Stephen Snyder was raised in Guam and in and around Hawaii. He graduated from the University of Oregon School of Law and was admitted to the California State Bar in 1987. He practiced civil litigation, actively litigating personal injury-related cases in trial courts throughout California. In 2018, he sold his law practice and moved to Michigan, where he was admitted to the State Bar in 2019. In addition to working as an attorney, Stephen has acted as a mediator in civil cases since 1990. He brings an extensive knowledge of litigation tensions and dynamics, as well as emotional and psychological blocks, to the resolution of disputes. Authorized as a lineage meditation teacher by the Venerable Pa Auk Sayadaw, Stephen has led retreats throughout the US, in Europe, and in the UK since 2007. Practicing the Jhanas, his first book on meditation (coauthored with Tina Rasmussen), was published in 2009. He now offers one-on-one coaching, short presentations, and daylong workshops on stress reduction through Traverse Meditation Center (www.TraverseMeditationCenter.com).