Rivers & Roads Consulting

What Rivers & Roads Consulting does

Rivers & Roads Consulting is a privately held strategy consulting firm headquartered in Easton, Maryland, that partners with mission-driven organizations to address strategic complexity, stakeholder alignment, and implementation gaps. The firm was founded by Sam Shoge and Ross Benincasa and serves nonprofits, government agencies, educational institutions, healthcare organizations, and community development entities primarily across the Mid-Atlantic region, with disclosed engagements extending into West Virginia, New Jersey, and Delaware.

The firm offers eleven core consulting service lines including Strategy & Planning, Leadership & Capacity Building, Governance & Board Development, Workforce & Talent Development, Change Management, Program & Initiative Development, Association & Nonprofit Management, Stakeholder Engagement & Facilitation, Diversity Equity & Belonging, Resource Development & Fundraising Strategy, and Real Estate Development Strategy. Its underlying intellectual property is the proprietary Growth & Clarity Plan framework, a structured methodology that moves clients from understanding what is at stake through strategy design to sustained implementation, augmented by in-house design studio capabilities for visualization and communications. The firm does not operate a software platform; service delivery is human-consultant-led. Notable client engagements include Upper Shore Aging (community needs assessment across three Maryland counties), City of Cumberland (housing and economic mobility strategic plan), Town of Chestertown (redevelopment feasibility study), Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Easton (five-year strategic plan), and UMB (workforce development initiative), among others.

Rivers & Roads generates revenue through fee-for-service, quote-based bespoke consulting engagements on a project basis with ongoing implementation advisory retainers available. The go-to-market motion is sales-led and relationship-driven, relying on direct outreach to executive directors, mayors, board chairs, and agency leaders; thought leadership content; regional earned media; conference sponsorships; and referral networks among regional councils and state agencies. The firm has pursued growth through two acquisitions of boutique consulting firms — KVN Partners (May 2025, business advisory) and RYS Consultants (October 2025, DEIB and health equity) — bringing acquired founders onto the eight-person team.

Name

Rivers & Roads Consulting

Legal name

Rivers & Roads, LLC

Website

https://riversandroads.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Rivers & Roads Consulting is an Easton, Maryland-based boutique strategy consulting firm serving mission-driven nonprofits, municipalities, and public-sector clients across the Mid-Atlantic, offering strategic planning, leadership development, DEIB, and implementation support via a proprietary Growth & Clarity Plan framework.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Strategy Consulting Services

NAICS

Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services (541611)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Strategy & Corporate Development Consulting (BPAHACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Sector & Policy Consulting (BPAHACAN), Real Estate Development & Feasibility Advisory (Highest-and-Best-Use, Entitlements Support) (BPAJANAC)

Keywords

• Strategy consulting services
• Nonprofit consulting
• Organizational development
• Leadership development
• Strategic planning services

Headquarters

HQ city

Easton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Consulting Services: Rivers & Roads generates revenue through fee-for-service consulting engagements. Services include strategic planning, organizational development, program design, stakeholder facilitation, real estate development strategy, resource development/fundraising strategy, DEIB strategy, and implementation advising. Engagements are structured as projects with ongoing implementation support retainers available.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Rivers & Roads Consulting is a boutique strategy consulting firm that partners with mission-driven organizations, municipalities, educational institutions, and nonprofits to cut through complexity, align stakeholders, and execute bold strategies. The firm delivers eleven core consulting services including strategic planning, governance and board development, leadership and capacity building, change management, DEIB strategy, workforce development, real estate development strategy, and resource development. Engagements are structured as projects with ongoing implementation support, all anchored by the firm's proprietary Growth & Clarity Plan framework.

Product overview

Rivers & Roads Consulting operates as a strategy consulting firm offering professional advisory services rather than a software product company. The firm provides a portfolio of consulting service offerings organized across multiple practice areas. The core services include Leadership & Capacity Building, Governance & Board Development, Strategy & Planning, Workforce & Talent Development, Change Management, Program & Initiative Development, Association & Nonprofit Management, Stakeholder Engagement & Facilitation, Diversity Equity & Belonging, Resource Development & Fundraising Strategy, and Real Estate Development Strategy. These services are delivered across 10 industry verticals including Nonprofits & Human Services, Education & Workforce Development, Government & Public Sector, Healthcare & Public Health, Trade & Professional Associations, Economic & Community Development, Small Business & Entrepreneurship, Arts & Tourism, Real Estate & Land Use, and Philanthropy & Foundations. The firm has acquired two boutique consulting firms (RYS Consultants in 2025 for DEIB/health equity expertise and KVN Partners in 2025 for business advisory capabilities) expanding its service portfolio. The Growth & Clarity Plan framework serves as the firm's overarching methodology for client engagements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Leadership & Capacity Building

Quantifiable outcome

• Quadrupled revenue since founding and acquired three boutique consulting firms, reflecting business growth and market demand.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RYS ConsultantscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Rivers & Roads acquired RYS Consultants, a boutique firm founded by Dr. Ruth Shoge, OD, MPH, that specializes in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) strategies for healthcare and education sectors. This acquisition expanded Rivers & Roads' capabilities in health equity and DEIB strategy.
• KVN PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025Rivers & Roads acquired KVN Partners, a boutique business advisory firm founded by Kate Van Name. Kate Van Name joined Rivers & Roads as a Consultant, bringing over 30 years of executive leadership experience. KVN Partners specialized in strategy, coaching, and transformation for entrepreneurs and community leaders.
• Upper Shore Regional CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Upper Shore Regional Council (USRC) funded and partnered on multiple Rivers & Roads projects including a redevelopment feasibility study for underutilized municipal land, the Rock Hall Marine Trades Workforce Development Feasibility Study, and the Municipal Development Consulting Program (MDCP). USRC contracted Rivers & Roads to conceptualize and design MDCP, a program providing technical assistance to municipalities across Cecil, Kent, and Queen Anne's counties. Rivers & Roads also delivered an economic impact study for the Town of Charlestown funded by USRC.
• Chesapeake CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChesapeake College was identified as a key partner in the Rock Hall Marine Trades Workforce Development Feasibility Study, working with Rivers & Roads and regional stakeholders to address workforce challenges in the maritime sector.
• Upper Shore Community Development PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Upper Shore Community Development Partnership funded the Minority Entrepreneurship Training Accelerator (META) pilot program, which was developed and delivered by Rivers & Roads for Queen Anne's County Economic Development.
• Neighborhood Design CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeighborhood Design Center hosted 'The Vision is Yours,' a regional placemaking conference sponsored by Rivers & Roads. Rivers & Roads played an active role in the conference's Creative Connections Exchange as a Conversation Host.
• Preservation MarylandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRivers & Roads was selected by Preservation Maryland in collaboration with National Park Service Chesapeake Gateways to develop a suite of training videos focused on historic preservation, heritage tourism, and smart growth for gateway communities across the Chesapeake Bay region.
• National Park Service Chesapeake GatewaysminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Preservation Maryland and Rivers & Roads on a training video series for historic preservation and heritage tourism in Chesapeake Bay gateway communities.
• Chesapeake Community Development (subsidiary of The Arc Central Chesapeake Region)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRivers & Roads played a key role in the Easton Crossing and Silo Square redevelopment, working with Chesapeake Community Development on mixed-use development projects on the former Perdue grain facility site.
• Barton Ross & Partners Architects (BRPA)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRivers & Roads supported the revitalization of the historic Shady Rest Country Club through marketing collateral, fundraising strategy, and conceptual design renderings, working in close coordination with Barton Ross & Partners Architects as the lead firm on the project.
• Rock Hall Mayor James Cook and Town of Rock HallminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThe Town of Rock Hall, led by Mayor James Cook, engaged Rivers & Roads to conduct a feasibility study for a marine trades workforce training center, funded by the Upper Shore Regional Council. The engagement also involved the Rock Hall Economic Development Commission.
• University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) / Eastern Shore Rural Health Scholars ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChris Wheedleton of Rivers & Roads entered a strategic partnership with UMB to support the Eastern Shore Rural Healthcare Educational Opportunities Initiative, developing the Eastern Shore Rural Health Scholars program to create a healthcare professional pathway.
• The Arc Central Chesapeake RegionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRivers & Roads partners with The Arc Central Chesapeake Region on community development initiatives, including delivering a community development presentation to the executive leadership team and supporting affordable housing through Chesapeake Neighbors.
• International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChris Wheedleton of Rivers & Roads partnered with the University of Delaware's Office of Professional and Continuing Studies to deliver Executive Leadership development for IFPA Fellows at Chesapeake Farms in Chestertown, MD.
• Queen Anne's County Economic and Tourism DevelopmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRivers & Roads developed the Minority Entrepreneurship Training Accelerator (META) pilot program, funded by Queen Anne's County Economic and Tourism Development, to empower minority entrepreneurs throughout the region.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Leavitt Partners: A health policy and strategy consulting firm — comparable in healthcare/public health and cross-sector advisory work, given Rivers & Roads' emphasis on health equity and workforce strategy.
• The Herald Group: A strategic communications and public affairs firm serving mission-driven clients — comparable across nonprofit advocacy, association strategy, and government engagement.
• Hinman Straub: A public affairs and government relations firm advising associations, nonprofits, and public-sector clients — comparable in government-facing strategy and association management work.
• Spitfire Strategies: A mission-driven strategy and communications consultancy serving nonprofits, foundations, and advocacy organizations — directly comparable to Rivers & Roads' nonprofit and social-change focus.
• The Forbes Tate Group: A bipartisan public affairs and strategy firm advising corporations, nonprofits, and associations — comparable across government relations and nonprofit strategy practices.
• Civitas Strategies: A mission-driven public affairs and consulting firm serving nonprofits and advocacy organizations — overlaps with Rivers & Roads' stakeholder engagement and DEIB offerings.
• Clyde Group: A public affairs and strategic communications firm serving nonprofits, associations, and mission-driven clients — closely aligned with Rivers & Roads' public sector and association segments.
• 270 Strategies: A progressive strategy and organizing firm advising campaigns, nonprofits, and advocacy efforts — comparable in nonprofit/cause-based strategy consulting with an implementation bent.
• M+R: A national nonprofit consulting firm supporting nonprofits with strategy, fundraising, and digital engagement — comparable in client base, mission orientation, and growth-oriented nonprofit advisory work.
• BCT Partners: A mission-driven management consulting firm specializing in DEIB, social impact, and equity work — overlaps directly with Rivers & Roads' DEIB and health equity practice post-RYS Consultants acquisition.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@RiversRoadsConsulting
• Facebookfacebook.com/61579857131827
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/riversandroads

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Rivers & Roads Consulting