Strategeries has provided the community with more than $700,000 in service since it was founded. This service has resulted in more than $2 million in capital loans, $2 million in grants and $1 million in earned income revenue. The management specialists at Strategeries are recognized experts in nonprofit and entrepreneurial business venture development -- combining quantitative analysis, precision, imagination and enthusiasm. As creative, "out of the box" future-oriented thinkers they have repeatedly helped organizations launch effective initiatives. The focus of our expertise is costing out dreams.
"We know that success is built on honest, productive, and meaningful relationships with our clients. We work well with people because we do what we say we are going to do, and we deliver useful products on time. We pride ourselves in bringing key information to these partnerships so that all of us can achieve our common goal." -- Peg Thomas, Strategeries
Peg Thomas has been a founding partner at Strategeries since Sept 11, 2001, the day the company was founded. She has since worked with more than 70 nonprofit organizations providing strategic, financial and business plans. She has facilitated planning sessions, negotiated agreements, created departments and initiatives and trained staff. Prior to Strategeries, Peg spent twelve years as Executive Director of the Grotto Foundation, guiding its growth from a $4.5 to a $33 million enterprise. Under her leadership it earned the 1998 Minnesota Council on Nonprofits 1998 Responsive Philanthropy Award and was recognized for its award-winning practices (See "Diversity Matters" at http://www.mcf.org/mcf/forum/diversity.htm). Peg's work in the nonprofit sector includes finance, operations and governance. She has, for example, conceived and implemented numerous creative financing programs, developed a national Native American language revitalization initiative, constructed program related investment projects, and spoken extensively on foundation management topics. She has helped launch a Native food production and distribution business, helped an internet company expand and worked to create the national telecommunications system for the Deaf. Peg has an MS from the University of Minnesota, an MMA from the Carlson School and an MPA from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
"We ask the right questions, embrace your vision, deliver critical information, and are clear about expectations." -- Steven Lassiter, Strategeries
Steven Lassiter has 20 years of experience in executive positions for non-profit organizations and as a consultant on business planning and financial turnarounds. He was named the Lead Consultant for the radio stations in financial distress initiative by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and has been the lead in a CPB contract with the Koahnic Broadcast Corporation. Steven is a member of the College of Consultants established by the Kellogg Foundation. He has served on the boards of directors of the National Social Enterprise Alliance and of the local Midtown Global Market--in both cases working with the leading thinking of bringing business creation and opportunity to bear on social missions. Some of his clients have included the Greater Minneapolis Daycare Association, Open Cities, UroMetrics, the Powderhorn Phillips Cultural Wellness Center, St. Paul Eastside Work Resource Hub, and CarlsonTravel.com. Steven was on Jesse Jackson's Presidential Campaign staff where he managed a $12 million national budget and served as the National Controller in the 1988 campaign. Steven holds degrees from Yale University and from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. Steven was a Bush Foundation Leadership Fellow and holds an MBA in entrepreneurship.
Peg Thomas and Steven Lassiter have had a broad range of experience serving as professionals in the community and have demonstrated success in working with diverse ethnic and racial and community leaders. As highly experienced professionals in this consulting firm, they are constantly learning and sharing their enthusiasm, energy, and expertise with the nonprofit sector.