Coming to the position of Executive Director in April, 2013, Steve brings 30 years of legal experience. After receiving undergraduate and law degrees from the State University of New York, Steve was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1983. He is also admitted in New York, and the District of Columbia. He began his legal career representing plaintiffs in personal injury, medical malpractice, and commercial litigation with a small West Palm Beach firm. In 1987, at the age of 30, he was nominated by the Fourth District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission and appointed by Governor Martinez as a Judge of Compensation Claims. Leaving the bench after 12 years, Steve founded a practice focused on mediation, arbitration and private judging. He has conducted in excess of 6000 dispute resolution proceedings with tens of thousands of litigants, lawyers and insurers. Throughout his career, he has served as a lecturer, panel discussant, and moot court judge for numerous professional societies. He is the author of continuing legal education materials for many groups as well as book reviews for the Florida Bar Journal. He has served on the Florida Bar Judicial Evaluation Committee, the Florida Bar Law Related Education Committee, and the Editorial Board of the Florida Bar Journal and News. As an attorney, judge, mediator and Executive Director, Steve always strives to maintain and promote the highest ethical standards. Adherence to such principles makes our personal and professional worlds better places.