Bernard W. H. Jennings

Bernard W.H. Jennings, CLMS, FSCCM - Mr. Jennings is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator.  He uniquely holds a Loss Mitigation Specialist (CLMS) certificate from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). He has worked in the Mortgage Banking industry for more than ten (10) years.  He previously served as an Administrative Hearing Officer appointed by the Miami-Dade County Manager to arbitrate disputes arising from Miami-Dade Ordinance 99-44. 

His business experiences range from airport development to construction management, having successfully negotiated one of the largest private commercial aviation leaseholds and development contracts in Miami-Dade County.  He has mediated foreclosure cases since 2000 and has successfully represented Claimant/Appellant in Employment Mediation before the State of Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation Unemployment Compensation Appeals.  He is a Mediator for the Collins Center for Public Policy Managed Foreclosure Mediation Program, the American Arbitration Association and the State of Florida Department of Financial Services Mediation Program.  He has Certification from the University of South Florida Conflict Resolution Collaborative Continuing Professional Development Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation Training. Mr. Jennings has performed Business Arbitration and Debt Negotiation for many business types since 1996.  He formerly hosted his own call-in radio talk show “Financially and Politically Yours!” which aired on 1360am WKAT in South Florida.

A life-long Democrat, he is a former Executive Director of the Miami-Dade Democratic Party and a former member of the Democratic Executive Committee.  Mr. Jennings was elected to the office of Democratic Precinct Committeeman, Precinct 239 in 2008.  He is the CEO of IKJ Governmental Affairs Consulting Services, where he provides political consulting services to candidates and elected officials in their campaign bids for public office.   He formerly served his alma mater as an adjunct Professor in the Social Sciences Department at Florida Memorial University. 

His not-for-profit work also includes his involvement as: Past Chairman & President of the Northwest Dade Optimist Club, Inc.; Chairman & President of the Pioneer Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee Committee of North Miami Senior High; Co-Chair of the North Miami Senior High School Class of 87 Reunion, Inc., and Member of the Board of BMJ Community Development, Inc.  He served on the Mayor's Marketing Council for Miami-Dade County, the Mayor's Economic Task Force (TF-101) for the City of North Miami, and Liaison to the Governors Commission for a Sustainable South Florida.  He currently serves as the Chairman of the Steering Committee for the Incorporation of Biscayne Gardens Village.  He is Chairman & President of the Biscayne Gardens Chamber of Commerce in North Miami-Dade County. He serves as Vice President of the National Alumni Association of Florida Memorial University.

Mr. Jennings is also an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.  He has received numerous honors and awards: such as the Key to the City of North Miami, the distinction of Who's Who Amongst Executives and Professionals, Who's Who Amongst Black America, Outstanding Young Men of America to name a few... He has been internationally recognized and named an Honorary Prince Nana Yao Boakye - by the Royal Family of the Busmaru Famin Stool of Ghana, West Africa for his past works with the International Foundation for Education & Self-Help (IFESH).  He received his Bachelors of Arts in Public Administration from Florida Memorial College in Miami, Florida and his Masters of Applied Social Sciences in Public Administration from Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida. 

FSCCM License 24232R

The Mediation Approach...

Mediation is an approach to conflict resolution in which the parties are given the opportunity and the help they need to get beyond impasse. Settlement negotiation is facilitated by an independent third party, or mediator, in a voluntary, non-binding and confidential process. This process is useful in addressing not only monetary settlements, but also the underlying emotional issues such settlements often represent. Mediation can help with a wide variety of situations, from workplace conflict to family legal disputes.

Beyond simply reducing the risks inherent in litigation or unaddressed conflict, our services have the potential to create hope where there is despair. Often the parties to a conflict had a warm and productive relationship in the past, which has now deteriorated into disappointment and anger. The process of mediation—which is conducted in an informal, yet structured, forum—allows people to trust that they will be heard, which calms the emotional storms and allows the beginning of mutual understanding. When trust is established, the focus shifts from the pain of the past to creative solutions for the present and future. We help parties effectively improve their ability to communicate by identifying the barriers to settlement, and creating solutions that meet the needs of all.

It’s Your Process

In mediation, the participants are in control. You work together to make the decisions about what is best. You should be prepared to discuss the interests, needs, values, and goals that are motivating you to pursue the matter(s) that have brought you to the table.

It’s Your Choice

You only mediate if you want to, and you have the option to stop at any time.

It’s Your Life

Mediation offers you the opportunity to address the values, goals, and interests that are important to you. No one knows your situation better than you and nobody else can better advocate your needs.

It’s Your Time

The mediation schedule provides a variety of date and time options. In general, initial sessions can be scheduled within one to two weeks of your intake. From start to finish, the entire mediation process is more time efficient when compared to the court process.

It’s Your Money

Mediation is affordable. When compared to attorney fees and the cost of litigation, Mediation has a much better price tag.