Home | Mediation Training Institute

Why Choose Us?

We are in the mediation business—first and foremost. We opened our school to improve the quality of education that mediators were receiving. We’re not academics who mediate on the side; we are full-time mediators committed to raising the standard of training in our field. Whether you’re expanding your legal practice, making a career transition, or just getting started, our program gives you the tools, confidence, and real-world insight you need to succeed.

1. Our Course is Designed for Attorneys

You don’t need to be an attorney to become a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Court Mediator—but clients often prefer mediators with legal backgrounds.

While our course is open to everyone, it’s specifically designed with attorneys in mind, reflecting both our experience and what clients are looking for.

2. We’re in the Mediation Business

Matrix Mediation is a full-time mediation practice—not an academic institution.

We launched the Matrix Training Institute in 2019 to help build a strong community of mediators who not only meet all the certification requirements set by the Florida Supreme Court’s Dispute Resolution Center, but who also gain valuable insight into mediation as a business and profession.

3. Our Primary Trainers

Rodney Romano is a former active trial attorney and a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer who has conducted nearly 10,000 mediations over the past 20+ years. Typically booked out three months in advance for daily mediations, Rodney has chosen to dedicate his weekends to teaching this course as a way to help improve the quality and professionalism of the mediation community. He brings deep, in-the-trenches insight into negotiation and complex litigation that only comes from decades of hands-on experience.

Alex Romano came over to the family business in 2021 after nearly 50 jury trials to verdict as a prosecutor. Initially focused on running the business side of Matrix, she soon began mediating herself and has since built a thriving practice. As a newer mediator who successfully transitioned into the field, she brings a relatable and strategic perspective to those just starting out.

Their very different professional paths create a dynamic classroom experience—balancing deep litigation-based feedback with fresh, business-minded insight. Together, they offer a well-rounded, real-world approach to mediation training.

Training Summary

This 40-hour comprehensive mediation training program, led by qualified trainers Rodney Romano (Primary Trainer) and Alex Romano (Assistant Trainer), is meticulously designed to cultivate your expertise as a Circuit Civil Mediator. The curriculum employs a multifaceted approach, integrating lectures, video presentations, interactive Q&A sessions, practical role-playing exercises, and constructive critiqued role-playing scenarios to ensure a deep understanding of mediation principles and the development of essential practical skills.The program covers a broad spectrum of topics crucial for effective mediation practice, including but not limited to court processes, ethical considerations, handling pro se participants, certification and disciplinary procedures, establishing and managing a mediation practice, advanced negotiation techniques, navigating interactions with legal counsel, mediating challenging situations, drafting settlement agreements, and the nuances of virtual mediation environments.

Core Mediation Principles and Practice