About Us - Staff and Trainers
Susan Armoni
Executive Director Darlene Allen Accountant Barney Fudge Training Specialist Bob Gonzales Senior Training Specialist Darby Huber Community Relations Specialist Annie Hudson Special Projects Director Phillip Irby Senior Training Specialist/Curriculum Tim Rogers Administrative Assistant Jeff Willie Training Specialist Debbie Womack Deputy Director Kristin Jones Adjunct Training Specialist Connie Schneider Adjunct Training Specialist Mary Alice Smallbone Adjunct Training Specialist Susan Armoni, Ph.D., Executive Director
paxUnited's Executive Director Susan Armoni began the conflict mediation movement in the schools of Texas over a decade ago. Susan, a twenty-year veteran in education, has worked for 13 years in the field of prevention and has over 250 hours of training in mediation. She founded and directed the Texas Mediation Initiative through the Office of the Attorney General, as well as PeaceMakers (now paxUnited), a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to creating safe environments for children. Dr. Armoni is recognized as an international speaker and trainer and is the author of numerous books and articles.
e-mail: susan.armoni@paxunited.orgMrs. Allen serves as paxUnited's accountant and is responsible for grant regulation oversight. Prior to her position with paxUnited (PeaceMakers), Mrs. Allen was Accounting/Office Manager for thirteen years with a manufacturing company in Garland, Texas that was owned by Air Products & Chemicals, a Fortune 500 company. After the Garland location was closed, Darlene decided retirement was not for her and in her search for something near home and flexible hours...she and PeaceMakers found one another.
e-mail: darlene.allen@paxunited.orgBarney Fudge, Training Specialist
Barney Fudge is originally from Burkburnett, Texas. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Tarleton State University and is a licensed Social Worker by the State of Texas. After graduating from Tarleton, Barney attended Texas A&M University and received his Master’s Degree in Educational Human Resource Development. Prior to coming to paxUnited, he was an advisor in the Student Programs Office at Texas A&M. Barney is very athletic, and in his spare time he enjoys playing sports, hunting and fishing.
e-mail: barney.fudge@paxunited.orgRobert Gonzalez, Training Specialist
Robert Gonzales, M.R.E., M. Div. has served as the Texas State Coordinator for the Southwest Regional Center for Safe and Drug Free Schools. Previously he directed the drug prevention and education program at St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas. While at St. Mary's, he developed the Student and Employee Assistance program. He also coordinated the Campus Mediation Center. Robert has been a program manager for the San Antonio Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse. He has served as an Adult Probation Officer, the director of the office of Hispanic Affairs in Amarillo, TX. and a pastor of a parish. Over the past several years, he has trained mediators in Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Utah, West Virginia and Arizona.
e-mail: bobgonz@juno.comDarby Huber, Community Relations Specialist
Darby Huber, Community Relations Specialist, keeps paxUnited connected to our peer mediation programs. Her history with paxUnited began in the Fall of 2001 while she was a college student doing her Practicum for Mediator Certification. Darby maintained her relationship with paxUnited as an intern until she received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas in May 2002. Darby became an “official” employee of paxUnited in June of 2002. Her areas of specialization include Applied Economics, Criminal Justice, Volunteer Management and Public Administration. Darby has over 300 hours in Alternative Dispute Resolution Training (including Mediation, Negotiation, Workplace ADR and Hostage Negotiation), earning Professional Certificates in Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution. Currently, Darby is investigating Master’s Degree Programs and enjoying life.
e-mail: darby.huber@paxunited.orgAnnie Hudson, Special Projects Manager
Annie initially became involved in peer assistance efforts in 1989 as the PAL Statewide Conference Coordinator, directing more than 17 high school, middle school, and teacher/adult conferences over the next 7 years. Through her work with PAL, she met Susan Armoni, who became a "regular" as a workshop facilitator at these events, sharing her highly successful work in school team mediation. Annie says, "It is my great joy to be involved with such an outstanding organization that is truly dedicated to helping our youth grow into healthy, caring, socially responsible citizens " In Spring of 2000, Annie signed on with paxUnited and continues her work in youth empowerment as events planner, project coordinator and many other things that needs doing. Annie came to Austin in the early 1970s as a college student at the University of Texas, where she received her BS in Education, raised a family, and has happily remained there over the past 32 years.
e-mail: annie.hudson@paxunited.orgPhillip Irby, Senior Training Specialist/Curriculum
After leaving a career in consulting engineering, Phil began teaching mathematics in Kaufman ISD, earning a M.S. in Mathematics and Education while teaching. Responding to a request by students to help them “do something about all the conflicts,” he started a mediation program at Kaufman High School in 1990. After seeing fights drop from one-a-week to one-a-semester, he successfully implemented mediation programs in schools districtwide. In 1994, Phil left the security of a steady job and began working to start mediation programs throughout Texas. He joined Susan Armoni in founding the Texas Mediation Initiative in 1995, and has since collaborated in creating and piloting numerous new conflict resolution programs. Phil has taken, and delivered, advanced mediation training at various state and national conferences across the country. At last count, Phil has trained over 3000 in mediation and other conflict resolution techniques.
e-mail: phil.irby@paxunited.orgTim Rogers, Administrative Assistant
Tim Rogers began volunteering with paxUnited in the Fall of 2002 while doing his Practicum for Mediation Certification. Tim became a "real" employee of paxUnited in January of 2003 and says that it is exciting to be part of an organization that provides this training to make the world a better place. Coming from a background of litigation support, it was a relief to be on the mediation / prevention side, especially with children to young adults. He says that it is an excellent idea to teach mediation skills before conflicts arise instead dealing with those conflicts after escalation. He is currently working on his undergraduate degree from the University of North Texas in the pursuit of his BAAS in Legal Information Management with a Minor in ADR (Alternate Dispute Resolution). Tim has completed training in mediation related areas such as negotiation, workplace ADR, and transformative mediation. He is currently receiving training in the family mediation and hostage negotiation areas.
Email: tim.rogers@paxunited.orgJeff Willie, Training Specialist
Jeff Willie was born and raised in the great state of Texas. A year after graduating from Carthage High School, he entered the United States Air Force in 1977. He retired from the Air Force on November 1, 2002 after 25 ˝ years of dedicated service to his country. Jeff has over 22 years in training and development and over 13 years in conflict mediation. He received his Bachelors Degree in Corporate Training & Development from Abilene Christian University, his Master’s Degree in Organizational & Human Resource Development from Abilene Christian University and a graduate certificate in conflict mediation, also from Abilene Christian University. Jeff also has three Associative Degrees; Security Administration, Personnel Administration/Human Resource Management, and Instructor Technology. Jeff is an Honorary Colonel in the Arkansas State Police, Honorary member of the Arkansas Highway Police, and a Certified Arkansas Law Enforcement Instructor in Rapid Response, Special Weapons and Tactics. He has been a facilitator of FranklinCovey 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Workshop and his passion is volunteering his time working with churches in the areas leadership development, conflict management, stress management, decision making and change management based on biblical principles.
e-mail: jeff.willie@paxunited.orgDebbie Womack, Deputy Director
Debbie Womack, BSE is Director of Training/Curriculum Development. Mrs. Womack has over 12 years of experience in violence prevention and peer assistance training and planning. As an accomplished trainer, her experience includes peer mediation, developmental assets, character education, True Colors™ and PALÓ. Mrs. Womack has presented and trained at national conferences. In addition to her training experience, she has written peer assistance and violence prevention curricula. She has over 150 hours in mediation training and implementation.
e-mail: debbie.womack@paxunited.orgKristin Jones, Adjunct Training Specialist
Kristin is a high school biology teacher and coach in Carrollton-Farmers Branch I.S.D. She has been teaching for 10 years. In 1994, Kristin attended a training of trainers and discovered how powerful mediation can be. She worked for PeaceMakers for 1 year travelling the state and training schools in mediation. In 2000, Kristin decided to get back into the classroom and in 2001 started a pilot program for Peers Making Peace. She continues to train with paxUnited when she can. Connie Schneider, Adjunct Training Specialist
Connie taught elementary education in Richardson, Texas, for ten years and Bridgeport, Connecticut, for three years. Her bachelor's degree in education is from Indiana University. In June 2001 she completed a graduate certification program in conflict resolution at Southern Methodist University. Connie has been working with paxUnited since January 2001.
Mary Alice Smallbone, Adjunct Training Specialist
A long-time friend and advocate of peer mediation, Mary Alice is currently Assistant Principal at the ninth grade center in San Marcos, Texas.