Carter Development Group
Carter Development Group is a founder-owned, federal 8(a)-certified management consultancy that delivers organizational development, conflict resolution, and inclusive leadership services to U.S. government agencies, educational institutions, non-profits, and corporations through proprietary frameworks including The Ellison Model and the MEI Pillars Framework.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersTamarac, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Carter Development Group does
Carter Development Group (CDG) is a Tamarac, Florida-based, founder-owned professional services firm specializing in organizational development, conflict resolution, and inclusive leadership consulting. Founded circa 1999 and led by Dr. Adrian N. Carter, Sr., Ph.D., CDG serves federal, state, and local government agencies, K-12 and higher education institutions, non-profits, and corporations, with a particularly heavy concentration of municipal and county government clients across the U.S. plus select Caribbean engagements. The firm holds Federal 8(a) Business Development certification and a GSA Schedule, enabling direct federal procurement access.
CDG's core product is a suite of proprietary, trademarked frameworks delivered through consulting engagements, training programs, and a recently launched certification program. The flagship methodologies include The Ellison Model (TEM), the Carter MEI Pillars Framework, the OKRA Racial Equity Harm Assessment Compass, the S.H.I.F.T. Roadmap, the 4D Belonging Framework, and The Gardener Metaphor. In April 2026 the firm rolled out the MEI Pillars Framework as a national standard and introduced tiered MEI Certification (Gold, Silver, Bronze), repositioning its offerings from DEI toward Merit, Excellence, and Intelligence (MEI) governance consulting in response to regulatory scrutiny of DEI programs. Supporting products include the MEI Baseline Readiness Diagnostic and a wholly-owned creative agency subsidiary, AICONIC Creative Agency, which provides inclusive branding and strategic messaging services.
The business model is professional services-based and sales-led. Revenue is generated through project-based consulting engagements, leadership and management training, executive coaching, mediation/facilitation, and the newly introduced MEI Certification. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is determined per engagement scope. Distribution is direct, via the company website, email/contact forms, and direct outreach to government and institutional buyers enabled by 8(a)/GSA status, supplemented by a small ecosystem of strategic partners (ICB Productions, A Ritch Enterprise, OptiMind Institute, Bussey Consulting Group). The firm is privately held with no disclosed institutional investors.
Carter Development Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Carter Development Group
- Legal name
- Carter Development Group, LLC
- Website
- https://carterdevgroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Carter Development Group is a founder-owned, federal 8(a)-certified management consultancy that delivers organizational development, conflict resolution, and inclusive leadership services to U.S. government agencies, educational institutions, non-profits, and corporations through proprietary frameworks including The Ellison Model and the MEI Pillars Framework.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Carter Development Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Management Consulting (DEIB and Organizational Development)
- NAICS
- Management Consulting Services (54161)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) & Belonging Consulting (BPAHAGAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- DEI, Equity & Inclusion Advisory (BPACAJAJ), Executive Leadership & C-Suite Development (EDABAAAA)
Keywords
Where Carter Development Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tamarac
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Carter Development Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Organizational Development Consulting: Services include Merit, Excellence, Intelligence Consulting, Strategic & Master Planning, Mediation & Facilitation, Human Resources Consulting, Inclusion & Belonging Consulting, Research & Development, Employee Engagement, and Community Outreach.
- Learning & Development Services: Services include Executive Coaching, Leadership Development Training, Management Training, Conflict Resolution Training, and Workforce Development programs.
- Business Development Services: Services include Business Planning, Business Process Engineering, and AICONIC Creative Agency services for inclusive branding and strategic messaging.
- MEI Certification: Certification program offering Gold, Silver, and Bronze levels for organizations that implement measurable, merit-based workforce governance systems.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Carter Development Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Carter Development Group provides DEIB consulting, conflict resolution, and leadership development services to government agencies, educational institutions, non-profits, and corporations. The firm delivers organizational development, learning and development, and business development consulting grounded in proprietary frameworks including The Ellison Model, MEI Pillars Framework, and the OKRA Racial Equity Harm Assessment Compass. Core deliverables include strategic planning, executive coaching, mediation, human resources consulting, inclusion and belonging consulting, and formal MEI Certification at Gold, Silver, and Bronze levels.
Product overview
Carter Development Group offers a portfolio of consulting and certification products centered around The Ellison Model inclusive leadership framework and the Carter MEI Pillars Framework™. The core offerings include the MEI Pillars Framework (a metrics-driven governance model), MEI Certification™ (formal recognition at Gold/Silver/Bronze levels), and the MEI Baseline Readiness Diagnostic™ (assessment tool). Supporting products include Inclusive Leadership Certification, the OKRA Racial Equity Harm Assessment Compass®, the 4D Belonging Framework™, and The Gardener Metaphor. The company also provides Organizational Development, Learning & Development, and Business Development consulting services, plus AICONIC Creative Agency for branding and strategic messaging.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- AICONIC Creative Agency: Division focused on inclusive branding and strategic messaging
- MEI Pillars Framework
- The Ellison Model
- OKRA Racial Equity Harm Assessment Compass
Quantifiable outcome
- Organizations establish measurable standard practices (MSPs) across workforce systems
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Carter Development Group
Customer profileNamed customers25 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Carter Development Group technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
Carter Development Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.
- ICB ProductionscoreICB Productions is a training, management, and consulting firm specializing in developing human capital for organizations and businesses. They offer training sessions and certifications for business, government, education, and religious organizations, with management solutions focused on building positive relationships between administrators, managers, the workforce, and clients.
- A Ritch Enterprise, LLCcoreAn African American woman-owned company offering resource management services including product development, professional development, and business development for professional leaders, CEOs, and business owners. Focuses on establishing marketplace identity and social-cultural brand for clients.
- OptiMind InstitutesecondaryAn International Coaching Federation (ICF) accredited program designed for novice or reputable coaches, trainers, and leaders, utilizing neuroscience principles to help clients and businesses achieve their potential.
- Bussey Consulting GroupsecondaryProvides scalable Human Resource Consulting Services with certified HR consultants who can respond to HR and HRIS needs for start-ups and small businesses that want a solid foundation from which to grow.
- AICONIC Creative AgencycoreA division of Carter Development Group focused on inclusive branding and strategic messaging for clients, operating at https://www.be-aiconic.com/.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Carter Development Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Carter Development Group social profiles
Digital presenceCarter Development Group compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Carter Development Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Carter Development Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Carter Development Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Carter Development Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Carter Development Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Carter Development Group
What does Carter Development Group do?
Carter Development Group provides DEIB consulting, conflict resolution, and leadership development services to government agencies, educational institutions, non-profits, and corporations. The firm delivers organizational development, learning and development, and business development consulting grounded in proprietary frameworks including The Ellison Model, MEI Pillars Framework, and the OKRA Racial Equity Harm Assessment Compass. Core deliverables include strategic planning, executive coaching, mediation, human resources consulting, inclusion and belonging consulting, and formal MEI Certification at Gold, Silver, and Bronze levels.
Is Carter Development Group a public or private company?
Carter Development Group is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Carter Development Group founded?
Carter Development Group was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Carter Development Group based?
Carter Development Group is headquartered in Tamarac, United States, in the North America region.
How does Carter Development Group make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Organizational Development Consulting is the primary driver. The others are learning & Development Services, business Development Services and MEI Certification.
Does Carter Development Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Carter Development Group.
What industry is Carter Development Group in?
Carter Development Group's product category is Management Consulting (DEIB and Organizational Development). Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAGAJ, DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) & Belonging Consulting, with a secondary code of BPACAJAJ, DEI, Equity & Inclusion Advisory. Its NAICS code is 54161 and its SIC code is 8742.