Derrick Van Mell is the Founder and CEO of the Center for Management Terms & Practices, a professional development firm. The Center is the standards body for general management and helps managers foster effective collaboration. They provide a plain-English toolkit for planning, analysis and project management. At the heart of their work is the GM’s Index of Terms, the framework of management science as well as a library of edited resources in all six management disciplines. Like many executives and directors, Derrick brings different experiences and perspectives to bear on his Merlin protégé’s issues. Local clients have ranged from Epic Systems and Johnsonville Foods to Group Health Cooperative and Genetics Computer Group. Derrick lectures at home and abroad. He is the author of the books Question-Based Planning and Buildings Matter. He has a B.A. in economics from Tufts University, an MBA from Loyola University and an M.A. from Northwestern University. He belongs to several community groups.