Timm Lawson, President

Timm has worked in the behavioral health field for over 22 years, and is a Retired United States Navy Senior Chief. Since 2005, he has owned and operated Kharma Behavior Management, Inc., first in California, and now in Washington, as well. He is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and holds a BA in Sociology, MA in Conflict Resolution and M.Ed. in Applied Behavior Analysis. A certified mediator, Timm is passionate about creating restorative practices in the community and helping empower individuals with special needs to be as independent as they possibly can, by creating strategies to foster behavior that will achieve their goals. 

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Laura Garcia-Bohnet, Vice President

Laura Garcia Bohnet joined the Board of NMC in 2018. With her she brought a background in psychology; her doctoral research focused on the relationship between restorative practices and human wellbeing. She values NMC’s mission to promote peaceful problem solving and the way NMC carries out its mission - with commitment and integrity. Laura is trained as a mediator and currently works as an outpatient psychotherapist in the greater Seattle area. She is also a member of the American Psychological Association.

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James Layman, Secretary

James Layman (He/Him) joined the AWSL staff in the summer of 2017 and currently serves as the Director of the Association of Washington Student Leaders (AWSL), as well as Director of Mission Peak Leadership Camp. James is a graduate of Central Valley High School and attended Eastern Washington University, focusing on Music Education, Psychology, and African-American History. James taught band and marching band throughout the Spokane area and is still an active marching band show designer. James currently serves on the Board of Directors for the National Association for Student Activities (NA4SA).

Through AWSL, James is a keynote speaker, curriculum writer, equity consultant, and program facilitator throughout Washington State. James has been a presenter at the Washington Activity Coordinators Association, National Conference for Student Activities, and the NatStuCo National Conference. James lives and works out of Spokane, WA.

What I love about mediation: Mediation is the way in which communities, cultures, and people come together through our shared humanity. It is a process where healing, listening, and truth-telling are woven together. 

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Tom McArthur, Treasurer

Tom started with a degree in Broadcast Journalism and Business Administration from Pacific Lutheran University.  His eclectic path has led from broadcasting on radio in Tacoma and television in Spokane, to being press secretary for a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, being communications director for a local hotel, later for state university and now, for a non-profit realtors organization - not to mention lots of other fun things along the way. Through his firm, McArthur Consulting, LLC, Tom has provided marketing and communications assistance for various businesses and organizations in the region, while continuing to produce documentary and special projects for KSPS-TV.  His former board affiliations include Northwest Society of Professional Journalists, Spokane Youth Symphony and Transitions Family Programs. He joined NMC’s board in October, 2015.

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Dennis C. Cronin, JD

Dennis joined the Board of Directors in the summer of 2015, after serving as a member of the NMC Advisory Council for two years. He has practiced law in Spokane, Washington since 1986, and is admitted to practice before numerous courts, including the US Supreme Court. He is also an avid and respected legal scholar. While his legal practice focuses on family, criminal and appellate matters, he is also a trained mediator (through the Strauss Institute at Pepperdine University) and supporter of party-driven conflict resolution. Dennis is a former member of the Spokane Human Rights Commission and a former court commissioner pro tem for the Spokane County Superior Court.  He is 2017-18 president-elect of the Washington State Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, an interdisciplinary, international association of professionals dedicated to improving the lives of children and families through the resolution of family conflict.

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Deborah J. Harper, MD

After serving for two years on the NMC Advisory Council, Deb agreed to become a Board Member in the summer of 2015, and was immediately tapped to be board president. She graduated from the University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago in 1980 and was Chief Pediatric Resident at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. Having practiced pediatric medicine in Spokane, WA, since 1985, she recently retired as a pediatrician for Providence Medical Group and the Division Lead Physician for Providence Pediatrics.  Deb’s community activities have been numerous, among them active membership in Rotary 21.  Her focus in the community is most often child health and welfare.

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Melanie Nelson

Melanie completed Northwest Mediation Center’s Basic Mediation Training and Practicum in 2005, and served as staff in various roles, over the years, as Small Claims Manager, Executive Director, Mediation Director and Foreclosure Mediator.  After leaving the staff to pursue her own business in 2015, Melanie joined the Board of Directors in the fall of 2016.  Over 11 years with NMC and lots of hats–all worn with grace!

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Thomas Coleman Lloyd, Jr. 
A graduate of Baylor University, Tom received his teaching certificate from Boise State and his Master’s degree from Sam Houston State.  He has worked extensively with adult offenders, focusing on addiction issues, educational opportunities for offenders and alternative programs for offender treatment and rehabilitation.  He completed Northwest Mediation Center’s mediation training in 2009 and joined the Board of Directors in 2011.  Tom and his wife, Ruth Wohlwend-Lloyd, teach NMC’s monthly, court-mandated “Sharing the Children” co-parenting classes for separated and divorcing parents.

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