Legal Services- 813.843.4336 ~ Mediator Services- 813.279.5095 guilene.theodore@ccrflorida.com www.collaborativeconflictresolution.com www.linkedin.com/in/guilenetheodore CAREER SUMMARY More than 20 years experience as an attorney and certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a Circuit Court Civil Mediator for more than 15 years. Significant experience in representing clients in federal court proceedings, primarily related to employment. Representation of clients at mediations in state, federal, and appellate proceedings. Legal experience includes Labor and Employment, Local Government, Procurement, Contracts, Construction, and Alternative Dispute Resolution. Multi-lingual- Fluent in English; French; Haitian-Creole. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Collaborative Conflict Resolution, PLLC., Tampa FL Nov. 1, 2014 to Present Civil/Commercial Collaborative Attorney, Mediator, Arbitrator Provide legal services to clients with disputes that are appropriate for resolution through alternative dispute resolution processes without going to court. Provide services of a neutral mediator or a neutral arbitrator for the purpose of resolving legal disputes without going to court. Ogletree Deakins, Nash Smoak & Stewart, P.C., Tampa FL Nov, 2008 to Oct, 2014 Attorney Provide legal representation to employers of all sizes and across an array of industries, from small businesses to Fortune 50 companies. Defense of state and federal lawsuits, to include the analysis of procedural strategy, risks, benefits, and costs associated with trial versus settlement options. Resolve client issues in matters ranging from day-to-day advice to complex employment litigation, alternative dispute resolution, and representation in administrative proceedings, with emphasis on preventative counseling and resolution of claims through negotiation. Specific experience includes knowledge and application of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Equal Pay Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the WARN Act and many other federal and state laws. Conduct comprehensive employment audits to expose problem areas before they become legal challenges. Provide management training seminars to equip supervisors to handle workplace issues. Prepare and review employment policies and procedures manuals to ensure compliance with federal and state laws.
PAGE TWO Ruden, McClosky, Smith, Schuster & Russell P.A., Tampa, FL 2001-2008 Attorney Advice and Counsel in the areas of Labor and Employment Law, Government Law and Construction Law to public and private sector clients including wage/hour law, employment and separation agreements, labor relations, and employment discrimination. Developed Employment Policies and Employee Handbooks; audits for compliance with employment laws. Stetson College of Law Fall 2002 - Spring 2003 Adjunct Professor, Alternative Dispute Resolution (including Negotiations, Mediation, Arbitration). Becker & Poliakoff, P.A., Tampa, FL 2000-2001 Government Law Department Provide counsel to public sector clients and private sector clients doing business with governmental entities. Hillsborough County Attorney's Office 1987-2000 Chief Assistant County Attorney 1991-2000 Assist the County Attorney in representing the Board of County Commissioners, and County Administration. Management of Infrastructure Section, to include direct supervisory responsibility over 4 attorneys, increased to 8 attorneys and 6 support staff. Direct oversight responsibility for transactions and legal advice related to government procurement of services and commodities, construction procurement, cable franchise administration, special districts and advisory boards, Public Works, Economic Development, Budget & Finance, Parks, Fleet and other County departments. Assistant County Attorney 1987-1991 Assist the County Attorney in representing the Board of County Commissioners and County Administration. Representation in legal proceedings; legal opinions on local government issues; drafting of ordinances, regulations and contracts; negotiation and drafting of complex contracts; negotiation and resolution of major contract disputes and claims. Bay Area Legal Services, Inc., Tampa, Florida 1983-1987 Staff Attorney Legal representation of economically underprivileged clients in a broad cross-section of civil law matters, including negotiations, non-jury trial work, and appellate work.
PAGE THREE EDUCATION University of Florida Law School 1983 Juris Doctorate Queens College, City University of New York Major: Engineering University of Florida B.A. Political Science CERTIFICATIONS AND TRAINING PROGRAMS Circuit Court Civil Mediator Certification, Florida Supreme Court 1999 Present Tenth Annual Collaborative Law Practice Conference (Civil/Commercial) Oct. 2014 City, County & Local Government Law Certification 1997 2012 Local Government Mediator Certification Training, summer 1999 Training in the design of alternative dispute resolution systems 1999 Harvard Program on Negotiation for Senior Executives 1992 Mediator Certification Training Stetson University Law School 1992 PUBLICATIONS AND LECTURES American Inns of Court Civil Procedure Series, Florida Pretrial 2, Chapter 26: Settlement and Alternative Dispute Resolution, (1997) Lawyers Cooperative Publishing. FPELRA Presentation - FLSA Traps and Tips: Avoiding Common But Costly FLSA Mistakes Orlando February 12, 2014 Ogletree Deakins Seminar Picking Your Team: How to Avoid Hiring an Axe Murderer While Complying with Federal Laws Tampa - October 26, 2012 Media Quote: March 15, 2012 - Law360.com - "11th Circ. Says Transgender Workers Shielded By Federal Law" FPELRA Presentation - 2012 Employment Law Update - Orlando - February 6, 2012 June 18, 2012 - Ogletree Deakins Publication - "More Local 'Wage Theft' Ordinances May Soon Be Enacted in Florida" April 2, 2012 - Ogletree Deakins Publication - "Florida Judge Issues Significant Victory for Cable Installation Company in Independent Contractor Status Case" NPELRA Labor Relations Academy in Phoenix Certification Program The Foundations of Labor Relations Phoenix January 25, 2012. December 8, 2011 - Ogletree Deakins Publication - "Transgender Employee Fired by Government Employer Is Protected Under Federal Law" SHRM Presentation Florida Unemployment Compensation 2011- Legislative Changes and Strategies for Success - Port Charlotte - October 26, 2011
GUILENE THEODORE PAGE FOUR Florida Bar's 34th Annual Local Government Law in Florida - "Employment- Related Legal Impacts of Budget Reductions-A Look at Furloughs, RIFs and Other Aspects of Streamlining the Workforce" - St. Petersburg - May 6, 2011 Beyond the Basics in Employment Law Seminar - "Sexual, Racial, and Other Harassment in the Workplace" Tampa - January 25, 2011 Human Resource Certification Preparation Program - "Employees and Labor Relations" - October 28, 2010 Human Resource Certification Preparation Program - "Employees and Labor Relations" - Tampa - March 25, 2010 Florida Public Personnel Association, West Central Regional Seminar - "Public Sector FLSA Issues" - Sarasota -April 28, 2009 Lecture: Managing the Culturally Diverse Mediation American Arbitration Association April 2003. Lecture: Understanding the Construction Contract in Florida August 2002 Lecture: Mediation in the Sunshine Florida Dispute Resolution Center Aug. 2002 Lecture: Sunshine & Public Records Implications in Mediation of Public Disputes 2001 Lecture: Mediation : Florida Association of County Attorneys Annual Conference 6/9/93 PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS Global Collaborative Law Council, Member, 2014 to present Hillsborough County Bar Association, 1985 to present o Member, Collaborative Law and Employment Law Sections o Co-Chair, Alternative Dispute Resolution Section, 1996-1998; Chair, Government Law Section, 1998, 1999; Vice-Chair, 1999, 2000; Peer Mediation Committee, 1999; Co-Chair, Gender, Ethnic & Racial Equality Section, 2000-2001) George Edgecomb Bar Association, 1991 to present. o (Press Secretary 1997-1999 Parliamentarian; Role Model Committee Chair, 2000; Scholarship Committee, 2004) Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Oversight Committee- 1994 ; 2014 Ferguson-White Inn of Court, 1994-1996 Florida Bar Association o Grievance Committee 13D, 1991-1994; Vice-Chairman, 1993 o Government Law Section, 1989 to present. o Juvenile Rules Committee, 1987 o International Law Section, 1986-1987 o (Trial Lawyers Section, 1986) The Haitian Lawyers Association, 2005 to 2006 Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce of Tampa Bay, 2006-2009 The Haitian-American Chamber of Commerce, 2005 to 2009. Member, Board of Directors, 2007 to 2008
GUILENE THEODORE PAGE FIVE COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES Governor s Haiti Advisory Group. Appointed Member, 2004-2005 Leadership Tampa Alumni class of 1996. Member, Board of Directors 1997; 1998 Member, Board of Directors of The Spring, Inc., 1987-1989 Member, Board of Directors of Bay Area Legal Services, Inc., 1991-1996; President, 1994 President, Haitian Association Foundation of Tampa Bay, Inc., 2004 2008. Haitian Civic Club of Tampa Bay, Inc., Past President, 1987; Secretary, 1986 Member, Board of Directors of the Centre for Women, 2001 to 2006 Member, Network of Executive Women, 2003 to 2008 Member, Board of Directors of the French American Business Council of West Florida, Inc., 2003 to 2007 11/16/14