Compear Consulting Collective Membership

Terms and conditions

Compear Consulting Collective Membership Terms and Conditions

Effective Date: August 13, 2025

Thank you for your interest in the Compear Consulting Collective, an initiative powered by Compear Global Education Network LLC (“Compear,” “we,” or “us”). By joining the Collective, you (“Member”) are entering into a legally binding agreement to uphold these Terms and Conditions (“Agreement”). This document governs the terms of your membership, rights, obligations, and participation. Please read it carefully.

1. Membership Options and Structure

The Compear Consulting Collective supports Compear’s consulting division by creating opportunities for qualified members to engage in collaborative, real-world consulting projects. Participation is subject to availability, project needs, and approval by Compear leadership. Membership does not guarantee consulting assignments. Compear reserves sole discretion to assign roles based on project requirements.

1.1 Root Membership (Free)

  • Access to the Collective’s core community space.

  • Eligibility to participate in consulting projects when aligned with expertise and availability.

  • Inclusion in the Collective’s capacity tracker for potential project alignment.

  • Access to member-only networking events throughout the year.

  • No guaranteed leadership roles or priority consideration in consulting opportunities.

Intended for: Individuals who wish to contribute ideas, explore collaborative projects, and connect with others aligned with Compear’s mission.

1.2 Canopy Membership ($22/month or $199/year)

Includes all Root Membership benefits plus:

  • Professional profile on the Compear website for enhanced visibility and credibility.

  • Unlimited access to specialized workshops, seminars, and leadership roundtables.

  • Personalized one-on-one mentoring with senior leaders, including Dr. Christina “Chris” Thompson.

  • Complimentary and priority access to flagship events, including the Global Respectful Disruption Summit.

  • Priority consideration for leadership roles in collaborative projects and consulting proposals.

  • Comprehensive operational support for consulting engagements, including contract management, payments, and logistics.

Intended for: Professionals seeking to expand their influence, gain priority access to collaborative leadership opportunities, and elevate their professional profile in the global education and leadership space.

2. Participation in Consulting Projects

2.1 Participation is determined at Compear’s discretion based on project requirements, qualifications, and availability.

2.2 Members must honor project commitments. Failure to meet agreed responsibilities without valid cause may result in review or termination of membership.

2.3 Consulting participation will be governed by separate project-specific agreements and payment terms, which must be signed before work begins.

3. Ethical Business Conduct

3.1 Professional Standards
Members must uphold the highest standards of professional integrity, honesty, and respect in all interactions with Compear, fellow Members, clients, and external partners. This includes meeting commitments, delivering quality work, and communicating professionally in all formats (written, verbal, and virtual).

3.2 Respectful Treatment
Members are expected to contribute to a professional environment that is free from harassment, bullying, intimidation, or discriminatory conduct of any kind. All participants must engage with one another in a manner that fosters constructive collaboration, even in moments of disagreement.

3.3 Prohibited Conduct
Members shall not use their participation in the Compear Consulting Collective to:

  • Solicit, divert, or compete for projects, clients, or opportunities identified or developed through the Collective without Compear’s prior written consent;

  • Engage in any behavior that undermines the reputation, mission, or operations of Compear;

  • Misrepresent their role, authority, or affiliation with Compear; or

  • Use Compear’s name, logo, proprietary materials, or intellectual property without written authorization.

3.4 Consequences for Violations
Violation of this section may result in immediate suspension or termination of membership, removal from current projects, and potential legal action to recover damages or losses caused by the prohibited conduct.

4. Confidentiality and Data Protection

4.1 Member Confidentiality
All non-public information shared within the Compear Consulting Collective, including but not limited to internal discussions, strategies, methodologies, resources, and member contact details (“Confidential Information”), is strictly confidential. Members may not disclose such information to any outside party without Compear’s prior written consent, except where disclosure is required by law and proper advance notice is given to Compear.

4.2 Client Confidentiality
Any and all information related to clients, their personnel, business operations, intellectual property, or project scope (“Client Confidential Information”) must be kept strictly confidential. Unauthorized use, sharing, or disclosure of Client Confidential Information is prohibited and may result in immediate termination of membership, legal action, and pursuit of damages.

4.3 Sensitive Data Handling
Members must store all confidential, proprietary, or sensitive data solely within Compear’s designated and approved secure systems. Members are prohibited from downloading, copying, or storing such data on unapproved devices, cloud storage accounts, or personal systems without written authorization from Compear.

4.4 Return and Destruction of Information
Upon completion of a project or termination of membership, Members must promptly return or securely destroy all Compear or client materials in their possession, including digital and physical copies, unless otherwise directed in writing by Compear.

4.5 Breach Notification
Members must immediately notify Compear in writing of any actual or suspected breach of confidentiality, unauthorized data access, or compromise of Compear or client information. Notification must include the date and time of discovery, nature of the breach, and all relevant details to enable Compear to take responsive action.

4.6 Client Protection and NDAs
Certain projects may require Members to execute a Non-Disclosure Agreement (“NDA”) before receiving any confidential information. Execution of the NDA is a condition of participation in such projects, and Members must strictly comply with its terms in addition to this Agreement.

4.7 Survival
The confidentiality obligations in this Section survive the termination, expiration, or suspension of membership for an indefinite period or as otherwise required by law.

5. Intellectual Property Rights

5.1 Ownership of Work Product
Unless otherwise agreed in a separate written contract, all project-related work products, deliverables, content, documentation, strategies, tools, processes, and methodologies created, developed, or contributed to by Members in connection with consulting engagements facilitated by or conducted through Compear Global Education Network LLC (“Compear”) shall be deemed “works made for hire” and are the exclusive property of Compear.

5.2 Member Contributions
To the extent any work product or contribution made by a Member is not deemed a “work made for hire” under applicable law, the Member hereby irrevocably assigns, transfers, and conveys to Compear all rights, title, and interest in and to such contributions, including all intellectual property rights therein, without additional consideration beyond the agreed project compensation.

5.3 Client License
Clients engaged through the Collective may be granted a non-exclusive, non-transferable, limited license to use project deliverables solely for the purpose(s) specified in the applicable consulting agreement. No client may reproduce, distribute, modify, sublicense, or use deliverables for purposes outside the agreed scope without Compear’s prior written consent.

5.4 Proprietary Methods and Materials
All proprietary systems, templates, curricula, processes, and methodologies developed by or on behalf of Compear—whether or not used in a specific client project—remain the sole property of Compear. Members and clients are prohibited from using these materials for any purpose other than the specific engagement for which they were provided.

5.5 Unauthorized Use
Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or disclosure of Compear’s intellectual property, including sharing project materials with non-authorized parties, constitutes a breach of this Agreement and may result in immediate termination of membership, legal action, and pursuit of damages.

5.6 Dispute Resolution
Any dispute regarding ownership or use of intellectual property will first be addressed through good-faith negotiation between the parties. If unresolved, Compear reserves the right to pursue all legal and equitable remedies available under applicable law.

6. Liability and Indemnification

6.1 Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Compear Global Education Network LLC (“Compear”), its officers, directors, employees, contractors, affiliates, and agents shall not be liable to any Member or third party for any indirect, incidental, consequential, exemplary, punitive, or special damages, including without limitation loss of profits, loss of data, loss of business opportunities, or reputational harm, even if Compear has been advised of the possibility of such damages. This limitation applies regardless of the legal theory under which such liability is asserted.

6.2 Assumption of Risk
Members acknowledge and accept that participation in the Collective, including collaborative consulting projects, may involve inherent risks, and agree to assume full responsibility for any such risks to the extent permitted by law. Members further agree to take all reasonable steps to minimize potential harm, financial loss, or exposure to liability to themselves, Compear, other Members, and clients.

6.3 Indemnification
Members shall defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Compear, its officers, directors, employees, contractors, affiliates, and fellow Members from and against any and all claims, demands, actions, suits, liabilities, losses, damages, judgments, settlements, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising directly or indirectly from:

  • The Member’s acts or omissions, including negligence or willful misconduct;

  • Breach of this Agreement or any project-specific agreement;

  • Violation of any applicable law or regulation; or

  • Misuse of Compear’s name, brand, proprietary materials, or confidential information.

6.4 No Partnership or Employment
Membership in the Compear Consulting Collective does not create an employment relationship, partnership, joint venture, agency, or fiduciary relationship between the Member and Compear. Members are independent professionals responsible for their own taxes, insurance, licenses, and compliance with applicable laws. Participation in the Collective does not guarantee consulting assignments, payment, or ongoing engagement of any kind.

6.4 Survival
The obligations and protections set forth in this Section shall survive the termination, expiration, or suspension of a Member’s participation in the Collective.

7. Membership Activation and Termination

7.1 Activation
Membership becomes active upon formal acceptance of the Member’s application by Compear and, where applicable, receipt of the first payment of membership fees. Acceptance is at Compear’s sole discretion and may be based on professional qualifications, capacity alignment, and adherence to the Collective’s values and participation standards.

7.2 Voluntary Termination by Member
Members may terminate their membership by providing written notice to Compear. Termination will take effect at the end of the current billing cycle. Members remain responsible for completing any active project commitments or deliverables and must ensure an orderly transition of responsibilities before their termination date.

7.3 Termination by Compear
Compear may suspend or terminate a membership, with written notice, for any of the following reasons:

  • Violation of this Agreement or any project-specific agreement;

  • Non-payment of applicable fees;

  • Conduct deemed harmful to the reputation, operations, or mission of Compear or the Collective;

  • Breach of confidentiality or misuse of Compear’s intellectual property; or

  • Failure to participate in good faith in projects or Collective activities.

7.4 Fees
All membership fees are non-refundable, regardless of the date of termination, except where prohibited by applicable law.

7.5 Obligations Upon Termination
Upon termination, Members must:

  • Complete any outstanding obligations to clients or projects, unless otherwise released in writing by Compear;

  • Cooperate in the orderly transfer of project responsibilities, materials, and access credentials;

  • Immediately return or securely destroy any Compear or client confidential information, in accordance with Section 4 of this Agreement.

7.6 Survival
Provisions relating to confidentiality, intellectual property, liability, indemnification, and any other obligations intended to survive termination shall remain in full effect after a Member’s departure from the Collective.

8. Inactivity Policy

8.1 Definition of Inactivity
A Member will be considered “inactive” if they have not meaningfully participated in Collective activities, attended meetings, contributed to discussions, responded to communications within a reasonable time frame, or engaged in any project-related work for a continuous period of six (6) months.

8.2 Review Process
If a Member is identified as inactive, Compear leadership will:

  1. Provide written notice to the Member outlining the period of inactivity and requesting a response within fourteen (14) calendar days.

  2. Offer the Member the opportunity to explain circumstances contributing to inactivity and, where appropriate, propose a plan for re-engagement.

8.3 Possible Outcomes
Following review and consideration of any Member response, Compear leadership may:

  • Re-engagement – Provide resources, mentoring, or scheduling adjustments to support a return to active status.

  • Hiatus – Grant a temporary pause in membership for personal or professional reasons, with a mutually agreed-upon reactivation date.

  • Status Revision – Downgrade from Canopy Membership to Root Membership if inactivity impacts engagement with advanced benefits.

  • Termination – End membership in accordance with Section 7 if inactivity persists without valid justification or the Member fails to respond to the inactivity notice.

8.4 Effect on Benefits and Opportunities
While inactive, Members forfeit eligibility for leadership roles, priority consideration in consulting proposals, and participation in active projects. Restoration of such benefits is contingent upon returning to active status.

8.5 Exceptions
Compear leadership may make discretionary exceptions in cases of medical leave, family emergencies, military deployment, or other verified extenuating circumstances. Members are encouraged to communicate promptly if such circumstances arise.

8.6 Connection to Termination
Failure to respond to inactivity notices, continued inactivity beyond an approved hiatus period, or refusal to participate in re-engagement efforts may be treated as voluntary withdrawal or may result in termination under Section 7.

9. Dispute Resolution

9.1 Good-Faith Resolution
Members and Compear agree to make reasonable, good-faith efforts to resolve any disputes, disagreements, or concerns through open, respectful, and collaborative dialogue consistent with the mission, vision, and values of the Collective.

9.2 Mediation Process
If a dispute cannot be resolved through direct discussion, either party may request the involvement of Compear’s advisory board to serve as a neutral internal mediator. The advisory board may facilitate a resolution process or recommend that the parties engage a qualified third-party mediator.

9.3 Project-Specific Disputes
Disputes arising from a specific consulting engagement will first be addressed in accordance with the dispute resolution provisions of the relevant project-specific agreement or contract. If unresolved, such disputes may be referred to mediation before any party pursues litigation or arbitration.

9.4 Costs of Mediation
Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the parties will share equally in the costs of mediation. Each party will bear its own legal and professional fees.

10. Amendment Policy

10.1 Right to Amend
Compear reserves the right to amend, modify, or update this Agreement at any time in order to reflect changes in law, policy, operations, or the needs of the Collective.

10.2 Notice and Acceptance
Members will receive written notice of any amendments at least fourteen (14) calendar days before they take effect. Continued participation in the Collective after the effective date of the amendments constitutes the Member’s acceptance of the updated terms.

10.3 Member Termination Option
If a Member does not agree to the amended terms, they may terminate their membership in accordance with Section 7 before the effective date of the amendment.

11. Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of North Carolina, without regard to its conflict of laws provisions. Any legal action or proceeding arising under or relating to this Agreement shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in North Carolina, and each party hereby irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of such courts.

12. Contact Information

Christina Thompson
Email: info[at]compear.org