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Let’s change the conversation

A Strategic Advisory Practice for Systemic Challenges, Reputation Risk, and Influence.

North Coast Strategies is not a traditional PR firm or public affairs shop. It’s a strategic consultancy built to help leaders move forward when systems stall. We don’t just manage communications—we solve complex problems, shape high-stakes narratives, and build coalitions that create lasting change.

We operate where institutions fall short, where reputation meets risk, and where conversations have the power to unlock policy, capital, and momentum. At North Coast Strategies, we don’t wait for a seat at the table—we build the table and make sure the right people show up.

Strategic communications| Crisis management/Discret PR | Systems Facilitation

ABOUT US

Established in 2005, NORTH COAST STRATEGIES is an independent global strategic communications and public affairs consultancy. We offer a unique blend of strategic communication, crisis management, and transformative facilitation to foster open dialogues, solve complex problems, and effect systemic change.

We manage our clients' communications and media relations while focusing on proactive crisis preparedness, reputation management, and the facilitation of complex discussions around public policy and social issues.

We’ve witnessed the transformative power of strategic public relations in elevating our client’s visibility, attracting additional funding, and positioning them as leaders in solving the world's most urgent environmental issues. Our approach to PR is rooted in crafting compelling narratives that enhance visibility and underscore the tangible impact and innovation brought about by the companies we work with. Our efforts have contributed to securing extensive media coverage in premier outlets like The Economist, Reuters, Bloomberg, and The Wall Street Journal, spotlighting significant investment ventures and propelling our clients to the forefront of the industry. This includes leading the companies we work with to become a finalist for The Earthshot Prize, one of Fast Company’s 10 Most Innovative Companies, Time’s 100 Most Influential Companies, and Inc. Magazine’s Best in Business.

What Makes Us Unique

North Coast Strategies is a solopreneur-led consultancy doing work that doesn’t fit neatly into predefined boxes—and that’s exactly the point. Clients don’t come to us for traditional services. They come when the usual playbook isn’t working, the stakes are high, and the path forward is unclear.

We partner with leaders navigating complex, sensitive, and often high-risk challenges—from fractured coalitions and reputational threats to policy inertia and public system breakdowns. What we bring is clarity, discretion, and momentum. We cut through confusion, connect the dots across silos, and help the right conversations happen—quietly and strategically.

I’m not a PR firm, law firm, or lobbyist. I’m a strategic advisor who helps you move forward when systems stall, when tensions rise, or when the cost of inaction is too high.

Every engagement is senior-led and outcome-driven. No bloated teams. No rigid process. Just deep experience, candid advice, and the right collaborators brought in as needed. We work behind the scenes to protect reputations, align stakeholders, and help mission-driven companies and coalitions solve the problems that matter most.

From climate tech founders and behavioral health advocates to public institutions and infrastructure leaders, our clients don’t need noise. They need results. That’s what we deliver.

A STRATEGY BASED ON RELATIONSHIPS
DRIVEN BY IMPACT

We Turn Obstacles into Opportunities

We help organizations and leaders navigate complex challenges, manage reputational risk, and drive meaningful change. Through strategic communications, crisis management, and stakeholder facilitation, we position our clients to shape conversations, build influence, and turn obstacles into opportunities. Whether protecting a reputation, amplifying a message, or fostering collaboration, we ensure that every action leads to a lasting impact.

Strategic Communications. Capturing Attention, Building Influence, Driving Impact.

You have a message that matters, but attention is the most valuable currency in today’s fragmented media landscape. We don’t just secure media coverage—we ensure that every message, interview, and opportunity creates a lasting impact by reaching the right audience at the right time. Through a strategic, multi-platform approach, we turn visibility into influence, helping you shape conversations, build credibility, and drive meaningful change.

Crisis Communications and Discrete PR. Protecting Reputations, Preserving Influence.

Reputational risk is everywhere, and in today’s fast-moving media landscape, a single misstep can escalate into a crisis. I help high-profile individuals and organizations stay ahead of threats with low-visibility, high-impact solutions—knowing when to engage when to hold back, and how to mitigate risk without amplifying the issue. With a background in law, government, and strategic communications, I align crisis response with a legal and reputational strategy to protect your brand, career, or legacy—before challenges become public scandals.

Multiparty Stakeholder Engagement: From Collaboration to Action

Complex challenges require more than problem-solving—they demand real progress. We bring together policymakers, nonprofits, businesses, and community leaders to remove barriers, align diverse voices, and create meaningful change. Instead of chasing broad, abstract solutions, we focus on targeted, strategic shifts that generate momentum and lead to lasting impact. Through facilitation, collaboration, and strategic alignment, we help organizations move from discussion to action.

 
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BOLD + EXPERIENCED LEADERSHIP

Dan is a communications strategist, crisis advisor, and facilitator who helps organizations navigate high-stakes challenges, protect reputations, and drive systemic change. Leveraging his experience as a litigator, Communications Director for the City of Detroit, federal lobbyist for the Detroit Regional Chamber, and founder, he brings a measured, strategic approach to complex and polarizing environments.

His work spans industries and sectors, from climate technology and sustainability to corporate crisis management and stakeholder alignment. He has helped companies announce groundbreaking investments, including:

  • a $100 million investment by Carlyle & Verizon Ventures in Fermata Energy, a vehicle-to-grid technology firm

  • a $50 million investment by Microsoft Climate Innovation Fund in LanzaJet, a sustainable aviation fuel company

  • a $30 million investment by ArcelorMittal in LanzaTech, a carbon capture and transformation pioneer

Dan has also led high-profile product and partnership announcements, including the world’s first laundry capsule made from industrial carbon emissions (Unilever & LanzaTech), tires made from recycled rubber (Bridgestone), and carbon-based fashion collaborations (On, Zara, and lululemon). His expertise extends to government partnerships, working with agencies such as the U.S. Department of Energy and the UK Department for Transport on sustainable aviation and energy solutions.

Crisis Management and Reputation Protection

Reputation is an asset that must be proactively managed—not just repaired in a crisis. Whether helping a CEO navigate an FDA hearing, protecting a university’s transplant program after a critical error, or managing sensitive workplace misconduct allegations, Dan provides high-level, discreet crisis counsel that enables executives to emerge stronger and more resilient.

His crisis experience includes:

  • litigation and regulatory communications to align public messaging with legal strategy

  • workforce crises, workplace misconduct, and executive reputation management

  • navigating NGO and activist campaigns that threaten corporate or organizational credibility

  • mitigating misinformation and political backlash in highly sensitive industries

Dan is known for his calm, strategic thinking in high-pressure environments and his ability to turn today’s threats into tomorrow’s opportunities.

Stakeholder Engagement and Systemic Change

Dan's work is characterized by bringing diverse voices together to create real change. He has built coalitions, facilitated high-stakes negotiations, and helped organizations find their seat at the table—or build a new one when necessary.

Some of his leadership in stakeholder engagement includes:

  • Forming and leading The Collective (formerly MI Behavioral Health & Wellness Collaborative), a coalition of 17 independent community mental health providers serving 80,000 people across Wayne County, Michigan. His advocacy has helped save community-based agencies thousands of dollars while increasing access for underserved populations.

  • Co-facilitating an urban transit strategy that united eight municipalities after a critical opt-out decision by Ann Arbor, affecting 372,000 residents in Washtenaw County

  • Helping nonprofit leaders and executives influence policy and fill service gaps by strategically positioning them in key conversations and decision-making spaces.

A Mindset of Strength, Strategy, and Resilience

Dan’s approach to leadership is shaped by his Midwestern roots, his commitment to direct, candid advice, and his ability to balance strategy with execution. As a trained mediator, he thrives in high-stakes environments that require de-escalation, clarity, and decisive action.

Beyond his professional work, Dan is deeply committed to his community. He serves as a trustee of Detroit’s Music Hall, a board member for a senior living organization and a family services nonprofit, and a past board member of the Small Business Association of Michigan.

Married for 25 years with three grown children, Dan finds balance through strength training, mountain biking, kayaking, grilling, and long road trips with his family. After running a marathon at 50, he has embraced a midlife mindset centered on strength, resilience, and longevity—both in business and life.

A Courageous, Compassionate, Steady Leader!

“I specialize in facilitating critical conversations that bring diverse groups together to tackle challenging issues and protect your reputation. By breaking down barriers and fostering trust, we not only hear every voice but also collaborate on finding sustainable solutions that make a real difference. My approach transforms dialogues into actions, building stronger communities and improving lives. Let’s start the conversation.”

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A crisis is a specific, unexpected, and non-routine event or series of events that create high levels of uncertainty and simultaneously present a company with both opportunities for and threats to its’ reputation. 

We help companies and their boards turn today’s threats into opportunities. Today’s crises, climate change, polarization, greenwashing, misinformation, cybersecurity, government investigations, public corruption, white collar crime, and political crises, represent a handful of the environmental, social, and governance issues creating material risks and opportunities for corporations and investors. With our experience as lawyers, former government officials, and in media relations, we help you keep on guard so you are not caught off guard.

  • Every company in every industry faces its own set of risks. However, the crisis itself doesn’t always do the most damage— The handling of the crisis often does.

  • Crisis management is the process used to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies in order to minimize any damage a crisis may occur to one’s reputation.

  • The best way to handle a crisis is to prepare. But 90% of us don’t, so when a crisis hits we are all caught OFF GUARD.

Crisis Management Services

01. Readiness

Strategic planning + preparedness

Asses legal risk and public exposure to minimize impact

Create a customized crisis management playbook based on vulnerabilities

Media + social media monitoring

Media training

Crisis simulations

02. Response

Actively work with executives to manage a crisis.

Mobilize & manage response team activity across various communications channels.

Media outreach

Stakeholder engagement

Serve as company spokesperson

03. Reassurance

Influencer outreach

Social media engagement

Testimony preparation

Government relations

Litigation communications

Stakeholder engagement

04. Recovery

We will help you restore your reputation after an incident.

A Crisis collab.
Your crisis Management Team

No individual can be an expert in crisis management. However, a team of professionals, skilled in key disciplines, with an ability to remove themselves from the chaos of a crisis, can be an effective response team. We have created a network of influencers, given the issue, to help steer you through a crisis.

This includes: Lawyers. Accountants. Forensics Specialists. Social Media Professionals, and others.

Transformative Facilitation

Welcome to

Kitchen Table Consulting

 
 

LET’S CHANGE THE CONVERSATION!

At Kitchen Table Consulting (North Coast Strategies facilitation service), we believe everyone’s voice deserves to be heard. We aim to bridge philanthropists, government entities, and communities, driving consensus and actionable outcomes to tackle societal challenges. With a seasoned leadership team, including politically savvy attorneys and experts in conflict management, public relations, and community engagement, we're equipped to navigate the complexities of systemic change. 

What We Do

We specialize in creating peer-to-peer forums for networking, problem-solving, and idea exchange, enhancing service delivery, and closing systemic gaps. Our facilitation goes beyond conventional dialogue, employing a Collaborative Impact Framework to build shared understanding and quick wins for lasting social change.

Our Approach: Shaping Impact Through Collaboration

  • Goal Identification and Influence Mapping: We start by pinpointing goals that resonate with policymakers and stakeholders, focusing on areas ripe for high-impact wins. These goals are chosen for their clarity, potential for broad support, and capacity to inspire collective action.

  • Agenda Development and Root Analysis: Our agenda is crafted to align with these goals, simplifying complex issues into manageable focuses. We aim for a mix of straightforward issues and bold, transformative ideas, all backed by data and compelling narratives, to ensure they capture attention and drive action.

  • Refining the Message: We refine our messaging through detailed research and data analysis to resonate across audiences, including policymakers. This precision in communication ensures our agenda is heard and can be acted upon effectively.

  • Alliance Building and Partnership Formation: By identifying the root causes of critical issues, our framework emphasizes the power of diverse voices and partnerships. Together, we build a coalition poised to support our agenda and amplify our impact.

  • Storytelling and Media Engagement: We shape the public narrative through strategic storytelling and media engagement, highlighting inefficiencies and advocating solutions. By focusing on solutions, we keep the conversation constructive and forward-moving.

  • Adaptability and Patience: Recognizing the dynamic nature of politics and societal change, our framework is inherently flexible. We are prepared to pivot strategies as necessary, always keeping our mission, values, and goals in clear view. Understanding that meaningful results take time, we remain patient yet vocal, committed to driving change.

 Our Vision

To catalyze philanthropic efforts, transforming conversations into actions that address critical issues and promote sustainable solutions for societal advancement.

Our Mission

Serve as the conduit for impactful dialogue, consensus-building, and fostering actionable outcomes to meet broader societal challenges.

Change Begins at the Kitchen Table

We change the conversation by focusing on controllable elements, identifying small changes with significant impacts, and stepping in proactively where needed. Our work is grounded in patience, flexibility, and a commitment to systemic transformation, measuring success by the diversity and caliber of voices at the table.

Join Us

Together, we can create meaningful, lasting change. Let's turn conversations into actions that shape a better future.