The DAVIS Construction Ombuds Resource

Our Services

In a confidential, off-the-record meeting, we will listen, explore different options for addressing your concerns, help you navigate relevant organizational resources, and coach you through how to effectively communicate your concerns to others should you choose to do so. We can also help facilitate informal discussions between two or more people when appropriate or work with groups experiencing conflict.

What is an ombuds?

The term “ombuds” (pronounced “ahm–buhds”) comes from a Swedish term meaning “a person who has an ear to the people.” The ombuds team is an independent, impartial, informal, and confidential resource for DAVIS employees.

An ombuds can help you brainstorm and evaluate options to address your concern(s) or questions, prepare for a difficult conversation, navigate complex organizational dynamics, identify relevant policies and procedures, determine how to raise a concern effectively, proactively prevent conflict, and anonymously raise concerns to leadership.

The DAVIS ombuds team has two ombuds, Nnena Odim and Josh Hoch (see bios below), who are available to work with employees to effectively manage, address effectively, and surface work-related issues. The ombuds team supplements and does not replace formal administrative channels.

FAQs

Please see this page for answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the ombuds resource.

Workshops

Click here to learn more about past and upcoming workshops conducted by the ombuds team for DAVIS employees.

Visitor Resources

Here’s a bank of resources, including articles, videos, and tip sheets, that can help you strategize and develop skills to overcome communication and conflict challenges.

About the ombuds team:

Contact one of the ombuds listed below to discuss your concerns and explore options for moving forward.

Nnena Odim is a mediator, ombuds, attorney, trainer, and consultant. She has been mediating since 1997 and has mediated disputes involving issues such as employment, housing, business, consumer, academic/higher education, and domestic relations. Nnena has also designed and/or led conflict management trainings for several local and national businesses and agencies, including the Boston Public Schools, Massachusetts Housing Authority, Neighborhood Works, Coca-Cola, and Netflix. In addition to her mediation and conflict resolution training background, Nnena is trained by the International Ombuds Association and has served as an ombuds for CVS, the American Planning Association, and several local construction companies. After 25 years, Nnena has recently retired from Harvard Law School, where she was the Director and Senior Clinical Instructor of the Family/Domestic Violence Law Clinic at Harvard’s Legal Services Center. In addition to being an active practicing attorney in Massachusetts Family and Probate Courts, she provided experiential training to law students and taught them how to become effective and ethical attorneys. Nnena has worked with the Harvard Mediation Program (HMP) and Harvard Program on Negotiation to provide trainings for students and community members, and to supervise Harvard Law School students in their mediation and negotiation studies. Nnena has also served on numerous panels and speaking rosters for a variety of topics, including those on self-care and mental health for students and faculty, establishing boundaries in a professional setting, race and gender, and LGBTQ+ rights. Nnena was honored by the Harvard Women’s Law Association International Committee, received the Harvard Law School Dean’s Award for Excellence, and was a Top Women in the Law award recipient from Mass. Lawyers Weekly. Schedule a time to talk with Nnena by sending an email to nnena-ombuds@mwi.org or by calling 617-898-0938.

Josh Hoch has been an experienced ombuds, mediator, and instructor with MWI since 2001. He is the Director of Ombuds & Mediation Services, overseeing MWI’s Organizational Ombuds Panel and Conference Ombuds. Josh currently serves as an organizational ombuds for DAVIS Construction and previously served as an ombuds for CVS Health, a ski resort in Colorado, and a construction company in Boston. Josh also manages and mentors a panel of mediators for the MBTA and Boston Public Schools, providing direct mediation and oversight of conflict resolution services and training. Josh partners with organizations to design and deliver conference ombuds services, ensuring participants have an impartial and accessible resource during conferences, meetings, trade shows, and events. He is a member of the International Ombuds Association (IOA) and the East Coast Ombuds Group (ECOG). With more than 24 years of experience in conflict resolution, he helps individuals and organizations resolve conflicts and build healthier environments. Schedule a time to talk with Josh here, by sending an email to josh-ombuds@mwi.org or by calling 617-895-4028.

Contact

• Email: Email a member of the ombuds team – Nnena at nnena-ombuds@mwi.org or Josh at josh-ombuds@mwi.org.
  • Please use email for scheduling only. Email and voicemail cannot be guaranteed to be confidential, so do not include any details about your questions, situation, or concerns. If you share the best way to reach you, an ombuds will follow up to schedule an appointment.
• Phone: Contact Nnena at 617-898-0938 or Josh at 617-895-4028 (direct and confidential phone and voicemail).
• Confidential Web Form: If you would like to schedule an appointment with an ombuds team member, please include your preferred contact information and indicate which ombuds you would like to reach or whether you prefer to speak with the first available one. To share a concern anonymously, no identifying information is required. An anonymized summary of your comments will be shared with leadership unless you indicate otherwise on the form.

An ombuds team member will get back to you within one business day.