Washington Mediation Association honors two WDRC team members

Pictured above: Ryan Gutheil (left) and Moonwater (right)

The Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center is proud to announce that two of our staff have been recognized by the Washington Mediation Association (WMA) for their incredible work and impact on our community.

Rookie Mediator of the Year: Ryan Gutheil

Ryan Gutheil, the WDRC’s Housing Stability Case Manager, has recently celebrated his third work anniversary with our organization. Over the course of those three years, Ryan has made an incredible impact on the lives of the clients he serves and supports, and he inspires his co-workers each day through his dedication. It is no surprise that Ryan was awarded Rookie Mediator of the Year by the Washington Mediation Association, a well-deserved recognition of the quiet, life-changing work he does every day.

Ryan found the field of community mediation by following his interest in housing conflict resolution. He began with the WDRC in an administrative capacity and was promoted to help with the Eviction Resolution Pilot Program (ERPP) amidst a massive caseload during the pandemic. 

On June 30th, 2023 the ERPP ended by state statute, and Ryan was a core member of our team who navigated uncertainty to help us transition to a voluntary Housing Stability mediation program. 

Always looking to grow his skills, Ryan took an early interest in Supervised Visitation to help children and parents safely reunite, and he has widened his scope of service to include informal conflict coaching and mediation for Small Claims Court disputants. Ryan's compassionate listening and dedication has guided our mediation clients smoothly through some of the hardest situations of their lives.

We are so lucky to have Ryan on our team, and we are excited to celebrate his recognition by our state-wide mediation community!

President’s Award: Moonwater

This year marks the 20th anniversary of leadership by the WDRC’s Executive Director, Moonwater. Her recognition through the WMA’s President's Award is an accolade that highlights the longevity and depth of her impact both locally and statewide.

Moonwater is an outstanding dispute resolution professional with decades of experience in designing and delivering mediation, training, and facilitation services – helping individuals, organizations, and communities to navigate conflict in clear, creative, and constructive ways. She is deeply committed to transforming justice – from increasing access to resolution processes rooted in empowerment, to strengthening systems with the goal of truly supporting the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.

When she started as Executive Director in 2005, Moonwater was the sole paid employee of the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center. Twenty years later, she has grown the center vastly, and we now employ 25 wonderful staff members.

Within the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center, she leads with care, thoughtfulness, and personal connection that nurtures ease among staff, while also demonstrating the sheer amount of positive work that can be accomplished in a single day. She skillfully balances work on a remarkable number of programs, initiatives, and partnerships with a deeply thoughtful approach that prioritizes staff wellness, tends each relationship, and fosters a culture of learning and growth. 

Moonwater is highly regarded in Whatcom County, with an amazing two decades of service in this role. Whether she is consulting with our mediators about how best to support an individual family in crisis or engaging in systemic work such as the Whatcom County Commission Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, Moonwater is generous in the time and thought she gives to each person, issue, and interaction. 

Statewide, as President of Resolution Washington, Moonwater is a leader amongst her peers and sets a shining example for best practices while advocating for policies that positively impact communities throughout Washington. Her leadership in this group of 21 dispute resolution centers has helped to increase resources for work that touches the lives of hundreds of thousands of Washington residents.

We love our team!

Here at the WDRC our staff – from the leadership level to every case manager – are working quietly and tirelessly each day to help our community meet basic needs, repair broken bonds, come together across differences, and thrive in their relationships. Our staff never ask for recognition, but when the opportunity comes along to celebrate their work, we can’t help but shout their praise!