The Consulting Process
Dr. Lary works at the leadership level. Every engagement is scoped with intention. Her craft is understanding the work to be done and strategically bringing the right people together — assessing stakeholder dynamics, understanding how the pieces of a system connect, and facilitating the conversations that create clarity and direction. That same grounding carries into execution — tracking the details, anticipating where complexity will surface, and holding the big picture as a project moves toward results.
Pre-Engagement
a. Complimentary Introductory Call
A 30-minute conversation to explore fit for both parties. No obligation, no commitment. This is a mutual assessment: does the need align with the work, and is this the right relationship to move forward with? For some engagements, this conversation provides enough context to move directly to a proposal.
b. Discovery
For engagements that benefit from deeper context, a focused Discovery session follows the Introductory Call. Discovery may be a phone conversation, a virtual meeting, or an in-person visit. For larger or more complex engagements, Discovery may include additional points of contact beyond organizational leadership. Format, length, and participants are determined based on engagement scope. The goal is to understand the context, the people, and what this engagement needs to produce.
c. Customized Proposal
Following discovery, Dr. Lary develops a tailored engagement proposal scoped to the group's specific need, size, and moment. Identifies the engagement type, format, timeline, and appropriate details. Complimentary to develop and present.
The Value of an Outside Partner
A skilled outside partner brings neutrality, objectivity, and no stake in the outcome — only in the quality of the process and the results. That creates the conditions for an honest conversation and clear-eyed execution. When a leader brings in outside support, they signal something important to the group: this moment, or this work, matters enough to do it right. Whether the engagement is a single facilitated session or an extended project consulting partnership, it creates the space for every voice to contribute and for the work to move forward together.
Practical Parameters
Geography: Ventura and Santa Barbara counties (primary), with engagements across Southern California and beyond, including public agency and government partnerships. Travel by arrangement.
Format: Facilitated sessions run half day, full day, or multi-day, structured around what the group needs to accomplish. Project Consulting is structured to fit the engagement — hybrid, on-site, or travel, as needed.
First step: Complimentary Introductory Call.
"Laurie helped us articulate a clear picture of what we hoped to achieve and the importance of doing it, helped us get the right capable partners engaged, and led effective two-way communication throughout that helped keep us all informed of the latest activities. Through it all, Laurie was positive, highly professional, and extremely effective."
— Jaime Fall, Workforce and Economic Strategies Director, Economic Development Collaborative