The Consultant — Dwight E. Foster

Book III, The Consultant tracks Joe Baxter's rise through Mckenzie Barber from a 33 year old beginning level consultant in the Manufacturing practice to a temporary move into the executive compensation practice which proves to be a permanent career track. Baxter becomes a protg of Frank Alvardi, a free spirited executive compensation consultant, who is a Joe DiMaggio look alike.The Consultant covers an eight-year span of time that brings Baxter into contact with a colorful grouping of consultants and clients. They range from Bob Friedman, a clever, womanizing West Coast McKenzie Barber Partner, Leon Harwell, a wealthy investor, who becomes Baxter's career building client relationship, continued contact with 'Wild Bill' Dwyer, a brilliant, but unorthodox manufacturing consulting practice, Dr. Alice Dungler, a ribald technology consultant who founds a major software corporation, and the development of Baxter's protege relationship with Hamilton Burke III, who emerges as the Chairman's crown prince.Book III reintroduces several characters from Book I, Present & Past Imperfect including Ernie Grey, the Chairman, the villainous Clyde Nickerson, Paul Brimmer, Burke's competition for Chairman succession, Baxter's first meeting with Bridgette Morgan, and his alienation from his second wife, Jennifer. Book III, revisits Baxter's torrid five love affair with a consultant then known as Dominique Beaufort who was introduced as the Baroness DeHartog in Book I. Book III concludes with Baxter's transfer to the New York office of McKenzie Barber.The Consultant is a fast paced narration of Joe Baxter's career emergence, recognition, and entanglements in the complex and often Byzantine organization of a global consulting firm with elasticity in values.