Who We Are
Committed to Excellence
RAI staff members have broad functional and industry expertise in fields as varied as healthcare, manufacturing and government. Each member of our team brings decades of experience in the USA and abroad, a highly effective skill set, and a demonstrated ability to apply those skills to help our clients achieve their objectives. The staff of Restructuring Associates is characterized by its outstanding accomplishments, commitment to results, strong integrity, and friendly professionalism.
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Thomas J. Schneider
President, C.E.O. and Founder
Dr. Thomas J. Schneider is the President, CEO and Founder of Restructuring Associates Inc. He was also Partner in two different law firms, then Of-Counsel to the law firm of O’Connor & Hannan in Washington, D.C.
For over 40 years Dr. Schneider has been an award winning, widely published, publicly recognized management consultant for many of the largest companies, unions and organizations across all sectors of the economy, government, and not-for-profits in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong.
Dr. Schneider received his A.B., magna cum laude with highest honors from Harvard University, and his J.D. from Harvard Law School. He obtained a Doctor of Philosophy Degree from Oxford University. He received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Deakin University in Victoria, Australia.
Dr. Schneider was designated a “Nationally Recognized Expert” (NRE) by the United States Government, Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in 2009.
Gary I. Bergel
Vice President & Senior Consultant
Gary Bergel is Vice President and Senior Consultant at RAI. He joined the firm in 1991. He served as the first Managing Director of Schneider (Australia) Consulting from 1997-2002. Prior to joining RAI Mr. Bergel was a human resource director for General Mills, Inc.
Mr. Bergel received his B.A. degree in political science from Columbia University and his M.B.A. from Northwestern University 's J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management, where he was selected by the faculty as the outstanding student in Organization Behavior.
Mr. Bergel was designated a “Nationally Recognized Expert” (NRE) by the United States Government, Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in October 2009. He is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).
Michelle DeYoung
Vice President & Senior Consultant
Michelle DeYoung is Vice-President and Senior Consultant at Restructuring Associates Inc. She joined RAI in 1994. Ms. DeYoung served as a Senior Consultant and then Managing Director of Schneider (Australia) Consulting from 2008-2012.
Prior to joining RAI, Ms. DeYoung spent nine years working in Australia, South Africa, Great Britain and Spain.
She is a highly experienced and sought after speaker and workshop leader at conferences in the USA and internationally.
Ms. DeYoung received her Master of Science in Economics with Distinction and a Post Graduate Diploma, in International Relations with Distinction from the London School of Economics. She received a Bachelor of Science with Honors from James Madison University.
She speaks conversational Spanish.
Tom Dalzell
Senior Consultant
Tom Dalzell joined Restructuring Associates Inc. as a Senior Consultant in 2021 after fifteen years as the Business Manager of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, AFL-CIO, Local 1245.
Prior to being elected the Business Manager, Tom was the staff attorney for Local 1245 for twenty-five years. Before joining the IBEW, Mr. Dalzell worked as a legal advisor and staff attorney for the United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO in Salinas CA.
Mr. Dalzell has extensive industrial relations experience negotiating collective bargaining agreements, handling hundreds of arbitrations, unfair labor practices, Federal District Court lawsuits, representing his members before government regulatory agencies and legislative bodies, and leading corporate campaigns.
He also has extensive experience working collaboratively with management to solve problems, and find solutions to difficult challenges. For thirteen years Mr. Dalzell was the Co-Chair of the Western LAMPAC, a cooperative venture of Western States public utilities and the IBEW.
Mr. Dalzell has his BA in American Civilization from the University of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the California Bar.
Denise Contee
Office Manager
Denise Contee is the Office Manager of Restructuring Associates Inc as well as serving as a Research Associate. Ms. Contee joined Restructuring Associates in 1990, originally as an Administrative Assistant before multiple promotions. She has served as Office Manager for over 20 years with responsibilities for all bookkeeping, general office administration, and all client billing. In her Research Assistant role she supports the work of the consultants including material preparation and documentation.
Prior to joining RAI, Ms. Contee was trained and served as a legal secretary in a large Washington DC based law-firm.
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