Jennifer Poole, CPM

Vice President - 2024 to 2025

Jennifer is the mediator at the Idaho Industrial Commission and owner of Resolution Empowered Mediation. An Idaho CPM, she has been an adjunct faculty member of Boise State University’s Dispute Resolution Program since 1999 and University of Dubuque LIFE since 2022. Jennifer authored Ch. 19: Conflict Management and the Criminal Justice System in the textbook “Victimology: Crime Victimization and Victim Services” from the Idaho Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence.

In addition to conducting various types of mediation, Jennifer trains and consults on Restorative Justice, victim-offender mediation, peer mediation, community mediation, and active listening. Prior to serving as the 2022 to 2023 vice president on the IMA board, she was a director from 2021 to 2022 and is a member of IMA's Training and Education Committee. Jennifer holds a master’s degree in dispute resolution from Touro University Worldwide. She earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and communication from Boise State University, and an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Brigham Young University - Idaho. 

Leigh K. Barer, CPM

Secretary - 2023 to 2024

Passionate about helping people resolve conflict, Leigh is a certified professional mediator on the Idaho Supreme Court Roster for Child Custody Mediators with a family law focus and a deep communications background. Her interest in resolving conflict is underscored by her professional training and extensive experience solving complex communication challenges. 

Before mediation, Leigh spent 15+ years helping countless businesses and nonprofits communicate clearly with their audiences as a freelance communications and PR consultant. Client work includes Apple, AWS, Microsoft and multiple startups, as well as several nonprofits in the arts, human services and healthcare sectors. Earlier, she oversaw PR in Seattle-area startups, managed PR agency clients and directed marketing and PR for an arts organization.

Leigh has completed studies in basic and advanced mediation, child custody mediation, domestic violence mediation and restorative justice. She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication from Seattle University. In 2008, Leigh and her family relocated from Seattle, Wash. to Ketchum, Idaho where she enjoys mountain town living.

Sheldon L. Forehand, CPM

Director - 2023 to 2024

Sheldon Forehand is originally from California. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Boise State University, where he attended on a football scholarship. For the past 20 years Sheldon has worked in the conflict management business, helping youth and adults as a probation officer and business owner working with a number of counties in the Treasure Valley.  His background is diverse with experience in corrections, Pharma and Software Sales. Sheldon is listed as a Child Custody mediator with the Idaho Supreme Court. He helps clients open lines of communication, identify issues, find common ground, and ultimately reach a solution that everyone can live with. His primary objective in ALL cases is to provide a quality professional forum in which decisions are reached in a constructive process. Sheldon lives in Canyon County with his wife Jill. He enjoys golfing, rooting for his San Francisco 49ers and Boise State Broncos, and spending time with two sons Khalil and Darion.

Scott D. Brand, CPM

Treasurer - 2024 to 2025

After years on the front lines of dispute with both Lemhi County Crisis Intervention and Lemhi Valley Social Services in central Idaho, Scott Brand has seen the consequences of unresolved conflict firsthand. It’s one of the reasons he has a passion to assist others in resolving conflict before it reaches crisis levels.

A mediator for the Idaho Supreme Court and the Nevada Supreme Court and member of the Grand Teton Mediation Association and the Idaho Mediation Association, Scott helps clients choose outcomes rather than having solutions decided for them by the courts. He specializes in mediating child custody, divorce, domestic dispute, eviction, and small claims issues. Scott previously served as executive director of Lemhi County Crisis Intervention (The Mahoney House). In that role, he oversaw community outreach, developed new programs for young people in empowerment and emotional learning, and supervised support groups for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, teens, and moms.

A graduate of Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, Scott holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. When he’s not mediating conflict and helping clients choose their own solutions, Scott revels in outdoor adventures and is an avid mountain biker, bikepacker, rafter, cross country skier, permaculturist, duck farmer, and adventurer.

Nancy Haug, CPM

Director - 2023 to 2024

Nancy’s 32-year career with the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) gave her front-line experience in creating solutions and working with people and organizations to resolve conflicts related to public land use and management. With a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications/Journalism, Nancy helped employees, stakeholders, and public land users identify and articulate their needs, and find ways to work together effectively and productively. Transitioning into the mediation field toward the end of her BLM career felt like a natural progression and, while mediating for the Reno Justice Court and Neighborhood Mediation Center in Reno, Nevada, Nancy completed her Master of Arts in Dispute Resolution. As a Certified Professional Mediator, Nancy continues to work with the Neighborhood Mediation Center in Reno, Nevada, the Nevada Supreme Court, the Idaho Supreme Court, and BLM.  Her current private sector work includes Kearns and West (a strategic communications and conflict management firm) and her own business Nancy Haug Mediation and Facilitation Services. When not mediating conflicts or facilitating meetings, Nancy loves to spend time with her children, grandchildren, husband and mini-Aussie Maija backpacking, camping, hiking, taking pictures and writing. 

Melissa Bishop, CPM

Director - 2023 to 2024

Melissa holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice through Boise State University.  She is a certified Direct Service Provider through the Idaho Domestic Violence Council and works at Trivium Life Services facilitating Domestic Violence Programming for individuals convicted of domestic violence or domestic violence related crimes. Prior to becoming a Direct Service Provider, Melissa worked for Ada County as an Adult Misdemeanor Probation Officer, serving their domestic violence population and working directly with the Ada County Domestic Violence courts.  She was an Adult Probation Officer for eight years before moving on to Ada County Juvenile Probation as a Supervisor. 

Melissa has been dedicated and committed to working in the Criminal Justice System for 12 years and has years of experience working in and with individuals in high conflict situations.  She has extensive experience in motivational interviewing which has allowed her to help individuals through some of their most challenging times.  Melissa’s husband Gabe and her two children enjoy camping, hiking, boating, fishing, spending time with their families and friends, and traveling.