Brian Eastman is an attorney, mediator, and labor relations professional with more than 30 years of experience in management, union leadership, and neutral roles. His career includes serving as General Counsel for both the Ohio Education Association and the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association, mediator with the Ohio State Employment Relations Board, and executive leadership positions with the Ohio Office of Collective Bargaining and several large state agencies.
Brian has mediated hundreds of disputes, facilitated more than 50 interest-based bargaining negotiations, and advised public-sector leaders on labor relations, workplace investigations, and employment law. He has designed and delivered training on mediation, labor law, collaborative bargaining, workplace investigations, and FLSA, FMLA, and ADA compliance. He has also served as an expert witness and taught Labor Relations and Negotiations as an adjunct professor at Capital University.
With a background in psychology from The George Washington University and extensive experience in technology and financial systems, Brian has long combined analytical thinking with practical problem-solving. As an early adopter of artificial intelligence in legal and labor relations practice, he has presented nationally—including twice for the National Education Association—on the safe and effective use of AI in the workplace.
Today, Brian provides consulting services in mediation, interest-based bargaining facilitation, labor-management relations, organizational training, and AI-driven process modernization, helping organizations strengthen collaboration, resolve conflict, and improve organizational effectiveness.

Walt has served as a labor and employment arbitrator and mediator since 1999.  He has been active in the labor-management field since 1982.  He is a graduate of Penn State University and Temple University Law School.  He is a member of the Pennsylvania and New Jersey bar associations, and he is admitted to practice in state and federal courts, including the United States Supreme Court.

Walt’s mediation and arbitration practice spans across many industries in the public and private sectors and includes both interest and grievance arbitration, employment arbitration, and mediation.

Walt is a member and currently President of the National Academy of Arbitrators (2026-2027) and a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers.

William “Bill” Froehlich ’11 is the current Langdon Fellow in Dispute Resolution and Director of the Divided Community Project at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. Professor Froehlich regularly teaches Moritz’s longstanding mediation clinic where he trains students to mediate and supervises student mediators in several Columbus-area venues; he has also taught courses which focus on dispute systems design. His work with the Divided Community Project focuses on addressing emerging community-wide conflicts. He is the co-author of a column focused on the intersection of AI and mediation titled MedAItion. Prior to his time at Moritz he practiced as a labor and employment attorney.

Don Collins is a former SERB General Counsel and now serves as an Arbitrator, Fact Finder and Mediator.   His practice includes both private and public labor and employment matters as well as mediating employment cases in Federal Court.  He serves on the Ohio State Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Executive Council and is Chair of OSBA’s Public Sector Labor and Employment Committee.  He is currently on the neutral panels for FMCS, AAA, FINRA, SERB and the City of Columbus. He was an Adjunct Professor at Capital University where he taught Labor Law for 5 years and has guest lectured on Labor Law at various law schools throughout Ohio.  
He received his BA from the University of South Carolina, a Master of Public Administration from Penn State and his JD from Capital University Law School.

Lisa W. Timmons, Esq. is a full-time neutral with extensive experience in labor, employment, and commercial disputes. She serves as an arbitrator, mediator, hearing officer, and fact-finder across the public and private sectors. Since 1998, she has led the Mediation Tribunal Association, providing alternative dispute resolution services to Michigan's state and federal courts. Timmons sits on arbitration and mediation panels for the American Arbitration Association, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, FINRA, the Labor Relations Connection, New Era ADR, and multiple state and regional labor boards.
Timmons is the immediate past chair of the ADR Section of the State Bar of Michigan. She co-chairs the Mediation Committee of the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution and serves as neutral co-chair of the State and Local Government Bargaining Employees Committee of the ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law. She earned her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and a Master of Arts in Dispute Resolution from Wayne State University. A former adjunct professor, she writes and speaks regularly on alternative dispute resolution topics.

Michael S. Franczak began his labor relations career as Deputy Director of Field Services for the Ohio School Boards Association, where he negotiated collective bargaining agreements and resolved grievances for Ohio school districts.
He then spent 24 years with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), serving as a Federal Mediator/Commissioner, Regional Director, Great Lakes Executive Manager, and National Projects Manager. During his FMCS career, he mediated collective bargaining, grievance, and employment disputes across the private, public, and federal sectors and provided training in collective bargaining, conflict resolution, and problem solving. His work included national negotiations involving Lockheed Martin and the UAW, as well as Ford Motor Company and the UAW.
Mr. Franczak also represented FMCS internationally, leading workplace conflict resolution initiatives in Oman and delivering labor-management-government mediation training in Morocco. He received the FMCS Director's Award for outstanding service.
In 2022, he developed and launched the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board's Rapid Assessment Mediation Program (RAMP), helping resolve a backlog of more than 3,200 federal employment appeals and increasing settlement rates fourfold during the program's first six months. As National Projects Manager, he also led FMCS's national public policy negotiations under the Negotiated Rulemaking Act and the Administrative Dispute Resolution Act.
Following his retirement from FMCS in 2025, Mr. Franczak founded Path Forward Dispute Resolution Services, providing mediation, arbitration, and conflict resolution training to employers, unions, and organizations.
Mr. Franczak earned his bachelor's degree from Miami University and his Juris Doctor from The Ohio State University College of Law.

Sandra Mendel Furman is an experienced labor arbitrator, mediator, and hearing officer who conducts virtual and in-person hearings nationwide. With a distinguished career spanning the public and private sectors, Sandra Mendel Furman has resolved hundreds of labor, employment, securities, and administrative disputes through arbitration, mediation, fact-finding, and conciliation.
Sandra serves on arbitration and mediation panels for the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), the American Arbitration Association (AAA), Arbitration Mediation Service (AMS), the National Mediation Board (NMB), the Labor Relations Commission (LRC), the Ohio State Employment Relations Board (SERB), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and numerous permanent labor-management panels. Her additional experience includes serving as a court-approved mediator, SERB fact finder and conciliator, Hearing Officer for the State of Ohio, mediator for the U.S. Postal Service REDRESS Program and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and arbitrator for the U.S. Postal Service and the Better Business Bureau.
Throughout a career dedicated to labor and employment law, Sandra has represented labor organizations, served as in-house counsel, conducted Chapter 119 administrative hearings, practiced before state and federal agencies and courts, and taught Labor and General Arbitration as an Adjunct Professor at Capital University Law School. A frequent presenter at continuing legal education programs and professional conferences, she has completed extensive advanced training in arbitration, mediation, and dispute resolution.
Sandra is a Fellow of the National Academy of Arbitrators, serves on the Executive Board of the Columbus Area Labor-Employment Relations Association (COLERA), and is a FINRA Arbitrator. She earned her Juris Doctor from Capital University Law School and her Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from Brandeis University.

Douglas Behringer is an attorney for the FOP/OLC, working out of the Columbus office.  He was born and raised in northwestern Ohio.  Doug started his military career early when he joined the Army Reserve as a junior in high school.  He received his undergraduate degree from The Ohio State University before going on active duty in the Army.
After a stint in the Army, he returned to college and obtained his law degree (J.D.) from The Ohio State University, with honors.  He was in private practice in central Ohio for six years before joining the FOP/OLC in 2002.
Doug has over twenty-three years experience in litigation, administrative, labor and employment matters. He has represented members of the FOP, OLC in disciplinary matters, investigations, litigation grievances, arbitrations, contract negotiations, mediation, civil service appeals and unfair labor practice matters.

 Joseph is an Ohio State Bar Association Certified Specialist in Labor and Employment Law with over twenty-five years of experience in all aspects of litigation and administrative practice concerning labor and employment related matters. Prior to practicing law, Joseph worked as a fire fighter/paramedic.
Joseph has extensive experience in representing OPBA members and other public sector unions in matters including litigation, arbitration of employment related issues, contract negotiations, civil service appeals, interest arbitration and unfair labor practice matters.
Joseph has handled matters dealing with Title VII, 42 U.S.C. Sections 1981 and 1983, Fair Labor Standards Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Family Medical Leave Act, Title IX and actions based on Chapter 4112 of the Ohio Revised Code.
Joseph has practiced before several Ohio administrative agencies, including the State Employment Relations Board, State Personnel Board of Review and the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.

ATTORNEY

Kristin Seifert Watson is a Partner at Cloppert, Latanick, Sauter & Washburn in Columbus, Ohio. Kristin also works Of Counsel with Joyce Goldstein & Associates in Cleveland, Ohio. Kristin practices primarily in the areas of private sector labor and litigation. Kristin has represented unions and workers in labor and employment-related matters since 2004. Kristin has represented unions in arbitrations involving discipline, contract interpretation, and the commission of unfair labor practices. Kristin practices regularly before the National Labor Relations Board and the state and federal courts of Ohio, providing representation to unions in matters involving the NLRA, the LMRA, the LMRDA, ERISA and civil rights laws.

Pete Hanlon is a labor arbitrator from Tiffin, Ohio.  He has been in the labor arbitration space for approximately 25 years.  Before becoming an arbitrator, he was Director of the Member Resource Center for SEIU/1199 WV/KY/OH directing a team responsible for administering the grievance process for a 25,000-member union all the way from initial filing of grievances, through the various stages of the grievance process, and culminating with binding arbitration.  He handled grievances regarding both public sector and private sector employers/employees.  Prior to being Director, Pete represented members as a delegate, executive board member, and several terms as a Member Vice-President for State of Ohio Employees.  He also has experience in bargaining and representing the Union in SERB and NLRB unfair labor practice charges.  Pete is currently on the FMCS roster of arbitrators, FINRA, and various other rostering agencies across the country.  He was recently appointed to the USPS/APWU roster of arbitrators for the central region (Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia. 

Melisa Fisco is a Director and Shareholder and the
Assistant Regional Manager of the Akron office of Clemans-Nelson & Associates, Inc.
She conducts administrative investigations,
represents clients in arbitration proceedings, negotiates
collective bargaining agreements, conducts client
training on a variety of topics, including discriminatory
harassment, sexual harassment, FMLA and ADA
compliance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI),
employee discipline, and contract administration. In
addition, Ms. Fisco advises and represents clients in
human resources and labor matters, develops
compensation plans and conducts compensation
studies, develops and updates policy manuals, job
classiIcations, and other human resource system
components.

Ms. Fisco rejoined Clemans Nelson in 2021, after
serving as an Assistant Law Director in Cuyahoga
County. Prior to joining Clemans Nelson in early 2014,
Ms. Fisco represented clients in litigation and matters
involving employment discrimination, harassment,
retaliation, wage and hour claims, and contract disputes.
Ms. Fisco has experience litigating before various state
courts in Ohio and representing clients before
administrative agencies, including the State Employment
Relations Board, State Personnel Board of Review, the
Unemployment Compensation Review Commission, the
Ohio Civil Rights Commission, and the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission.

Melisa received her J.D. from Cleveland-Marshall
College of Law and her B.A. in Public Affairs from
Cleveland State University.

Meagan earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Business Administration summa cum laude from The Ohio State University in 2008.  Meagan received her law degree from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law in 2012 where she was the Issue Editor of the Information Society Journal.   After law school Meagan gained valuable legal experience working at law firms as well as holding a position of Administrative Hearing Officer for the Unemployment Review Commission in Columbus.  Meagan is admitted to practice law in Ohio and is admitted to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.  Meagan is working out of the Columbus Office of the FOP/OLC.  She resides in central Ohio with her husband and two daughters.

Member, National Academy of Arbitrators. Former national chair, State and Local Public Sector Committee of the National Academy of Arbitrators. Member of NAA Outreach Committee (new arbitrator salon activity). Member, Executive Committee, LERA, Northeast Ohio Chapter. Former Staff Representative, AFSCME Ohio Council 8 and Regional Director in Youngstown and Cincinnati. Former Human Resources Director, Butler County Children Services including Acting Assistant Director of agency. As a former advocate, presented over 200 arbitration cases and bargained over 200 collective bargaining agreements in both public and private sectors. FMCS Director’s Award for Excellence in Labor Management Initiatives. Award of Excellence, National Public Employers’ Labor Relations Association. Arbitrator, mediator, fact finder since 2009. Experience in both public and private sector arbitration including interest arbitration. Member of numerous permanent arbitration panels in the public and private sectors. Member of four permanent arbitration and mediation panels between the State of Ohio and respective Unions. As an advocate, presented the first fact finding case in Ohio under ORC 4117 in 1984 and have heard a significant number of fact finding and conciliation cases as a neutral. John Carroll University. Post graduate, University of Toledo. 56 years of labor relations experience.

LABOR RELATIONS ADMINISTRATOR

Victor Dandridge is a labor relations professional with more than 25 years of experience representing both labor and management in the public sector. His career includes service as a Union Steward and Chapter President, Staff Representative for the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association (OCSEA), Labor Relations Officer for the State of Ohio, and Labor Relations Administrator for the Ohio Office of Collective Bargaining.
Throughout his career, Victor has negotiated and administered collective bargaining agreements involving the State of Ohio and major public-sector unions, including OCSEA, SEIU District 1199, and OEA/SCOPE Unit 2. Having served on both sides of the bargaining table, he brings a well-rounded perspective grounded in fairness, collaboration, and a deep respect for the collective bargaining process.
Victor is committed to helping labor and management build productive relationships through thoughtful negotiation, practical problem solving, and a steadfast commitment to honoring the agreements reached by the parties.

Barbara Baker is the founder of ADR Works, a workplace consulting firm that provides
dispute prevention and resolution services, collective bargaining and grievance
mediation, and training.
Training programs include collective bargaining best practices, collaborative bargaining,
strategies for newly unionized workplaces, labor-management committees, employment
law, ethics, conflict resolution, and effective communication.
Ms. Baker is a federally certified conflict management practitioner and coach. She also
serves as a neutral fact-finder for public-sector collective bargaining impasses through
the Ohio State Employment Relations Board.
Before establishing ADR Works, Ms. Baker practiced labor and employment law in both
Ohio's public and private sectors and served for seven years as a federal mediator with
the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

As Managing Director Of Corporate Communications, Barkett leads the corporate communications and crisis practice of Falls & Co., a strategic public relations and marketing firm.
Barkett’s specialties include senior corporate counseling, crisis communications, labor relations, change management, media relations, executive transitions, corporate transactions, litigation PR and cyber security. His extensive network of legal, corporate, insurance and private equity professionals plus his experience working with some of this region’s most well-known companies 
Barkett is a 30-year veteran in both agency and corporate communications roles. He attended the University of Colorado and holds both MBA and BA degrees from that institution.

Ms. Sergent is originally from Charleston, West Virginia and now resides in Sarasota, Florida.  She is a member of the National Academy of Arbitrators and has more than thirty years of experience and participation in Labor and Employment law.  Since 2016, Ms. Sergent has devoted her practice solely to service as a neutral arbitrator and mediator, and she currently serves on the labor rosters for the AAA, LRC, and FMCS, as well as Florida PERC’s roster of Special Magistrates for impasse proceedings.  She also serves on a number of State, municipal, and private panels, including several here in Ohio, and she also receives ad hoc appointments in the public, private and federal sector.  

Ms. Fernandez received her BA in 1979 from The Ohio State University and her Juris Doctor degree in 1987 from the University of Akron School of Law. She is a SERB neutral and is on the roster of arbitrators with the American Arbitration Association and Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services. Ms. Fernandez is a panel member with the State of Ohio and Ohio Civil Service Employees Association (OCSEA) AFSCME. Ms. Fernandez was an adjunct law professor from 2011 to 2018. During that time, she taught labor law at the University of Akron School of Law and at Cleveland State University, Cleveland Marshall School of Law.
Ms. Fernandez was also a 30-year career attorney (1987-2017) at the National Labor Relations Board, Region 8, Cleveland, Ohio. While at the NLRB she held the positions of Field Attorney, Senior Trial Attorney, and Supervisory Attorney. Ms. Fernandez investigated, prosecuted, and settled a wide variety of unfair labor charges filed by employers, labor organizations, and employees. She served as a hearing officer and decision writer in representation cases. Ms. Fernandez also served as an NLRB speaker at OSBA sponsored programs as well as employer, labor organization, and civic groups. She is a member of the American Bar Association, Ohio State Bar Association, Ohio State Bar Foundation Fellow, and the Central Ohio Labor and Employment Relations Association.