Sterling Management
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Management consulting |
| Founded | 1983 in Vacaville, California, United States |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Kevin C. Wilson (CEO and Chairman) |
| Products | Business administration training and seminars |
| Parent | Emery Wilson Corporation |
Sterling Management is a privately held consulting firm specializing in management, under the leadership of CEO and Chairman Kevin C. Wilson. As a subsidiary of Emery Wilson Corporation, the company focuses on delivering business administration training and seminars inspired by the principles of L. Ron Hubbard. Its clientele primarily consists of professionals such as dentists, accountants, veterinarians, optometrists, and practitioners in various private medical fields. Established in 1983 in Vacaville, California, Sterling currently operates from a 20,000-square-foot headquarters located in Los Angeles.
Services
Operating with authorization from WISE (World Institute of Scientology Enterprises), which regulates commercial applications of L. Ron Hubbard's materials, Sterling provides structured training programs aimed at practice owners and executives at its Los Angeles location. Additionally, it conducts weekend workshops across multiple cities nationwide throughout the calendar year.
History
Between 1994 and 2015, Emery Wilson underwent a substantial reduction in its workforce, decreasing from approximately 300 employees to only 25 as a result of economic downturns.
Relationship to the Church of Scientology
Although licensed to instruct in L. Ron Hubbard's administrative techniques, Sterling asserts that it is not affiliated with any religious institution. Nevertheless, the company's Director of Public Affairs has acknowledged that the majority of its staff members are adherents of Scientology.
Criticism
Sterling Management has been subject to criticism for employing aggressive sales approaches and utilizing methods reminiscent of those practiced by the Church of Scientology. These include assertive marketing strategies, rigorous productivity expectations, and stringent rules governing employee behavior. The organization has been likened to an "est"-style movement, drawing parallels to Werner Erhard's Erhard Seminars Training.
In 1990, Glover Rowe and his spouse claimed they were forcibly detained by Scientologists following their participation in Sterling seminars, asserting that undergoing auditing was essential for their business's continuation. Sterling has refuted these accusations as exaggerated and false, attributing their origin to anti-Scientology groups. The company also pointed out Rowe’s revoked dental license and prior criminal record in its rebuttal.