Karen is a Licensed Professional Counselor in AZ and TX. She has a Master of Educational Counseling and was a former school counselor and therapist in private practice working primarily with children and families. She became a Credentialed Family Mediator in San Antonio and worked for the Hill Country Dispute Resolution Center in Kerrville, TX as a mediator for divorce and child custody cases. As a Certified Divorce Coach®, Karen provides coaching services for individuals who are in the should I or shouldn't I phase of divorce, in the divorce process, and after divorce coaching. She helps individuals navigate through the divorce process and serves as their thinking partner so they can be sure they are receiving the most accurate information and making the best decisions during this difficult time.
As a Certified Co-Parenting Specialist, Karen works individually and jointly to help parents navigate through the challenges of co-parenting.
Monica Donaldson Stewart is the managing attorney for the Chandler, Arizona law firm of Donaldson Stewart PC, where she practices in all aspects of family law, including Collaborative Divorce and family law mediation. She has also served as a Judge Pro Tem for the Maricopa County Superior Court, conducting settlement conferences in family law matters since 2007. Ms. Donaldson Stewart received her B.S. degree (1993), summa cum laude, and her J.D. degree (1997) from Arizona State University. During law school, she participated in a semester-long mediation training clinic and in 2009, she completed training with the Collaborative Divorce Institute. Ms. Donaldson Stewart is a member of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Arizona and is a former member of the Executive Board of the Collaborative Professionals of Phoenix (CPP). She served as the Secretary of the East Valley Bar Association (2020-2021) and previously served as the President (2008, 2009) and Treasurer (2010-2019) of that organization. She also served as the Secretary of the Maricopa County Association of Family Mediators (MCAFM) in 2019 and 2020. In 2013, Ms. Donaldson Stewart was selected as a Super Lawyers “Rising Star” and she has been selected as a Southwest Super Lawyer each year since 2019. Monica believes that divorcing couples and their children benefit when they are given have the opportunity to reach settlements without the court’s intervention, and that the collaborative divorce process offers that opportunity. Many people believe that “litigating to win” is the only way to divorce. The collaborative process is a better way.
I’m thrilled to announce the launch of my decade-long passion project with the new Order for Appointment of Real Estate Special Commissioner. As an experienced Real Estate Special Commissioner and Special Master, I bring a wealth of knowledge in various forms of ADR, including Family Law, Estate and Trust settlements, and Probate, along with expertise in Expert Testimony.
With formal training in mediation, I have been actively involved in mediations, arbitrations, Special Master hearings, and Special Commissioner assignments. I understand the emotional, legal, and financial complexities that accompany life’s transitions. I have a strong background in luxury real estate, but I assist clients across all price ranges throughout the Valley. I am here to help clients navigate their next steps—whether moving in, moving out, or moving on!
Dieter has a diverse business background educationally and professionally. He is born, raised, and educated in Germany and holds a Masters in Business Economics from the University of Tuebingen. In the U.S.A. he has been trained in international finance at San Francisco State University. Dieter holds series 7, 66, as well as Life & Health insurance licenses.
He is a member of the Collaborative Professionals of Phoenix, a charter member of the Referral Institute of Arizona, a member of the Tempe Chamber of Commerce, and the Friedrich-List Foundation. He holds American and German citizenships. His community involvement currently includes leadership in the Arizona Center for Germanic Cultures, Inc. and the German-American Chamber of Commerce, and his support of language learning through the German School of Arizona scholarships and the ASU Foundation SILC sponsorships. He provided past support to the Consular Corps of Arizona and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Arizona.
Dieter is an avid outdoors man and enjoys running, swimming, biking, ballroom dancing, and the arts. With more than 20 years experience running small businesses in the U.S.A., and 17 years in financial consulting, he offers his clients a broad understanding of investing and financial management, nationally and internationally. Through his referral network of business consultants & coaches, tax & legal advisors, and his financial planning service he is able to offer his clients one-stop shopping for financial strategies for their business, personal, and trust assets and for structuring an income stream that meets their lifestyle.