About Us
The Strategy Huddle, LLC is a consulting firm offering services to businesses and nonprofit organizations based in the United States (with a foundational emphasis on nonprofit organizations).
Mission:
The Strategy Huddle, LLC is on a mission to help organizations achieve operational excellence.
Vision:
The vision of The Strategy Huddle is to have a profound impact on organizations' standard of operations by being a source that brings ease to organizational operations and thought processes. The vision entails:
(1) helping nonprofit organizations to increase funding for their missions, and
(2) helping organizatons to establish efficient and practical systems and work processes,
(3) resulting in an increase in staff and leadership knowledge, confidence, and satisfaction with their jobs and work culture.
Principal Consultant
Cheriamor Houston, MNA, SSGI-CPIS
Much of Cheriamor's 20 year nonprofit experience has been centered on improving organizational processes, from developing new programs to implementing new technology and training staff and leaders. She began working in development (nonprofit fundraising) in 2012 at the University of Illinois at Chicago in administration and events where she utilized her previous experience working with event sponsorships and cultivated new skills. In 2020, she began writing grants for a community nonprofit that works with children and families, and by 2021 she landed a Development Manager position. Still new to grant writing, she submitted just 13 grants in a 10 month period, but found surprising and impressive success with high award rates at over 60% (63.9), which is higher than the national average rate.
Throughout her career, Cheriamor maintained supplemental work with freelance projects, and in 2021, her business obtained an over 2,500% documented increase in subscriber count and a 6.95% average click rate through her email marketing campaign and social media ad management. This was an insightful and exciting new milestone.
By 2024, Cheriamor decided to take her years of experience and expertise and offer consulting services in the areas that she found most exciting and in which she found the most success. The Strategy Huddle, officially formalized in January of 2025, offers consulting services to nonprofit organizations, public sector organizations, and small businesses for grant writing (core service to nonprofit organizations), organizational evaluation and process improvement, and data management, among other areas. Cheriamor places high value in practical strategy over theory and concept.
Education and Credentials:
Master's in Nonprofit Administration, North Park University (2020)
Certified Process Improvement Specialist, Six Sigma Global Institute (2025)
Certificate in Organizational Analysis, Stanford University Online (2024)
Certificate in Fundraising Management, North Park University (2020)
Certificate in Nonprofit Governance, North Park University (2019)
Certificate in Nonprofit Management, North Park University (2018)
Grant Writing Training, Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) (2017)
Throughout her career, Cheriamor maintained supplemental work with freelance projects, and in 2021, her business obtained an over 2,500% documented increase in subscriber count and a 6.95% average click rate through her email marketing campaign and social media ad management. This was an insightful and exciting new milestone.
By 2024, Cheriamor decided to take her years of experience and expertise and offer consulting services in the areas that she found most exciting and in which she found the most success. The Strategy Huddle, officially formalized in January of 2025, offers consulting services to nonprofit organizations, public sector organizations, and small businesses for grant writing (core service to nonprofit organizations), organizational evaluation and process improvement, and data management, among other areas. Cheriamor places high value in practical strategy over theory and concept.
Education and Credentials:
Master's in Nonprofit Administration, North Park University (2020)
Certified Process Improvement Specialist, Six Sigma Global Institute (2025)
Certificate in Organizational Analysis, Stanford University Online (2024)
Certificate in Fundraising Management, North Park University (2020)
Certificate in Nonprofit Governance, North Park University (2019)
Certificate in Nonprofit Management, North Park University (2018)
Grant Writing Training, Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) (2017)
Meet Our Team
The smartest people work every day to provide the best service and make our clients happy
- Mikele Stephens, MBA, PMP, PMI-ACP, CSM, SSM, SEC+Project ManagerEva is the voice of our brand. She spends hours making our clients feel cared for and enjoying their communication with the company. If you have any suggestions or ideas, you can write to her.
- Kenzie Jo Everett, MBAPublic Finance & Budget AnalystMax founded our company. He is the father of our main goals and values. He found the core members of our team and helped them to show their unique talents in the work process.
- Nicholas A. Carter, Ph.D.Research & Evaluation AnalystDr. Carter is a community psychologist and an adjunct professor at National Louis University, where he teaches advanced courses in quantitative methods, survey design, and applied statistics. Dr. Carter has worked with local and international organizations, and leads research and evaluation efforts for nonprofit and public sector organizations.
- Michelle ZwellingWorkforce Planning AnalystMax founded our company. He is the father of our main goals and values. He found the core members of our team and helped them to show their unique talents in the work process.
- Kishia "Frankie" Larkins, MPA, PROSCI-PractionerWorkforce Planning AnalystMax founded our company. He is the father of our main goals and values. He found the core members of our team and helped them to show their unique talents in the work process.
- Meghlynn AchezOrganizational Development & Change Management ConsultantJulia takes care of everything you can see. She spent five years in London learning visual communication. She uses her knowledge to make the world a little more beautiful.
- Jennien BalderamosBusiness Systems & Data Integration ManagerMax founded our company. He is the father of our main goals and values. He found the core members of our team and helped them to show their unique talents in the work process.
Who We Serve
While The Strategy Huddle is not limited to the following projects, clients typically offer the following services:
- Youth Mentorship
- Youth arts and sports
- After-school programs
- Youth and family services
- Community development programs
- Parents and families
- Senior services
- Behavioral and Mental Health and underserved communities
- Feeding the hungry
- Homeless services
- Re-entry services
- Health care
- Health education
- Drug and alcohol addictions relief & Sobriety support programs
- Cancer patients and survivor support programs
Personal Passions
As I've navigated the nonprofit workspace, I found that my pursuit of employment over the years changed as I recognized what I was more interested in because I found myself feeling that my work was not impactful when it was not connected to a personal passion. As I understood myself more and my passions, I began to pursue work in alignment with such. What I've noticed is that I am able to be most effective and more compelling when my writing comes from a personal or passionate place.
As I continue supporting the nonprofit sector, I am particularly mindful of the nonprofit work that’s close to my personal heart of service, which includes working with the homeless to feed, house, and employ them, any work revolving around anti-bullying, and assisting single parents or households struggling economically (single or not). I also love work that focuses on improving health for all demographics, especially, but not limited to, cancer and Parkinson’s disease. A dear family member who helped my father raise me battled and beat cancer, but passed away with Parkinson’s disease.
I also have a personal belief that teachers should be the highest paid professionals in any country, as they prepare us all for the various work that we do in society. So, I support organizations that support teachers and mentors.
Similarly, we really need to be more concerned about our future as a nation. "The youth of today will someday be our leaders." I used to hear this saying a lot growing up, but I think, as we get older, there is a need to take this more seriously. While there are many youth who should be recognized and praised for their hard work, ambition, and overall positivity, there are many who are troubled and in need of healing, love, support, and mentorship. I’ve worked with organizations that provide mentorship, academic assistance, and therapy, among other services. As a consultant, I want to make sure that my work continues to support these organizations, especially through grant writing.
So, while I do not limit myself when it comes to the very necessary work that nonprofit organizations are doing in communities around the world, I look for opportunities that align with my personal passions and convictions. In short, these opportunities are organizations whose work involve servicing the following populations or addressing the following areas:
I wish you all the best and financial success in your organization on whatever path you choose for assistance with your work.
As I continue supporting the nonprofit sector, I am particularly mindful of the nonprofit work that’s close to my personal heart of service, which includes working with the homeless to feed, house, and employ them, any work revolving around anti-bullying, and assisting single parents or households struggling economically (single or not). I also love work that focuses on improving health for all demographics, especially, but not limited to, cancer and Parkinson’s disease. A dear family member who helped my father raise me battled and beat cancer, but passed away with Parkinson’s disease.
I also have a personal belief that teachers should be the highest paid professionals in any country, as they prepare us all for the various work that we do in society. So, I support organizations that support teachers and mentors.
Similarly, we really need to be more concerned about our future as a nation. "The youth of today will someday be our leaders." I used to hear this saying a lot growing up, but I think, as we get older, there is a need to take this more seriously. While there are many youth who should be recognized and praised for their hard work, ambition, and overall positivity, there are many who are troubled and in need of healing, love, support, and mentorship. I’ve worked with organizations that provide mentorship, academic assistance, and therapy, among other services. As a consultant, I want to make sure that my work continues to support these organizations, especially through grant writing.
So, while I do not limit myself when it comes to the very necessary work that nonprofit organizations are doing in communities around the world, I look for opportunities that align with my personal passions and convictions. In short, these opportunities are organizations whose work involve servicing the following populations or addressing the following areas:
- Homeless population services
- Assisting young parents with food, money, formal education, parenting education, etc.
- Parents and families struggling economically
- Food deprived and hungry
- Anti-Bullying
- Teachers
- Youth mentorship
- Healthcare, health advocacy, and health education
- Cancer
- Parkinson’s Disease
- And more!
I wish you all the best and financial success in your organization on whatever path you choose for assistance with your work.
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