I structure engagements so narrative strategy, institutional analysis, and writing execution stay aligned throughout the engagement. I work from clearly defined engagement parameters, structured working sessions, and explicit agreements about what comes next, so both parties maintain clarity and forward momentum.

I don’t manage operational execution unless that is explicitly part of our engagement. But I do attempt to ensure editorial coherence, narrative alignment, and delivery against agreed timelines. This approach allows me to move quickly without introducing assumptions, rework, or ambiguity about the boundaries of our work together.

The sections below outline this collaborative process in detail and explain how responsibilities, scope, and working rhythm are defined across an engagement.

I’m a narrative infrastructure strategist with deep expertise in the corporate communications environments of complex, public-facing sectors such as cultural institutions.

I understand the value of a well-defined collaboration structure. It’s this structure that prevents misunderstandings, missed deadlines, budget overruns, invoicing disputes, and compliance errors. That can ensure a mutually beneficial collaboration.

I prioritize fostering narrative strategy collaborations that are both productive and enjoyable. My goal is to build thought partnerships that aren’t just successful but also fulfilling for all the professionals involved.

So, below are some policies and procedures that I established over the years I’ve worked as an external communications consultant. They’re also based on continued legislative attempts to establish parameters for independent consultants. That includes the ABC test (or some version of the ABC test), which 33 states use to determine who is a true independent contractor.

For me, these policies and procedures are keys to our successful collaboration, no matter what engagement type we undertake. These parameters define the full arc of our engagement, from initial discovery through final deliverable.

I operate under Thrive Media, Inc. as an incorporated communications consultant. Changemaker Narratives is a division of Thrive Media, Inc.

I offer my solutions to multiple clients simultaneously, including those in the same sector or industry, under that corporation. I do not sign non-compete agreements.

The primary contact for my clients is a senior leader in your organization who has decision-making authority. So disputes are rarely an issue.

This independent consultant framework and work process below is meant to ensure engagements that comply with existing state and federal laws for independent contractors operating as incorporated business consultants. It’s meant to protect both me and my clients.

However, I’m not a lawyer and accept no responsibility for protecting other organizations. You should consult with your legal advisors, your state’s department of labor, and the federal Department of Labor on current regulations for working with independent consultants to guarantee your organization’s compliance with these regulations.

Here’s an overview of my business framework.

As the managing principal for Thrive Media, the success and growth of my business depends wholly on the strategic and operational decisions I make for my enterprise. Our initial discussions will focus on how my expertise and your objectives align so that we may explore a mutually beneficial collaboration where my business gains new opportunities as I help you achieve your communications goals.

My role is one of an independent consultant, not a temporary employee, and my success depends directly on delivering valuable solutions and results for clients through my enterprise.

So, our initial conversation is not just about identifying your needs but also about establishing the parameters of our professional relationship, and emphasizing the opportunity for mutual advantages of a thought partnership.

After the introductory call described under “Workflow Process,” we’ll outline the scope and investment required from both sides, ensuring clarity and mutual benefit.

I will invoice you for any financial investment we agree upon through my corporation, and I will accept payment via its business bank account or other payment processor.

Whether it’s a one-off consulting engagement or a longer-term one, we define the scope and duration of our engagement in a formal agreement.

We only will work under a fully executed contract between your organization and my corporation, as defined further below.

Since I’m only incorporated in my state, if we use my corporation’s agreement, our contract will be governed by the laws of my state.

I bring my expertise to your organization as an independent consultant, without expecting guaranteed work from you.

I work during the hours and from a remote location determined by me using tools and equipment I own and control.

I rarely travel to client offices, but when I do, I require compensation for that travel and in-office time.

The detailed scope of work in our engagement agreement will further outline my independent work process while honoring mutual accountability. 

It also will articulate my intent to remain an independent contractor as defined by federal law. Thus, the nature and control remain collaborative, respecting our mutual organizational autonomy.

My offerings are customized to the specific narrative challenges you identify. Because you may not have professionals on staff with my unique skills, you’ve determined a need for my consultant expertise.

While my work can be beneficial to your organization, my services aren’t integral to your day-to-day operations.*

(*This language satisfies statutory requirements under independent contractor classifications, including the ABC Test and related federal and state regulations governing the engagement of independent consultants.)

I’m a doctoral researcher with a master’s in corporate communications and an award-winning multi-skilled journalist who’s been an independent communications consultant for over 25 years.

I bring a unique blend of scholarly rigor, professional skills, and creative initiative to every project. That includes advanced analytical, problem-solving, strategic communications, and project management skills. The statement of work or other terms of our formal engagement agreement will outline many of those.

If you’re interested in narrative strategy, we start with a brief email exchange then a 15–30-minute introductory call.

I provide no strategic narrative insights in these email exchanges or during this call.

Each call only establishes what solutions you require, how I can provide them, and what your resources are, including staff and budget.

If you want me to help you solve your strategic narrative challenges, after our introductory call, we would start our work together with paid consulting time.

If your initial need is for a focused strategic conversation or preliminary ideation session, we establish a consulting fee for that time.

The fee is a minimum of two hours of consulting time at my full consulting rate.

Afterward, I provide a short report to you about what we discussed and how I suggest you move forward. This will be about two to three pages maximum and will not provide a comprehensive narrative strategy plan. That will require your investment in a Discovery Project with me.

If your need is strictly strategic organizational storytelling or journalism services, before I begin any work, we determine engagement scope, terms, statement of work, fees, and other standard aspects of editorial and strategic content writing services. That includes fees for requested post-pitch outline work or conference calls before writing the complete content deliverable.

We establish these terms together to gain a mutually beneficial agreement about the solution you want me to provide. Again, we usually conduct this process by email. (See "Contracts and Payment" below for further details.)

If we agree a much more in-depth discovery project (or a narrative strategy assessment) is ideal, we establish a written, clearly defined scope for the engagement.

I then provide you with a working quote and an invoice for prepayment in full.

Once we complete the discovery project (or narrative strategy assessment), I develop a strategic narrative blueprint specific to your institution that’s designed to meet the specific narrative strategy objectives revealed during our discovery project.

After you receive your strategic blueprint, if we agree I should work with you to complete your narrative strategy development project, I will provide the additional fees required to continue.

Otherwise, you will have an institutional asset you can use to execute your project in-house or to hire another consultant for that work.

These deliverables are decision-quality institutional assets. The methodology itself, including research protocols, synthesis processes, and narrative architecture techniques, remains the intellectual property of Changemaker Narratives and is not included in this engagement.

Before beginning any work on whatever solution you choose, we execute a detailed agreement between your organization and my corporation, Thrive Media, Inc.

After I review the contract, if I request no changes, I sign the document and get it back to you promptly so we can begin work. If the contract is more complex than I expected or has terms I do not fully understand, I may have it reviewed by experienced legal professionals.

Clients compensate me in advance for all work I do. That includes outlines, and preliminary or final drafts of written content clients decide not to publish. Fees may be by the word or engagement depending on initiative type, scope, length, and volume of work requested from me by your organization. I may require retainers or payment schedules for larger initiatives. Fees are established by engagement scope and strategic complexity.

Pre-engagement discussions or work constitutes consulting time. This includes any work before a formal contract or written agreement related to narrative strategy. Strategic conversations with your communications, marketing, development, or executive leaders, reviews of content or other materials related to your initiative, and interviews or discussions with your organization’s leaders are all billable consulting time.

For pre-engagement work, I invoice for a minimum of two hours at my regular consulting rate, regardless of verbal agreements. Most clients find it more efficient to sign a written engagement agreement before beginning any work, which incorporates a defined scope and a maximum number of monthly hours for phone and email consulting time.

You can expect my fees to be market rate or higher for someone of my caliber. I may use publicly available information about your organization to help determine my fees.

All narrative strategy engagements require prepayment in full by bank ACH. I do not extend credit to private, non-media organizations. I don’t start work until payment clears Thrive Media’s corporate bank account. Clients pay all ACH and transfer fees.
Fees and payment terms are established in a written contract between your organization and Thrive Media, Inc. to prevent payment disputes. Since payment compensates for time already invested in your project, I don’t provide refunds for any reason.

As an incorporated consultant, I’m not entirely dependent on any single organization for work. It’s possible that during our initial interactions, we may find that we’re not the right fit for each other. So, both parties reserve the right, in writing, to decline further engagement at any point before any compensable work starts. I also reserve the right to decline any offer of work for any reason without explanation.

I guarantee delivery of original strategic assets and affirm the use of ethical editorial support systems, including generative AI tools, in alignment with each client’s governance, legal review expectations, and ethical standards, and with my role as an independent contractor.

This ensures that all my deliverables reflect transparent human authorship and adhere to your organization’s ethical and legal standards.

While I may use advanced editorial technologies to improve accuracy and efficiency, I never delegate the creative or analytical judgment that defines my work to those tools or to others.

Every narrative strategy consulting engagement and storytelling project I undertake reflects my professional integrity, intellectual rigor, and full accountability.

The policies and procedures identified here may not include all those necessary for Thrive Media, Inc. to engage with a specific organization.

Written contracts supersede the policies on this page and any verbal (or email) agreements. These policies also may change or be expanded without notice, and I will implement those changes in writing in client relationships with Changemaker Narratives.

If you agree that this is the best way to work together, contact me to discuss whether we are a fit to collaborate on your initiative.