About Us

Solution Sage was created by the California Family Business Institute LLC, which was founded in 1996 to provide products for small business owners and professional advisors to plan and implement successful business succession. The Institute is a member of the Family Firm Institute, a national organization of family business professionals.

Our Products
The Institute's flagship product is the Solution Sage Middle Market Business Assessment(TM)--an innovative assessment tool that identifies strategic and succession strengths and risks in closely held and family owned businesses, and provides a platform for evaluating succession readiness. The Middle Market Business Assessment, first published in 1999, became available as a fully automated web-based assessment system in 2001. Click here to learn more.

Our Team
The Institute is managed by its principals, Dr. Ralph Daniel and Nelson Dodge, and maintains an office in Santa Barbara, California.

		Dr. Ralph Daniel, Ph.D. – Currently practicing as a family business psychologist, Dr. Daniel has a broad background in family business including being a second-generation member of a successful family business. Throughout his career, Dr. Daniel has been active in developing assessment tools, training and coaching, and family business consulting. E-mail Dr. Daniel
		Nelson Dodge, MBA – As an entrepreneur and marketing and branding strategist, Mr. Dodge focuses on assisting companies in building equity value through effective branding and marketing. Mr. Dodge helps businesses leverage their core values and strengths, resulting in business growth and ultimately achieving exit objectives. E-mail Mr. Dodge