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Work comp: Meet our mediators, arbitrators

The Department of Labor and Industry's Alternative Dispute Resolution unit currently has 13 staff members who work as mediators and arbitrators to help resolve workers' compensation disputes among parties.

Christie Ahern

ADR mediator/arbitrator since 2018
651-284-5356
christie.ahern@state.mn.us

Education

  • North Dakota State University

  • William Mitchell College of Law

  • Completed 30-hour Civil Mediation Skills Training

Past employment

  • Erstad & Riemer, P.A.

  • Fitch, Johnson, Larson & Held, P.A.

Walter Bowser

ADR mediator/arbitrator since 2007
651-284-5348
walter.bowser@state.mn.us

Education

  • University of Minnesota 

  • University of Minnesota Law School

  • Completed 30-hour Civil Mediation Skills Training

Past employment

  • Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, unemployment law judge

  • Walter A. Bowser Mediator/Arbitration Services

  • National Arbitration Forum, director

  • Ramsey County District Court, judge

  • St. Paul, assistant city attorney

  • Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, attorney

  • Office of Administrative Hearings, hearings examiner

  • Hennepin County District Court, law clerk

Rena Cummings

ADR mediator/arbitrator since 2022
651-284-5383
rena.cummings@state.mn.us

Education

  • Skagit Valley Community College

  • School for International Training

  • Hamline University

  • William Mitchell College of Law

  • Completed 44-hour Family Mediation Skills Training

  • Completed 30-hour Civil Mediation Skills Training

Past employment

  • Brown & Carlson, P.A.

  • Sommerer & Schultz

  • Binder & Binder

  • Ramsey County District Court, law clerk

  • Ramsey County District Attorney's Office, law clerk

  • National Arbitration Forum, law clerk

  • Minneapolis Public Housing Authority

  • Minnesota House of Representatives

Aaron Frederickson

ADR mediator/arbitrator since 2018
651-284-5351
aaron.frederickson@state.mn.us

Education

  • St. Cloud State University

  • William Mitchell College of Law

  • Completed 30-hour Civil Mediation Skills Training

Past employment

  • MSP Compliance Solutions, L.L.C.

  • Optum RX (United Health Group)

  • Allsup, Inc.

  • Arthur, Chapman, Kettering, Smetak & Pikala P.A.

  • Fitch, Johnson, Larson & Held, P.A.

  • Jardine, Logan & O'Brien, P.L.L.P.

Steven Gilmore

ADR mediator/arbitrator since 2014
651-284-5359
steven.c.gilmore@state.mn.us

Education

  • Carleton College

  • Drake University Law School 

  • Completed 30-hour Civil Mediation Skills Training

Past employment

  • Workers’ Compensation and E-discovery Litigation, contract attorney

  • Liberty Mutual, staff counsel 

  • Gilmore, Aafedt, Forde, Anderson & Gray, P.A.

Debra Heisick

ADR mediator/arbitrator since 2009
651-284-5364
debra.heisick@state.mn.us

Education

  • University of Minnesota

  • London School of Economics

  • William Mitchell College of Law

  • Pepperdine University for Advanced Mediation studies

  • Completed 30-hour Civil Mediation Skills Training

Past employment

  • Private practice of law in civil and workers’ compensation litigation

  • Mediating and arbitrating cases for AAA, USA&M and private party mediations

Frances Li

ADR mediator/arbitrator since 2012
651-284-5371
frances.li@state.mn.us

Education

  • William Mitchell College of Law

  • Completed 30-hour Civil Mediation Skills Training

  • Qualified Neutral Rule 114

Past employment

  • Private practice of law in civil and workers’ compensation litigation

Keith Maurer

ADR mediator/arbitrator since 2010
651-284-5372
keith.maurer@state.mn.us

Education

  • St. John’s University

  • William Mitchell College of Law

  • Completed 30-hour Civil Mediation Skills Training

  • Qualified Neutral Rule 114

Past employment

  • Office of Administrative Hearings, compensation judge

  • Minnesota Board of Barber Examiners, executive director 

  • Department of Labor and Industry, mediator/arbitrator

  • Forthright LLC/National Arbitration Forum, director

Steven Moe

ADR mediator/arbitrator since 2022
218-733-7802
steven.t.moe@state.mn.us

Education

  • University of Minnesota – Duluth

  • University of North Dakota School of Law

  • Completed 30-hour Civil Mediation Skills Training

Past employment

  • Petersen, Sage, Graves, Layman and Moe, P.A.

  • Todd County District Court, law clerk

Patti Provencher

ADR mediator/arbitrator since 2021
651-284-5332
patti.provencher@state.mn.us

Education

  • University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

  • University of Minnesota Law School

  • Completed 30-hour Civil Mediation Skills Training

Past employment

  • McCollum Crowley, P.A.

  • Littler Mendelson

  • Fitch, Johnson, Larson and Held, P.A.

  • State of Minnesota, First Judicial District

  • Ecolab, Inc.

Steve Sullivan

ADR mediator/arbitrator since 2016
651-284-5373
steven.sullivan@state.mn.us

Education

  • University of Minnesota

  • William Mitchell College of Law

  • Completed 30-hour Civil Mediation Skills Training

  • Qualified Neutral Rule 114

Past employment

  • McCashin Law Office

  • O’Meara, Leer, Wagner & Kohl, P.A.

  • Fitch, Johnson, Larson & Held, P.A.

Nancy Wallrich

ADR mediator/arbitrator since 2021
651-284-5327
nancy.wallrich@state.mn.us

Education

  • William Mitchell College of Law

  • Skidmore College

  • Completed 30-hour Civil Mediation Skills Training

Past employment

  • Teplinsky Law Group

  • Nancy C. Wallrich, P.A.