Today we’d like to introduce you to Steve Kreider.
Hi Steve, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I am a divorced father of a 17-year-old son and a 22-year-old daughter. I am a retired US Army First Sergeant serving over 25 years receiving a Bronze Star Medal and Combat Action Badge during deployment to Iraq in 2004. In my Army career, I had a wide array of experience that includes serving as the Material, Contracting and Accounting Sergeant with 969th Maintenance Company in Horseheads, NY; US Army Recruiter in Richmond, VA; Communications Chief and First Sergeant for the 172nd Command Support Group while deployed at Logistics Support Area Anaconda, Iraq and as Logistic Operations Sergeant for the 211th Regional Support Group in New Orleans, Louisiana and later in Corpus Christi, TX. I served as the First Sergeant for the 304th Logistical Sustainment Brigade in Riverside, CA, the largest Sustainment Brigade in the United States Army Reserves. I was responsible for over 450 soldiers and their families.
I have received numerous recognition’s from both military and civilian leadership to include Certificate of Appreciation from Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Congressman Ken Calvert (R-CA), former Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen, and a Certificate of Appreciation from President Barrack Obama in 2013.
When I retired from the Army in 2013, I pursued a career in the film and television industry. I worked with Ricky Schroder Productions on an Army reality show for two years called Starting Strong®. I also worked as an associate producer on Duck Dynasty, and a military consultant and extra on the film Pitch Perfect 3®. In 2018, I produced a reality show called Flea Market Fanatics® through my company Hollywood Top LLC (HollywoodTop.net), which is currently streaming on Amazon Prime®.
I also collaborate with other veterans since 2010 who are passionate about Veteran affairs, and the plight of the homeless who served in the Armed Forces. I am very passionate about these causes, and I have spent countless hours committed to helping homeless Veterans, reconnecting them with family and loved ones. I co-founded two non-profits dedicated to ending Veteran homelessness. One in L.A. called the Vet Hunters Project (VetHunters.org) and one in Atlanta is called the Shadow Warrior Foundation (ShadowWarriorFoundation.org).
In the fall of 2018, I had the opportunity to change the custody agreement with my ex-wife so I could be the custodial parent. As a result, I moved to the Houston area to help my teenage son navigate through the trials and tribulations of being a freshman in high school. Through the custody hearing, I was able to learn about the role of a trained family mediator which launched my passion to become a mediator.
I now own a mediation business that mediates civil and family disputes in and out of court. Along with my staff, I teach the 40 Hour Basic Mediation Course and the 30 Hour Family Mediation Course to lawyers, HR managers, real estate agents, etc, or anyone who wants to become professional mediators. I volunteer my mediation expertise to the Harris County Dispute Resolution Center (DRC) to help resolve a multitude of disputes.
I was stationed with the Army in 2005 in New Orleans. I bought a house in Slidell, LA on June 1st, made my first mortgage payment on August 1st, and lost everything I own to Hurricane Katrina on August 29th.
I am also a big advocate for recognizing the service of Vietnam Veterans. Since 2009, I have helped different states conduct Welcome Home Vietnam Veteran Day events. I have participated in or helped start these events in California, Connecticut, and Florida.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Military life is not always easy for the military member and any family that tries to go along for the ride. I was married twice while serving in the Army for over 25 years. The first marriage was purely based on that we were not compatible. The second marriage also was based on not being compatible, but there were other obstacles that contributed to the dissolution of the marriage i.e. deployment to Iraq and then returning to New Orleans only to lose our house to Hurricane Katrina.
As a result of these failed relationships and the obstacles associated with them, I was able to mature and really have a better understanding of how many of my actions contributed to these failures.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
In combination with my formal education, mediation training & experience, and military training & experience, I now specialize in assisting families, individuals, or companies that are involved in disputes. I am a neutral party and assist in the negotiation regarding conflict whether it is a divorce, child support, visitation access, employment, civil, property, debt, or custody. I do all this, with the help of the staff, in my company called Kreider Mediation.
I still have a consulting and production company called Hollywood Top LLC. However, due to Covid and my focus on family and my mediation business, I put that on the back burner. However, I am currently working on a script for a drama about my experiences looking for and helping homeless veterans.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
For my military career, I’ve had many great leaders help me along the way including Staff Sergeant Wally Walters in Erie, Pa and my good friend, Major General John Phillips.
But, I would really like to thank my good friend Jo Haskin for really pushing me to stay in the film and television industry.
As far as my mediation business, I would like to thank Retired Judge David Farr, who was my family mediator for my custody case in 2019. He demonstrated neutrality and fairness during my mediation, but also provided the motivation for me to become a mediator. I would also like to thank Cindy Azmitia, Nick Hall, and all the staff at the Harris County Dispute Resolution Center for keeping me busy. Finally, I would like to thank my Kreider Mediation Staff, Visuewelle M. Pryor, Deanna Guerrero, Dr. Crystal D. Gardner, Nidhi Mehta, Jeannie Tomanetz, and Charles Boyce for joining me on this journey to be the best mediation business.
Of course, my kids Jonathan and Morgan, and my family and friends…
Contact Info:
- Email: kreidermediation@gmail.com
- Website: kreidermediation.com
- Instagram: Kreidermediation
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kreider.mediation.5/
- Twitter: Kreidermediate
- Youtube: HollywoodtopLLC
- Other: https://www.army.mil/article/213797/hollywood_stars_align_for_soldier_with_a_diamond
Image Credits
Steve Kreider
