Helping City of Seattle teams move important work forward

25+

YEARS IN 
PUBLIC SECTOR

750+

CONTRACTS
DELIVERED

275+

ORGANIZATIONS
SErved

25+

YEARS IN 
PUBLIC SECTOR

750+

CONTRACTS
DELIVERED

275+

ORGANIZATIONS
SERVED

Better public systems
start with the people

Guiding organizational change? Improving how work gets done? Balancing your community’s diverse needs?

You need a partner that understands the realities of working in the public sector. We’re a socially conscious consulting firm that helps people, organizations, and communities work better together.

Plus, it’s simple to hire us through the City of Seattle consultant rosters.

Schedule a free consultation

Work with us through three City of Seattle rosters

Race and social justice

Bring community voices into your decision-making, build internal skills, and turn your commitment to equity into everyday practice.

It’s possible to establish a culture where equity shapes the way people work, lead, and make decisions. We’ll show you how.

LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT

Develop the awareness, skills, and capacities that help leaders and teams advance racial equity in their everyday work.

COACHING

Support leaders and teams as they strengthen their capacity to lead with equity, navigate complexity, and create more inclusive workplaces.

FACILITATION

Create the conditions for meaningful conversations that build trust and shared understanding.

ASSESSMENT

Assess organizational systems and practices to advance racial equity.

Project
management

Complete complex initiatives and technology modernization projects while supporting the people who make change successful.

Bring structure to competing priorities—with the flexibility to adapt. We’ll be with you every step of the way.

project assessment

Understand your readiness before you begin, then capture lessons learned to strengthen future projects.

project planning

Define goals, roles, timelines, and responsibilities so everyone has clarity from the start.

project coordination

Keep work moving with clear communication, regular updates, and decision-making support.

change management

Help people understand, adopt, and sustain new ways of working.

training and coaching

Prepare your team to successfully manage projects in the future.

Management services

Move from strategy to action, get important projects off the ground, work more efficiently, and help your teams reach their full potential.

Strengthen your organization from the inside out. We can support you in a range of services, always centering people and the nuances of public sector projects.

Strategic planning
  • Clarify your purpose, mission, vision, and values.
  • Set strategy with clear, measurable goals.
  • Create an action plan to put your strategy into practice.
  • Check progress and adapt strategy over time.
Process improvement
  • Understand how your people, processes, and culture shape the way work happens.
  • Identify key risks, bottlenecks, and opportunities for improvement.
  • Get practical recommendations you can put into action.
evaluation and assessment
  • Better understand your organization’s culture and workplace climate.
  • See how well your programs and policies serve the community.
  • Get evidence-based recommendations to support better decisions.
facilitation and reporting
  • Run inclusive meetings, retreats, and workshops.
  • Engage your community and hear diverse perspectives.
  • Get clear summaries and reports that capture decisions and next steps.

Let’s talk about your project

Schedule a 30-minute call at no cost or commitment. Just a conversation about where you’re stuck, what you want to achieve, and whether we’re the right fit.

Schedule a free consultation

How to easily
hire Athena

The City of Seattle’s Consultant Roster helps city departments quickly hire prequalified consultants for projects valued at $420,000 or less, without a formal competitive bidding process.

01.


‍

Search for “The Athena Group” on the City of Seattle’s Procurement Portal.

02.



‍

Select a single consultant or request quotes from multiple consultants.

03.



‍

Use the independent contractor agreement template to engage your selected consultant.

Trusted by

Seattle–King County Public Health

Sound Transit, Puget Sound Regional Council, King County Metro

Port of Seattle

Seattle Housing Authority

Cities of Bellevue, Redmond, Duvall, Sequim, Sedro-Woolley, Olympia, Tumwater, and Lacey

King, Pierce, Snohomish, Thurston, and Kitsap Counties

Seattle City Light

30+ Washington State Agencies

What it’s like to work with us

Our work is grounded in the understanding that creating changes takes a multi-layered approach. We know that every organization is different, and we build our work around where you are today—and where you want to go.

Thoughtful discovery

Your culture, your community, and the systems you work within are central to every project.

Flexible partnership

We’re right there with you, adapting to changing needs and responding as your priorities evolve.

Inclusive facilitation

We help bring diverse perspectives together so everyone has a voice in important decisions.

Respect for staff capacity

We design our work around your team’s capacity and focus on what’s realistic and achievable.

Lasting results

Together, we build the skills and structures that support change today and long after our contract ends.

Ready to get started?

See if we’re the right fit for your organization.

Schedule a free consultation

Download Our Free Guide

Download this free practical guide to help you launch and sustain a Community of Practice — a powerful structure for deepening practice, growing leadership, and moving toward equity together.