After earning her law degree, Joni spent the next decade resolving hundreds of conflicts in various corporate capacities involving both business-to-business and business-to-consumer contexts.

 

• As an account strategist for a worldwide industrial distributor and contracted supplier for the US federal government, Joni served as the primary troubleshooter for over 200 corporate customers located throughout the Mid-West and Canada. She also helped pioneer the development of a department dedicated to resolving disputes for Fortune 500 accounts, including several global manufacturers for the US Department of Defense.

 

• While working at the corporate headquarters for one of the nation's leading insurance companies, Joni earned a spot on the national catastrophe response team where she resolved property damage disputes stemming from widespread natural disasters.

 

• Joni has also been the sole owner and operator of a restaurant. There, she learned to resolve conflicts on a more personal level as she developed strong interpersonal relationships with her customers, employees and vendors.

 

Prior to establishing her mediation practice, Joni spent a brief period handling cases on behalf of the Florida Department of Revenue’s Child Support Enforcement Division. After seeing firsthand the unfortunate side effects of court - particularly on families - she endeavored to obtain her mediation certifications and founded Mazzola Mediation, which was recently sanctioned as a Certified Woman-Owned Business by the Florida Department of Management Services.

 

In addition to her private mediation practice and serving as a contracted County Civil Mediator for Florida's Eighteenth and Nineteenth Judicial Circuits, Joni is also an Associate Attorney for VanDeVoorde Hall Law, PL with offices located in Sebastian and Palm Bay, Florida.  

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Education

(and Relevant Achievements)

Juris Doctor, The University of Akron School of Law

• Trial Advocacy Team, Regional Champion, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH

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Bachelor of Arts, Summa Cum Laude, Psychology, Kent State University

• Honors Thesis: The Impact of the Rehnquist Court’s Fourth Amendment

Jurisprudence: Do Decisions Really Make a Difference?

• Trial Advocacy Team, State Champion/National Competitor, Minneapolis, MN

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Certifications

Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Mediator

Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator

Florida Supreme Court Certified County Mediator

Florida Certified Woman-Owned Business Enterprise

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Affiliations

(Past & Present)

American Bar Association

Florida Bar Association

Brevard County Bar Association

Indian River County Bar Association

Florida Association of Women Lawyers

Brevard County Association of Women Lawyers

Contracted Small Claims Mediator, Eighteenth Judicial Circuit

Contracted Small Claims & County Mediator, Nineteenth Judicial Circuit

Melbourne Regional Chamber of Commerce

Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce (Legislative Committee)

Marine Corps. League Det. 918 Ladies Auxiliary

Lions Club International - Sebastian, FL Chapter (2nd Vice-President)

Sebastian River Medical Center (Volunteer)

IRC Special Olympics Annual Aquatics Competition (Volunteer)

Sebastian Exchange Club Annual Blue Water Open Charity Fishing Tournament (Sponsor & Volunteer)

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