Trainers

Liz Becker is President & Co-founder of the National Association of Divorce Professionals and Senior Trainer of the Certified Divorce Specialist (CDS™) Program. Liz is also a Licensed NLP Master Practitioner, Communications Skills Coach & Trainer, and has almost two decades of experience in working with both divorcing clients and the professionals who serve them. Having worked in the divorce industry for many years, she has a keen sense for detecting specific issues that create obstacles for all parties involved in the process. Whether she was conducting NLP certification trainings, teaching co-parenting workshops, coaching divorcing clients, or speaking at conferences, Liz has always found great reward in educating people on how to communicate more effectively and achieve positive change in their lives, both personally and professionally. Her passion and commitment to improving the way families experience divorce is unwavering and will always remain a priority to her. 

Mary Zogg is a family law attorney with more than fifteen years experience in assisting her clients deal with all legal problems that might arise from the family relationships of spouses, as well as, parents and children. She enjoys most unraveling the complexities of high conflict cases in which she has to think outside of the box to create effective resolutions, while protecting the rights and interests of the individuals or family members she is representing. Devoted exclusively to dealing with family and marital law issues, Mary strives to assist her clientele in reaching resolutions through amicable means, while maintaining strong litigation acumen for those situations where court intervention becomes essential.

Laura Oliver has practiced exclusively in family law for 26 years. She has appeared before all levels of the Ontario courts, is collaboratively trained, and serves as a Dispute Resolution Officer at the Milton Court. After starting her career at Harper Jaskot in Hamilton, she joined (now Justice) Francine Van Melle in Oakville in 2000 and took over the practice when Van Melle was appointed to the bench. Laura continued as a sole practitioner for over two decades before merging with Ruso & Associates in 2023, where she now serves as Managing Partner.

She believes that strong advocacy begins with understanding each client’s unique needs and tailoring an approach that best supports them through divorce. Combining her litigation experience with collaborative and Certified Divorce Specialist (CDS) training, Laura brings a balanced and thoughtful perspective to her work. She also draws on her early retail experience to ensure that her legal services reflect the highest standard of client care and communication.

Don Schapira, Q.Med., founded Fresh Start Mediation in 2014 after recognizing the need for a better way to resolve conflict in family, business, and educational settings. Following his own divorce in 2008, he saw firsthand the challenges of the traditional divorce process and became dedicated to creating a more effective, compassionate path forward. With 15 years of financial experience on Bay Street, Don helps clients make informed financial decisions during times of transition, guiding them toward their own “fresh start.”

Having trained at Harvard, Cornell, and Northwestern Universities, Don has supported hundreds of families in reaching healthy resolutions through mediation. Beyond his professional practice, he is actively involved in community organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Peer Mediation and Skills Training, and Businesses for Calgary Kids. Committed to advancing the field of alternative dispute resolution, Don also serves with ADRIA, sits on the board of the Alberta Family Mediation Society, and is the Executive Director of the Alberta Arbitration and Mediation Society. His experience and dedication allow him to deeply understand clients’ needs and help them reach meaningful agreements.

Ivy Menchel is the President and Founder of Family Wealth Planning Partners. Based in NYC, Ivy focuses her practice on helping divorcing clients, along with their attorneys and mediators, make sound financial decisions as they transition into the next phase of their lives. In addition to her work as a CDFA, she is also a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and Certified Business Exit Consultant (CBEC®) with over 25 years experience in financial industries. Ivy is on the Board of Directors of the Association of Divorce Financial Planners and the Director of a New York City National Association of Divorce Professionals (NADP) chapter. She has been a guest speaker on television and radio talk shows, presenter at many workshops and regularly contributes to several publications.

Mark is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®) and a principal in a CPA firm in Markham, Ontario, who has been providing accounting and tax related advice to his clients for over 35 years.

Mark founded AFD Limited (Accounting for Divorce), a small boutique firm that specializes in assisting both separating and divorcing clients as well as family law lawyers with all the accounting and tax related issues imbedded in the separation and divorce process. Through his experiences gained over the years and from his own divorce, Mark is fully aware of what is involved in getting his clients to “the other side” and his hand holding approach gives comfort to his clients knowing that Mark will be there for them every step of the way.

Raquel is an entrepreneur and seasoned real estate professional with nearly 20 years of real estate and corporate banking experience. She is a proud alumnae of Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart and Florida International University, from where she obtained a Business Management & Entrepreneurial degree. In 2004, she founded her first company Investment EWork, Inc, a private, real estate service and investment firm. A few years later she joined the banking industry and spent seven years working as a corporate banker managing the Special Assets Division of two banks. She rejoined the real estate industry in 2013. Her unique experience sets her apart amongst her peers, as she actively consults with all of her past, present and future clients on all matters real estate.. Although she works with a variety of customers at all stages of their lives, she specializes in providing service to those enduring hardships, as well as divorcing couples.

Michael brings over two decades of real estate experience with a deep specialization in supporting clients navigating divorce. As a Certified Divorce Specialist (CDS®), Real Estate Divorce Specialist (R.E.D.S.®), Seniors Specialist (SRES®), & Certified Negotiator, he offers customized guidance that addresses the complex legal and emotional challenges of selling a matrimonial home. His collaboration with family law lawyers has given him extensive insight into the legal and logistical issues unique to divorce-related real estate transactions. Michael’s expertise has been featured in outlets such as The Globe & Mail and Rogers TV, and he is frequently invited by brokerages across the Greater Toronto Area to train agents on selling homes during divorce.

Beyond real estate, Michael maintains strong professional connections with leading divorce professionals, allowing him to refer clients to trusted divorce coaches, mediators, and family law lawyers when needed. His upcoming book, Selling Your Matrimonial Home in Divorce: Legal, Financial, and Practical Facts You Need to Know (2024), reflects his mission to provide exceptional service, integrity, and expertise to every client he serves in the Toronto area.