Resolution Systems Institute appoints Heather Fogg as next CEO
Resolution Systems Institute in Chicago has named Heather Fogg as its next chief executive officer. Her hiring follows an exhaustive nationwide search, a rigorous application and interview process, and unanimous approval by RSI’s board of directors. She will start on June 17.
RSI Executive Director Susan M. Yates will remain on staff through July 12 to help support a smooth leadership transition. After 27 years, Yates is stepping away from RSI to pursue other opportunities in the alternative dispute resolution and non-profit worlds.
"The choice of Heather Fogg to take over the helm at RSI gives me great peace of mind,” Yates said. “Heather’s passion for conflict resolution, ADR experience and strategic vision are clear evidence of her commitment to improving access to justice by enhancing court-connected ADR. I am confident in her ability to help RSI maintain its position as the nation’s premier court ADR organization. Furthermore, Heather’s authenticity and enthusiasm will make it easy for RSI’s staff, board and partners to connect with her.”
Expertise in court ADR and research
Fogg comes to RSI with an extensive background in court-connected ADR and research. Her expertise includes directing court mediator excellence programs; managing a state court’s ADR data collection tool; and designing and delivering restorative justice practices across a diverse range of sectors. She has guided the evaluation, design and data analysis of grant-funded ADR programs; coordinated workshops and training sessions for court ADR program managers, mediation trainers and mediators; and led and mentored scores of researchers and ADR practitioners. For the past three years, she has been a Training and Capacity Building Restorative Justice Practitioner at Restorative Justice Project Maine.
“Heather has an impressive combination of hands-on experience with court ADR, a track record of successful leadership, and dedication to ADR research and evaluation,” RSI Board President Brian Roche said. “We feel secure that Heather is the right person to lead RSI through its next phase of innovation and accomplishment.”
Fogg lives in Maine’s Midcoast region and will lead RSI remotely. Based in Chicago, RSI currently has staff in the Chicago area, as well as in Central Illinois, Florida and Maine.
“I feel thrilled and overjoyed to join RSI and help guide us through our next chapters,” Fogg said. “RSI has an unmatched reputation of excellence in court ADR, and I am fortunate to have the opportunity to bring all of my skills to bear on serving the goal of making court-connected ADR as accessible and effective as possible for parties and courts with the least resources.”
Resolution Systems Institute is a Chicago-based national nonprofit whose mission is to strengthen access to justice by enhancing court alternative dispute resolution systems.
Resolution Systems Institute is known nationally for its comprehensive evaluations of court ADR programs and cutting edge research on issues impacting litigants and courts with limited resources. RSI also engages courts in dispute system design, provides mediation services — including an eviction mediation program in Kane County — and designs program monitoring systems. For information, visit www.aboutrsi.org.