The 2020 Fastest Growing Firms: Emergent Method

Consulting: What were the main factors that contributed to your firm's exceptional growth?

Speyrer: As we continue to see unprecedented growth for a firm of our size, we attribute it to one thing: forming meaningful client relationships that lead to trust in our firm's capabilities. While we've expanded extensively in terms of the size of our team and scope of service we offer, we've also made noticeable expansion geographically over the last year. This is tied directly to our existing client base, who consistently refer their networks to our team to help them solve their problems. We pride ourselves on being the go-to partner for our clients regardless of what challenge their facing, which has allowed us to expand and equip ourselves with team members and resources that collectively can provide holistic and comprehensive solutions and strategies to tackle challenges in the continuously complex world we're all operating in.

Consulting: How is this year shaping up for your firm?

Speyrer: We feel incredibly blessed to still be operating at full-capacity during a time when so many business owners and employees are facing uncertainty and unpredictable markets. We've been able to pivot our work and efforts to assist our clients in navigating shifting work environments, redefining workplace policies and structures while maintaining company culture, and helping them to strategically adapt their own services and work to continue reaching their goals and achieving their missions amidst adversity brought by the pandemic. More specifically, we've been able to leverage and expand upon our crisis communication, disaster recovery, and resilience planning service offerings, as well as leveraging workplace training and facilitation efforts to continue growth and meet the new needs our clients bring to the table.

Consulting: How would you describe your firm's outlook for 2021? Where do you see the most opportunities?

Speyrer: As our team has always said (and something we've used as motivation during these unprecedented times), the best is yet to come for Emergent Method. We've seen significant expansion geographically continuing into the present moment, with active projects and full-time employees in 13 states. The greatest opportunity we see is helping organizations shift their focus and approach in response to the challenges they faced in 2020.

Consulting: What would you say are your firm's biggest challenges in 2021?

Speyrer: Everything we do as a company revolves around strategy, something that's more important than ever as our clients and our own team continue to push forward in a world that's changing drastically from one day to the next. Our scope of work is often heavily focused on long-term, strategic planning that sets up an organization for success into the future. But as the pandemic and several other recent events have proven, making concrete plans for long-term success may not always be the best approach. Our greatest challenge, both internally and for our clients, will be in shifting focus to develop fluid strategies to address immediate needs while also building out road maps to success that account for several different future scenarios – and never letting uncertainty and ambiguity be the enemy of progress.

Consulting: What does being named a Fastest Growing Firm mean to your firm, employees and clients?

Speyrer: We're grateful, humbled, and proud to be awarded a symbol of growth amidst the challenges facing our team, our clients, and our world. It gives us a moment to catch our breath and take a step back to reflect (and grab a drink) – something we hope our clients do with us. We believe they each have shared ownership in this honor and view it as a tribute to their own growth and success. We've only been able to progress at the speed and capacity we have because of each of them continuously place their trust in us to be a part of their team and help them overcome their obstacles.