Board of Directors
Board Members
Sarah Taylor, President
Sarah J. Taylor has been an attorney with the Carbondale firm of Barrett, Twomey, Broom, Hughes & Hoke, LLP, since 2004. Her current areas of practice include adult and minor guardianships, serving as guardian ad litem for children and adults with disabilities, mediation, property tax appeals, and representing the State of Illinois in eminent domain cases as a Special Assistant Attorney General. She has taught Client Interviewing & Counseling and Mediation Skills as an adjunct professor at Southern Illinois University School of Law since 2010. She has also been a Commissioner for the Illinois Court of Claims, a Program Manager for the Public Interest Law Initiative, and a Research Attorney for the Illinois Supreme Court. She received a BA in Cinema and Photography from SIU-Carbondale in 1997 and a J.D. from SIU School of Law in 2002 and is admitted to practice in Illinois and the Southern District Court of Illinois.
Ms. Taylor is a member of the Board of Directors of Dispute Resolution Institute, Inc. (DRI), and is currently its President. She is also a volunteer mediator for DRI. She has completed civil and family mediation and guardianship/eldercare mediation training programs. She is an active member of the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), a member and past president of the Jackson County Bar Association, and a member of the Remote Appearance Committee of the Illinois Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission. She is a past member of the Board of Directors of Land of Lincoln Legal Aid and volunteer pro bono attorney for Land of Lincoln.
Michael A. Zuckerman, Vice President
Michael A. Zuckerman, Esq. is an experienced lawyer, mediator and arbitrator. Trained by the best, and with a wealth of experience, Mr. Zuckerman is passionate about what he does—helping people and companies resolve disputes. He has mediated hundreds of matters, including many as a volunteer with DRI.
Mr. Zuckerman, a graduate with honors from Cornell Law School, has clerked for four federal judges, served on the faculty of Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, and worked at a global law firm. He now focuses full-time on mediation and dispute resolution through his firm Zuckerman Dispute Resolution LLC. One federal judge in a written order once lauded Mr. Zuckerman for making “one proud to be a lawyer,” based on Mr. Zuckerman’s conduct in a mediation proceeding. Mr. Zuckerman is active in the community, serving on many boards and committees. He is also a frequent speaker and writer on myriad issues from conflict resolution, volunteerism, to legal ethics.
DRI is a special organization and Mr. Zuckerman is honored to serve on its Board.
Billie J. Constant, Treasurer
Billie J. Constant is a committed attorney with a fervent determination to provide her clients with the legal representation they need and deserve. She initially got her start in the legal field working as a Legal Assistant with Hefner, Eberspacher & Tapella, in Mattoon, Illinois. As a long-time legal assistant, Billie realized her passion for the legal field and wanted to do all she could to help others. Billie earned her bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University and then went on to receive her J.D. at SIU School of Law in Carbondale.
While in law school, Billie was nominated as class speaker, served as a Women’s Bar Foundation Scholar, and on various student organizations committed to working with those most in need. During law school, Billie gained valuable experience as a Clerk for the North Carolina Business Court for the Honorable James L. Gale and an intern in the Johnson County State’s Attorney’s office.
Currently, Billie is the Chairperson of the Illinois State Bar Association Related Education Standing Committee, a member of the Joint CLE Committee, and the Treasurer of the Dispute Resolution Institute.
In her free time, Billie enjoys raising money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis and taking her dogs on adventures.
Kendra Wolters, Secretary
Kendra is an attorney who concentrates her practice on the defense of tort claims with a particular focus on product liability, mass tort and asbestos claims in Illinois and Missouri state courts. Kendra is experienced in defending product and premises liability claims for companies of all sizes involved in the aviation, construction, distribution, engineering, manufacturing and transportation industries.
Kendra is valued for her no-nonsense approach to complex litigation and her ability to develop meaningful relationships with them and other litigators. Kendra works collaboratively with others to develop a defense that aligns with their goals and utilizes her experience and reputation to accomplish successful outcomes in a cost-effective manner. She has guided large legal teams through all phases of tort litigation, from case investigation to settlement negotiations and trial preparation. Her oversight extends to other key functions, including discovery, expert discovery and dispositive motion practice. Kendra is skilled at coordinating her efforts with those of inside and outside legal counsel and has participated on teams serving in both national coordinating counsel and local counsel roles.
Kendra grew up in Steeleville, Illinois with her three younger brothers and is the first of her family to graduate from college. Kendra currently resides in Edwardsville with her husband, twin sons, and their two dogs. Kendra is an avid animal lover and has volunteered for Gateway Pet Guardians and Love a Golden rescue.