Services

Since its formation in 1996, Interface has worked with a wide range of clients.

For example:

  • a business of six
  • a division of an international manufacturing company
  • a museum
  • government offices-village, town, city county, federal
  • national forest staff
  • a day care center
  • schools, colleges, and universities
  • and many more

    • Interface protects client information. Our services are confidential.

    Interface Services:

    Interface specializes in design and facilitation of methods that involve stakeholders to consider an issue, gather and analyze information and consider options and consequences.

    Successes often increase when decision-makers initiate proactive planning processes, and invite stakeholders to participate in facilitated discussion to shape future action.

    Negative consequences can be avoided when decision-makers invite facilitated participation for discussions of hot-button issues.

    Interface responds to what people need in a timely manner. Services are cost-effective and custom designed. One client required monthly meetings for two and a half years. Another business dilemma was successfully resolved through a three-hour all-staff meeting. Trainings from 3 hours to 3 days resulted in improved communication, conflict resolution and decision-making skills.

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    Training

    [Note: Because Interface protects client information, examples are limited to select clients or general descriptions.]

    CDRC - InterfaceInterface trains boards, managers, staff, or volunteers in a full range of communication, collaboration, negotiation, dispute resolution and facilitation skills. Workshops are tailored to meet your specific needs. Workshops span introductory (3-6 hours) to in-depth (16-24 hours).

    Ithaca College’s annual LeaderShip Program has included a day-long workshop “Conflict: From Crisis to Opportunity” since its inception in 2000.

    The SARE (Sustainable Agriculture, Resources and Education) project was a collaboration with Cornell Cooperative Extension and Cornell’s Community and Rural Development Institute. After a series of regional trainings, the project produced Farms, Communities and Collaboration: A Guide to Resolving Farm-Neighbor Conflict. This practical guide was distributed throughout the state and is available on the Internet.

    Sixteen Cornell University Industrial and Labor Relations graduate students were trained in the community mediation methodology in 2004. Their goal was to establish a mediation program on the Cornell campus.

    Interface provided basic mediation training for fifteen Native Americans on a Reservation in New York. Individuals were excited about mediation’s possibilities and eager to develop a program for their Nation.

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    Public Participation

    [Note: Because these were public, confidentiality is not an issue as it is with other clients. More examples and more detail are provided.]

    CDRC - InterfaceWhen public or stakeholder input are required, or when a decision must be made by a group of people, Interface can plan and implement a one-time or multi-phase process.

    The Tompkins County Metropolitan Planning Organization hired Interface to plan and implement public participation into its year-long revision of the county’s twenty year transportation plan. The first meeting in September 2003 launched the comment period on the draft goals and objectives. The second meeting in May 2004 introduced the revised plan that incorporated the feedback gathered from public participation.

    Interface was selected by the US Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution to work with the Finger Lakes National Forest to involve the public in revising its Land and Resource Management Plan. We began by gathering the perspectives of groups already involved with the Forest. This “situation assessment” included recommendations to use the plan revision process to strengthen the relationship between forest service staff and the public. The work continues in 2004 as Interface provides training and assistance with meeting facilitation.

    Interface collaborates with the Pinchot Institute, based in Washington DC, facilitating the monitoring and evaluation of stewardship contracting projects in National Forests throughout the East. Participants at the meetings in Alabama, New Hampshire, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Tennessee have included Forest Service staff, conservation advocates, industry representatives and other interested parties.

    In 2001, Interface conducted a stream management workshop in Kingston, NY for agency staff working in the NYC watershed. Along with staff of Cornell’s Program on Environment and Community, the facilitator helped participants consider strategies for enhancing public participation in decisions and implementation.

    In 2000, Interface facilitators helped local governments design ways for meaningful citizen input. One example was the Vital Communities mapping workshop done with Tompkins County’s Planning Department. It brought together 40 citizens from different interest groups to map their suggestions for county land use fifty years from now.

    Commencing in 1998, the public involvement component of the Northeast Subarea Transportation Study (NESTS) was an innovative collaboration between local governments, technical consultants, and the citizens of Tompkins County. In this highly participatory process, local government entrusted primary responsibility for problem identification, data gathering, and solution generation to a diverse group of citizen representatives working in conjunction with a transportation planning consultant. CDRC planned and implemented the community-based segment.

    In 1996 the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine (CCVM) and the State University Construction Fund (SUCF) presented final plans for a new incinerator at Cornell to dispose of regulated medical waste. In response to strongly expressed community concerns over this plan, a joint Cornell-Community Waste Management Advisory Committee (CCWMAC) was formed to investigate and analyze alternative waste disposal methods and waste minimization options. Interface facilitated this two-year university-community exchange.

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    Meeting Facilitation

    [Note: Because Interface protects client information, examples are limited to select clients or general descriptions.]

    CDRC - InterfaceInterface can assist you to plan, structure and facilitate more effective meetings. Achieve your outcome to clarify issues, maximize participation and meet your objectives.
    - Strategic Planning
    - Retreats

    Focus groups from different stakeholder and membership groups of a museum were gathered to evaluate community needs and funding resources to consider for the five-year plan. An Interface facilitator assured that all voices were heard, the conversation stayed on track, and comments were captured on newsprint for all to see.

    Six staff in a local department of a large national program wanted clarity after two new organizational leaders were hired. A facilitated three-hour staff retreat enabled them to open lines of communication and ask pressing questions that would be referred to top administration.

    A college office sponsored a campus-wide educational event on a controversial topic. Interface assisted in the planning of the event, and facilitated the exchange among participants.

    Executives of an international not-for-profit decided to merge a multi-county office and a single county office. Interface assisted clients during the planning and facilitated the meetings.

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    Dispute Resolution

    [Note: Because Interface protects client information, examples are limited to select clients or general descriptions.]

    CDRC - InterfaceInterface mediates disputes or differences among parties in businesses or organizations. Small groups or teams benefit by facilitated conversations.

    A not-for-profit requires its employees to mediate when there is a dispute between them. Interface was called on the occasion when one employee asked for an outside mediator, one who did not know either person or the situation of their conflict.

    Board and volunteers of a human service agency met for two hours with an Interface mediator. They developed a written agreement that addressed their concerns. All present signed the agreement and had an individual copy for future reference.

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    Coaching

    [Note: Because Interface protects client information, examples are limited to select clients or general descriptions.]

    CDRC - InterfaceInterface will provide an appropriately trained coach who will work as requested with senior managers to assist them in analyzing issues, developing options, providing support for problem solving and planning.

    A new employee was highly valued, yet often in situations of friction with colleagues and service providers. Two private sessions with an Interface coach gave this person the opportunity to reflect on appropriate behavior changes and the consequences of her choices among her options.

    An administrative team planned and implemented an innovative change in policies and procedures in a 1000 student high school. An Interface coach was present at their weekly team meetings to remind them to remain on task, to encourage clear communication, and to record decisions into short meeting notes.

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    External Ombuds Service

    [Note: Interface protects client information. Examples are limited to select clients or general descriptions.]

    CDRC - InterfaceFor businesses or organizations who need targeted personnel resources from an outside perspective. The ombudsperson is available as a confidential resource for staff as needed. She or he can report to the chief executive or his or her designee as a confidential information resource, troubleshooter, communication channel, complaint handler and mediator.

    Since 1997, the personnel officer of a town government has requested on-going and on-demand services from an Interface ombuds person. The personnel officer experienced the positive results from hearing the perspective of an Interface ombuds person as an outside neutral. The ombuds person interceded before a conflict erupted, heard multiple perspectives, and advised administrators as to options in a course of action.

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    Success

    Since its formation in 1996, Interface has worked with a wide range of clients.

    For example:

    • a business of six
    • a division of an international manufacturing company
    • a museum
    • government offices-village, town, city county, federal
    • national forest staff
    • a day care center
    • schools, colleges, and universities
    • and many more

    CDRC - Interface33% percent of these were not-for-profits and community groups, 6% percent were for-profit businesses, 29% percent were schools and universities, 32% percent were governmental entities.

    Interface services are confidential. Some of the examples below, particularly those without web page links, are deliberately general in order to protect client privacy.

    Interface often works pro-actively to build peoples’ capacity to work through tough situation. The bottom line proves it: talk works. As a division of a 20 year old nonprofit, we are mission driven to “foster constructive responses to conflict.” www.cdrc.org

    Effectiveness increases sharply when difficult situations are mined to produce positive outcomes. Businesses face challenges that require specific systems and solutions designed for its structure and situation. Interface develops and implements methods that fit the moment.

    Complex issues always arise in the course of business. Interface experience proves that when dealt with constructively, such challenges can positively impact productivity, management-employee relations, and the achievement of strategic goals.

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