A writing partnership was born with the first edition of The Big Book of HR. Since that time, Barbara Mitchell and Cornelia Gamlem have gone on to write The Essential Workplace Conflict Handbook, The Conflict Resolution Phrase Book, and the award-winning The Manager's Answer Book. Giving back and being active in the communities in which they live and work is important to both authors. They are influencers to the HR and business communities through their speaking, writing, and volunteering.

Barbara Mitchell is the founder and managing partner of the Mitchell Group, a management consulting practice. Cornelia Gamlem is the founder of the Gems Group, a management consulting firm offering clients solutions to HR and business issues.