Ria Severance, an executive development consultant, is also a certified mediator and licensed psychotherapist (LMFT24650). She has served executives and employees from major Los Angeles law firms and corporations for over 20 years. Ms. Severance's style is genuine and direct. She is a dynamic and engaging speaker. Her fresh approach ignites and invigorates, as it empowers. Ms. Severance offers an understanding of individual and interpersonal dynamics that brings an extraordinary depth to her work.

Consultations are available to organizations, or on an individual, confidential basis for executive leaders who wish to meet ongoing challenges in a more satisfying way.

Attorney Karl A. Schmidt Karl A. Schmidt is a shareholder in the law firm of Parker, Milliken, Clark, O'Hara & Samuelian and is Chair of the Labor and Employment Law department.

Mr. Schmidt has extensive experience in union negotiations, including concessionary bargaining, benefits bargaining and bankruptcy reorganization situations. Additionally, he regularly drafts and advises regarding pension, health and welfare, and non-qualified benefit plans in day-to-day, merger, reorganization and bankruptcy situations.

Mr. Schmidt received his B.S. degree from University of California, Berkeley in 1969, with a major in Accounting and Finance. He received his J.D. degree from U.C. Berkeley - Boalt Hall Law School in 1974.