Experience

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  Adr Vantage

  • Managing Director

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  ADR Vantage, Inc.

  • United States
  • Business Consulting and Services
  • 1 - 100 Employee

  • Managing Director

    • Oct 2019 - Present

    Tara Taylor is the Managing Director of ADR Vantage, Inc., a woman-owned consulting firm supporting great places to work for clients throughout the U.S. through conflict management, organizational and leadership development, diversity and inclusion practices, training, and coaching. ADR Vantage, Inc. partners with organizations to create lasting solutions to complex challenges and is dedicated to “helping people work better together”.At ADR Vantage, Inc., Tara provides leadership in planning and implementing strategic direction for the firm, managing and directing multiple client engagements, and providing direct client services, including conflict management, team building and strategic planning services. In addition, Tara also leads the firm’s diversity, equity and inclusion consulting practice.

  • Contractor

    • Sep 2016 - Oct 2019

    Provide facilitation, mediation, team-building, strategic planning assistance, coaching and other dispute resolution services for a variety of contract clients including federal agencies.

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  Facilitator & Trainer

  • Maryland-DC Area

  • Speaker, Group Facilitator & Trainer

    • Jan 2007 - Present
    • Maryland-DC Area

    Private consultation, group facilitation, mediation and training for public, private, non-profit and community groups. Featured speaker and presenter for organizations, conferences, and other events. Examples include assisting organizations to develop and implement diversity and equity initiatives, practices and policies; providing training and consultation on conflict management, diversity, equity, and inclusion practices; facilitating group discussions and internal decision-making processes for organizations, boards, companies and other groups; and facilitating consensus building meetings.

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  Maryland Commission on Civil Rights

  • Director of Education & Outreach

    • Dec 2013 - Oct 2019

    Co-Founder & Program Director for Maryland Equity & Inclusion Leadership Program, a year-long leadership development program in partnership with the University of Baltimore Schaefer Center for Public Policy. Direct all education and outreach initiatives including training development and delivery, conducting needs assessments, budget management, creating and conducting project evaluations, event planning, public relations campaigns, as well as hosting public and community discussion forums.Currently working on projects that focus on:- helping communities have conversations about issues around diversity and equity- innovative ways to teach about diversity and inclusion- promoting and improving civil rights in Maryland- raising awareness of fair housing, workplace diversity, and equitable opportunities for all Marylanders- creating dialogue opportunities for people of varying beliefs and perspectives to live and work together across their differences

  • Mediation Director

    • Nov 2001 - Dec 2013

    • Direct all aspects of mediation services for the public related to charges of discrimination in employment, public accommodations, and fair housing cases including case intake and screening, case management, settlement negotiations and agreement compliance.Direct all education and outreach efforts for the agency including training, public relations efforts, event planning, internal education for staff and external education for the public as well as coordinating multiple community dialogues around diversity issues in Maryland.• Recruit, train, and supervise 150+ volunteer mediators and professional staff in multiple statewide field office locations.• Conduct mediations and large multi-party facilitations to assist local government, civic and non-profit associations to develop strategic planning goals and/or resolve community or public policy disputes.• Manage grant projects including researching grant opportunities, writing grant proposals, implementing and monitoring grant progress, evaluating project goals/outcomes and preparing all required reports. Manage a public dialogue initiative.

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  University of Baltimore

  • 1420 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 20201

  • Adjunct Faculty

    • Sep 2015 - Dec 2018
    • 1420 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 20201

    Teaching in the College of Public & International Affairs, Negotiation and Conflict Management Graduate Program

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  Office of the Maryland Attorney General

  • Baltimore, Maryland Area

  • Mediation Supervisor, Consumer Protection Division

    • Jan 2000 - Nov 2001
    • Baltimore, Maryland Area

    • Researched and offered counsel to division chiefs on various state and federal consumer laws regarding finance, mortgage, housing and banking regulations; landlord tenant issues; education, commerce, transportation, trade, and communications statutes.• Compiled data and prepared case briefings for legal enforcement actions.• Researched, developed and led trainings for staff mediators and conducted community presentations.• Supervised and conducted performance evaluations for staff mediators, interns and law school students.• Managed constituent concerns in partnership with local businesses to make recommendations to Assistant Attorneys General for the development of new or modification of existing policies, practices and procedures.

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  YMCA Resource Center of Delaware

  • Wilmington, Delaware

  • Program Director

    • Aug 1998 - Jan 2000
    • Wilmington, Delaware

    • Directed a statewide alternative probation program for adjudicated youth funded by a grant from the Delaware Office of Juvenile Justice, Division of Youth & Family Services.• Directed a statewide Youth In Government program in conjunction with the state legislature for local high school students; coordinated community service projects and outreach campaigns.• Prepared and monitored a $420,000 annual budget for state funded grants and prepared all grant reports.• Supervised 5+ paid program staff and numerous community volunteers in several statewide offices.• Trained public school students in anger management and college students/faculty in leadership skills.• Chaired the YMCA of the USA Community Development & Training Committee, East Region.

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  Office of the Arizona Attorney General

  • Phoenix, Arizona Area

  • Mediation Coordinator, Civil Rights Division/Conflict Resolution Section

    • Aug 1996 - May 1998
    • Phoenix, Arizona Area

    • Directed a statewide civil rights mediation program for all employment grievances and served as liaison to the local office of the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).• Directed a community mediation program that included recruiting, interviewing, and training 75+ volunteers in mediation, arbitration, and negotiation as well as managing constituent complaints.• Created and managed state mediation programs for Child Protective Services, Victim Services, Family & Divorce Courts, Registrar of Contractors, Department of Education, and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA); mediated multi-party disputes for school boards and other public entities.• Co-directed a Peer Mediation Training Program through the Department of Education in local schools.