PROJECTS

STRATEGIC PLANNING AND FACILITATION

We specialize in crafting a strategic planning process tailored to your organization’s unique culture. Our goal is to help you achieve your immediate and long-term objectives; we accomplish this by providing an actionable, flexible plan that serves as a tactical roadmap, guiding the entire organization toward success, rather than a static document that collects dust on a shelf.

We understand an effective process requires input and engagement from multiple internal and external stakeholders. That’s why we prioritize facilitating compelling and productive conversations among all parties. These conversations allow us to draw valuable insights from diverse perspectives, identify potential challenges, evaluate new opportunities, and help inform decisions based on solid qualitative and quantitative data.

In addition to our strategic planning services, we provide stand-alone facilitation services. We take the time to fully understand your goals and apply that understanding to design sessions to maximize engagement and generate results that align with your organizational objectives.

Municipality

Interdisciplinary planning

Facilitated a strategic planning process for a municipality resulting in new initiatives to enhance citizen services and engagement, create opportunities for recreational programming and education, boost downtown economic development, and attract skilled professionals for municipal employment. The town’s first strategic plan employs an interdisciplinary, multi-stakeholder, trackable framework to ensure effective implementation and results. Data were drawn from a citizen survey and interviews with elected and appointed officials and department heads, as well as a public planning retreat, that culminated in 5-year action plan.

Civic and Cultural Center

By and for the community

A Hudson Valley civic and cultural center engaged us to conduct a comprehensive and inclusive strategic planning process to establish a clear vision for its future. The primary objective was to determine how to meet the needs of the local community, optimize available resources, develop diverse programming, and build community engagement while ensuring sustainable, long-term growth. The project included both qualitative and quantitative data from important constituents, including performing artists and cultural organizations, businesses, civic groups, youth, volunteers, staff, and an analysis of revenue and audience data. The final plan served as a framework for evaluating opportunities and establishing decision-making criteria aligned with the organization’s ambitious vision for its venue.

Professional Association

Maximizing impact

Engaged by a national association of commuter transportation professionals to lead a comprehensive strategic planning process to strengthen the organization and expand its reach and impact. Our approach involved gathering substantial data to answer critical strategic inquiries. We identified priorities and opportunities that would provide the most significant benefit to members, enhance the organization’s influence on public policy and planning, and fortify regional chapters throughout the United States. We recommended structural modifications and the investments required to support expanded programming and initiatives.

City Makerspace

From pilot to permanent

Facilitated a strategic planning process to transition a pilot makerspace initiative into a self-sustaining organization. Our work included an organizational assessment, user demographic analysis, facility and investment requirements, benchmarking of analogous organizations, identification of potential partnerships and collaborations, funding opportunities, governance and membership structure models. Stakeholder input was collected through a community survey, interviews, and a public planning session. The resulting plan provided a roadmap that supported the organization’s transition from a volunteer-run pilot into a professionally staffed organization.

Public Library

Cultivating common ground

Conducted a community-wide planning process for a public library with three branches in one of Massachusetts’ most culturally diverse cities. The primary objectives of engaging the community through extensive outreach and gathering data to inform strategic decisions was accomplished through a range of activities, including public meetings, a community survey, outreach to faith-based and community organizations, and a geo-mapping analysis of library cardholders. Our findings confirmed the library’s pivotal role as a civic center for lifelong learning; the strategic plan we created identified specific goals and objectives aimed at meeting the needs of a highly diverse city.