Click on photos for detailed partner bios.
Partners – Canada
David G. Gould, Q.C., C.Med.
David is a recognized leader in the design of conflict prevention and conflict management processes, in particular, their integration with regulatory requirements for public and stakeholder engagement. David combines an extensive legal background with proven mediation capabilities and conflict management design experience to assist industry and government organizations in resolving multi-party disputes. His recent work in successfully negotiating multi-party complex disputes spans the worlds of electrical transmission, municipal roads, environmental reclamation, regulatory jurisdictions, First Nations, Métis, municipal government and other areas of the energy industry. David was the lead consultant for the development of the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board and the National Energy Board Appropriate Dispute Resolution programs.
Timothy J. Robillard, B.A., LL.M. (ADR)
Tim’s experience coaching, facilitating, mediating and training in the field of conflict management spans across Canada and the United States. He plays a pivotal leadership role with clients who seek assistance with their public and industry consultation as well as regulatory compliance. Tim’s extensive Appropriate Dispute Resolution experience with industry-to-industry as well as landowner disputes has helped build the Certus “Get Ahead and Stay Ahead of Conflict” processes.
Barbara A. Samuels, B.Sc., M.Ed., Ph.D.
Barb’s work with Certus involves assisting industry and government organizations in conducting regulator compliance and effective stakeholder consultation. Her background is in planning, policy and program development, information architecture, and staging large-scale national and local public consultation and mediations. Barb’s recent work contributing to Certus clients achieving their goals, spans the worlds of sour oil and gas, electrical transmissions, national and provincial regulators, rural municipalities and cities, environment and education. She is considered an organizational change agent and has brought many innovations, processes and tools to the field of consultation, negotiations and mediation that use information effectively and turn data into knowledge.
Partners – United States
Steven A. Shapiro, Esq.
Steve has nearly thirty years of experience working in the areas of public consultation, mediation, facilitation, and designing conflict management systems for complex, multi-party situations. Steve is considered one of the premiere mediators and arbitrators in the energy, environmental and commercial fields. He serves on the energy rosters of the International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution and the American Arbitration Association. He also acts as a neutral for regional transmission organizations and independent system operators. Steve was one of the first Alternative Dispute Resolution specialists and mediators for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and previously served as Assistant General Counsel with Continental Telephone Corp., a fortune 200 firm. He publishes and speaks on the subject of energy law and dispute resolution, and was Chair of the Energy Bar Association’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee.
Keith L. Seat, Esq.
Keith has over 25 years of legal experience working at senior levels in corporate, government and law firm environments addressing telecommunications, energy, public policy and other complex issues. He is a full-time mediator, facilitator and arbitrator with a strong telecommunications/technology background and extensive experience resolving commercial disputes. Keith formerly served as General Counsel of the United States Senate Judiciary Committee’s Antitrust, Business Rights and Competition Subcommittee, where he played a significant role in the enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and was senior in-house counsel at a major telecommunications firm. Keith is an adjunct law school professor of Alternative Dispute Resolution, trains and speaks on mediation, and is a distinguished fellow of the International Academy of Mediators.
Senior Associates
Bill Remmer, P. Eng.
Bill is a professional engineer, certified mediator, facilitator, negotiator and arbitrator with over 31 years experience with the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB). He has held numerous senior level EUB management positions and was an acting Board member who has chaired or been a panel member for over 100 EUB hearings on a wide range of public and industry issues. He was responsible for creating the EUB’s Appropriate Dispute Resolution program for conflicts between landowners and oil and gas companies.
Telecom/Internet Specialist
Marjorie K. Conner, Esq.
Marjorie has practiced telecommunications law for over twenty years, focusing primarily on negotiating and documenting transactions involving communications properties, goods or services and counseling clients on Internet user policies, as well as broadband issues. Marjorie has facilitated cooperative participation in FCC rulemaking proceedings involving, among other things, pole attachment rules and related litigation. She is adept at bringing consensus from contentious participants. Marjorie has participated in mediation as a mediator or party-representative for over ten years. She trained with the Project on Negotiation at Harvard Law School and Northern Virginia Mediation Service. Marjorie speaks on telecommunications matters, most recently participating on a panel on the opportunities and concerns presented by the FCC’s Open Internet proceedings at the Women in Film and Video’s Executive Breakfast.
Project Managers
Kristin Hansen
Kristin’s history within the energy industry is a great asset for Certus clients. She brings her experience and attention to detail to her role as project manager responsible for overseeing project details for our clients. Kristin brings to Certus over 15 years experience in the day-to-day management, coordination and orchestration of project scheduling, tracking, documenting, preparing energy application and audit materials and organization and staging meetings, people and large-scale events. Kristin’s training in conflict resolution helps enable Certus clients to better manage the outrage that can occur during the outreach of controversial projects.
Leanne Pinksen, B.Comm, B.A.
Leanne has been providing leadership in information design and project management to the energy industry across Western Canada for several years. Her portfolio includes the design of documents and application of information architecture principles to improve our client’s abilities to communicate technical project information to stakeholders. Her background in corporate communications and marketing brings a creative proficiency that offers different strategies to complex projects.
Elan Comegys-Brisbane
Based in the United States, Elan brings five years of research and administrative expertise to the Certus team. Her education and experience allow her to effectively implement a broad range of projects on behalf of Certus’ clients. Elan graduated from American University with a degree in Public Communications.