Advisory & Consulting — For Public Agencies and Companies Serving the Public Good
Clarity for the work of local government — and the vendors who serve it.
Oakyard Strategies is an advisor and partner for public teams navigating planning, land use, engagement, and change — and for the companies preparing to win that work. Practical, modern, and built around the people it serves.
See how we work
Our Work
Whether you're a public team or a company working with one, we have the insights you need.
Municipal & State Agencies
Strategic counsel for the teams powering the public good. Whether you're facing complex planning challenges or seeking to enhance your engagement strategies, we provide the insights and support you need.
Current and Prospective Government Vendors
Consulting and partnership for companies entering or growing in the public market — helping you understand how agencies think, buy, and decide.
Core areas of practice
Planning & Land Use
Each community has unique needs. We provide practical guidance to help organizations plan for growth, shape places, and make sound land-use decisions within their local context.
Stakeholder Engagement
Modalities for discourse are as diverse as your constituents. We help surface community perspectives into decisions and build trust throughout all your channels of communication.
Organizational Development
Demographic shifts and technological changes require adaptive leadership. We work with organizations to strengthen teams, roles, and structures so they can unlock their potential.
Process Improvement & Change Management
New processes and systems don't automatically improve workflows. We interrogate current practices and design modern, intuitive services that create positive relationships with your users.
Permitting & Code Enforcement
The market demands speed, predictability, and reliability across your permitting and enforcement stack. We develop responsive approaches to code compliance that serve every customer.
Technical Advisory & Innovation
Governments need ways to move faster and smarter. We work with you to explore tools and emerging technologies that solve practical challenges and support better public services while maintaining the highest standards of security, integrity, and transparency.
About
Ben Aiken is a municipal professional with a background spanning nearly 20 years working in public agencies — across land-use planning and compliance, public finance, and economic development. This experience informs both sides of Oakyard's work: counsel for public teams, and strategic partnership for the companies that serve them.
Data-informed. People-centered.
Let's work together.
Whether you're a public team or a company working with one, tell me a little about where you are and what's ahead. I read every message myself.