Meet the Team
Marc Purchin
Marc Purchin founded Purchin Consulting in 1997, building on his vision, goals, education, experience, and reputation. With over two decades of experience before that, he has conducted more than 3,300 mediations, primarily through contracts with the California Special Education Hearing Office, the Department of Developmental Disabilities, public school districts, and nonprofit organizations. He has also developed Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) programs for Special Education Local Plan Areas (SELPA) across California.
In addition to his mediation work, Marc has taught courses such as Conflict Resolution and Negotiation and Organizational Development and Leadership at several universities. He holds a bachelor’s degree in speech communication, with a focus on interpersonal communication and theater, from Southern Illinois University. He later earned an MBA in nonprofit management from American Jewish University (formerly the University of Judaism).
Recently, Marc authored Building Positive Parent and School Partnerships, a practical workbook designed to help educators and families collaborate effectively to support students. He has been invited to present and train on the book nationwide, speaking at family empowerment centers, school districts, and conferences.
Marc applies improvisation principles in his work and is honored and excited to serve on the board of the Applied Improvisation Network (AIN), an international nonprofit organization.
Gail Nugent
Gail Nugent and Marc Purchin have collaborated on many training projects and mediations over the last decade. Gail has been a leader in conflict resolution for over 25 years, bringing her insightful perspective and breadth of experience to any issue. She has worked with thousands of individuals in more than 100 governmental and non-governmental settings, serving as a mediator, facilitator, dispute resolution consultant, system designer, curriculum developer and trainer. Her extensive work with a variety of California agencies and school districts makes her exceptionally qualified to handle the most complex and emotionally charged issues.
Fran Goldfarb
Fran Goldfarb, MA, MCHES, CSPS recently retired as the Director of Community Education at the USC University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Research, Education and Service at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. She served as the Family Support Discipline Director in LEND, their advanced level interdisciplinary training program. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development, a Master’s degree in Social Science, and is credentialed as a Master Certified Health Education Specialist, not to mention being the first person in California credentialed as a Certified Family Peer Specialist. Together with her husband, Fran founded and facilitates the Los Angeles Asperger Syndrome Parent Support Group. She is the parent of an adult son with a developmental disability and other psychiatric disabilities.
Kelly Sayce
While the majority of her career has focused on building relationships across disparate groups within the Natural Resources sector, the past three years have led Kelly to expand her alternative dispute resolution expertise into the field of Education. Working with the Institute for Nonviolence in Los Angeles, Kelly has developed peer mediation programs aimed at building social-emotional skills in underserved youth to help transform community-based conflict into positive action. Kelly provides intensive meeting facilitation trainings for school district administrators, specifically in the area of running effective I.E.P. team meetings. She is a certified mediator with the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Dispute Resolution Program.
Tammie Wilson
MPA, M.Ed.
Based in Dallas, Tammie is our specialist throughout the region at providing trainings and ADR facilitation. For over 25 years, she has excelled nationwide at staff development and educational leadership in both public and private school sectors, as well as corporations and community groups. Her work at local, state, and federal levels has helped build and sustain effective school partnerships and programs, supporting administrators, parents, the community, and students. Tammie holds two master’s degrees in Educational Leadership and Public Administration, focusing on Human Resource Development and Special Education Services.