W. Barry Nixon is the Executive Director, the National Institute for Prevention of Workplace Violence, Inc., a company focused on assisting organizations to effectively implement programs to prevent workplace violence. Having spent over twenty years in Human Resources and Organization Development in Fortune 500 companies. Mr. Nixon is well grounded in the real issues companies face and develops practical solutions based on having been there.

Prior to founding the National Institute for Prevention of Workplace Violence, Mr. Nixon studied 'General Management' in the Executive Management Program, University of Hawaii. He earned a masters’ degree in Human Resource Development from the New School University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Northeastern University. Mr. Nixon has also completed the Advanced Human Resource Management program of Babson College, as well as the certification programs in Organization Development from National Training Laboratories, Systems Thinking from MIT, and the highly acclaimed "Creating Competitive Advantage through Human Resources," program from the University of Michigan's School of Industrial Relations. He is a trained Mediator, certified Anger Management facilitator, Security Specialist, Trauma Response Specialist and earn a certificate in Background Investigations from the Public Safety Institute, Santa Rosa College. In addition, he is an active member of ASIS International’s Crime and Loss Prevention Council, served on ASIS International’s Workplace Violence Prevention Guidelines Committee. He is also a member of the Security Executive Council Advising Editors for Security Magazine, the past National President of the American Association for Anger Management Providers and is currently Chair, International Committee, NAPBS leading their effort to establish an international network of professional background screening firms.

As a specialist in workplace violence prevention he has gained a reputation for developing comprehensive programs that are practical in nature and which fit the needs of the client. His Workplace Violence Prevention programs cover the full realm of this troubling issue helping companies to assess their vulnerability, implement readiness programs, establish crisis management teams, train employees and managers, address physical security issues and revise or add new policies to effectively address this critical issue. In essence, he helps organizations to implement an effective program to minimize the likeliness of a major workplace violence incidence occurring and to be ready in the event one should actually occur.

He served as the Workplace Violence Prevention consultant for the State of California for over nine years, providing consulting and training to managers and employees. Some of his other clients include Gillette, Canon, Beckman-Coulter, CA Department of Transportation, Southern California Edison, Orange County Sanitation, National Transit Institute, City of Pasadena, Blue Shield Foundation, Macy’s, Peterson Brothers Construction, District of Columbia Water & Sanitation Authority, etc. He also teaches human resource management courses at several universities.

In addition, Mr. Nixon is a frequently requested speaker both in the US and internationally on the subject of Workplace Violence and Background Screening. Most recently he presented at the World HR Congress held in Singapore and the Annual India’s Preemployment Conference in Bangalore. He has also published numerous articles including appearing in the highly acclaimed Complete Workplace Violence Prevention Guide, has appeared on CBS, CNN, MSNBC, Wall Street Journal Radio, United Kingdom – National Talk Radio and hosted the popular radio talk show - 'Workplace Violence Today," on several North American Broadcasting Corporation affiliates and authors the ‘Ask the Expert’ column in Workplace Violence Reporter.