Locating a Professional Facilitator

Professional facilitators have played a critical role in tough natural resources disputes and are increasingly adding value as the debate heats up.

When Should I Engage a Professional Facilitator?

Facilitators can contribute significantly when:

• There is a divisive, complicated issue
• Parties with divergent perspectives are not engaging productively
• A group with a big agenda is encountering challenges moving forward
• Litigation is a threat
• Preserving relationships is critical

What Value Does Professional Facilitation Contribute?

• Yields more durable agreements with widespread support
• Empowers stakeholders to solve problems
• Strengthens relationships that are critical for ongoing partnership
• Generates policies, programs, and other concrete outcomes
• Often saves money and prevents lawsuits
• Often helps expand funding opportunities

How do I find and select a facilitator?

• Interview candidates to discern their expertise, process, and personality/style. Ask them to provide examples of how they have handled challenging engagements and results that they have produced for clients. Involve other members of the group in conversations with candidates.
• Consult the US  Institute for Environmental Conflict  Resolution Roster of vetted environmental conflict resolution professionals, with over 300  practitioners around  the country. 
• Beyond our own expertise at the Consensus Building Institute, the following firms also conduct mediation:
  • Center for Collaborative Policy
  • CDR Associates
  • Concur
  • Kearns & West
  • MWH Americas Water Resources Group
  • UC Davis Extension Collaboration Center
  • AG Innovations

The Consensus Building Institute  would  be happy to discuss your  facilitation needs and match you with a facilitator or recommend a next step. Please contact CBI at contact@cbi.org and a staff member will follow up with you.