Nicholas Obolensky | President
Andy Wunsch | Treasurer Theodore DeMarco| Secretary Yvonne Baglini Laura Bottaro Walter Hunter David Joseph Our Board members represent a wide variety of backgrounds. CMCRI Board members come from local businesses, RI universities, major law firms and many other backgrounds, from mediator to entrepreneur to artist. The Board members are the lifeblood of the agency, providing advice, ideas, logistical and financial support, and fundraising assistance. CMCRI has a 100% giving board, representing the Board’s commitment to and belief in the mission of community mediation. Board members serve a three-year term with an option to renew. If you are interested in becoming a Board member, please contact our Executive Director. Nicholas Obolensky | President
Nicholas Obolensky, Esq. is an attorney and partner at Obolensky and Balkcom Law, a general practice law firm in downtown Providence. Nicholas received his Juris Doctor at Roger Williams University School of Law, as well as earning a concurrent master's degree in marine affairs at the University of Rhode Island. Before entering the legal field, Nicholas owned and operated an international seafood trading company, Nobol Trading International LLC, conducting business in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Nicholas grew up in New Bedford, MA, where he established his deep appreciation for the sea, including a passion for environmental conservation, surfing, and sailing. A family man, he enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and four sons at the beach. Andy Wunsch | Treasurer Andy Wunsch is a mediator and an investment advisor. He began his career in 1986 as a stockbroker trainee with Moseley, Hallgarten, Estabrook & Weedon and worked as sales manager, corporate trainer and branch complex manager with regional and national investment brokerage firms including Prudential Securities, Advest and Janney Montgomery Scott. In 2009, Andy founded South County Financial Advisors LLC, a registered investment advisor. After completing training with CMCRI in 2009, Andy began volunteering as a mediator in Rhode Island District and Family Courts. In 2010, Andy became a Financial Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) mediator, where he combines his mediation skills and in-depth understanding of the financial services industry to help investors, broker-dealers and their attorneys evaluate and resolve pending arbitration claims. In addition to volunteering as a mediator and serving on the board of CMCRI, Andy strives to promote mediation as a profession through his work as a FINRA mediator and service as a director of Rhode Island Mediators Association. Andy graduated from University of Hartford in 1986 with a BS in Business Administration. Theodore DeMarco | Secretary Yvonne Baglini Yvonne Baglini is a Mediator and an ADR Executive. As an Assistant Vice President, she has been a Leader at the American Arbitration Association‘s Northeast Case Management Center since its inception 16 years ago. In addition to her management activities, she is a staff trainer facilitating national trainings for new arbitrators which includes the Core arbitrator training program. She has also served on several Muscular Arbitration panels at in person events and webinars in the New York metro area. As a trained mediator, Yvonne has volunteered as a mediator in Rhode Island District Courts since 2013. Yvonne is an advocate for ADR, particularly mediation as a way to preserve relationships between parties, especially those that find themselves on opposite sides of the court room. As a long term resident of Rhode Island she is committed to giving back to the community and assisting nonprofit organizations. Yvonne is a proponent of innovation both personally and professionally. She has attended several Innovation Conferences and has visited Innovation Labs in the Boston metro area. Yvonne, along with her family, enjoys boating, fishing, and jet-skiing during the summer and snowmobiling, skating, and snowshoeing during the winter. Laura Bottaro Laura Bottaro, Esq. is an attorney and neutral at the Bottaro Law Firm, LLC in Providence. Her legal practice has emphasized business, construction, and personal injury litigation in federal and state court. Laura is a former a partner at Little, Medeiros Kinder Bulman & Whitney in Providence where she represented both plaintiffs and defendants. Having advocated for clients from both sides, Laura now serves as a neutral arbitrator and mediator with the American Arbitration Association and the Rhode Island Superior Court. Her training with CMCRI sparked a passion for mediation. She volunteers as a pro bono mediator in the Rhode Island courts. She continues to train in advanced mediation techniques to understand the neuroscience and best practices of conflict resolution. Laura is also passionate about the outdoors. She spends her free time with her husband and two children in outdoor adventures, such as trail racing and mountain biking. Laura has served on environmental nonprofit boards. She is a member of the Legislative Commission to Study the RI Water Resources Board and Water Supply. Laura graduated with a J.D. from the University of Colorado School of Law and a B.A. with honors from Northwestern University. Walter Hunter David Joseph Dave Joseph, MSW, is a Senior Associate at Essential Partners, formerly the Public Conversations Project, where he has helped communities, organizations, congregations, universities and non-profit organizations have productive conversations across differences. He has provided training and consultation in the United States, Canada, Romania, Nigeria, Greece, Burundi, Thailand and Liberia. Trained as a mediator in 1995, he co-founded and later served as Executive Director of the Community Mediation Center of Rhode Island. Prior to that, he directed outpatient mental health and addictions programs for 20+ years. He is a founding member and currently serves as chair of the board of Mediators Beyond Borders International. In his spare time he enjoys travel, playing with his grandchildren, rock-climbing, photography and cooking. |
Martha Machnik
Executive Director Martha@cmcri.org Martha has over 30 years of experience working and training others to improve communication skills, build respectful relationships and develop leadership skills. Prior to joining CMCRI, Martha worked for 18 years with the YMCA; most recently serving as the Chief Operations Officer for the Attleboro YMCA. Prior to this Martha served as the District Executive Director for the YMCA of Greater Providence. Martha is also the current Board President of the Elizabeth Buffum Chace Center. Martha earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work from Salve Regina University. She is a Dartmouth, Massachusetts’s native who lives in Rhode Island with her husband John. Martha and John have 2 adult children and are happy, new grandparents! In her free time, Martha enjoys cooking, crafting, her garden and spending time with family and friends. Martha@CMCRI.org 
Tricia Driscoll
Operations Director Tricia@cmcri.org |
