Christopher DeAnde

He thinks big

When he was young, Christopher wanted to be the president of the United States. Not when he was, say, four. When he was well into his teens. Eventually his job goals changed, but his unique sense of focus and drive did not. Christopher got his first job when he was twelve and hasn’t stopped working for the past 36 years. He brings his unique energy and drive to his position as BRC’s Vice President of Business Affairs.

He’s adaptable to different styles

Christopher’s first negotiation was working for management in a collective bargaining negotiation with united steel workers. Not a job for the meek. He’s continued his career working as a negotiator on a wide range of products and disciplines. Christopher’s main role is working on the contracts that outline the business arrangements between BRC and its clients and vendors. He has a knack for understanding his negotiating partner and finding common ground to close deals quickly.

He’s a quick learner

Christopher compares a contract to a collection of “scar tissue” from past experiences. He doesn’t view this negatively. Both sides in a negotiation will have a history of previous experiences, including ones they want to avoid in the future. Christopher feels his job is to listen closely to understand what the underlying concern is in a point of negotiation so he can effectively address it.

He takes the long view

Christopher knows that BRC’s contracts with clients are often the first step in a long-term relationship. So he’s not interested in scoring quick wins or nickel and diming. He comes into a negotiation with a respect for his partner and takes seriously the commitment that they are making to BRC.

He feels negotiations should end happily for both parties

Christopher does not believe that both sides should come out of a negotiation feeling unsatisfied. On the contrary, he believes a negotiation should be a learning session on both sides. He finds when his negotiating partner has a clear understanding of the budget parameters and is well informed, deals are struck more quickly and easily.