s recent new mediator training,” he said.
During that event, the center trained 13 new mediators, most whom reside in the “thumb area” counties and Ligon “was integral in making that happen,” Pappas said.
He added that Ligon “spent countless hours conducting outreach to various courts, businesses, schools, police departments, and municipalities in the thumb counties.
During 2013, the center processed nearly 1,400 cases, according to Pappas, and just under 70 percent of those were mediated with a settlement.
A total of $654,651 was distributed through those settlements, he said, and just over 3,000 individuals were served.
The Evening at the Movies fundraiser, which benefits the center’s Dispute Resolution Program, begins at 5:30 p.m., featuring appetizers from area restaurants and caterers along with wine and beer as well as admission to a movie, popcorn and a soft drink.
Tickets are $50 per person.
For information, contact the center at 586.469.4714 or visit www.theresolutioncenter.com.
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