Strategic Consulting
Build Something Worth Showing Up For
For small business owners, nonprofits, municipalities and public agencies, universities, and larger organizations
You know something needs to change. We help you figure out what - and build the plan to get there.
Who We Work With
A small business owner and a public agency do not arrive with the same people problem. Find yours below.
Small business owners
The people questions land on the same desk as everything else, and there is no HR function to hand them to.
We work out which decisions matter most right now, in what order, and leave you with the documentation behind them.
Nonprofits
The mission is clear. Whether your people practices outlast the current staff and board is a different question.
We build practices that survive a leadership change, so the next director inherits a system rather than a folder.
Municipalities and public agencies
Public accountability, long tenure, and a workforce that judges a new initiative by what happened to the last one.
We work with the structures you already have, and we bring your supervisors into the design so the change holds after we leave.
Universities and larger organizations
Departments that each solved the same problem their own way, and a culture that reads one way in the handbook and another in the hallway.
We look across the units rather than inside one of them, and we hand you a plan your own people can carry.
People-Centered Strategy
Our consulting goes beyond structures and strategy - it gets to the heart of how people experience work and community. We transform challenges like disengagement, restructuring, talent retention, and cultural fracture into opportunities for authentic connection, collaboration, and renewed purpose.
How We Help
Culture Transformation
You get a written read on the gap between what your culture says and what your people experience, and a plan to close it that names who does what.
Employee Engagement
You get the root causes behind the turnover and the quiet disengagement, separated from the symptoms, plus the changes most likely to move them.
Employee Experience
You get onboarding, feedback, and exit designed as one experience rather than three disconnected processes, so people know where they stand at every stage.
Our Process
Discovery Call
A free 30-minute conversation to understand your challenges and goals.
Assessment & Diagnosis
We dig deeper - listening, observing, and gathering data to understand the full picture.
Strategy Design
We co-create a roadmap that fits your reality, resources, and timeline.
Implementation & Support
We don't hand you a binder and walk away. We walk with you through execution.
Based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, People by Design partners with organizations across the Gulf South and nationwide - in person and virtually. From small businesses to national agencies, we meet you where you are.
Client Voices
What People Are Saying
"Of the many hurdles I have faced as a business owner and non-profit board member, none is more daunting than the complex world of Human Resources. Melissa Montgomery transformed my greatest fears into a walk in the park. Her genuine concern for the well being of people coupled with a clear understanding of the law made her an invaluable resource."
P. Rizzo
Executive Director,Partners One
"Melissa helped elevate our hiring process. We now have a strong outline for hiring the best staff."
D. Arevalo
Secretary-Treasurer,IATSE Local 478
"Melissa leads with compassion while remaining strongly results-driven, bringing a thoughtful, people-centered approach to every challenge. Melissa collaborates effectively to develop solutions that support employees while empowering them to meet expectations with confidence and integrity. During a particularly challenging period for the organization, Melissa served as a consultant and was consistently willing to step in and offer guidance. Even in a complex and evolving environment, her depth of experience and steady professionalism provided valuable clarity and direction. I especially admire her ability to balance genuine care for people with a strong sense of accountability, all while maintaining a practical, solutions-oriented mindset."
L. Parker
Former President and Board Member,Theatre Baton Rouge
"Melissa brings a rare combination of clarity, thoroughness, and genuine care to every engagement. Whether navigating complex HR challenges or helping boards align with mission-driven goals, Melissa is a steady, insightful presence who elevates every team she works with."
R. Chatelain
Principal,RMCreative Solutions, LLC