CONCUR
specializes in combining environmental policy analysis with facilitation
and mediation skills to resolve complex disputes involving scarce
or limited natural resources. CONCUR applies a range of analytic
and strategic planning skills that help clients make difficult decisions.
We provide the full range of professional
services needed to support this primary objective, including
agreement- focused facilitation, strategic planning and environmental
policy analysis. Principals John
K. Gamman, Ph.D and Scott
T. McCreary, Ph.D both earned their doctorates in
conflict resolution from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
and were Associates of the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law
School.
Since
1987, CONCUR has worked nationally and internationally as facilitators,
mediators and trainers to resolve regional, statewide, national,
transboundary and bioregional disputes. CONCUR has helped to resolve
a wide range of disputes including cases involving water, fisheries,
forests, land use, wetlands, endangered species protection, facility
siting, toxic waste clean-up, health risk, flood control and cross-cultural
conflicts involving indigenous and developing country communities.
Our Principals and Associates have a unique
dual expertise in both the process and substance of environmental
decision making. We are rigorously trained in the art and
science of negotiation and dispute resolution, as well as in environmental
planning and policy analysis. This dual expertise is the foundation
of CONCUR's philosophy: to integrate different disciplines that
strengthen our problem-solving capability, so we can provide clients
the highest quality professional services. Please click
here for a full description of our services or to download printable
Fact Sheets about specific areas of our firm.
In
fall 2006, CONCUR opened a New York City office. The New York office
is headed by Bennett Brooks, a native
New Yorker and a Senior Associate with CONCUR since 1998. Bennett
is involved in all facets of CONCUR project work, including facilitation,
policy analysis and process design. He is responsible for managing
some of the firm's largest contracts, and his project work has included
facilitating collaborative dialogues on public financing, military
base reuse, ecosystem restoration issues and complex water resource
conflicts. The New York office project work is expected to focus
on environmental, land use and economic development issues. CONCUR
staff is currently exploring several potential initiatives with
organizations located in the New York metropolitan area.
Approach
Seven
Principles That Structure Our Approach and Distinguish Our Practice
Neutrality
CONCUR works in a neutral facilitation and mediation capacity. Our
firm does not work as hired advocates for any one organization.
CONCUR represents the interests of our clients by promoting clear
communication and effective decision making.
Dual
Expertise
CONCUR brings both substantive and process expertise to our work.
Our staff has extensive substantive knowledge in natural science,
public policy, environmental planning and organizational development.
In addition, our process knowledge includes extensive training in
the full range of collaborative negotiation and mediation techniques.
Legitimacy
and Accountability
Our experience in crafting consensus-based agreements and management
plans, coupled with our dual expertise, creates legitimacy among both
agency clients and in the broader technical and stakeholder community.
Our neutrality enables us to help parties act and work together in
an accountable and effective manner.
Joint
Fact-Finding
As an integral part of our facilitation model, we work directly with
scientists, engineers and other specialists to assemble and clearly
communicate the very best available technical information.
By guiding and structuring the exchange of technical information CONCUR
helps contending parties escape the pitfalls of "adversary science"
and build a firm foundation for policy and political agreements.
Multiple
Options
CONCUR structures its mediated/facilitated dialogues to encourage
brainstorming and creative thinking. In order to promote the
achievement of mutual gains in negotiations, participants also are
encouraged to commit to developing multiple options for each issue
under discussion, rather than insisting that only one possible solution
exists.
Building
Stepwise Agreements
The CONCUR process for building agreements proceeds through a logical
sequence of steps in which parties create a series of small agreements,
culminating in a complete solution to the problem under discussion.
These steps are outlined in the figure below.
Stability
and Durability
Our process is designed to yield a decision or strategy that can be
implemented and that is legally and administratively stable and durable.
California
Small Business Certification
CONCUR
received Small
Business (SBD) Certification from the State of California Department
of General Services, Procurement Division. This certification, given
to independently owned and operated businesses in the State of California
that meet key criteria, entitles small businesses to benefits under
the Small Business Participation Program within state contracting,
including a five percent bidding preference and special provisions
under the Prompt Payment Act.
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