MFR Consultants

What MFR Consultants does

MFR Consultants, Inc. is a privately held, Philadelphia-headquartered management and IT consulting firm founded in 1989 by Maria Frizelle Roberts. The firm delivers integrated Business Advisory, Information Technology, and Project Management services to public-sector clients across federal, state, and local government, defense and public safety, healthcare and human services, education, transportation, and energy and environment verticals. MFR supports engagements including digital transformation, system modernization, IT service management, grants administration (ARPA SLFRF, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law), and process optimization, with delivery teams staffed cross-functionally from its Philadelphia headquarters and a Dallas-Fort Worth regional presence.

The firm has productized portions of its public-safety practice into three proprietary solutions: SaferStops, an acoustic gunshot-recognition system combining hardware sensors, a web application, and a mobile app with a proprietary ML algorithm trained to detect gunfire and alert dispatch within a 3-foot radius; VectorPro, a four-phase predictive public-safety analytics service that models crime patterns, historical arrests, and resource allocation; and AIR9 Advisor, an AI-readiness assessment offering. Supporting technology includes Azure Cloud, SQL Server, Python, AWS-certified infrastructure, and an authenticated MFR Client System portal for engagement delivery.

MFR operates a project-based, quote-based professional-services revenue model with no public pricing; engagements are scoped via website contact form or direct outreach. The firm is WBE/MBE certified and an SBA 8(a) program graduate, giving it preferential access to set-aside government contracts. The leadership team includes strategic advisors Michael Nadol (former Philadelphia Deputy Mayor and Director of Finance) and Dr. Frank Linnehan (Dean Emeritus, Drexel LeBow), plus former KPMG Partner Christina Chepel as Director. The firm has approximately 30 employees (down from a 2020 peak of more than 40 across nine states) and has explored limited international engagement in South Korea and Taiwan.

Name

MFR Consultants

Legal name

MFR Consultants, Inc.

Website

https://mfrconsultants.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MFR Consultants is a Philadelphia-based, privately held management and IT consulting firm founded in 1989 that delivers integrated business advisory, IT, and project management services to U.S. public-sector clients across government, defense and public safety, healthcare, education, transportation, and energy, with proprietary productized solutions including SaferStops and VectorPro.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Management Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Strategy & Corporate Development Consulting (BPAHACAA)

Keywords

• Public sector consulting
• Management consulting services
• IT consulting
• Business advisory
• Project management consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Management & IT Consulting Engagements: Core revenue is generated through project-based professional services engagements in business advisory, information technology, and project management for public-sector and institutional clients. Engagements span digital transformation, process optimization, system modernization, IT service management, and information governance, typically delivered via multi-week to multi-month statements of work.
2. Public-Sector Contracts & Grants-Adjacent Work: Revenue is supported by federal, state, and local government contracting. The firm has been an SBA 8(a) program graduate, is a certified local business entity (WBE/MBE), received ComcastRISE 2023 grant support ($5,000 plus consultations), and pursues task orders and grants-administration engagements (e.g., ARPA SLFRF, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law ESG work).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

MFR Consultants provides integrated management consulting across Business Advisory, Information Technology, and Project Management service lines for federal, state, and local government agencies and institutional clients in healthcare, defense & public safety, education, energy & environment, and transportation. The firm packages this consulting practice with proprietary solution offerings — SaferStops (acoustic gunshot-recognition technology for law enforcement), VectorPro by MFR (four-phase public-safety analytics service), and AIR9 Advisor (AI-readiness assessment) — to deliver scoped engagements typically sourced through direct sales, set-aside contracting, and event-driven relationship building.

Product overview

MFR Consultants is a Philadelphia-based integrated consulting firm rather than a single SaaS product; its portfolio combines three core service lines (Business Advisory, Information Technology, and Project Management) with three distinct productized solutions (SaferStops — an acoustic gunshot-recognition technology combining hardware, software, and a mobile app; VectorPro by MFR — a four-phase predictive public-safety analytics service; and AIR9 Advisor — listed under its Solutions menu), plus the MFR Client System client portal and an AI Readiness consulting offering. The core platform is the consulting delivery model across government, healthcare, defense & public safety, transportation, education, and energy & environment verticals; SaferStops and VectorPro are vertical product extensions anchored in the Defense & Public Safety practice, the AI Readiness offering extends the Information Technology service line, and the Client System serves as the authenticated client access layer for engagements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SaferStops: Acoustic gunshot recognition technology integrating hardware, software, and a mobile application to detect gunfire during police traffic stops, notify dispatch centers, and alert nearby officers in real time.
• VectorPro
• AIR9 Advisor

Products and services

• Business Advisory Services MFR Consultants' Business Advisory service line covers business strategy, process optimization, performance management, organizational analysis, and healthcare and human services practice leadership for public-sector and enterprise clients. It is one of three integrated core service lines (alongside Information Technology and Project Management) that the firm packages for client engagements.
• Information Technology Services MFR Consultants' Information Technology service line covers IT consulting, system modernization, digital transformation, IT service management, software and data engineering (Azure Cloud, SQL Server, Python, Sybase), QA testing, and IT field services for government and public-sector clients. It is one of three core service lines delivered in an integrated consulting model.
• Project Management Services MFR Consultants' Project Management service line delivers project, program, and portfolio management services to public-sector and enterprise clients, with engagements staffed by certified Scrum Masters and CAPM-certified staff. It is one of three core service lines that MFR packages together in integrated consulting engagements.
• SaferStops SaferStops is an acoustic gunshot-recognition technology built by MFR Consultants that combines physical hardware sensors, a software web application, and a mobile app to detect gunshots during police traffic stops. A proprietary machine-learning algorithm detects the gunshot and notifies the dispatch center with location data accurate to within a 3-foot radius, alerting nearby officers in real time; officers can flag false alarms from the mobile app.
• VectorPro by MFR VectorPro by MFR is a four-phase public-safety analysis service that uses crime-rate data analysis, historical arrest pattern analysis, and predictive resource-allocation modeling to help municipal and law-enforcement agencies address defined crime problems (e.g., catalytic converter theft, shootings, DUI crashes) and produce strategic reports on resource reallocation.
• AIR9 Advisor AIR9 Advisor is an MFR Consultants solution listed under the firm's Solutions navigation, positioned to support clients' AI-adoption readiness. It is referenced alongside SaferStops and VectorPro as one of MFR's proprietary solution offerings.
• MFR AI Readiness Solution MFR Consultants' AI Readiness solution is a custom consulting deliverable in which MFR produces a personalized AI Readiness report evaluating an organization's data, infrastructure, people, culture, and governance to plan its path toward AI adoption. Marketed as a flagship advisory offering within MFR's Information Technology service line.

Quantifiable outcome

• 458% five-year revenue growth rate (2011-2015), cited as basis for 2016 ICIC Inner City 100 award
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered strategic - member connections panel participation with president & ceo maria roberts, supporting global trade positioning for greater philadelphia heading into 2026., strategic - technology partnership delivering cch installation for the city of philadelphia via mfr-cpi openfox integration., strategic - the aacc recognized maria roberts as "board member of the year" in 2020 and has been a long-standing community affiliation, with the comcastrise 2023 grant delivered in partnership with the chamber., strategic - maria roberts serves as co-chair of the economy league's philadelphia anchors for growth and equity (page) initiative alongside the city of philadelphia and more than a dozen institutional partners., minor - maria roberts joined merakey's board of directors in early 2019, lending mfr credibility in the developmental/behavioral health, education, and human-services sector., exploratory - mfr plans to travel back to south korea within 18 months to build on these conversations and pursue asian-market expansion., minor - market-development partnership enabling mfr to support clients arp and iims in penetrating taiwanese and broader asian markets., strategic - biotechnology/nanotech client mfr helps bring to market, including joint participation in the taiwanese american science and technology association meetup for international expansion., strategic - materials-science client that mfr helps bring to market alongside arp, with shared participation in the taosta meetup., core - mfr was a gold sponsor of phorum philly 2016, the flagship pact enterprise-technology conference, giving it access to technology leaders and key prospects. and strategic - foundational relationship that supported mfr's federal-contracting capabilities and its 8(a) program graduation; maria roberts cites sba training as central to mfr's growth..

• World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphiastrategic - member connections panel participation with president & ceo maria roberts, supporting global trade positioning for greater philadelphia heading into 2026.GTM or Marketing Partner · 28 February 2025Maria Roberts participated in the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia's Member Connections event as a panelist on proactively navigating the global trade landscape. The engagement emphasizes financial and supply chain solutions, innovation, adaptability, and collaboration, and positions MFR within Greater Philadelphia's global trade leadership conversation.
• CPI (Computer Projects of Illinois / OpenFox)strategic - technology partnership delivering cch installation for the city of philadelphia via mfr-cpi openfox integration.Technology or Integration · 30 June 2022MFR-CPI Partnership implemented the CCH installation for the City of Philadelphia via the OpenFox platform. CPI's OpenFox is a public-safety records system; the partnership positions MFR as a delivery and integration partner for CPI in the Philadelphia market.
• African-American Chamber of Commerce of PA, NJ & DEstrategic - the aacc recognized maria roberts as "board member of the year" in 2020 and has been a long-standing community affiliation, with the comcastrise 2023 grant delivered in partnership with the chamber.GTM or Marketing Partner · 29 January 2021MFR maintains an ongoing affiliation with the African-American Chamber of Commerce of PA, NJ & DE, including Maria Roberts' service on the board and her receipt of the Chamber's "Board Member of the Year" award at its 27th Annual Meeting on October 29, 2020. The Chamber advocates for minority-owned businesses in the Delaware Valley and Southeastern Pennsylvania.
• Economy League of Greater Philadelphiastrategic - maria roberts serves as co-chair of the economy league's philadelphia anchors for growth and equity (page) initiative alongside the city of philadelphia and more than a dozen institutional partners.Strategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Maria Roberts serves as co-chair of the Philadelphia Anchors for Growth and Equity (PAGE) initiative, a partnership between the Economy League, the City of Philadelphia, and more than a dozen Philadelphia-area institutions. PAGE works to increase local purchasing by large institutional buyers to grow Philadelphia businesses, strengthen the local economy, create jobs, and build wealth.
• Merakeyminor - maria roberts joined merakey's board of directors in early 2019, lending mfr credibility in the developmental/behavioral health, education, and human-services sector.Strategic or Co-development Partner · 16 January 2019Maria Frizelle Roberts joined the Merakey Board of Directors in January 2019. Merakey is a nonprofit leader in developmental health, behavioral health, and education serving individuals and families in need. Roberts' extensive healthcare background and 30+ years of consulting experience align with Merakey's mission.
• Korean Tech Executive Partners (unnamed)exploratory - mfr plans to travel back to south korea within 18 months to build on these conversations and pursue asian-market expansion.Strategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2018MFR President & CEO Maria Roberts traveled to South Korea in late 2018 for two weeks, meeting with executives at a Korean Tech company including Bio Tech and Bio Pharmaceutical Division leaders, with the goal of expanding MFR's reach into Asian markets. MFR plans additional Korea travel within 18 months.
• Taiwanese American Science and Technology Association (TAOSTA)minor - market-development partnership enabling mfr to support clients arp and iims in penetrating taiwanese and broader asian markets.Strategic or Co-development Partner · 28 August 2018MFR Consultants attended the TAOSTA meetup hosted by Dr. Bill Wu at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Gaithersburg, MD, alongside technology clients Applied Research & Photonics and Innovative Institute for Material Studies. The event focused on biotech, efficient energy, and healthcare analytics industries and surfaced strategic partnership opportunities for MFR's clients in Taiwan.
• Applied Research & Photonics (ARP)strategic - biotechnology/nanotech client mfr helps bring to market, including joint participation in the taiwanese american science and technology association meetup for international expansion.Strategic or Co-development Partner · 20 August 2018MFR Consultants supports ARP, a biotechnology and nanotechnology research firm, on pricing models and bring-to-market strategies for proprietary solutions. MFR and ARP jointly attended the TAOSTA meetup in Gaithersburg, MD to explore Taiwanese market opportunities.
• Innovative Institute for Material Studies (IIMS)strategic - materials-science client that mfr helps bring to market alongside arp, with shared participation in the taosta meetup.Strategic or Co-development Partner · 20 August 2018MFR Consultants supports IIMS on pricing models and bring-to-market strategies for its proprietary materials-science solutions, and joined IIMS and ARP at the Taiwanese American Science and Technology Association meetup to identify cross-border commercialization opportunities.
• PACT (Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technologies)core - mfr was a gold sponsor of phorum philly 2016, the flagship pact enterprise-technology conference, giving it access to technology leaders and key prospects.GTM or Marketing Partner · 29 April 2016MFR Consultants was a Gold Sponsor of Phorum Philly 2016 hosted by the Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technologies (PACT) at the Filmore. The conference showcased the newest trends in enterprise technology, with panels on Data-Driven Engagement, Predictive Analytics, Big Data, and keynotes by Paul DePodesta.
• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) & Women's Business Enterprise Council (WBEC)strategic - foundational relationship that supported mfr's federal-contracting capabilities and its 8(a) program graduation; maria roberts cites sba training as central to mfr's growth.GTM or Marketing Partner · 9 June 2015Maria Roberts partnered with the SBA and the Women's Business Enterprise Council to deliver the "Doing Business with the Federal Government" webinar series, including a session on Information Technology Marketing. MFR is a graduate of the SBA 8(a) program, and credits SBA training as instrumental in scaling federal sales.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ICF International: Mid-sized public-sector consulting and digital services firm with deep federal, health, energy, and environment practices. Closely comparable to MFR's vertical mix (government, healthcare, energy & environment) and IT modernization delivery model, though at substantially greater scale.
• CGI Federal: U.S. federal subsidiary of CGI Inc., delivering IT modernization, system integration, and public-safety technology to federal, state, and local agencies — including law-enforcement records systems comparable to MFR's CPI/OpenFox CCH work for the City of Philadelphia.
• Attain Partners: Mid-sized management and technology consulting firm focused on public sector, higher education, and nonprofit clients — closely comparable to MFR in size, vertical mix (government, education, healthcare), and integrated advisory + IT delivery model.
• Maximus: Public-sector services firm specializing in health and human services program administration, digital modernization, and citizen engagement — closely comparable to MFR's healthcare & human services vertical and government program management work.

Broad incumbents

• Booz Allen Hamilton: Largest U.S. public-sector IT and management consulting firm serving federal, defense, and civilian agencies. Directly comparable to MFR in its federal/state/local government IT advisory and defense & public-safety practices, but at materially greater scale and with cleared-personnel advantages.
• Accenture Federal Services: Federal services arm of Accenture delivering IT modernization, digital transformation, and AI advisory to U.S. federal clients. Comparable to MFR's IT and AI-readiness offerings, but operating at a vastly larger scale and with deep-cleared personnel.
• SAIC: Large federal IT integrator serving defense, intelligence, and civilian agencies with systems integration, digital transformation, and analytics — overlapping with MFR's defense & public safety and IT consulting practices.
• Deloitte Government & Public Services: Public-sector arm of Deloitte Consulting serving federal, state, and local clients across defense, healthcare, human services, and transportation — overlapping with MFR's core verticals at much greater scale and with a Big-4 delivery model.
• ManTech International: Federal services and IT firm focused on defense, intelligence, and federal civilian agencies. Comparable to MFR's public-safety and defense practice areas, including law enforcement technology deployments.

Emerging players

• Mission Multiplier Consulting (CGI subsidiary) / The Clearing: Smaller U.S. management consulting firms serving federal, defense, intelligence, and law enforcement clients with strategy, organizational change, and IT advisory — comparable in scale and vertical mix to MFR's public-safety and defense practice.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/maria-frizelle-roberts-b093814
• Xx.com/mfrconsultants
• Facebookfacebook.com/MFRConsultants

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MFR Consultants