our STORY

Interaction Management Associates was launched in 2004 to promote processes that transform conflicts into elegant solutions. With associates from around the world, we blend keen negotiation skills, compassionate listening, accessibility and a multi-partial approach to foster positive interactions and productive communication.

TRAINING AND SERVICES

IMA provides direct conflict management training and services to organizations of all sizes and stages of development. Our specialties include organizational disputes, complex systemic conflicts, workplace discrimination, B2B, B2C and public policy disputes. We offer custom training, mediation certificate courses and advanced programs for seasoned mediators. Our services include: conflict analysis, coaching, facilitation, ombuds-related services, mediation and other conflict interventions.

OUR CLIENTS

Our clients hail from North America, Africa and Asia. IMA also collaborates with partners across the globe, to build conflict engagement skills of scholars, peacebuilders and development workers in high-conflict areas. Most of our clients are in the public sector, including government institutions, universities, education sector, non-governmental and nonprofit agencies. We also provide services to corporate and for-profit sector clients.

We all stand to gain from improving the way people treat one another. Whether you need direct assistance from IMA or you wish to build your conflict engagement skills, you've come to the right place. Let's work together to find your pathway to more productive and confident approaches to conflict.

OUR ASSOCIATES

**Kate Otting, CEO**
For over 25 years Kate has been a champion of respectful and productive conflict engagement. Kate’s journey began in West Africa, where she was in the Peace Corps. At the end of the Cold War, she trained journalists in the former Soviet Union as VP of International Services for the International Center for Community Journalism. She later ran the Arizona Attorney General's mediation program, overseeing 2000+ civil rights and public disputes. Eventually, she was senior investigator of the Arizona Ombudsman's office. She founded IMA in 2004 to provide state-of-the-art training and services to organizations and individuals around the world.

**Zoe Reinecke**
Zoe joined Interaction Management Associates in 2019 and currently serves as the Director of International Programs. Bridging her leadership experiences in international grassroots organizations with mediation, she is committed to making mediation accessible to community leaders across the globe. Zoe believes mediation increases the effectiveness and impact of organizations worldwide. In addition to working with IMA, she holds a Master’s in Education Policy Analysis from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education, focused on decreasing barriers that prevent refugees from receiving quality education.

**Francis Ojok**
Francis is a Ugandan-trained lawyer who brings extensive experience in International Arbitration, Negotiation and Mediation. He holds a LLM from the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Caruso School of Law, Pepperdine University; MA in Conflict Resolution and Coexistence from Brandeis University's Heller School for Social Policy and Management; and a law degree from Kampala International University. He has vast experience working with culturally diverse teams across geographical contexts, academic institutions and international NGOs. He joined IMA’s coaching team in 2023.

**Faten Ghosn, PhD**
Professor Ghosn brings to IMA her specialization in conflict management strategies. She has been interested in how diverse individuals handle their disagreements. A common theme running throughout her professional interests is the importance of the choice of strategy that is picked by actors to manage their conflicts and disagreements, how such strategies and policies are implemented, their effectiveness as well as their consequences. She has published in numerous academic and policy outlets.

**Richard Walker**
Richard specializes in helping organizations and individuals achieve their strategic goals through coaching and creating customized learning solutions. He brings to IMA over 15 years of experience in the learning and development industry. He has led the development and implementation of impactful programs on coaching, leadership, sales, performance management and more for Fortune 300 companies. He is an ATD Certified Master Trainer and holds certificates in Conflict Resolution and Negotiation Mastery from Cornell University. He is also pursing an MS in Organizational Leadership at Johns Hopkins University.

**Roger Moss, JD**
Roger Moss is an attorney, mediator, and real estate generalist known for creative thinking, vision, and success in animating complex projects paralyzed by stakeholder conflict. He brings 30 years’ experience to the IMA team, in negotiation and executive leadership. He has channeled these qualities into the creation of groundbreaking dispute resolution services. Since 2017, Roger has served over 5,000 mediation participants directly or through programs he designed and managed. These cases generated a stunning 97% positive agreement rate. Roger introduced radical neutral advocacy into the dispute resolution lexicon. He believes that rapid response, compassion-entered, interdisciplinary conflict intervention is the future of access to justice.

**Madeline Thorne**
Maddy graduated from Grand Canyon University in Spring 2021 where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Digital Film and Production. Since then, she has gotten the chance to work in a multitude of industries, including entertainment, public relations, marketing and communications. She has a passion for any creative project she can get her hands on in all forms of media, from filmmaking and digital design, to painting and drawing. She gathers these creative skills and blends them with her leadership as well as collaborative abilities to be able to keep IMA’s brand and administrative system polished and looking sharp. She plans to attend a graduate program next spring to earn her teaching licensure in art education.

**Swapnil Jagtap**
Swapnil Jagtap brings his passion in graphic design to IMA’s social media outreach, video production and web presence. With a solid background in design and a keen eye for creativity, he takes immense pride in his artistic conceptions. This is evident in the tremendous contributions he has made to shaping IMA’s brand authority and recognition. A consummate professional and inspiring entrepreneur, Swapnil is also the founder of two thriving international businesses, SPinturaArt Clothing & Accessories and SPinturaArt Graphic Design Agency.

ChiaMei Hsia, PhDDr. Chiamei Hsia brings to IMA years of professional practice in conflict management, community development and community capacity-building. Based in Taiwan, she co-founded the Global Community Development Partnership and serves as senior consultant for the Taichung Community Alliance for the Advancement of Community Development and senior researcher for Partnership for Community Development at Arizona State University. Her expertise rests in advancing community partnership facilitation and capacity-building through local engagement and cross-sector collaboration. — **ChiaMei Hsia, PhD**
Dr. Chiamei Hsia brings to IMA years of professional practice in conflict management, community development and community capacity-building. Based in Taiwan, she co-founded the Global Community Development Partnership and serves as senior consultant for the Taichung Community Alliance for the Advancement of Community Development and senior researcher for Partnership for Community Development at Arizona State University. Her expertise rests in advancing community partnership facilitation and capacity-building through local engagement and cross-sector collaboration.

**Dan Yamamoto, CPA**
Dan Yamamoto brings over 30 years of accounting industry experience to IMA’s team. He started his career as an auditor for Deloitte in San Fransico, California, and gained experience working in industries such as manufacturing and distribution, food service, insurance, technology, and telecom. Dan is motivated by a desire to understand the needs of his clients and provide support to fulfill those needs and ensure their organization’s success. He also serves as Client Accounting Services Manager for Lohman Company. He blends compassion, passion and humor in everything he does. These qualities have been impactful in helping IMA advance its mission.

Blaine Donais, labour lawyer/mediator, member of the Law Society of Upper Canada and President of Workplace Fairness Institute

KATE IS A LEADER IN THE FIELD

"Kate is a well recognised leader in the field. Her work is highly regarded among other conflict management professionals."

- Blaine Donais, labour lawyer/mediator, member of the Law Society of Upper Canada and President of Workplace Fairness Institute

RELEVANT TO REAL WORLD CONFLICTS

"Over 1,400 students from two universities stand to benefit from acquisition of mediation, communication, negotiation and active listening skills. The courses are relevant for conflicts devastating my country of South Sudan, where the social fabric is broken."

- Hakim Monykuer Awuok, Country Director of Empower Kids South Sudan

Michelle Buonincontri, CFP®, CDFA™, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, Presenter, Contributing writer, Collaboratively trained Financial Neutral, Financial Coach

POSITIVELY IMPACTING OUR WORLD

"I am moved by Kate’s dedication to make an impact in our world. She is changing the world one mediator at a time."

Michelle Buonincontri, CFP®, CDFA™, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, Presenter, Contributing writer, Collaboratively trained Financial Neutral, Financial Coach