Supporting families and
training divorce mediators
since 1983

Howard Yahm

In Memoriam

Howard Yahm was our friend and partner for more than 25 years. He was such a unique individual and it is hard to remember him without using all kinds of superlatives. He was married to Ellie for more than 40 years. But only after she nearly died in a bicycle accident, did Howie's true devotion show as he nursed her to health for more than a year. Howie's warm, devoted parenting is best known by spending a little time with his two daughters, Rebecca and Sarah. They share so many of his best qualities.

Probably the singular thing about Howie was his passion for living life to the fullest. As a psychotherapist he never gave up on his patients, his energy would lead people to health. He founded our Center because he was disturbed by how much adversarial divorce hurt people. He took divorce mediation training before any of us, and then stayed with mediation and training throughout the rest of his life. Howie opened our training with the Game of Life and hundreds of our students remember Howie's ability to turn around their ideas about people going through divorce.

Howie had an extraordinary belief in social justice, peace, and God. We could argue and laugh for hours, but always there was a deep spiritual core. He always moved us in the best direction. We will miss him deeply.

Peace,
Steve Abel & Ken Neumann

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Our Staff

Directors

Kenneth Neumann

Kenneth Neumann is an Advanced Practitioner Member of the Association for Conflict Resolution Family Section. He is a Founding Board Member and Past President of the New York State Council on Divorce Mediation as well as a founding Board Member of the newly formed Academy of Professional Family Mediators. Ken also serves on the Board of the Association of Divorce Financial Planners as well as being a member of the Financial Therapy Association. Ken has received training as both a family therapist and as a Clinical School Psychologist. He has been working with parents and children going through the divorce process for over 35 years. He is a frequent presenter at conferences and has been actively involved in the training of family mediators since 1983.

Steven L. Abel

Steve, an Advanced Practitioner member of the Association for Conflict Resolution, Family Section, is a divorce mediator and family law attorney with more than 35 years experience. He is the editor of Federal Family Law and one of the co-authors of The Friendly Divorce Guidebook for New York , articles on divorce law (including "Social Security Retirement Benefits"), and several Blumberg law forms for divorce, including Child Support Worksheets, (Blumberg form A189). He is a past President of the New York State Council on Divorce Mediation. Steve is a founding member of the Board of Directors of the New York State Chapter of AFCC and served as its President.

Ada L. Hasloecher

Ada is the founder of the Divorce and Family Mediation Center in Melville, NY. Having developed her skills as a negotiator after 20 years in commercial real estate, she set her sights on a new direction in 2000. With her deep and abiding passion to make a real difference, Ada is on the Board of Directors of the NYSCDM. She has presented workshops to both the NYSCDM and FDMCGNY and seminars on divorce mediation at EAPA (Employee Assistance Professionals Association) and the AAMFT (Association of Marriage and Family Therapists).

Glenn E. Dornfeld

Glenn is past President of both the Board of Directors of the New York State Council on Divorce Mediation and the Family and Divorce Mediation Council of Greater New York. He is admitted to practice law in New York State and New Jersey, and trains people in divorce mediation through several groups. Glenn's practice consists almost solely of mediated family and divorce cases; he handles no adversarial matters, and is committed to helping clients try to resolve cases creatively, without resorting to litigation.

Mediation Associates

Rachel Alexander

Rachel Alexander, Esq. is the founder of the Alexander Group, a mediation service for couples throughout New York and New Jersey facing separation or divorce. She has studied Social Work at the Columbia University School of Social Work and received her law degree from The Cardozo Law School of Yeshiva University where she participated in the extensive mediation and alternative dispute resolution curriculum. She is a court appointed mediator for economic issues in family cases and is on the New Jersey civil roster. She is a member of the Executive Mediator Services and the NYS Council on Divorce Mediation. Ms. Alexander is admitted to the practice of law in New York, New Jersey and Maryland. She is the Director of The Center for Mediation Solutions in Metuchen, N.J. Ms. Alexander can be reached directly at (908) 310-3397 and through her website.

Learn More About Our
Divorce Mediation Trainings

Learn More About Our
Divorce Mediation Services