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The Partnership charter

side image Millions of people co-own closely held companies, family businesses, and business partnerships, but establishing them and keeping them together is never easy. Here, finally, is the guide they have been waiting for.... Read More

Our Team

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The true quality of a company is said to rest on the quality of the individuals who comprise the company. BMC believes it. That is why it has taken great pains to form what it believes to be the most talented group of professionals in the country whose goal is to help principals prevent and resolve conflicts.

Whether mediating a conflict or assisting clients as they prepare for the future, our associates bring needed insight, technical expertise, and the maturity to navigate challenging situations. Each BMC associate can apply decades of professional training and experience to our clients needs. Their expertise covers a wide range of business, interpersonal, and conflict resolution disciplines.

David Gage

David Gage, Ph.D.

Disciplines: Mediator and Clinical Psychologist

David Gage, Ph.D., Principal, is a leader in the field of business mediation and the founder of BMC Associates. Dr. Gage has over 15 years of experience as a mediator and 25 years of experience as a clinical psychologist. He has assisted partners from many different industries in resolving all types of disputes. Dr. Gage is an adjunct professor in American University’s business school. His book on effective partnerships, The Partnership Charter: How To Start Out Right With Your New Business Partnership (Or Fix The One You’re In), was published in July of 2004. Read More

Ed Kopf

Edward J. Kopf, Ph.D.

Disciplines: Management Consultant and Mediator

Ed Kopf, Principal, has had over twenty years of senior management experience in rapidly growing public and closely-held companies. His leadership roles have included serving as President of American Political Network, Inc., Executive Vice President of U.S. Digital Communications, Inc., Vice President of Circuit City Stores, Inc., and Chief Financial Officer of Ariel Research Corporation. During the last 10 years he has mediated conflicts within family and partner-owned businesses and consulted on turn-around, expansion, and sale strategies. Read More

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Stewart H. Christ, MBA

Disciplines: Business Consultant and Forum Moderator

Stewart H. Christ, Principal, is an experienced business management, strategic marketing, and technology consultant. The Founder of Executive Peer Forum, he works with the owners and senior executives of a variety of enterprises. The forum process entails the issues of life balance, including family, health, and spirituality, as well as business issues such as growth, profitability, strategic planning, sources of capital and key personnel, board and investor matters. Read More

John Gromala

John Gromala, J.D.

Disciplines: Attorney and Mediator

John, BMC’s West Coast Director, mediates business, environmental, estate and trust disputes. He had a legal practice and served as a bank board chair and an Executive Vice President and general counsel for a holding company. John was a member of the executive committee of the Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law Section, California Bar, and a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. Read More

Eileen Barker

Eileen Barker, J.D.

Discipline: Mediator

Eileen, founder of Barker Mediation in the San Francisco Bay Area, is a full-time mediator whose practice draws on over 25 years of experience in law and dispute resolution and hundreds of hours of specialized training. Since 1991, Eileen has successfully mediated hundreds of cases in a wide range of areas including commercial, partnerships, employment, real estate, personal injury, insurance, probate, and family/divorce. She has also served as an arbitrator, discovery referee, and neutral evaluator in numerous matters. Eileen has served on mediation panels and provided services for courts, private organizations, and government agencies. Read More

Larry Carroll

Larry Carroll, Ph.D.

Disciplines: Management Consultant, Clinical Psychologist, Mediator

Larry is a clinical psychologist and an organization development consultant. He has 22 years of experience specializing in executive coaching, stress management, group facilitation, and enhancing team effectiveness. Read More

Susan Coleman

Susan Coleman, J.D., M.P.A.

Disciplines: Lawyer and Mediator

Susan is President of Coleman Raider International, a worldwide consulting firm that specializes in negotiations, coaching, collaborative change processes, conflict resolution, and intercultural communication. Her experience ranges from training executives, diplomats, lawyers, educators, and others in collaborative negotiation skills; mediating disputes between individuals, departments, and warring factions; coaching individuals and groups; working with trade teams; facilitating retreats; and engaging large groups with multiple stakeholders. Read More

Erwin Krasnow

Erwin G. Krasnow, J.D., LL.M.

Disciplines: Attorney and Mediator

Erwin is an experienced lawyer, mediator, author or coauthor of over 20 books and 250 articles on law and regulation, and a law school professor. Erwin has 40 years of law and government experience and is currently Chair of the Communications & Media Law Group of the law firm, Garvey Schubert Barer. He serves as the Broadcast Cable Financial Management Association’s Washington counsel. Read More

Melinda Ostermeyer

Melinda Ostermeyer, M.S.

Disciplines: Organizational Consultant and Mediator

Melinda is an organization development consultant, trainer in conflict resolution and collaborative problem solving, and facilitator. She was formerly adjunct professor for several universities and director of the Dispute Resolution Division of the D.C. Superior Court and the Dispute Resolution Centers. Melinda has 20 years of experience specializing in management, mediation, and designing systems to resolve conflict within organizations. Read More

Harry Linowes

Harry M. Linowes, B.S.

Disciplines: Consultant and Mediator

Harry has over 40 years CPA experience in public accounting, consulting with public and private companies on corporate and partner strategy, financing, mergers, and acquisitions. He is a retired managing partner of BDO Seidman and has served in a leadership capacity on numerous professional and public service organizations. He is currently a business management consultant. Read More

Michael Stadter

Michael Stadter, Ph.D.

Disciplines: Organizational Consultant and Clinical Psychologist

Michael is a clinical psychologist, organization development consultant, and the former director of several mental health facilities. He has 24 years of experience specializing in executive coaching, conflict resolution, stress management, and enhancing work group effectiveness. Read More

Margaret Wilson

Margaret E. Wilson, M.S.

Disciplines: Organizational Consultant

Margaret is an organizational consultant with more than 20 years of experience working in and with family-owned and closely-held companies. She collaborates with business owners and executives to initiate and manage change, develop leaders and teams, attract and retain talented employees, and improve workforce productivity – all designed to maximize business performance through people. Read More

Richard Yocum

Richard K. Yocum, M.S.

Disciplines: Management / Organizational Consultant

Richard Yocum is a mediator and a management and organization development consultant who specializes in working with partners and family-owned, closely-held businesses. He serves as coach to business owners, CEOs, and key executives of companies of varying size and industry type. His background includes sixteen years in management roles (line and staff) with world-class organizations. As a strategic Read More