Next Practice Partners
Next Practice Partners is a US boutique consulting firm helping parks and recreation agencies, municipalities, and special districts with master planning, leadership training, and AI readiness advisory.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersCarmel, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Next Practice Partners does
Next Practice Partners is a US-based boutique consulting firm founded by Neelay Bhatt and headquartered in Carmel, Indiana, with reported founding in 2022 and headcount of 1-10 employees. The firm serves parks and recreation agencies, municipalities, and special districts through three service lines: Planning (master plans, strategic plans, organizational assessments, CAPRA accreditation support), Speaking & Training (keynotes and leadership/customer service training), and Technology Consulting (AI readiness assessment and emerging technology advisory). Its core technology asset is a proprietary Custom AI Framework developed to assess city and parks agency AI readiness and guide adoption, alongside a multi-year research series tracking AI adoption in the parks and recreation sector. Notably it also operates the TEDSports Indianapolis 2025 conference, which delivered AR/VR immersive experiences.
The firm monetizes through professional services engagements priced on a quote/project basis with no publicly disclosed rates or tiers. Go-to-market is sales-led and driven primarily by founder reputation (Disney, Super Bowl, Olympics track record), TEDx curation roles, and an NRPA trustee position that produces inbound interest from government clients. Customer base is entirely public sector across at least 38 named municipal and special-district clients including Los Angeles County (serving 12 million residents), Chicago Park District (3,000 employees trained), Atlanta, Broward County, Charlotte-Mecklenburg County, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, San Diego, Fremont, and San Jose. Aggregate planning work has recommended over $2.5 billion in facility and infrastructure improvements. The firm is privately held, discloses no funding, and appears to be founder-owned with no institutional investment evident.
Next Practice Partners firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Next Practice Partners
- Legal name
- Next Practice Partners
- Website
- https://benextpractice.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Next Practice Partners is a US boutique consulting firm helping parks and recreation agencies, municipalities, and special districts with master planning, leadership training, and AI readiness advisory.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Next Practice Partners industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Parks and recreation consulting
- NAICS
- Management Consulting Services (54161), Other Management Consulting Services (541618)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Sector & Policy Consulting (BPAHACAN)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Organization Design & Operating Model Consulting (BPAHAGAB)
Keywords
Where Next Practice Partners is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Carmel
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Next Practice Partners business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Planning Consulting: Master planning and strategic planning services for parks and recreation agencies, including community engagement, facility assessments, and infrastructure improvement recommendations.
- Speaking & Training: Keynote speaking, leadership training, and professional development programs for parks and recreation professionals and agencies.
- Technology Solutions: AI integration and technology advisory services helping municipalities and parks agencies adopt emerging technologies.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels8 records
Next Practice Partners product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Next Practice Partners is a management consulting firm that helps parks and recreation agencies, municipalities, and special districts prepare for the future through three integrated service lines: Planning (master plans, strategic plans, and organizational consulting), Speaking & Training (keynotes, leadership and customer service training), and Technology Consulting (AI readiness assessment and emerging-technology adoption). The firm also produces annual research products, including Social Media Engagement Rankings and the multi-year Perception & Impact of AI in Parks and Recreation report.
Product overview
Next Practice Partners operates as a consulting firm rather than a traditional software product company, offering three interconnected service lines: Planning (strategic master planning and organizational consulting), Speaking & Training (keynotes and professional development), and Technology Consulting (AI readiness assessment and technology adoption guidance). The firm has developed proprietary intellectual property including a Custom AI Framework and produces annual research products such as the Social Media Engagement Rankings and the multi-year Perception & Impact of AI in Parks and Recreation study. Their technology practice, led by AI specialists, helps public sector agencies navigate AI adoption, distinguishing them from pure-play consulting through published research and frameworks.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Planning Services Strategic master planning, organizational strategy, and facility development consulting for parks and recreation agencies, including community engagement and needs assessment, targeted at municipal park and recreation departments, special districts, and county agencies.
- Speaking & Training Keynote presentations, professional training programs, and workshops focused on leadership, customer service culture, guest experience, and industry trends, delivered for parks and recreation professionals and agencies.
- Technology Consulting Advisory services that help parks and recreation agencies assess AI readiness, guide technology adoption, and integrate AI and emerging technologies into planning and operational workflows.
- Social Media Engagement Rankings Annual benchmarking report that ranks parks and recreation agencies' social media performance and engagement, providing industry-wide benchmarks and insights for park and recreation marketing teams.
- Perception & Impact of AI in Parks and Recreation Research Multi-year research initiative and annual report tracking AI adoption, perception, and impact across the parks and recreation industry, providing agencies with actionable insights on AI integration.
- Custom AI Framework Proprietary AI assessment and integration framework developed to help cities and parks and recreation agencies evaluate readiness for AI adoption and guide implementation of AI in planning and operational workflows.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $2.5 billion in recommended facility and infrastructure improvements across major metropolitan areas
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Next Practice Partners
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Next Practice Partners technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability6 records
Feature3 records
Next Practice Partners partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
39 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Activate ATLminorParks and recreation partner organization listed in company partner showcase.
- Batavia Park DistrictminorParks and recreation partner organization listed in company partner showcase.
- Broward CountycoreMajor county client for master and strategic planning work with facility development recommendations.
- CarlsbadminorParks and recreation partner organization listed in company partner showcase.
- Carmel Clay Parks & RecreationminorPartner organization from Indiana listed in company partner showcase.
- Channahon Park DistrictminorParks and recreation partner organization listed in company partner showcase.
- Chicago Park DistrictcoreMajor client for world's largest municipal customer service and leadership training initiative for 3,000 employees.
- CoronadominorParks and recreation partner organization listed in company partner showcase.
- City of DanvilleminorMunicipal parks and recreation partner organization listed in company partner showcase.
- Details HospitalityminorHospitality partner organization listed in company partner showcase.
- Fremont RecreationcoreKey client where team member Suzanne Wolf served as Community Services Director leading parks master plan and urban forest management plan development.
- Glenview Park DistrictminorParks and recreation partner organization listed in company partner showcase.
- Gurnee Park DistrictcoreClient for Parks & Recreation Master Plan engagement.
- Huntley Park DistrictminorParks and recreation partner organization listed in company partner showcase.
- Idaho FallsminorParks and recreation partner organization listed in company partner showcase.
- Indianapolis ParkscoreMajor client for master and strategic planning work; co-organizer of TEDSports Indianapolis 2025 conference.
- JCSD (Jurupa Community Services District)minorParks and recreation partner organization listed in company partner showcase.
- Los Angeles CountycoreMajor client for business and operations plans serving 12 million people.
- Las VegascoreMajor city client for master and strategic planning work.
- Lisle Park DistrictcoreClient for project work with precise command of project and community.
- City of MiamiminorParks and recreation partner organization listed in company partner showcase.
- MontroseminorParks and recreation partner organization listed in company partner showcase.
- Mountain ViewminorParks and recreation partner organization listed in company partner showcase.
- NorfolkminorParks and recreation partner organization listed in company partner showcase.
- Oregon City ParksminorParks and recreation partner organization listed in company partner showcase.
- Parks & Recreation MagazineminorPartner organization listed in company partner showcase.
- PflugervilleminorParks and recreation partner organization listed in company partner showcase.
- Roanoke ParksminorParks and recreation partner organization listed in company partner showcase.
- San Diego ParkscoreMajor city client for master and strategic planning work.
- San Jose ParkscoreClient where team member Suzanne Wolf previously served in Deputy Director role managing $23M budget and 180 staff.
- South PasadenaminorParks and recreation partner organization listed in company partner showcase.
- Suffolk ParksminorParks and recreation partner organization listed in company partner showcase.
- TED/TEDxcoreNeelay Bhatt serves as curator for TEDxCollegePark, TEDxIndianapolis, and TEDxIndianapolisWomen; co-organized TEDSports Indianapolis 2025.
- UplandminorParks and recreation partner organization listed in company partner showcase.
- US SailingminorSports partner organization listed in company partner showcase.
- Warrenville Park DistrictminorParks and recreation partner organization listed in company partner showcase.
- Windsor ParksminorParks and recreation partner organization listed in company partner showcase.
- National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA)coreNeelay Bhatt serves as NRPA trustee. Multiple team members serve on NRPA certification boards and conference committees.
- City of VistacoreClient for first-ever Parks & Recreation Master Plan described as transformative.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Next Practice Partners competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- LehmanMcManus: Parks, recreation, and open-space planning consultancy serving municipalities with master planning and facility feasibility work — directly comparable deliverable set and client segment.
- BerryDunn: Full-service consulting and CPA firm with a dedicated parks and recreation practice that delivers master planning, operational assessments, and feasibility studies to municipal agencies — competes head-to-head for the same RFPs.
- ETC Institute: National market research firm specializing in community, parks, recreation, and citizen surveys used as input to master plans and strategic plans — competes for adjacent budget in the same municipal planning engagements.
- PROS Consulting: One of the largest dedicated parks, recreation, and sport facility consulting firms in North America, offering master planning, feasibility studies, and operational assessments to municipal park districts — directly comparable to Next Practice Partners' Planning service line.
- GreenPlay: Parks and recreation consulting firm focused on master planning, strategic planning, and operational assessments for municipalities and special districts across the U.S. — closely overlapping offering with Next Practice Partners.
- RRC Associates: Boutique parks, recreation, and open-space planning and market research firm serving municipalities with master plans, needs assessments, and community engagement — directly comparable service mix and client base.
- McMahon Associates: Engineering and planning firm with a parks and recreation practice delivering master planning and infrastructure consulting to municipalities — adjacent peer with overlapping client procurement.
- BPL Planners: Parks and recreation planning firm delivering master plans, facility assessments, and community engagement for park districts — comparable scale and consulting-led model.
Emerging players
- OLIN: Landscape architecture and urban design firm that leads parks master plans and public-space strategy for major cities — competes for marquee urban park planning commissions that overlap with Next Practice Partners' largest engagements.
Broad incumbents
- Accenture Public Service: Global consulting giant with a public-service practice increasingly advising state and municipal agencies on AI adoption and digital transformation — represents the large-incumbent threat to Next Practice Partners' AI advisory positioning.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Next Practice Partners social profiles
Digital presenceNext Practice Partners compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Next Practice Partners financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Next Practice Partners leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Next Practice Partners funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Next Practice Partners 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 Next Practice Partners
What does Next Practice Partners do?
Next Practice Partners is a management consulting firm that helps parks and recreation agencies, municipalities, and special districts prepare for the future through three integrated service lines: Planning (master plans, strategic plans, and organizational consulting), Speaking & Training (keynotes, leadership and customer service training), and Technology Consulting (AI readiness assessment and emerging-technology adoption). The firm also produces annual research products, including Social Media Engagement Rankings and the multi-year Perception & Impact of AI in Parks and Recreation report.
Is Next Practice Partners a public or private company?
Next Practice Partners is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Next Practice Partners founded?
Next Practice Partners was founded in 2022. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Next Practice Partners based?
Next Practice Partners is headquartered in Carmel, United States, in the North America region.
How does Next Practice Partners make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Planning Consulting is the primary driver. The others are speaking & Training and technology Solutions.
Who are Next Practice Partners's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are LehmanMcManus, BerryDunn, ETC Institute, PROS Consulting, GreenPlay, RRC Associates, McMahon Associates and BPL Planners. OLIN is listed as an emerging player. Accenture Public Service is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Next Practice Partners have an API?
No public API is recorded for Next Practice Partners.
What industry is Next Practice Partners in?
Next Practice Partners's product category is Parks and recreation consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHACAN, Public Sector & Policy Consulting, with a secondary code of BPAHAGAB, Organization Design & Operating Model Consulting. Its NAICS code is 54161 and its SIC code is 8742.