ForwardWorks Consulting, LLC - Comprehensive Analysis Report
Summary
ForwardWorks Consulting, LLC, established in 2016, is an SBA Certified Woman-Owned Small Business dedicated to advancing disability inclusion. Their core mission is to move disability and accessibility initiatives forward through expert project management, comprehensive training, and strategic public relations services. The company envisions fostering a truly inclusive society where every individual has a sense of belonging. ForwardWorks Consulting plays a significant role in enabling organizations to successfully transition from existing states to desired inclusion outcomes, specializing intensely in disability inclusion and accessibility, thereby impacting various sectors nationally.
1. Strategic Focus & Objectives
Core Objectives
ForwardWorks Consulting aims to propel organizations forward by ensuring the successful implementation of programs and projects. Their primary objective is to move initiatives from the planning and implementation phases to successful completion, leveraging proven methodologies in program, project, and performance management. A fundamental goal is the advancement of disability and accessibility initiatives, fostering environments where people with disabilities can define and achieve their goals for fulfilling lives.
Specialization Areas
The company specializes in several key areas:
- Program Management and Strategic Consulting: Utilizing proven processes and knowledge to manage programs effectively and provide strategic guidance.
- Disability Inclusion and Accessibility: Assisting organizations from initial benchmarking and strategic plan creation to pioneering advanced initiatives within the disability inclusion maturity model. This includes integrating requirements from laws and standards with client missions.
- Training and Technical Assistance: Designing and implementing tailored learning solutions to advance disability inclusion and accessibility.
- Inclusive Mentoring: A national leader in disability and inclusive mentoring, developing specific tools and programming for customized mentoring engagements.
- Performance Measurement: Designing and delivering helpful metrics and dashboards to ensure teams focus on results meaningful to leadership.
Target Markets
ForwardWorks Consulting primarily targets organizations seeking to improve their disability inclusion and accessibility outcomes. This encompasses a broad range of entities, including federal agencies, non-profits, and private sector companies, that require specialized expertise to implement inclusive policies, programs, and technological solutions.
2. Product Pipeline
Key Products/Services
ForwardWorks Consulting offers a suite of services designed to address various aspects of disability inclusion and accessibility:
- Program Management Services: Providing expert oversight and coordination for complex projects, ensuring they move from implementation to successful completion. This includes applying proven project management disciplines.
- Disability Inclusion Consulting: Assisting organizations in developing strategic plans, benchmarking current inclusion levels, and advancing through a disability inclusion maturity model.
- Strategic Consulting: Offering guidance to organizations on how to align their operations and culture with inclusive best practices.
- Training and Technical Assistance: Developing and delivering customized learning solutions focused on disability inclusion and accessibility. Examples include designing content for the Department of Labor's Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN).
- Inclusive Mentoring Tools and Programs: Creating and implementing customized mentoring programs and tools, particularly for disability and inclusive mentoring, such as refreshing career readiness curriculum for mentor match programming and mentor training for leadership development.
- Skills Lab: Delivering virtual learning modules supported by cohort labs. These modules focus on critical professional development areas such as Networking as a Skillset, Project Planning, and Tech and AI at Work. This initiative represents a scalable learning and development solution focused on practical skills.
3. Technology & Innovation
Technology Stack
ForwardWorks Consulting leverages modern platforms, networks, and tools with a strong emphasis on accessibility. Their approach to program management and training is informed by extensive experience in accessible technology and universal design, ensuring that solutions enhance the productivity of employees and customers, particularly those with disabilities.
Proprietary Developments
The company's Skills Lab is a key innovative offering, providing virtual learning modules supported by cohort labs. These labs address specific skill sets vital for professional growth, such as networking, project planning, and understanding technology and artificial intelligence in the workplace.
4. Leadership & Management
Executive Team
- Derek Shields (President and Co-Founder): Co-founded ForwardWorks Consulting with Mary Beth Shields. Derek oversees business development and operations, bringing twenty-four years of experience in disability, accessibility, and employment policy and programs. He provides program management, training, and technical assistance for disability inclusion projects. A certified Project Management Professional, he holds an undergraduate degree from Bucknell University and a Master's in Management and Disability Services from the University of San Francisco. His past experience includes managing multi-million dollar federal projects and providing program management support for the Department of Defense Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP) and the USDA TARGET Center. He also directs the National Disability Mentoring Coalition and co-founded the Disability Media Technology Alliance. Currently, he serves as a trainer and consultant for the Department of Labor's Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN), creating and delivering content to advance employment pipelines and Inclusion@Work strategies.
- Mary Beth Shields (Partner and Co-Founder): Co-founded ForwardWorks Consulting.
- Jayme Pendergraft (Director of Communications and Outreach):
- Ana Morales (EN Development and Training Manager):
- Patrick Shields (Assistant Project Manager):
Recent Leadership Changes
The provided information does not indicate specific recent leadership changes, but rather outlines the current executive team and their roles.
5. Social Media Presence and Engagement
Digital Footprint
ForwardWorks Consulting maintains an active and engaging digital footprint across major professional and social platforms. They use LinkedIn for professional networking and company updates, X (formerly Twitter) for real-time engagement and sharing insights, and Facebook to connect with a broader community. Through these channels, they communicate their brand messaging, share thought leadership content, and foster community engagement around disability inclusion and accessibility topics.
6. Recognition and Awards
Industry Recognition
ForwardWorks Consulting is formally recognized as an SBA Certified Woman-Owned Small Business, underscoring its commitment to diversity and business excellence. The company has also garnered positive testimonials for its work, including commendations for developing structured and user-friendly peer mentoring frameworks and for effectively translating complex concepts into clear, accessible guides and engaging training content.
7. Market Analysis
Market Overview
ForwardWorks Consulting operates within the growing market for disability inclusion and accessibility services. This market is driven by increasing regulatory requirements, growing corporate social responsibility initiatives, and a greater societal awareness of the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion for people with disabilities. The company addresses the need for specialized expertise in program management, strategic consulting, training, and technological solutions that ensure truly inclusive environments. The focus on helping organizations transition from their current state to desired inclusion outcomes highlights a responsive market that values tailored and effective solutions.
8. Strategic Partnerships
ForwardWorks Consulting has established significant collaborations to amplify its impact on disability inclusion initiatives:
- Disability:IN: Supported large disability inclusion and awareness projects.
- Lights! Camera! Access! Disability in Media Initiative: Engaged in projects to promote disability visibility in media.
- Partners for Youth with Disabilities: Partnered to refresh career readiness curriculum for mentor match programming.
- Verizon Media Group's Disability Collection Initiative with Getty Images: Provided support for a collection promoting authentic disability representation.
- World Institute on Disability: Collaborated on various projects related to disability inclusion.
- American Foundation for the Blind's Blind Leaders Development Program: Assisted by creating and delivering mentor training.
- National Disability Mentoring Coalition: Derek Shields serves as its Director, fostering alliances and expertise.
- Disability Media Technology Alliance: Co-founded by Derek Shields, this alliance works to advance disability representation and technology access.
- Department of Labor’s Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN): Derek Shields acts as a consultant and trainer, delivering content to advance employment pipelines and Inclusion@Work strategies.
9. Operational Insights
ForwardWorks Consulting distinguishes itself through a highly customized and collaborative operational approach. The company works closely with clients to design and deliver solutions that are specifically tailored to achieve desired inclusion outcomes. Their consultants bring a blend of extensive experience and a collaborative mindset to drive learning, growth, innovation, and transformation in every project. Operations integrate requirements derived from relevant laws and standards with specific client missions and objectives. The company consistently employs proven project management disciplines, evidence-based strategies, and fosters peer support mechanisms to implement effective and lasting change within organizations.
10. Future Outlook
Strategic Roadmap
ForwardWorks Consulting is strategically positioned to continue its leadership in advancing disability and accessibility initiatives. Their future roadmap includes further emphasizing custom solutions, leveraging strong program management capabilities, and deepening expertise in disability inclusion. The expansion of the Skills Lab offerings indicates a planned direction towards providing more scalable and accessible learning and development solutions for a broader audience. The company's continued involvement in national coalitions and initiatives, such as the National Disability Mentoring Coalition and the Disability Media Technology Alliance, underscores a commitment to shaping broader industry practices and policies related to disability inclusion and mentoring. This strategic engagement ensures their thought leadership and influence in the evolving landscape of inclusion.
Growth Strategies
Future growth will be driven by their ability to support organizations in creating more inclusive environments, expanding their training and consulting services, and potentially developing new offerings within their Skills Lab. The focus on delivering measurable results and fostering lasting change positions them for continued client acquisition and retention in a market that increasingly values authentic inclusion.
