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SERVICES

What We Do

CDR makes collaboration possible.

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For over 45 years, we have led multiparty problem-solving and engagement processes to help partners—from small staff teams to large international alliances—develop long-lasting plans and successful on-the-ground projects.

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Our work is inherently interdisciplinary, collaborative, and adaptive. The following service areas represent many of the services we offer but are not an exhaustive list. We pride ourselves on developing innovative tools and strategies for meeting the needs of our clients and partners, so please contact our team to discuss the support you need.​​​​

Facilitation & Convening

 

We improve group effectiveness by designing productive discussions, eliciting participation, and resolving conflict—beyond one-off agendas and meetings. We strengthen coalitions and partnerships by helping participants understand each other’s interests and concerns, leading to smoother communication and more trusted relationships. Our facilitation techniques are aimed at building partnerships and creating space for equitable and inclusive dialogue.​

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Agenda Design & Meeting Facilitation

Structuring and leading meetings to maximize the value of participants’ time and achieve specific objectives, such as presenting data, documenting feedback, or brainstorming ideas—without letting any one perspective dominate another.

Public & Partner Engagement

 

We plan and implement activities that build trust, raise awareness, and ensure that communities and collaborators are meaningfully involved in decision-making processes. By synthesizing input into actionable recommendations, our team strengthens final decisions and project design.

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Using a variety of tools and techniques, we engage several different types of stakeholders: state agencies, councils of government (COGs), community-based organizations (CBOs), Tribal governments, municipal staff, regional coalitions, elected officials, business improvement districts (BIDs), and members of the public, among others.​​

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Public Meetings & Open Houses

Informational meetings and presentations—both in person and virtual—to keep communities up to date, address questions and concerns, and collect feedback on preliminary ideas.

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Strategic Planning & Policy Development

 

We generate tools, strategies, and analysis to guide long-term planning and policy development. Our skilled team also supports clients in implementing priorities by identifying methods for tracking progress and effectiveness, structuring systems of accountability and follow-through, and aligning investments of time and resources.

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Collaborative, interest-based problem solving is central to our planning and policy development approach: we help organizations realize the importance of procedural improvements and psychological obstacles alongside technical solutions.

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Strategic & Action Planning

Facilitated workshops, interviews, and exercises to build consensus around mission/vision/values for shared priorities—including key programs and services and multi-year planning timelines—and identify detailed implementation steps based on staff capacity, available resources, and the necessary sequence of actions.

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Training & Capacity Building

 

We provide hands-on assistance to strengthen teams’ and individuals’ skills, resources, and readiness to design, fund, and implement impactful projects. Our team works with agencies, organizations, and communities to increase local capacity, designing strategies that specifically address their day-to-day challenges and opportunities.

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Learn more about our standardized courses (for groups of individual participants) and customized training workshops (for whole teams and organizations) on the Courses page.

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Training & Peer Learning

Custom training programs for internal teams and coalitions that incorporate hands-on application of skills, relevant simulations for practicing skills, and team-building to deepen working relationships.

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Mediation & Conflict Resolution

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In the spirit of CDR's founding, we offer third-party assistance to teams, organizations, and collaboratives facing conflict in their work. When interpersonal challenges arise or foundational disagreements prevent a project from moving forward, we provide procedural guidance to the disagreeing parties. Our team design a series of discussions to reach agreement, often emphasizing principles of interest-based problem solving and empowering parties to develop potential solutions using a shared, collaborative outlook on the issue.​​​

Working with Tribes

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In all of our projects, across all service areas listed above, CDR is committed to supporting Tribes and Native-led organizations with planning for a resilient, prosperous future.

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The CDR team brings deep experience in Tribal strategic planning, natural resource management, climate resilience, and with government-to-government consultation, partner collaboration, and community engagement. In all our work with Tribes, we strive to help Tribal governments exercise their sovereignty and to honor Indigenous Knowledge, tradition, and culture as the foundation for any plan, project, or process.

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We draw on decades of experience supporting Tribal governments and Native-led organizations from the start of a project to the end. This includes setting up empowered decision-making processes, mapping and assessing environmental resources, identifying community-led solutions, managing projects, and evaluating program effectiveness.

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CDR believes in building long-term, trusted relationships with our Tribal partner and clients, and to help them develop meaningful, implementable plans and projects. Whether as the lead firm or as part of a team, CDR has experience ensuring that Tribal lifeways and values guide large-scale planning and project development.

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