JAMS Foundation announced that three JAMS members have been nominated to join its Board. JAMS neutrals Lawrence R. Mills, Esq., and Hon. Nancy Wieben Stock (Ret.) were selected along with JAMS Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Mark Smalls by the JAMS Nomination Committee to join the Board after a thorough application process.
“We are incredibly proud of the three JAMS members elected to the JAMS Foundation Board and look forward to the important roles they will play in the Foundation’s future,” said Chris Poole, JAMS president and CEO. “Mark, Larry and Nancy were selected based on the outstanding work they have done for JAMS and their work on behalf of the alternative dispute resolution industry as a whole. We know they will serve the Foundation well.”
Now entering its 17th year, the JAMS Foundation remains the largest and longest-standing private funder of conflict prevention and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) initiatives in the U.S. and around the world, contributing more than $8 million since 2002. JAMS established the nonprofit JAMS Foundation to provide financial assistance for conflict resolution initiatives with national and international impact, and to share its dispute resolution experience and expertise for the benefit of the public interest.
“The JAMS Foundation has been tackling some of the most prevalent conflicts in the country today through initiatives such as our Police-Community Relations and Community Mediation programs,” said David Brandon, JAMS Foundation managing director. “Our Board is pivotal to ensuring the Foundation continues to drive forward conflict resolution efforts around the U.S. and the world. I look forward to working with Larry, Mark and Nancy, and continuing our mission.”
Mr. Mills is based in San Francisco and Seattle, and brings to his ADR practice an accomplished and multifaceted career of over 35 years as a lawyer specializing in litigation and business counseling, including over 25 years as an arbitrator and mediator. Mr. Mills is well known in the ADR field, and in addition to being a Fellow of the College of Commercial Arbitrators and a Distinguished Fellow of International Academy of Mediators, he has served as chair of the American Bar Association’s Section of Dispute Resolution.
As the chief marketing officer of JAMS, Mr. Smalls oversees marketing and communications strategy and provides leadership to the managers tasked with practice development responsibilities. He also currently serves as the chairman of the JAMS Diversity Committee. In addition to his impressive career working at some of the country’s largest companies, Mr. Smalls has served on numerous nonprofit boards and has been a mentor with organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
Judge Stock is based in Orange County (Calif.) and is highly regarded among counsel for her skill in handling complex matters, including cases involving multiple parties and requiring coordination between multiple jurisdictions. She joined JAMS following 24 years on the Orange County Superior Court bench, where she most recently served on the Complex Civil Panel. Her time with the court also included serving as presiding judge, supervising judge of family law, and presiding judge of the Superior Court Appellate Division.