Testimonials
Over the years, hundreds of our clients have shared feedback with us both to thank us for our services and to provide detailed feedback so we can keep improving our practices. Here is a sampling of comments we received from clients across a range of projects.
Sarah Gyorog, Executive Director, Transition House
Working with ESC was an extraordinary experience for Transition House. Their volunteer consultants brought deep expertise, thoughtful analysis, and genuine partnership to the development of our strategic plan at a pivotal moment for our organization. Together, they helped us create a comprehensive and deeply researched roadmap that is already helping us navigate significant changes in the federal funding landscape and prepare for the years ahead.
What stood out most was not only the quality of the work, but the care and commitment the team brought to the process. They took the time to truly understand our mission, our challenges, and the communities we serve. The final product was invaluable, but equally important were the relationships built along the way. The ESC team remains a trusted resource and a group of people we know we can continue to call on for support and guidance.
We are deeply grateful for ESC’s partnership and the impact they continue to have on justice-focused nonprofits like Transition House.
Chris Oldi, Executive Director, South Coastal Counties Legal Services, Inc.
Partnering with ESC has been fantastic, and having worked with them in the past has made the process even smoother. Their consultants deeply understand the nonprofit context, the rigor of our work, the challenges of our field, and what it takes to engage staff effectively.
I’ve especially appreciated the genuine partnership the team brings and their familiarity with legal aid organizations. With deep professionalism and care, they are always available when I need support.
ESC has worked closely with me and our strategy team, providing thoughtful guidance while empowering us to lead. This partnership has built real momentum for our organization and is helping ensure a clear action plan and accountability as we move forward.
Lindsay Allen, Executive Director, East Somerville Main Streets
ESC has been such an important opportunity for a small nonprofit like ours. Our consultants were truly the dream team—guiding us through each stage of the strategic planning process with deep knowledge and extraordinary care. They went above and beyond, attending events, sharing opportunities, and helping us build a strong roadmap for the future.
Jessica L. Eshleman, Executive Director, Union Square Main Streets
We were paired with an exceptional team of consultants— and we miss having them as part of the USMS family already. Their skill and professionalism helped us craft a plan that will guide our next chapter with purpose and focus, laying the foundation for decades of service to come.
John Cuneo, Executive Director, Community Action Inc
ESC consultants balanced big-picture thinking with grounded, mission‑centered guidance. They never lost sight of the people we serve or the realities of delivering critical human services. Their support helped us move forward with clarity and purpose.
Samantha Nelson, Executive Director, Boston By Foot
We were very impressed with the professionalism of our consultants and with the commitment they gave to our project. From running meetings, preparing surveys, writing and presenting reports, and even providing hours of behind the-scenes coaching time, they greatly exceeded our expectations and our board, staff and volunteers were very pleased with the results.
Skye Morrison Kramer, CEO, First Literacy
We had an excellent experience with the consultants from ESC who went above and beyond in their efforts to serve our needs. We received recommendations for our future, not just a list of action items.
Kristen Lilley, Executive Director, Medicines for Humanity
ESC exceeded expectations, delivering a transformative full‑day session on board governance and succession. The training gave our board clear, actionable steps and significantly strengthened our functioning. ESC provided high‑quality guidance at a reasonable cost and aligned deeply with our mission.
Cora Beth Abel, ED, Massachusetts State Science and Engineering Fair
I want to thank you again for ESC’s help in guiding us to create a new and exciting MSSEF Strategic Plan. Marianne was a joy to work with—incredibly smart and tuned in to the group process. Sandy continues to be an extraordinary resource for MSSEF; I can’t say enough good things about him. While we hit a few bumps in the road at the beginning, we ended up with a strong ESC Team, and all four contributed in important ways to the success of the plan. One of the most positive impacts of the plan’s development was the process for creating a vision statement and an updated mission statement. This process engaged a majority of Board Members in impassioned discussions that in turn led to a distillation of ideas and a solid consensus.
Michael Libby, Executive Director, Somerville Homeless Coalition
Thank you for setting us up for success with our strategic plan. We would never have been this ready for an opportunity of this magnitude without your commitment to us.
Susan Diller, Executive Director, City Sprouts
Our ESC consultants brought a depth of experience to every step of the process. Their guidance gave us confidence and moved us toward a roadmap that is both ambitious and practical. We always felt the ESC team was leading us forward.
Christine Vaillancourt, President and Volunteer Executive Director, Fort Point Arts Community
ESC connected us with two highly skilled interim professionals —a grant writer and a marketing/branding specialist—who delivered exceptional value. As a fully volunteer-led organization, the affordable, expert support was invaluable. Their professionalism and results will continue to benefit FPAC for years to come.
