Make defensible, high-stakes decisions with confidence and community buy-in.
Turn friction into a path forward
When navigated effectively, conflict isn’t a barrier—it’s an opportunity. At Confluence Decisions, we believe that friction can be generative. It is the raw material needed to identify common ground, build trust, and develop durable, win-win solutions that stand the test of time.
Transform Conflict into Collaboration
Confluence was formed from a desire to help decision-makers move beyond the data and toward results that work for both resources and communities. We specialize in the "messy middle" - where technical data meets deeply held human values.
At Confluence, we don't just facilitate meetings; we facilitate constructive conflict exploration. We dive into the hard stuff:
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Technical data. Applying rigorous frameworks like Multi-Attribute Utility Theory and Structured Decision-Making for a quantitative understanding of values and data.
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Human Dimensions. Conducting deep-dive stakeholder assessments and interviews to understand the drivers of change and underlying values.
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Relationships. Building the collaborative capacity of partnerships to ensure decisions are self-sustaining and resilient.
Collaboration is a structured approach to developing solutions better than any one group could have reached on their own.
In our world of interacting sociopolitical and natural systems, the status quo is increasingly untenable. We need a new approach.
Confluence facilitates collaboration in settings where all participants—from agency researchers to local landowners—feel respected and included. This environment is essential for managing the "messy middle," where ecological health and community needs are deeply intertwined.
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From Positions to Interests. We move stakeholders beyond "positional thinking" (what they want) toward "interest-based thinking" (why they want it). This shift allows for the discovery of novel, value-generating solutions that a single entity could not reach alone.
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Systemic Understanding. Collaboration encourages participants to look beyond a single management plan to address how social, economic, and ecological systems interact.
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Creative Problem Solving. By engaging a spectrum of diverse interests, we foster the creativity necessary to build self-sustaining and resilient communities.
About me
My path to founding Confluence Decisions began on public lands, where I realized that technical solutions only succeed when they respect human values. With a background spanning religious studies and economics, I specialize in the "messy middle"—environments defined by high uncertainty and intense emotion. I help leaders bridge the gap between rigorous science and stakeholder buy-in to create decisions that are both defensible and durable.
Services
Confluence centers data and values in collaborative decision making processes.
I help organizations operating in high sociopolitical and ecological uncertainty to incorporate data and values into transparent, adaptive, and holistic decision making; strengthening relationships with impacted stakeholders and communities in the process.
Stakeholder Engagement
Turn stakeholder conflict into collaborative action with engagement strategies that build trust and deliver actionable guidance.
Dialogue Facilitation
Replace stagnant meetings with dynamic, high-impact gatherings designed to solve problems and build lasting professional relationships.
Decision Analysis
Make defensible, high-stakes decisions with confidence by integrating technical data with the human values that drive durable management.
Conflict Transformation
Turn friction into a catalyst for innovation by moving beyond gridlock toward a cohesive, resilient vision.
