Meet the Second Ombuds for Harris Health System

In February 2025, Lauren Manning Salomon became the second Ombuds for the public healthcare system for Harris County, Texas, joining the Managing Ombuds Director, Jai McBride-Calloway. Salomon assisting in providing Ombuds services to over 7,000 HHS employees across three hospitals and affiliated clinics. She has been with the health care provider since 2019 and has held positions Manager of Talent & Workforce Strategies, Talent Program Manager, and Senior Organizational Development Consultant.

Society for Research in Child Development Renews with MWI for Ombuds Services

SRCD has again retained MWI to provide Conference Ombuds services for its 2027 Biennial Meeting, which will take place April 8–10, 2027, in Atlanta, Georgia. The large, international conference is expected to draw more than 6,500 attendees from research, practice, and policy communities. 

Partners in the Outdoors Conference Renews with MWI

For the third consecutive year, Colorado Parks and Wildlife has partnered with MWI to provide Ombuds services for its Partners in the Outdoors Conference, taking place April 27–29, 2026, at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs. Jai Calloway will return as Conference Ombuds for the event, which convenes leaders from across sectors to explore the evolving relationship between conservation and outdoor recreation in Colorado.

Water Environment Federation Retains MWI for Conference Ombuds Services

WEF, an international professional association for water quality professionals, has expanded its partnership with MWI, entering into a two-year agreement for conference Ombuds services at WEF Events through 2027. Caitlan Hendrickson has been the conference Ombuds for WEF's Technical Exhibition and Conference since 2022 and will be joined by Jai Calloway and Josh Hoch. MWI provides services in alignment with IOA standards, supporting WEF’s efforts to foster respectful and inclusive professional environments at its conferences.

Society for Research in Child Development Retains MWI for 2025 Conference

SRCD has announced that MWI will serve as the Ombuds provider for its 2025 Biennial Meeting, set to take place in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (The position was established in 2021 by Kathleen Canul.) This decision follows SRCD’s September 2024 request for proposals to identify a new Conference Ombuds. Jai Calloway will be onsite at the meeting to offer confidential, impartial, informal, and independent support to participants in alignment with IOA standards.

Podcast: Harris Health Interviews its Ombuds

In May, Harris Health System interviewed its inaugural Ombuds, Jai McBride-Calloway, for its podcast "Heartbeat." The regular podcast has been featuring the Harris Health's leadership. McBride has brought significant Ombuds experience as she develops a program for the public health system in Texas.

Here's the summary of her show:

Partners in the Outdoors Conference Seeks Reset with First Ombuds

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has hired an Ombuds as part of reform efforts for its Partners in the Outdoors Conference. The annual event, which is intended to engage conservationists and recreational users of the state's natural resources, was derailed by allegations of racism in 2022 and then canceled in 2023. Conference organizers have contracted with MWI to provide Conference Ombuds services in Breckenridge on April 15-17, 2024. Jai Calloway will serve as the Ombuds for over 400 attendees and others, including staff, presenters, and exhibitors.

Harris Health System Launches Ombuds Program

Jai McBride-Calloway has been named the inaugural Ombuds for the public healthcare system for Harris County, Texas. As the Managing Ombuds Director, she will serve as a resource for over 7,000 HHS employees across three hospitals and affiliated clinics. She moves into the position after serving as Director of Diversity and Inclusion for the past year. 

Cambridge Innovation Center Debuts Ombuds Program

The American real estate services company which bills itself as a "community of entrepreneurs," has created an Ombuds program. CIC was founded by Tim Rowe, the son of Mary Rowe, MIT's first Ombuds. MWI, the dispute resolution service and training firm in Boston, was selected to create the program, which will serve employees working across the U.S. and in Rotterdam, Tokyo, and Warsaw. 

New Ombuds to Resume On-Campus Services at Iowa State University

Laura Smythe has been hired as the ISU University Ombuds. The appointment ends a two-year period during the pandemic when the university outsourced the service to MWI (Jai Calloway and Chuck Doran) who provided services virtually. Smythe comes to ISU after serving as the Ombuds for the University of Idaho since October 2018. According to an announcement from ISU, Smythe will begin providing services remotely until July and there will be an overlap with MWI. (LinkedIn; Inside IA State.)

CVS Surprises with Fully Formed Ombuds Program

The retail corporation (currently the fourth largest publicly-traded company in the U.S.) has unveiled a full-staffed Ombuds program. On Friday, Karen Lynch, the CEO of CVS Health, removed several executives following an investigation into the handling of employee sexual harassment complaints. According to the Boston Globe, Lynch also told senior leaders on Friday that she she planned to give employees a “confidential channel” to navigate what she described as a “challenging situation.” Then, over the weekend, a website for the CVS Health Ombuds Team went live.

Job Posting: Iowa State University

ISU is seeking a full-time permanent Ombuds starting in January 2022. Iowa State's Ombuds Office was established in 2008 and practices to IOA standards. Reporting to the Office of the Senior Vice President & Provost and the Ombuds provides information and support to over 9,000 faculty, professional and scientific and merit staff (excluding the campus's Department of Public Safety AFSCME-covered staff), postdocs, and graduate and professional students.

(Guest Post) Sara Thacker Comments on the Proposed IOA Bylaws

The following commentary was submitted by Sara Thacker, Director & Ombudsperson of the Staff Ombuds Office at the University of California, Berkeley. She has been a member of IOA since its creation and previously served on the IOA Board of Directors and as Co-Chair of the IOA Communications Committee.

(Guest Post) Chuck Howard Comments on the Proposed IOA Bylaws

The following commentary was submitted by Charles Howard, IOA Executive Director and author of The Organizational Ombudsman: Origins, Roles and Operations - A Legal Guide. Before becoming the IOA Executive Director, Howard was a long-time attorney for Ombuds and a regular speaker at IOA conferences. [Emphasis and links in original.]

Independent Forum to Discuss Proposed IOA Bylaws

Later today, Teresa Ralicki, CO-OP, an Ombuds at the University of Colorado Denver, will host an independent forum for IOA members to discuss the proposed changes to the association's bylaws. Her full announcement follows [links to IOA members-only content omitted]:

(Guest Post) IOA Executive Committee Comments on the Proposed Bylaws

The following commentary was submitted by the International Ombudsman Association's Board of Directors Executive Committee. The groups is comprised of Melanie Jagneaux, CO-OP, Board President and Ombudsman Director at Baylor College of Medicine; Steve Prevaux, CO-OP, Board Vice President and Ombuds Officer for the University of South Florida System; Ronnie Thomson, Board Secretary and Corporate Ombudsman for Sandia National Laboratories; Lee Twyman, Board Treasurer and former Ombuds for the Rochester Institute of Technology; and Willem Kweens, CO-OP, Board Assistant Treasurer and European Ombudsman for Mars, Inc. [Emphasis in original, links to members-only content omitted.]

(Guest Post) Francine Montemurro Comments on the Proposed IOA Bylaws

The following commentary was submitted by Francine Montemurro, CO-OP, Ombuds for Boston University and the American Finance Association, and former Ombuds at SUNY Binghamton.  She served two terms on the IOA Board of Directors and volunteered on numerous standing committees. 

(Guest Post) Brett Harris and Jai Calloway Comment on the Proposed IOA Bylaws

The following commentary was submitted by Brett Harris and Jai Calloway. They are co-chairs for the International Ombudsman Association's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force, but are not writing in their official capacity. Calloway is an independent consultant and Ombuds at Iowa State University, and former Corporate Ombudsman for Halliburton. Harris is the Ombuds at the University of Oregon, and former Ombuds at the University of Mississippi the University of North Dakota.

New Ombuds Joins Team at Iowa State

Jai Calloway has joined the Boston-based dispute resolution firm MWI and as a an Ombuds for ISU employees. She joins Chuck Doran and replaces Dina Eisenberg, who left for another position. Calloway was an Ombuds at Halliburton until May 2020, when that office was closed. Since then, she has been a consultant for Ombuds and diversity, equity, and inclusion issues. Calloway has served vice chair of the ABA's Dispute Resolution Section Marketing Committee and is Chair of IOA's Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Task Force. (Inside ISU.)

Halliburton Adds an Ombuds

The Halliburton Dispute Resolution Program has hired Jai Calloway as an Dispute Resolution Analyst to perform Ombuds work. Calloway is new to conflict resolution, but has a background in legal support, qualitative research and training development.