Ron L. Deal, MMFT, is the founder of Successful Stepfamilies and an expert in remarriage and stepfamily education and therapy. He is author of The Smart Stepfamily and coauthor with Laura Petherbridge of The Smart Stepmom and with David H. Olson of The Remarriage Checkup. Ron is a licensed marriage and family therapist and licensed professional counselor who frequently appears in the national media. He is a popular conference speaker and his video series The Smart Stepfamily DVD is used in communities, churches, and homes throughout the world. Ron is a member of the Stepfamily Expert Council for the National Stepfamily Resource Center. Ron and his wife, Nan, and their sons live in Amarillo, Texas.