About CMS Practice Builder LLC

CMS Practice Builder LLC
Professional EducationPractice DevelopmentLeadership for What's Next

Helping professionals build practices and organizations prepared for what's next.

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CMS Practice Builder LLC was founded on a simple belief:

Exceptional professionals deserve exceptional support in building exceptional practices.

We create transformative educational experiences that go beyond traditional training. Our programs combine strategic thinking, practical implementation, accountability, and collaborative learning to help professionals strengthen their practices, expand their impact, and lead with confidence in a rapidly evolving professional landscape.

Founded by nationally recognized leaders in dispute resolution, legal practice, and professional education, CMS Practice Builder LLC develops innovative programs for bar associations, professional organizations, educational institutions, and practitioners across the country.

The Practice Incubator is our flagship program, created in partnership with the American Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section. It reflects our commitment to designing learning experiences that don't simply teach new ideas. They help professionals put those ideas into practice and create meaningful, lasting change.

As CMS Practice Builder LLC grows, so will our portfolio of professional development programs, leadership initiatives, consulting services, and educational partnerships, all driven by one purpose:

Helping professionals build practices, and professions, that are ready for the future.

Meet the CMS Practice Builder LLC Leadership Team

The Practice Incubator is led by the founders of CMS Practice Builder LLC, three nationally respected leaders whose combined experience spans dispute resolution, legal practice, organizational leadership, professional education, business development, and innovation.

Susan Guthrie headshot

Susan Guthrie

Founder & CEO

Nationally recognized attorney, mediator, author, speaker, and practice strategist, Susan Guthrie has spent more than three decades helping legal and dispute resolution professionals build innovative, client-centered, and sustainable practices. As the visionary behind CMS Practice Builder LLC and the Practice Incubator, she combines national leadership, business strategy, technology innovation, and professional education to help professionals prepare for the future of practice.

Focus Areas
  • Practice Development
  • Thought Leadership
  • AI & Innovation
  • Professional Education
  • 35+ Years in Practice
  • Former Chair, ABA Dispute Resolution Section
  • 25,000+ Professionals Trained
Charlie McDaniel headshot

Charlie McDaniel

Co-Founder & Director of Operations

Charlie McDaniel brings decades of experience as a mediator, entrepreneur, and business leader. He oversees the operational strategy behind CMS Practice Builder LLC, ensuring that every program is supported by thoughtful systems, efficient processes, and an exceptional participant experience. His focus is creating the infrastructure that allows innovative ideas to become sustainable programs.

Focus Areas
  • Operations
  • Business Strategy
  • Program Management
  • Organizational Growth
  • Experienced Mediator
  • Operations & Business Strategy
  • Program Leadership
Melinda Feldman headshot

Melinda Feldman

Co-Founder & Director of Curriculum

Melinda Feldman brings more than 25 years in the real estate industry to her work in dispute resolution, with deep command of business and real estate contracts, disclosures, and industry practice. A founding partner of Advanced Mediation Solutions, LLC and an MC3 Certified Mediator, she leads curriculum development, facilitator training, and educational strategy to ensure CMS Practice Builder LLC programs are practical, engaging, and immediately applicable.

Focus Areas
  • Curriculum Design
  • Facilitator Development
  • Mediation Training
  • Adult Learning
  • National Trainer
  • Curriculum Strategist
  • Facilitator Development

Together, the founders of CMS Practice Builder LLC bring decades of experience in legal practice, dispute resolution, business leadership, professional education, and organizational development. They have trained thousands of professionals, led national organizations, built successful practices, and designed innovative educational experiences that help professionals turn ideas into action. Their shared philosophy is simple: meaningful education should inspire measurable growth, lasting success, and stronger professional communities.

Meet the Cohort Facilitators

Every cohort is guided by a pair of experienced mediators and practice builders who lead the twice-monthly sessions, keep the group accountable, and help each participant apply the curriculum to their own practice.

Cohort 1

Sarah Rutledge Fischer headshot

Sarah Rutledge Fischer

Cohort Facilitator

Sarah Rutledge Fischer is a mediator, divorce coach, and attorney, and the founder of Thresholds Mediation. She helps individuals and couples navigate divorce, family transition, and conflict outside the adversarial legal system, with a particular focus on supporting women and LGBTQ+ clients.

John Libby headshot

John Libby

Cohort Facilitator

As a mediator and arbitrator with LibbyADR, John draws on nearly 40 years as a practicing lawyer handling complex healthcare and commercial matters, including business litigation in state and federal courts, arbitrations, False Claims Act cases, and government investigations. He has represented managed care organizations, health insurers, hospital systems, medical groups, and other providers in healthcare litigation and payor-provider disputes.

Cohort 2

Kimberly Best headshot

Kimberly Best

Cohort Facilitator

Kimberly Best, RN, MA, is a Missouri and Tennessee Supreme Court listed civil and family mediator, FINRA Arbitrator, and owner of Best Conflict Solutions, LLC. She specializes in healthcare, adult family, and organizational conflict, and believes there aren’t people problems, just skills gaps.

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Molly Thomas, Esq.

Cohort Facilitator

Molly Thomas, Esq., is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator and founder of Mediation Florida and ADR Catalyst, where she helps mediators build modern, sustainable practices through the smart use of technology, branding, and AI. She serves as Co-Chair of the Ethics Committee for both the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution and The Florida Bar ADR Section, and speaks nationally on the future of dispute resolution practice.

Cohort 3

Timothy L. Alger headshot

Timothy L. Alger

Cohort Facilitator

Timothy Alger is a full-time mediator, arbitrator, and judicial referee at Alger Resolutions, focusing on disputes involving intellectual property, privacy, online and traditional media liability, civil rights, contracts, corporate ownership, and the cannabis industry.

Allison McFadden headshot

Allison McFadden

Cohort Facilitator

After a decade practicing family law litigation at a traditional firm, Allison McFadden founded an innovative dispute resolution firm, Divorce by Allison, to help families find a better way through one of life’s hardest transitions. By providing mediation, coaching, and consulting attorney services, she helps families resolve disputes and reach agreements outside of court.

Cohort 4

Rick Morefield headshot

Rick Morefield

Cohort Facilitator

Rick Morefield mediates personal injury and business litigation cases through Sage Mediation Solutions. During his forty years as a trial lawyer, he has litigated and tried cases on both sides of the “v.” and brings that perspective to the cases he mediates.

Leticia Fehn, MDR headshot

Leticia Fehn, MDR

Cohort Facilitator

Leticia Fehn is a Certified Court Family Mediator and Certified Divorce Specialist who helps families navigate divorce with clarity and confidence. With a Master of Dispute Resolution and specialized training in divorce coaching, parenting, and business valuation, her work is grounded in guiding couples and families toward lasting agreements through a collaborative, solution focused, and family-centered approach.

Cohort 5

Daniel Serviansky headshot

Daniel Serviansky

Cohort Facilitator

Danny mediates cases involving real estate, equity, employment, and professional relationships. He designs dispute resolution systems, conducts negotiation and mediation trainings, and serves as an Adjunct Lecturer in Law at Columbia Law School, where he teaches in the Negotiation Workshop.

Connect With the CMS Practice Builder LLC Team

Whether you're interested in the Practice Incubator, exploring a speaking engagement, discussing a custom professional development program, or learning more about partnering with CMS Practice Builder LLC, we'd love to hear from you.

Interested in bringing CMS Practice Builder LLC programming to your organization?

We partner with bar associations, professional organizations, educational institutions, and leadership teams to design innovative educational experiences that create lasting impact.

We'd welcome the opportunity to start a conversation.

Contact the CMS Practice Builder LLC Team

What We Do

CMS Practice Builder LLC partners with bar associations, professional organizations, educational institutions, leadership teams, and practitioner communities to design and deliver innovative professional education and practice development experiences.

Our work combines practical education, implementation support, accountability, leadership development, strategic thinking, and collaborative learning to create measurable results for both professionals and the organizations they serve.

Current Areas of Focus

  • Practice Development Programs
  • Professional Education
  • Leadership Development
  • Strategic Planning & Facilitation
  • AI & Technology Education
  • Business Development
  • Cohort-Based Learning Experiences
  • Association & Organizational Consulting

While the Practice Incubator is our flagship offering, CMS Practice Builder LLC continues to develop new programs, partnerships, and educational experiences designed to meet the evolving needs of today's professional communities.

Our Mission

To empower professionals and the organizations that serve them through innovative education, practical business development, and collaborative learning experiences that create lasting professional success.

Our Vision

To become the leading provider of professional practice development and education for legal, dispute resolution, and other professional communities.

Bring CMS Practice Builder LLC to Your Organization

Professional organizations today need more than traditional educational programming.

They need learning experiences that inspire action, strengthen practices, build future leaders, and create lasting impact.

CMS Practice Builder LLC partners with bar associations, professional organizations, educational institutions, leadership teams, and practitioner communities to design customized educational experiences that meet their unique goals.

Whether you're interested in a keynote presentation, a multi-session workshop, a cohort-based learning experience, strategic planning facilitation, leadership development, AI education, consulting, or a custom-designed initiative, we'd welcome the opportunity to explore how CMS Practice Builder LLC can help.

Interested in working together?

Let's start the conversation.