About Us

Gail H. Goodman, the founder and principal of Talking Alternatives, has over 30 years of management experience in government, nonprofit agencies and foundations. She began her career in the counseling field and worked in social services. She received her Certificate in Mediation and Conflict Resolution from New York University and was trained at CLUSTER, a New York State Unified Court System accredited mediation center. Gail received her specialized training in Elder and Adult Family Mediation from Elder Decisions. She has been mediating with parents and teens for Family Services of Westchester, has mediated in courts in New York County and Westchester counties and provides conflict coaching.

For over 25 years, Ruth Weinreb has been a Senior Attorney with the National Labor Relations Board investigating, litigating and mediating labor/management disputes. Ruth received a certificate in Mediation and Conflict Resolution from New York University, training from CLUSTER, a New York State Unified Court System accredited mediation center and specialized training in Elder and Adult Family Mediation from Elder Decisions. Ruth is also on a panel of mediators to resolve Hurricane Sandy disputes for the American Arbitration Association and a panel of mediators to resolve Federal employee/management disputes. In addition, Ruth has experience mediating parent/teen issues for Family Services of Westchester.