Case Studies

Introduction:

Client confidentiality restricts our ability to publicly discuss our work in great detail. The examples below provide a general sense of the various kinds of assignments we have recently undertaken for clients.

Highly focused, quick impact project

A private equity investor for whom we have done many projects over the years asked us to look at their internal framework for tracking and reporting on significant individual investments. Working with source data, we developed a highly graphical presentation model that quickly communicates large quantities of key information, supported by comprehensive tables that allow the reader to dig deeper into the data as desired.

Broad support to a key strategic initiative

For an emerging Dallas social service agency we are providing ongoing support to a post merger integration project that involves tripling the size of the agency. Our support is focused on helping the CEO prioritize the spectrum of integration projects and resolve major issues encountered in the consolidation. On any given day, we may be collaborating on issues of IT architecture or taking measurements of cubicles so as to accelerate the resolution of space planning issues.

Carpe Diem

For a client making a strategic move into serving the K-12 education market, we restructured a problematic low-key product roll out into a highly publicized “coming out” party that attracted broad media coverage (all local TV stations) and placed substantial pressures on development partners to bring a joint-venture product creation effort to conclusion. The attendant excitement from the event allowed the client to attract new capital needed to continue its strategic repositioning.

Gordian Knots

For a client struggling with an inability to meet client needs with an internally developed client performance tracking tool, we assisted in working through the institutional issues involved in moving to a third party provider that not only provided performance tracking but also replaced traditional paper contracting and payment processes with an e-commerce based solution. This support included working with the internal project leader in soliciting proposals from prospective providers, doing do diligence on the proposals, and negotiating the final contract.

Structuring the Endowment

For a client moving for the first time into an environment of endowment support, we prepared an in-depth review of the financial dynamics of total-return based endowments, illustrating the income risks associated with such endowments and creating a stable-support oriented model for structuring the relationship between the endowment and the beneficiary.

Outsourced Corporate Development

For a privately held client, we have been engaged repeatedly to deal with corporate development issues as they arise. This support has included conducting a rigorous assessment of the strategic landscape during a period of rapid industry changes, working with an investment banker on a prospective corporate transaction, discussing opportunities with other industry players, and putting in place some of the foundation pieces to support a prospective IPO.