Professor Rhonda Brandt combined a wealth of knowledge about human relations in the corporate world with an extensive teaching background to bring exceptional balance to this text. Professor Brandt taught interpersonal and business communications, human resources management, and various related courses in the Business and Marketing Division of Ozarks Technical Community College in Springfield, Missouri. She received her B.A. in business education with vocational certification from the University of Northern Iowa and M.A. in Practical Arts and Vocational/Technical Education from the University of Missouri. She served as a faculty member at Hawkeye Community College and Administrative Support Department Chair at Springfield College. Professor Brandt conducted workshops and seminars for teachers, small businesses, and large corporations throughout the nation for more than twenty-five years before passing away in 2008.