Final answer:
The business partner could have avoided the personal antagonism by establishing ground rules for behavior in meetings.
Step-by-step explanation:
The business partner could have best avoided the situation by establishing ground rules for behavior in meetings at the first meeting.
By setting clear expectations for how committee members should interact and communicate with each other, the business partner could have prevented personal antagonism and interruptions during meetings. This would have created a respectful and productive environment for developing the program of employee appreciation events.