Cris Gilbert has been in the field of ADR since 1988. After receiving her initial training, she incorporated her mediation training into her position with two local municipalities. She has been involved in a private practice and training partnership and has devoted many hours of volunteer service to the Dispute Mediation Service. She has remained active in the Dispute Mediation Service's SCOPE program conducting peer mediation and conflict resolution training to youths and adults for schools and other organizations.

She has a unique background, including a Masters of Dispute Resolution from Pepperdine University School of Law and a Bachelor's degree in Business Management. She has participated in several pilot mediation programs including, the EEOC, the Department of Justice's ADA and the Texas Department of Crimminal Justice Mediation contract. While a student at Pepperdine she had the opportunity to work with the United States Bankruptcy Court's Northern District Mediation Program and the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office Dispute Resolution Program.

Cris' philosophy on the state of ADR Providers is not that we are "attorney mediators" or "non-attorney" mediators, but that we consider ourselves "professional mediators." Helping others become the best that they can be as professional mediators has become a passion for Cris and as the ADR Coordinator for Dallas County, the courts of Dallas County will be recognized as the leading court-annexed ADR program.