July 27, 2000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATIONAL MEDIATION BOARD

Patricia Sims Named As Senior Mediator

Patricia Sims has been selected as a Senior Mediator by the National Mediation Board, according to NMB Chief of Staff Stephen E. Crable. As a Senior Mediator, Sims will supervise a team of mediators engaged in resolving contract disputes in the air and rail industries. She replaces Jack Bavis who retired.

A Mediator at the Board since 1997, Sims previously was active in the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA). President of Local Council 40 in Pittsburgh, PA from 1992 to 1995, she also was a mediation team member for the national union and served as its chief spokesperson during the mediation of contractual and disciplinary disputes. As an alternate member of the USAir/AFA System Board of Adjustment, Sims participated as an AFA board member in arbitration cases. Earlier, she served as a Grievance Chairperson for the AFA Master Executive Council.

Immediately before coming to the Board, Sims was president and founder of Conflict Management Systems (CMS) in Reston, VA. CMS provided interest-based conflict management training, dispute resolution system design, mediation services and facilitation of group decision making.

Sims is a graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute. She has been certified as a General Mediator by the Judicial Council of Virginia.