Background

Blaine Greenfield is often asked how he got involved in the field of dispute resolution. So here's the story . . .

For a long time, he thought it would be interesting to become an arbitrator for major league baseball. This is the person who makes a determination whether some ballplayer gets $7 or $8 million a year.

Blaine researched the subject, found out that he would probably have to become a lawyer and since he had no desire to become one, he gave up that plan-somewhat. But he instead did go to his local library, found a book called GALE'S ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ASSOCIATIONS and thoroughly researched the following fields: arbitration, mediation and dispute resolution.

He then got some training, did a lot of reading and began offering his services. Blaine first began volunteering as an arbitrator for the Better Business Bureau, handling GM auto cases. Within a short period of time, he was being called upon several times a month. "What was the basis of my popularity," he wondered. So he asked to see what the BBB was sending out. Instead of telling people that he had an "eclectic background" (the term he used), he was described as having an electrical background. Since he knows less than nothing about that topic, he now tells people that he has a diversified background.

Eventually, he began doing other arbitration work for such other manufacturers as Toyota, Chrysler and Ford and, best of all, he even got paid. In addition, he began doing some work in the securities, construction and neighborhood dispute fields.

This all led to his being named, in 1986, as Complementary Dispute Resolution for Mercer County's Superior Court-a position he still holds. In this capacity, he mediates such neighborhood disputes as barking dogs and noisy neighbors. Also, he trains volunteer mediators to handle cases in the various municipal courts. He further served for a term on the New Jersey Supreme Court's Fee Arbitration Committee.

Overall, Blaine has served as an arbitrator and/or mediator for well over 3,000 cases. And when not doing the above, he is president of the New Jersey Chapter of the Association for Conflict Resolution (formerly SPIDR).