Pete Swanson is a senior partner with Impact Associates. Mr. Swanson has extensive domestic and international experience helping a diverse range of national and international clients. He has worked in over 50 federal/state/local and international agencies and organizations in four continents and 25 countries. He specializes in merging the disciplines of conflict resolution, leadership development, coaching, organizational development and training/education to provide systemic and holistic approaches to client challenges. Prior to co-founding Impact Associates Mr Swanson served as the Manager for the Office of Conflict Management and Prevention/International at the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS). He first served as a Mediator for FMCS from 1989-2000. Prior to re-joining FMCS in late 2018, he was a senior partner with Carr Swanson & Randolph, LLC for eighteen years. View full bio.

Emily Rife is a senior partner with Impact Associates and has extensive experience in conflict resolution across the public, private, and federal sectors. Prior to co-founding Impact Associates, she served as a Commissioner with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service in Denver, where she mediated collective bargaining negotiations, grievances, and employment-related disputes using various problem-solving models. Her background also includes international work in Kosovo, where she helped professionalize local mediators and strengthen the ADR field. Earlier in her career, she represented classified school employees in Los Angeles as a Labor Relations specialist, negotiating contracts and managing grievances, while also providing mediation services through the County of Los Angeles. With a strong foundation in ADR and a compassionate, strategic approach, Ms. Rife continues to offer tailored mediation services to support sustainable and effective conflict resolution. View full bio.

Dave Moora is a senior partner with Impact Associates. He brings nearly two decades of experience as a mediator, facilitator, and organizational change practitioner. He has mediated over 1,000 disputes across employment, environmental, construction, transportation, and regulatory sectors. He has facilitated complex negotiated rulemaking, multi-party public policy discussions, and strategic planning initiatives. He has worked closely with senior executives to lead organizational effectiveness and change efforts and has trained hundreds of mediators, judges, and lawyers in mediation and conflict management both in the U.S. and internationally. Before co-founding Impact Associates, he served as a Commissioner with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, ADR Counsel at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Director of the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution. View full CV.

Carrie Foster is an accomplished conflict resolution consultant with a focus on mediation, leadership development, and dispute management across public and private sectors. Drawing from her recent role as a Commissioner with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, she specializes in resolving labor disputes, enhancing organizational communication, and preventing work stoppages through strategic facilitation and interest-based negotiation. Carrie currently provides tailored consulting and training services nationwide, utilizing situation assessments and personalized intervention plans to support leaders, improve workplace dynamics, and promote collaborative problem-solving.  View full bio.

Gary Shaw brings over 20 years of leadership experience in healthcare systems and hospitals across the U.S., along with two decades of service in the U.S. Navy’s Medical Service Corps. Most recently, he served as President and CEO of Nantucket Cottage Hospital, guiding the institution through the COVID-19 pandemic and implementing Whole Person Care principles. Previously, Gary led Cambridge Medical Center, advancing quality initiatives, and served as Administrator of Alaska Native Medical Center, improving service delivery in partnership with Southcentral Foundation. A U.S. Navy veteran who served during four wars, Gary holds degrees in Healthcare/Business Administration and Operations Management and is a Life Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. He resides near Nashville, Tennessee. View full bio.

Isabela Ferraz brings over a decade of experience in conflict management, focusing on early intervention and building rapport to foster lasting change. As a senior mediator, she played a pivotal role in rebuilding and expanding the U.S. Department of Energy’s ADR Office, providing conflict resolution support to over 100,000 federal employees and contractors. She helped design and launch a training program that emphasized skills practice, and its popularity contributed to a reduction in formal complaints for eight consecutive years. Isabela specializes in workplace and employment disputes, applying her compassionate, proactive approach in both the public and private sectors. She has also coached neutrals and students, supported restorative justice initiatives, and judged international ADR competitions.

Michael Wolf creates tremendous value for organizations by helping them prevent, constructively manage, and effectively resolve complex disputes while growing a conflict-competent culture. During the past 30+ years, Michael has been a mediator, trainer, educator, facilitator, consultant, coach, and ADR/ODR systems developer.  He spent the previous decade practicing labor and employment law after a brief time as a Congressional staffer. Michael has held leadership positions in four federal agencies and leadership roles in the ABA, ADR segments of state bar associations, ADR-related non-profit organizations, and the Steering Committee of the Federal Interagency ADR Working Group. Michael’s work as a neutral encompasses many fields, including federal/state/local government, defense/military, healthcare/pharmaceutical, construction/building trades, education, public safety (police and fire), transportation, environmental, manufacturing, hospitality, and utilities/energy. View full CV.

Cynthia Pyle Manley is a seasoned conflict resolution practitioner, certified coach, and wellness strategist with over 15 years of experience guiding individuals and organizations through transition, dialogue, and systems change. A former practitioner with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), she has led national initiatives rooted in restorative practices, emotional intelligence, and behavioral transformation. Her work spans collaborations with the Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Education, and Office of Personnel Management, and she now leads Thrive Frameworks—integrating trauma-informed coaching, leadership development, and human-centered design. Cynthia holds an M.P.P. in Social Policy, is an ICF-certified PCC coach, and brings over 200 hours of mediation training and trauma-informed facilitation to her work. View full bio.

Andy Fox is an accomplished executive manager, labor leader, mediator and facilitator with a diverse background in emergency services, union advocacy, local government, and dispute resolution. He brings extensive expertise in mediating complex disputes, including traditional collective bargaining, interest-based bargaining facilitation, employment grievance mediations, EEO matters, and non-employment conflicts. In addition to his work in workplace and labor settings, Andy has significant experience mediating and facilitating large public policy issues involving land use, environmental matters, and business contract disputes. His practical approach, deep understanding of organizational dynamics, and commitment to constructive problem-solving make him a highly respected and effective mediator across sectors. Andy is known for fostering productive dialogue, helping parties move through impasse, and achieving lasting solutions in both high-stakes and day-to-day conflicts. View full CV.