Washington Recreation and Conservation Office Business Operations & Structure Analysis
RCO hired The Athena Group to conduct a thorough analysis of their business operations and structure and develop a change management plan. RCO had experienced increased growth, and despite adding 24 new employees, they were operating at maximum capacity. The goal was to identify opportunities for RCO to grow sustainably while maintaining the organizational culture they are known for and set them up for future success. Athena consultants engaged deeply with RCO staff, executive leadership, and partners to review workloads, position classifications, process flows, and technology systems. The team identified inconsistencies and gaps in operations, presented alternative organizational models, and developed a Change Management Action Plan to guide implementation. This included communications planning, in-person facilitation, staff readiness assessment, and coaching to support adoption of the new structure.
Northwest Straits Initiative DEI Consulting
The Athena Group conducted a DEI assessment across the Northwest Straits Initiative, using surveys and focus groups to identify institutional gaps and opportunities. This phase culminated in key findings and recommendations to guide the Initiative’s DEI priorities. Building on those findings, Phase Two focused on developing practical tools and strategies to embed DEI into the Initiative’s operations. This included a DEI Implementation Plan, community engagement tools like the Community Connectivity Analysis (CCA), and internal capacity-building through a Train-the-Trainer program and a Community of Practice framework.
Washington Office of Financial Management Stateside Department of Housing Study
The Athena Group partnered with the Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) to produce a strategic, evidence-based study exploring the potential transition of multiple state housing programs into a single, consolidated Department of Housing. The study was designed to inform future legislative efforts by providing credible insights, analysis, and recommendations rooted in equity and lived experience. The approach emphasized inclusive, forward-thinking research to support those leading Washington’s response to the housing crisis.
Public Health Seattle King County Strategic Planning
The Athena Group partnered with Public Health – Seattle & King County (PHSKC) to support the development of its 2024–2029 Strategic Plan through a comprehensive, equity-centered facilitation process. This collaboration was grounded in PHSKC’s commitment to becoming an anti-racist organization and advancing health equity across King County communities.
King County Housing Authority Health Need Assessment
The Athena Group’s evaluation of the EASY Rent and WIN Rent policies assessed key aspects of their implementation, experiences and impacts on public housing participants, and whether the intended goals were being met. The evaluation approach centered on the understanding that rent policies must be well-integrated with broader housing strategies and programs to be effective. This project employed a participatory and equity-centered approach, prioritizing stakeholder engagement—including residents, housing authorities, and service providers—to ensure that diverse perspectives inform the findings. The evaluation included a comprehensive analysis of administrative efficiencies, resident experiences, and economic mobility outcomes.
Washington State Department of Health Comprehensive Leadership Needs Assessment
The Athena Group designed and implemented a two-phase exploratory mixed-methods approach to evaluate leadership across DOH’s ten divisions and four executive offices. This included focus groups, surveys, and qualitative and quantitative analysis to assess leadership competencies and organizational culture. The insights gained will directly inform DOH’s long-term leadership development initiatives, ensuring that future leadership strategies are equitable, data-driven, and aligned with organizational needs.
Washington Lottery, Culture of Belonging
The project’s goal was to understand how staff experience belonging and identify actionable strategies to foster an inclusive and supportive organizational culture. Key activities included listening sessions, surveys, and collaborative analysis. The engagement involved approximately 60% of the workforce, representing a strong variety of roles and backgrounds. Findings highlighted employee appreciation for strategy and leadership accessibility while identifying barriers from past work practices. Recommendations emphasized fostering an understanding of belonging, enhancing transparency, and co-creating meaningful accountability systems.
Implicit and Explicit Bias Trainings
The Athena Group collaborated with Clackamas County to bolster the Disaster Management department by providing essential resources for a community engagement toolkit. This toolkit places a strong emphasis on cultural awareness and equity, featuring a comprehensive Implicit and Explicit Bias Training facilitated by Athena partners.
Design Labs
The Athena Group collaborated with Sno-Isle Libraries to create a systematic approach to involve historically underrepresented community members in decision-making processes across all districts of Sno-Isle Libraries. Leveraging design labs, Athena developed a comprehensive community connectivity framework.
Commercial Tobacco Prevention Convenings
In 2019, Oregon passed Ballot Measure 108, increasing the cigarette tax by $2/pack, generating millions of dollars in revenue for tobacco prevention work. The largest portion of this revenue was prioritized for Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) that serve communities that experience higher rates of tobacco-related health disparities. The Athena Group collaborated with Clackamas County Department of Public Health to engage CBOs who received these tobacco prevention grants in the design and planning of two convenings. These generative conversations were facilitated with stakeholder engagement in mind, calling upon the effectiveness of co-design.
Reentry Council Strategic Plan
Established by the state legislature in 2016, the Washington Statewide Reentry Council was created to support successful reintegration after incarceration. Athena Partner Crystal Wade joined forces with Susan Mason, a formerly incarcerated community leader, to engage stakeholders and develop a three-year strategic plan for the council.
Annual Evaluations
Child Care Aware of Washington (CCA WA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that every child in Washington has access to high-quality childcare and early learning programs. Created by state statute in 1986 and incorporated in 1989, it is the only statewide childcare resource and referral program in Washington.
.png)
Design and Facilitation
The Athena Group partnered with the Washington State Department of Commerce’s Broadband Office and the Governor’s Office of Equity to co-design and facilitate the inaugural year of Digital Equity Forum (DEF). The primary goal of the Digital Equity Forum, in partnership with Elizabeth Ralston Consulting and Avantpage, was to engage with Washingtonians and determine their primary needs to enhance access to broadband internet and technologies that are vital for meaningfully participating in 21st century society.
Transportation Plan
The Washington State Department of Transportation needed to update their Statewide Human Services Transportation plan, which focuses on initiatives to improve access and enhance mobility for people who are unable to transport themselves due to physical or mental limitations, income or age.
Design Labs
The Athena Group worked with Clackamas County, Oregon, to support a community-driven approach to reducing poverty and increasing prosperity for people most in need. Utilizing an inclusive Community Design Lab, people who are closest to the problem developed impactful solutions to community challenges.
Organizational Cultural Assessment
Conducted an organizational cultural assessment for DEL entailing an agency-wide organizational and health survey (using Athena’s Social Capital Assessment tool), 50 ethnographic interviews of a cross-section of DEL employees across all levels and regions, group ethnographic observation and extensive analysis and vetting of assessment results.
.svg.png)
Revisioning of Housing Assistance Unit
The Athena Group provided facilitation and other forms of professional consultation to support a better understanding of its current business practices and staff resources related to its goals. The Unit also has a new organizational chart, including reporting lines and high-level position descriptions.
Work With Us
Our team brings values of curiosity, awareness, connection, equity and wholeness to all the work we do.
