By John Minnis
Legal News
When asked if she would agree to be the honoree at the Family Mediation Center-Michigan’s biennial tribute dinner, Barbara Johannessen said, “Sure, but make it a roast.”
And so it was that Johannessen, trained mediator and attorney, was put on the hot seat recently at the Peking House in Royal Oak amid colleagues, family and friends.
“Barbara was one of the first friends I’ve had in this business,” said Phil Schaedler, an Adrian attorney/mediator and chair of the Family Mediation Center-Michigan. “Barbara Johannessen, it is wonderful to have you here. It is wonderful to have you all here.”
Johannessen has been with the Family Mediation Center-Michigan for 15 years, serving as board member, secretary and newsletter editor.
Last year, she was awarded the 2009 Distinguished Service Award from the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section of the State Bar of Michigan.
She has her own firm, Mediation Specialists Inc. in Rochester Hills, and is a mediator for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, United States Postal Service, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Michigan Department of Career Development - Rehabilitation Services.
In private practice, she is an alternate dispute resolution provider, conflict management consultant and trainer.
Carrie Cole, secretary of the Family Mediation Center-Michigan, emceed the event.
“I’m the warm-up act,” she said.
Sheldon Stark of the Institute of Continuing Legal Education, commenting on Johannessen’s reputation for changing hair colors over time, quipped, “Hair today, gone tomorrow,” which was painful. He is bald.
“We all know she is a gifted mediator,” he said. “What many don’t know is that she is a dominatrix” — professionally, that is. She commands the field of mediation as both a practitioner and trainer.
“I appreciate being your friend,” he told Johannessen.
Lynn Liberato, attorney/court referee turned comedienne, amused the crowd with some bar humor.
“I have my Sarah Palin cheat sheet here tonight,” she said, “but I’m having a hot flash and it’s melting.
“This is what happens when you are a retired court referee. You end up on a Thursday night at a Chinese restaurant speaking to attorneys who thought you were funnier as a referee.”
She said she is now on the domestic terrorist list: “I was pulled over and they found a copy of the U.S. Constitution in my car.”
“I never planned on being an attorney,” she said, “but I couldn’t get into grad school. But I got into law school, go figure.”
“We need more than two political parties in this country,” she concluded, “because it is time we stopped being a bipolar nation.”
For her part, Johannessen said, “I am really very touched and honored that the Family Mediation Center wanted to do this for me and you wanted to be here.”
Looking around the banquet room filled with nearly 100 of her family, friends and colleagues, including Family Mediation Center-Michigan chair Schaedler in a tux with a shamrock-green tie and sash, Johannessen quipped, “This is the closest thing to a wedding day I’m going to get.”
Johannessen acknowledged that many people in the room could personally recite her favorite retort: “Thank you very much for offering, but I’d much rather do it myself.”
Getting serious about her line of work, she said, “I don’t think anyone here doesn’t think what we do is spectacular.”
“I’m thrilled to be in this field,” she concluded, “and I hope my mother (who was in attendance) will think so and not be disappointed that I didn’t go into accounting.”
Johannessen was then presented with proclamations from the Family Mediation Center-Michigan; Senate Majority Leader Michael Bishop, 45h District State Rep. Tom McMillin and Gov. Jennifer Granholm; and U.S. Rep. Gary Peters.
Family members presented her with a professional caricature of her holding the Scales of Justice.
Schaedler on behalf of the Family Mediation Center-Michigan presented Johannessen with a triangular glass sculpture, which, when looked at from above, was reminiscent of the Family Mediation Center-Michigan’s logo.
“Now all I need is an office to put it in,” Johannessen remarked.
When the Ron Brooks Trio struck up the music again, first emcee Cole and then Schaedler led Johannessen around the dance floor.
And keeping up the wedding metaphor, tinkling glasses soon filled the room.
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