Matthew Carroll
Matthew Carroll is a dedicated educator and leader in the field of mediation. He serves as an Adjunct Lecturer at Northwestern University's School of Professional Studies in Chicago, Illinois, where he co-instructs the Divorce Mediation class with Sandra Crawford, JD. He also teaches at Aurora University's Scott Center for Online and Graduate Studies in Aurora, Illinois, introducing future mediators to the field.
Matthew's passion for training and educating mediators is evident in his numerous contributions to the field. Through Keystone Mediation, he developed an Advanced Divorce Mediation program, bringing together a group of highly talented and respected professionals from various fields. Additionally, he created a six-part mediation skills workshop series, showcasing his innovative approach to professional development.
In his role as the current President of the Indiana Association of Mediators, Matthew leads a diverse group of professionals, advocating for increased application of mediation across the State of Indiana. He is the co-owner of Keystone Mediation in Dyer, Indiana, where he has established a thriving practice addressing a wide range of disputes, including divorce, parenting plans and paternity, property division, child support, post-decree issues, prenuptial agreements, small business conflicts, couples mediation, and family mediation. Matthew's approach focuses on facilitating effective communication between parties, believing that when people truly understand each other, they're more likely to find mutually acceptable solutions.
Matthew is a Certified Practitioner with the Academy of Professional Family Mediators and a registered Parenting Coordinator with the Supreme Court of Indiana. His memberships in the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, Academy of Professional Family Mediators, American Bar Association, and the Lake County (IN) Bar Association underscore his commitment to professional excellence.
A sought-after speaker, Matthew has presented at seminars for the American Bar Association, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Maryland Judiciary - Program for Mediator Excellence, Southern California Mediation Association, and the Indiana Association of Mediators. He recently spearheaded the development of a peer mediation program for local schools, demonstrating his dedication to expanding mediation's reach.
Matthew's unique background as a Grammy® and Emmy® Award-winning musician and former labor negotiator for the American Guild of Musical Artists brings a creative, harmonious approach to conflict resolution. This experience in high-stakes negotiations and collaborative artistry influences his mediation philosophy: that even in discord, there's potential for resolution and growth.
Committed to community service, Matthew volunteers with the Center for Conflict Resolution in Chicago, Illinois and the Community Justice and Mediation Center in Bloomington, Indiana. He is dedicated to mentoring aspiring mediators, having mentored professionals in advanced mediation techniques.
Matthew's approach to mediation is characterized by empathetic listening, creative problem-solving, and a deep understanding of human dynamics. His diverse life experiences - as a father, husband, musician, hiker, sports enthusiast, and arts advocate - enrich his perspective and enhance his ability to connect with clients from all walks of life.
With a proven track record of resolving complex disputes and a passion for advancing the field of mediation through both practice and education, Matthew Carroll stands as a respected and innovative leader in the mediation community.
Sandra Crawford
Sandra Crawford, JD, Mediator, Collaborative Lawyer - LinkedIn Sandra Crawford, JD, Mediator, Collaborative Lawyer
For over 35 years Crawford has dedicated her dispute resolution practices (mediation and Collaborative Process) to educating and leading clients to the clearest path for peaceful resolution of their legal disputes. She helps people move out of conflict using the most appropriate resolution model for their unique concerns - be that- mediation, the Collaborative Process, limited scope representation or settlement advocacy.
Crawford has been licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois since 1990 and was admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court in 2005. She received her mediation training from the Center for Conflict Resolution (CCR) in 1993 and her training in Collaborative Practice in 2002 from the Collaborative Law Institute of Illinois (CLII, now known as Collaborative Divorce Illinois). She served for many years as a volunteer mediator for CCR mediating family, landlord/tenant, employment dispute and other civil matters. Crawford is also a trained Circle Keeper in the Circle Process model of dispute resolution.
Crawford’s current areas of concentration are family law, mediation and Collaborative Practice. Crawford served as the president of the CLII from 2009-2010 and sat on its Board of Directors for many years. She has served as Chair of the Illinois State Bar Association’s (ISBA) Alternative Dispute Resolution Section Council and its Delivery of Legal Services Committee. She is a former Chair of the ISBA’s Women in the Law Committee. She has served as President of the Illinois Bar Foundation, which is the philanthropic arm of the ISBA. Crawford is a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals and serves on its Trainer Development Network, where she helped author a training manual for trainers providing basic skills training in that model.
Each year since 2010, Crawford has been nominated and chosen by her peers as an Illinois Super Lawyer and currently holds that distinction and recognized by Super Lawyers as being among the top 100 women lawyers in the State. In 2018 she received the Illinois Leading Lawyer designation. She is a principal in the Trainers for the Advancement of Collaborative Practice, a professional training company which has provided basic skills training for interdisciplinary professionals in that interest-based model of dispute resolution.
Crawford has served as an adjunct faculty member teaching mediation and dispute resolution at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology and North Central College. She lectures and writes frequently on the topic of alternative dispute resolution. She coached for many years for 40-hour Divorce Mediation Training in NW’s School of Professional Studies, before becoming the co-instructor in 2018. Her peacemaking practice is located in downtown Park Ridge, Illinois.