AUSTIN "OZZIE" GONTANG, PH. D.

Ozzie Gontang's work is in organizational psychology with corporations, organizations, and family owned businesses. His focus is in areas of management development, management selection, crisis intervention, conflict resolution, team building and succession planning.

He is a group Chair for The Executive Committee (TEC). TEC brings together CEO's of companies in groups of 10 to 18 members where they bring their business issues and opportunities to receive peer feedback in analyzing issues, developing solutions or alternatives, and creating action plans. He has chaired his TEC 29 group in San Diego since 1986. In 2001 he was awarded the Donald Cope Memorial Award. It is bestowed each year on the TEC Chairman who has furthered TEC's mission of "increasing the effectiveness and enhancing the lives of chief executives" in spirit, word and deed.

He continues his work as consultant and educator in areas of group dynamics, communications, stress management, group process; and individual styles of learning, thinking, decision making and problem solving.

Ozzie also practices as a Licensed Marriage, Family Therapist which he began in 1976. Since 1980 he has worked with numerous executives, managers, executive teams and athletes. His focus on counseling with them has been: 1) family, marital, and relationship problems, 2) work related issues, opportunities and problems, and 3) performance enhancement in work, sports, and stress reduction.

He has been Director of the San Diego Marathon Clinic at Mission Bay since 1975. Over 100,000 people have participated in this free running and walking clinic every Sunday morning. He's directed the Marathon Psyching Team and Super Four Support Team since 1988. He is also a group support leader for the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine's Healthy Heart Program that was formerly the Ornish Reversing Heart Disease Program that started in 1997.

His interest in mind/body/spirit connection dates back to the early 70's. That interest continues through his study of Jungian psychology, Zen, marathoning as a metaphor for life, and as a running and walking therapist.

Ozzie has a BA in Liberal Arts from Villanova University, an MA in Theology from Augustinian College in Washington DC, an MS in Rehabilitation Counseling from San Diego State University, and his Ph.D. in Professional Psychology from U.S. International University in San Diego.