Blair Trippe, MBA

Managing Partner

Blair Trippe’s expertise as a negotiator, mediator, and family business consultant is grounded in the study of strategic management and conflict resolution methodologies. She brings a highly specialized approach to the understanding of family systems and the relationship challenges encountered when families work and own together.

In addition to her experience with Continuity clients, Blair was a Marketing Specialist at Prudential Bache Securities, Marketing Associate for Boston Catalyst Group – where she served in a dual role of managing the HR function and marketing software products to the higher education sector, as well as Director of Product Development and Industry Affairs on the start up team of The Straumann Company, a U.S.-based Swiss medical device company.

Blair is the co-author, with Continuity Founding Partner Doug Baumoel, of Deconstructing Conflict: Understanding Family Business, Shared Wealth and Power. This recently published work is the ultimate guide to Continuity’s unique developmental approach to conflict management in family enterprises. She also co-authored the book, Mom Always Liked You Best – A Guide to Resolving Family Feuds, Inheritance Battles and Eldercare Crises. The practical guidebook helps family members become better decision-makers, mindful negotiators, and more effective communicators.

Her leadership in the mediation field helped create a new specialty through the development of “Elder Decisions” – a division of Agreement Resources LLC, a consulting firm she co-founded. Agreement Resources provides conflict resolution, mediation, and training services to families and a variety of organizations. It is also an approved services provider to probate courts in several counties of Massachusetts.

As a workshop facilitator and trainer, Blair has conducted sessions for the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School, NYU’s Schack Institute of Real Estate, Judge’s Institute, American Bar Association, Attorneys for Family-Held Enterprises, National Association of Geriatric Care Managers, the Alzheimer’s Association, the Northeastern University Center for Family Business, Massachusetts Collaborative Law Council, Northeast Human Resource Association, Dartmouth Hitchcock Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Family Firm Institute, among others.

She serves on the board of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and was a longtime board member of the DeCordova Museum and Sculpture park.

Blair also served as Board Member for Robert Family Holdings, Inc., a family-owned, global, diversified manufacturer, where she was Chair of Governance Committee and member of Compensation Committee.

Blair earned an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management with a concentration in marketing and finance, and a BA in psychology from Connecticut College.

Co-Author, with Doug Baumoel:

Deconstructing Conflict Book

Co-Author with Arline Kardasis, Rikk Larsen and Crystal Thorpe:

Professional Certifications:

  • Program on Negotiation; Harvard Law School
  • Advanced Family Business Advising; Family Firm Institute
  • The Center for Dispute Resolution; Northwestern University
  • The Center for Social Gerontology (Elder Mediation)
  • Mediation Works, Inc. (Executive and Advanced Mediation; Negotiation Skills)

Memberships:

  • Association for Conflict Resolution; New England (former Board member and Chair of the Education Committee)
  • Massachusetts Council on Family Mediation
  • International Ombuds Association
  • Family Firm Institute
  • Boston Symphony Orchestra; C0-Chair, Board of Advisors
  • The DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park; Lincoln, MA (former Trustee)