Ron Heilmann received his Master's Degree in Social Work from Indiana University in 1970. He has been working as a Clinical Social Worker with a specialty in Marriage and Family Therapy since 1981. For 11 years he was part of the staff at the Onondaga Pastoral Counseling Center and since 1983 he has been in private practice working out of his office at home on Valley Drive in Syracuse, New York. Ron works with individuals, couples and families.
    Mr. Heilmann is also the creator and Director of the Mediation Network of Syracuse, an organization which provides mediation services for divorcing partners, families, and family businesses. Ron and his staff train others to mediate as a certified trainer for the Mediation Training Institute International. He also is an adjunct lecturer at Syracuse University, teaching divorce and family mediation.
    Ron is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker by the State of New York Department of Education, a Diplomat in Clinical Social Work, Fellow of the Society for Clinical Social Work Psychotherapists, Clinical Member of the Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Senior Practitioner Member and approved consultant of the Association For Conflict Resolution; and an Accredited Member of the New York State Council on Divorce Mediation. He is a Board Certified Diplomat by the American Board of Examiners in Clinical Social Work, Inc. He is a Diplomat in the National Association of Social Workers.
    For 22 years he has worked part-time for Crouse Hospital and SUNY Upstate University Hospital as a Medical Social Worker at the Spina Bifida Clinic for disabled children.  He has been state President of the New York State Council on Divorce Mediation and presently is coordinator for the Children 1st program, a parent education program for separating parents co-sponsored by the Mental Health Association of Onondaga County.
    For 10 years Ron facilitated one of the first support groups for separated and divorced adults in the Syracuse area called "Courage To Be." It was this experience which inspired Ron to join with Mary Ann Massey from Williamsburg, Virginia to published a book, LOVEWORKS: Coming to Terms with Intimacy and Equality. This has been very well received in the Syracuse area and is growing in popularity. Ron and Mary Ann discuss the unique stresses on intimate relationships brought about by the baby boomers establishing equality and intimacy as the dual center piece of modern intimate relationships. The authors lead day-long and week end retreats, seminars and workshops on this material.