About Mediate Wisconsin
In early 2007, with the Milwaukee foreclosure crisis looming, Marquette University Law School, in partnership with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Urban Economic Development Association collaborated on the creation of a task force, gathering members of government, lenders, and consumer representatives.
By fall of 2008, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett launched the Milwaukee Foreclosure Partnership Initiative (MFPI) to strengthen the task force and consolidate its work with a city-led effort to address the foreclosure crisis. Together, they worked to help homeowners retrain their homes, protect their credit and achieve long-term affordability.
Marquette University Law School served as the program administrator until February 2012, after building a self-sufficient staff and referral network and engaged volunteers. At that point, they had facilitated more than 1,500 mediations. Mediate Wisconsin (née Metro Milwaukee Mediation Services) was created as a non-profit organization to manage the foreclosure mediation program as of March 2012. During this time, the Chief Mediator worked with federal bankruptcy court in the Eastern District of Wisconsin to establish a voluntary foreclosure mediation program for residential homeowners in bankruptcy proceedings. This program was later replicated in the Western District of Wisconsin.
Since 2012, Mediate Wisconsin expanded services to support the need for foreclosure mediation by homeowners throughout Wisconsin, with the Wisconsin Foreclosure Mediation Network, and in 2017 added services for tenants and landlords seeking an alternative to eviction in Milwaukee County. Mediate Wisconsin proudly serves Wisconsin residents through our mission of promoting housing stability by affording all parties a civil and respectful means to resolving housing-related disputes.
About Wisconsin Foreclosure Mediation Network
The Wisconsin Foreclosure Mediation Network was a comprehensive statewide response to the foreclosure crisis in Wisconsin in 2012. Created with support of the Wisconsin Department of Justice through funding from the Countrywide Financial Corporation lawsuit, the WFMN has helped thousands of Wisconsin families.
On average, approximately 50% of all mediated cases resolve the foreclosure action with a loan modification, giving homeowners a fresh start and lenders a performing loan. When home retention is not a viable option, the programs provide resources and facilitate transitional options so borrowers have a dignified exit and soft landing. A survey, which included both lender’s counsel and homeowners, found that 98% of program participants would recommend the program to others in foreclosure. Although Department of Justice funding ran out in 2015, the program continues to operate with the support of the courts in participating counties, and through fees paid by program participants.
About the Team
About Amy Koltz
Amy H. Koltz, J.D. is President, Executive Director and Mediator for Metro Milwaukee Mediation Services, Inc. (d/b/a Mediate Wisconsin), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The non-profit administers housing mediation programs including the Landlord-Tenant Mediation Program, the Metro Milwaukee Foreclosure Mediation Program, and the Wisconsin Foreclosure Mediation Network.
Koltz is an Adjunct Professor at Marquette University Law School teaching workshops on Client Interviewing and Counseling, Mediation Advocacy, and Negotiation. She is a Roster Mediator for the Mortgage Modification Mediation Program through the Eastern and Western District of Wisconsin Bankruptcy Courts. Koltz is a Past-Chairperson of the Wisconsin State Bar’s Dispute Resolution Section Board, and continues to serve on the Board chairing the Mediation Week Committee.
Koltz earned a B.A. from the College of William and Mary and a J.D. from Marquette University Law School. She also holds a Graduate Certificate in Dispute Resolution from Marquette University.
Outside of work you can find her supporting her daughters in their academic, athletic and musical endeavors, enjoying time outdoors hiking and fly fishing with her husband, and traveling with family and friends.
About Joanne Lipo Zovic
Joanne grew up in Greendale, attending St. Mary’s Academy before getting her BA from Marquette University, her MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management and her JD from Marquette University Law School.
In 2000, Joanne joined the adjunct faculty at Marquette University Law School, serving as a faculty person for the Small Claims Mediation Clinic and teaching Negotiations. Working directly in Court providing mediation services, Joanne saw just how valuable the mediation process can be in productively resolving disputes.
In 2016, Joanne and Amy piloted an Eviction Mediation program in Milwaukee County’s Small Claims Court and have built the program to provide both pre-filing mediation as well as court-connected mediation with the goal of lessening preventable evictions. Through her work at Mediate Milwaukee, Joanne believes that community members are empowered to have a voice in the process of finding dignified solutions for the problems that greatly impact their lives.
When Joanne isn’t working with Mediate Wisconsin, she teaches in the Masters of Sustainable Peacebuilding Program at UW-Milwaukee and is a practicing attorney. Outside of work, you can find her cooking, gardening, practicing yoga and spending time with her family and friends.
About Mellissa Rodiez
Mellissa Rodiez is from the Milwaukee area. In 2010, she started her legal assistant career at a local law office. In 2015, Mellissa started working at a law firm that participated in the Foreclosure Mediation program, working closely with Amy Koltz. When Mellissa's position changed, she saw an opportunity to segue to work with Amy at Mediate Wisconsin. In May of 2017, Mellissa joined the Mediate Wisconsin team as the Mediation Coordinator.
Mellissa's experience working on both sides of mediation has given her unmatched insight on the mediation process and just how valuable it can be. Mellissa appreciates being able to use her work as a way to help others. Serving as a liaison between lenders and homeowners, Mellissa is able to share resources to reduce the stress people experience as they go through the Foreclosure process. When Mellissa isn't in the Mediate Wisconsin offices, she's spending time outdoors, traveling and exploring the city.
About Katie Wick
Katie earned her B.S. from Weber State University, a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice with an emphasis on Victim and Offender Services and later her Mediation Certification from UW Milwaukee. Katie has served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate and has worked with many different populations including victims of domestic violence, supervised visitation, and individuals seeking rent assistance. She is also on the Milwaukee County Family Court Mediation List. In October of 2022, Katie joined the Mediate Wisconsin team as Program Director and Staff Mediator.
Katie finds very rewarding the challenge of working with landlords and tenants collaboratively to find solutions to rental disputes through her work with Mediate Wisconsin and she is happy to be part of a team doing such valuable work in the community. Outside of work most of her time is spent supporting her daughters at their various athletic or musical events, but in the remaining time she also loves snowboarding, traveling, and visiting her nephews.
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors for Metro Milwaukee Mediation Services, Inc oversees operations of Mediate Wisconsin.
- John Crandall
John is the Director and Senior Manager, U. S. Loan Administration and Loan Servicing at BMO Harris Bank. John serves as Board Chairperson of Metro Milwaukee Mediation Services, Inc. - Christopher Shattuck
Christopher earned his Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), with an emphasis in Project Management from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and is the Law Practice Assistance Manager at the State Bar of Wisconsin. Christopher serves as Board Vice-Chairperson of Metro Milwaukee Mediation Services, Inc. - Scott Jurk
Scott is an Attorney and Mediator at Facilitative Mediation Solutions in Franksville, Wisconsin. Scott is a roster mediator and serves as the Board Secretary/Treasurer and Corporation Vice-President of Metro Milwaukee Mediation Services, Inc. - Kristi Luzar
Kristi is the Executive Director for the Urban Economic Development Association (UEDA), where she has served for over 13 years. She serves as the Corporation Secretary/Treasurer of Metro Milwaukee Mediation Services, Inc. - Thomas Frenn
Thomas Frenn is an Attorney at Frenn Law and is a Business Advisor in the Greater Milwaukee Area. Thomas also serves on the Board of Directors of Metro Milwaukee Mediation Services, Inc. - Daniel Idzikowski
Daniel Idzikowski is the Program & Policy Coordinator - Milwaukee County Department of Aging where he leads the Department on Aging's advocacy efforts and fosters the engagement of older adults in public policy. Daniel also serves on the Board of Directors of Metro Milwaukee Mediation Services, Inc. - Irma Yepez-Klassen
Irma Yepez-Klassen is the Program Officer at the Zilber Family Foundation, an organization dedicated to enhancing the well-being of individuals, families and neighborhoods of Milwaukee. Irma also serves on the Board of Directors of Metro Milwaukee Mediation Services, Inc.