

Jo is a Florida Supreme Court qualified arbitrator, certified circuit civil and county mediator, a FINRA public arbitrator, a certified arbitrator on the International Yacht Arbitration Council roster, a registered mediator for Florida’s Department of Financial Services, and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (from which she received a diploma in International Maritime Arbitration). She also serves as a Traffic Hearing Officer and volunteer mediator for the 17th Judicial Circuit of Florida.
A proud Penn State grad (B.Sc. Criminal Justice – summa cum laude), Jo received her J.D. with high honors from Widener Law Commonwealth in Harrisburg, PA, and her LL.M. in Alternative Dispute Resolution from Nova Southeastern University’s (NSU) Shepard Broad College of Law in Davie, FL. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis & Resolution at NSU’s renowned Halmos College of Arts & Sciences.
Nominated by her peers, Jo was recently awarded the prestige of membership in The Fellows of the American Bar Foundation. She is also a past Fellow of the American Bar Association’s Dispute Resolution Section and co-chairs the Fellowship Committee of that section. She is the current Chair-Elect of the Federal Bar Association’s ADR Section, and the Chair of Broward County Bar Association’s Admiralty/Maritime Law Section. Ever determined to expand her network, knowledge and expertise in the maritime arena, Jo is also a proud member of the Women’s International Shipping And Trading Association (WISTA), the Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute (SEALI) and the Port Everglades Association.
Always exploring new ways to contribute to her community and the legal profession, Jo is a published author, with articles in the Journal of Individual Employment Rights, M. Lee Smith’s Employment Law Letter, The Florida Bar ADR Section’s publication The Common Ground, and the International Yacht Broker Association’s Compass magazine. Jo is also sought-after presenter, regularly delivering dynamic, creative, and well-received training seminars around the world and leading diverse panels on topics such as ADR, employment law, and maritime-related themes.
In addition to her law and dispute resolution practice, Jo owns and operates a successful yacht management company in Fort Lauderdale. She’s a seasoned mariner, after all.
Stanley Yacht Services, Inc. has been taking care of private yachts for nearly twenty years, providing project management, charter and delivery services, and year-round vessel maintenance, to discerning yacht owners from all over the world.
Jo takes advantage of her precious free time answering to the beck and call of her bossy puppy, Franklin – he’s a Feist and he’s feisty. Fortunately, she has some help with Franklin, thanks to her husband & business partner, Capt. Ben.
Further full disclosure: Jo’s an avid football fan and she’s still bragging about a certain team’s Super Bowl win (years later). Don’t hold it against her, please.
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