Council Fire

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the South American Director of the Oceans Program at an environmental nonprofit.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Council Fire?

We were looking to improve our strategy for work in South America.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Council Fire provided strategy and consulting services. They helped me finalize some strategy documents that we used for fundraising with donors and communicating what the program is accomplishing. 

The team also advised on certain aspects of the strategy where they had the expertise, such as sustainable supply chains. They developed a market study fo fishing terminals around the world to help us determine the cost-benefit of building a new finishing terminal in Chile. This project involved based on the political situation in Chile and how public funding could contribute, so they helped us monitor the situation. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with tow members of the Council Fire team, George (President & CEO, Council Fire) and Michael (Consultant, Council Fire).

How did you come to work with Council Fire?

I have had a working relationship with George for a while now, we were initially introduced through my boss here who had worked with him many times. Since he has advised on other company projects and was familiar with our organization, it made sense to work with him again. When we needed a market supply chain specialist, it was George who suggested working with Michael.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested between $40,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our contract with Council Fire runs form June 2019–June 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

George has been an excellent mentor to some of our new program directors on the South America team. He helped me and others really understand the strategy and feel comfortable with it. We felt well-prepared and knew which direction to head with our work. That kind of business mentorship was really great.

How did Council Fire perform from a project management standpoint?

They are very timely and organized. Despite translation challenges, given that our work in South America takes place mainly in Spanish, Council Fire are excellent communicators. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Council Fire has a team of very good strategists that are easy to work with. They integrate with our team. They never felt like just any other consultant or advisor. We trusted them and their advice. George is also very approachable and has a holistic vision that he brings to every project.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Given that we are an international program, it would have been beneficial to have someone with Spanish language capabilities. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They do a great job helping with strategy formation and high-level work. They’re less the type of consulting group you would hire to do a very specific task, so it’s impermanent to know what kind of services you’re looking for.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the fisheries outreach manager for the Marine Stewardship Council. It’s a nonprofit based in London that is dedicated to improving practices in fisheries all over the world. I manage relationships with our members, as well as those interested in joining.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Council Fire?

We hold “preassessment projects” with our members. These involve analyzing several fisheries’ processes, having the results looked over by a committee, and sharing recommendations for improvement. They also raise awareness for our program. Members join voluntarily, so industry visibility is crucial to our success.

For this engagement, we wanted to conduct a preassessment for five fisheries in the Mid-Atlantic region of the US to encourage others to join our program. We needed a vendor to provide consulting services and guide us through the project.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Council Fire helped us through the three phases of the preassessment project for the Mid-Atlantic region. First, we gathered information and mapped out a plan. Their team put together a thorough profile of all regional fisheries, and we picked the best candidates to engage in the project. Then, we started forming an advisory council to act as the assessment committee. Council Fire helped us organize a 15-person panel with individuals from a variety of backgrounds. We hired a third-party to visit each fishery and review their location and practices and shared those resulted with the committee. Based on the provided analysis, they put together recommendations on how each fishery could improve their operation. Council Fire was involved in each of those phases, and we’re now working to implement the suggested improvements.

What is the team composition?

I work closely with George (President & CEO, Council Fire), Scott (Consultant, Council Fire), and Katie (Office Manager, Council Fire).

How did you come to work with Council Fire?

One of my colleagues used to work with Scott and introduced us. He connected me with the larger Council Fire team. After some deliberating, we chose them because they had experience working with fisheries and had contacts in the Mid-Atlantic region.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $60,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We signed a contract in April 2017, but they did about a year’s worth of pro-bono work before that. Our relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Everyone involved in this effort has enjoyed the process. Council Fire’s communication skills assure we’re always moving forward. They’re actively engaged with us even when there isn’t much work to do. They brought a valuable big-picture perspective to the project, which benefitted our final results. Overall, it’s been a great experience so far.

How did Council Fire perform from a project management standpoint?

They were excellent. At the beginning of the project, I visited their office. From then on, we spoke through phone calls and emails. Their team was also present anytime we met with the assessment committee.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have a lot of experience in the sustainability sector, which sets them apart from other providers.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, everything went well.

Any advice for potential customers?

Clients should set our clear objectives for the Council Fire team because they’re very goal-oriented.