OUR TEAM’S EXPERIENCE INCLUDES
The White House · U.S. Mission to the UN · Brunswick Group · Edelman · Goldman Sachs · NASA · One Medical · Obama for America · Hillary for America · Democratic National Committee · Office of Leader Nancy Pelosi · USAID · Dept. of Veterans Affairs · USDA · Presidential Inaugural Committee · Golden State Opportunity · Los Angeles LGBT Center · Live Nation · Public Opinion Strategies · Backstage Capital · Social Venture Partners · UCLA · Cornell University · Asian Americans Advancing Justice ·
A boutique firm helping startups, nonprofits, and founder-led brands build operational strength, strategic clarity, and lasting sustainability.
We work with businesses of all kinds, with a focus on LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs and values-driven teams committed to equity and impact. Senior advisors, no hand-offs — from strategy through execution.
WHO WE ARE
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WHAT WE DO
Three ways we help leaders move forward.
01
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Strategy &
Growth
Clarify your goals and chart a path forward — with strategies rooted in your values and the right partners to grow with.
Business development strategy
Growth partner & funder connections
Qualitative research
02
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Communications &
Reputation
Shape the story, protect credibility, and speak with clarity in the moments that matter most.
Public affairs & messaging
Crisis & reputational issues
Brand narrative & creative direction
03
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Operations &
Leadership
Build the structure behind the mission — systems that support scale, reduce burnout, and give teams room to thrive.
Operations & organizational design
Fractional support
Event strategy & stakeholder engagement
HOW WE WORK
Partners, not a deck and a goodbye.
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01
Discovery
A conversation about your goals, challenges, and constraints — so we understand what’s really at stake.
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02
A tailored plan
We propose an approach built around your scope and budget, drawing on the right advisors from the Collective.
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03
Build it together
We stay involved from strategy through execution. You work directly with senior advisors — never handed off.
ENGAGEMENT MODELS One-time intensives · Project-based support · Retainer partnerships · Fractional executive support
THE COLLECTIVE
A network of senior advisors, assembled for each client.
Timothy Merritt
FOUNDER & PRINCIPAL
Nearly 20 years across government, campaigns, nonprofit leadership, and global consulting.
Tamika Hawkins Adu
CORE ADVISOR
Communications strategist with a background in journalism and law.
Emily Buczynski
CORE ADVISOR
More than fifteen years using data and research to inform communications and business strategy.
Thai Eileen
CORE ADVISOR
Marketing and communications leader building authentic brands for over 20 years.
Aubrey Cunningham
STRATEGIC PARTNER
Lawyer specializing in civil rights, election law, campaign operations, and tech policy.
Dan Rummel
STRATEGIC PARTNER
Product and technology leader who has scaled teams from prototype to platform.
ALIGNMENT
You’re our kind of client if…
We’re not for everyone, and that’s intentional.
You’re building with vision.
Something enduring, not just chasing the next quarter.
You care about people as much as profit.
People aren’t afterthoughts — they’re why you succeed.
You want clarity, not yes-men.
Hard truths over a sugarcoated deck you’ll never use.
You see creativity as strategy.
Brand, narrative, and design aren’t extras. They’re essential.
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Our name comes from Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City, where Barbary Lane is a haven of chosen family. That spirit runs through our work.
LET’S TALK
Tell us what you’re building.
Start with a discovery call. We’ll learn about your goals and propose an approach
tailored to your scope and budget.