Bob draws from an eclectic professional background in law, marriage and family therapy, communications and teaching. In addition to his present involvements, he is doing CE Trainings and Professional/Personal Coaching.

Bob is a graduate of the Walter F. George School of Law, Mercer University, receiving the L.L.B. (J.D.) in 1963 and was a senior partner in the law firm of Berlin and Hodges, P.C. for 39 years. He served as a Municipal Court Judge for twenty-five years and has served as a pro hac Judge in three other courts. Bob served in the State House of Representatives, Middle Georgia District 86, 1973-1974 and was appointed by the Governor as a member of numerous state commissions.

Bob has received training in Negotiation Skills and Techniques (basic and advanced) at Harvard University Law School and Mediation at the University of Miami, the Atlanta Justice Center as well as two other institutions. He also received training in Domestic Relations Mediation in California and Multi-Door ADR training at the Georgia State University School of Law. Additionally, he has in excess of 15 years experience as a lead trainer.

Bob was a paneled member of the American Arbitration Association, serving as an arbitrator for thirty years and is presently a chief arbitrator for Fulton County (Atlanta). He also chaired a committee for the ADR Section of the State Bar of Georgia.

Bob practiced as a Marriage and Family Therapist in Georgia and holds a Clinical Membership in the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. He is an Advanced Practitioner, the highest level of membership, in the Association for Conflict Resolution. This is the designation afforded only a very limited number of practitioners who possess significant experience and unique qualities.

Bob is a former insurance adjuster for State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and also worked as an independent claims adjuster. He has taught insurance law and ADR throughout the years as an adjunct faculty member at John Marshal Law School.

Bob taught courses for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) of the State Bar of Georgia and currently delivers Mediation Training. Training programs and presentations on ADR and Mediation were delivered to the Insurance Section of the Georgia Bar Association, the Macon Bar Association, the Georgia Bar Association Annual Conference, the Middle Georgia Better Business Bureau, the Claims Adjusters Conference of the Georgia Farm Bureau, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and Allstate Insurance Company and many others.

Bob has served as an adjunct professor at Macon State College, Middle Georgia College, Georgia Military College, Mercer University and the Walter F. George School of Law, Mercer University.

Bob currently serves as an adjunct professor at Middle Georgia College, Central Georgia Technical College and Herzing College. He is an approved Mediator for the United States Postal Services, EEOC and the FBI. He is also a national presenter at annual conferences related to ADR.

Mediation and Related Training:
Cinergy, Basic Conflict Coaching Workshop. September 12-14, 2004. (22 hours).
Leadership Strategies, The Effective Facilitator. October 2002. (40 hours). Certified Facilitator
Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution, Handling Tension, Anger and Violence in the Mediation Setting. June 2001. (4 hours).
U.S Postal Service, EEO, Advanced Transformative Mediation Skills. October 1999. (20 hours).
Harvard University Law School, Basic Negotiation. Summer 1991. (40 hours).
Harvard University Law School, Advanced Negotiation. Summer 1992. (40 hours).
Neighborhood Justice Centers of Atlanta. Family Law Mediation. 1991 (40 hours).
Neighborhood Justice Centers of Atlanta. General Mediation Training. March 1989.
(40 hours).
Georgia State University Law School, Mediation and Arbitration Training. 1986.
University of Miami Law School, Mediation Training. 1981.
Isolina Ricci's New Family Center, Family Mediation. 1978.
Association of Conflict Resolution, Advanced Practitioner Mediator, Family Section, 2006.
Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution, Mediator Coach, 2006.

Government Experience:
1960s Twiggs County Attorney
1967-1972 Full Time Recorder's Court and Municipal Court Judge
1975-mid 1990s Pro Hac Judge Juvenile, Magistrate, Civil and Municipal Courts
Chief Arbitrator in Fulton County Arbitration Program 1980-Current
Domestic Mediator in Fulton County
Arbitrated numerous Presidential Parkway cases

Mediation Experience:
Mediated in excess of 3,000 cases. Arbitrated over 3,500 with 150 mixed ADR processes covering a very broad array of subject matter areas (from neighborhood disputes, divorce, torts, employment to public policy.)