The Butterfly Effect Case Studies

Case Study: Greater Baltimore Climate Initiative (GBCI)

Conference Design, Program Management & Stakeholder Engagement

Engagement Period: June 2024 – Present

Overview

GBCI is a regional convening designed to strengthen collaboration, align priorities, and accelerate regional sustainability planning, climate action and environmental justice action across Baltimore City and Central Maryland. The annual summit brings together government agencies, universities, nonprofits, community-based organizations, private sector leaders, and residents to address climate resilience, sustainability, and equitable economic development.

TBE serves as the lead organizer, and operational manager, responsible for end-to-end strategy, coordination, and execution.

Challenge

The Baltimore region lacked a central, cross-sector climate organization that was simultaneously policy-relevant, community-centered, and execution-focused. Delivering such a summit required:

• Coordinating dozens of partners with differing priorities

• Designing a credible summit agenda that balanced technical depth and accessibility

• Managing sponsorships, budgets, vendors, and logistics under tight timelines

• Ensuring the summit reflected environmental justice and equity principles, not just climate rhetoric

TBE Role & Services

TBE led the Summit from concept to execution, serving as the strategic, operational, and engagement lead, including:

• Summit design and strategic framing, informed by regional climate and EJ priorities

• Agenda development and speaker curation across government, academia, nonprofit, and private sectors

• Stakeholder engagement and partner coordination, including universities, agencies, and nonprofits

• Budget development, sponsorship strategy, and financial oversight

• Event operations and logistics, including venue coordination, run of show, and volunteer management

• Marketing, communications, and registration strategy

• Post-event synthesis and insights to inform future programming

Outcomes

• 1,450+ regional survey participants informing summit priorities

• 1,261 event participants representing government, academia, nonprofits, and community organizations

• 29 partner organizations aligned around shared planning and sustainability goals, including the Baltimore City Office of Sustainability’s Baltimore Energy Challenge, Workflow Control (WFC), Johns Hopkins Urban Health Institute, John Hopkins Institute for Planetary Health, Maryland LCV Education Fund, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, BGE (An Exelon Company), Baltimore Green Space, Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN), Maryland Energy Innovation Accelerator (a program of the Maryland Clean Energy Center), Sierra Club, National Aquarium, Vicinity Energy, Green & Healthy Homes Initiative, What The Sprout?, BSEC (Baltimore SocialEnvironmental Collaborative), HBCU Environmental Justice Technical Collaborative, McAlister’s Deli, Interfaith Power & Light (DC.MD.NoVA), Morgan State University, AGM Financial, Environmental Defense Fund, SECU, SCB Luxury Styling, Agribonum, and Canopy by Hilton.

• $40,000+ raised in sponsorships and contributions within a 90-day window for GBCI as a brand new program

• High summit attendee satisfaction, with the majority rating the experience as Good, Very Good, or Excellent

• Established a repeatable model for regional planning convenings

Impact

GBCS has become a recognized regional platform for climate collaboration—bridging policy, data, and lived experience. Through TBE’s leadership, the Summit moved beyond a one-time event into an ongoing ecosystem supporting partnerships, funding conversations, and climate implementation across Maryland.

Case Study: Prince George's Chamber of Commerce's Equity in Procurement Program (EIP)

Program Design, Implementation & Technical Assistance

Engagement Period: February 2025 – Present

Overview

Sponsored by CareFirst and FSC First, the Equity in Procurement (EIP) Program is a economic development initiative designed to increase access to public, institutional, and corporate procurement opportunities for small, minority-owned, and disadvantaged businesses. The program addresses structural barriers that prevent capable businesses from competing for and winning contracts. Other partners include Clark Construction, Turner Construction, Hensel Phelps, Pepco, Industrial Bank, and WSSC Water

TBE serves as the program implementation architect, manager, and technical assistance provider, translating procurement complexity into actionable pathways for small businesses.

Challenge

Many small and minority-owned businesses are technically capable but excluded from procurement due to:

• Limited understanding of procurement systems and compliance requirements

• Lack of internal infrastructure (finance, certifications, documentation)

• Fragmented access to technical assistance and trusted guidance

There was a need for a structured, equity-centered procurement program that combined education, hands-on support, and institutional navigation.

TBE Role & Services

TBE designed and implemented the EIP Program, providing end-to-end leadership, including:

• Program design and curriculum development focused on procurement readiness

• Cohort-based technical assistance and coaching

• Support with MBE, DBE, and 8(a) certification pathways

• Guidance on compliance, pricing, and proposal readiness

• Relationship-building between participants and procurement-facing institutions

• Program evaluation and continuous improvement

Outcomes

• 30+ small businesses supported through cohort-based programming

• Increased participant readiness to pursue public and institutional contracts

• Strengthened business systems across finance, compliance, and operations

• Clear procurement roadmaps tailored to each business’s growth stage

• Strong engagement and completion rates across cohorts

Impact

EIP equips businesses not just to learn procurement, but to navigate and compete within it. Through TBE’s leadership, the program has demonstrated a scalable model for advancing economic equity—one that aligns small business capacity with real procurement opportunities and institutional demand.

Case Study: SURE Development Entity & Assets Portfolio

Real Estate Development & Construction, Asset & Property Management

Engagement Period: April 2021 – Present

Challenge

SURE Development was transitioning from a small real estate portfolio, within a half of a mile from John Hopkins hospital, into a rapidly growing, multi-property operation. Leadership required scalable systems for asset management, finance, operations, procurement, communications, and digital presence—while maintaining tenant satisfaction, minimizing vacancy, and positioning the portfolio for long-term growth and capital investment.

As the portfolio expanded, the organization also needed a more sophisticated legal and governance structure to support risk isolation, asset-level performance tracking, and future financing—without disrupting active operations.

TBE Role & Services

TBE served as an embedded strategic, operational, and governance advisor—supporting both growth execution and infrastructure design, including:

• Portfolio-wide operations and asset management strategy across residential and short-term rental properties

• Design and implementation of scalable finance and operations systems, supporting budgeting, reporting, vendor management, and executive decision-making

• Asset management oversight for a growing real estate portfolio

• Legal and structural portfolio restructuring, led by TBE:

  • Transitioned the portfolio from Maryland-based entities into a Delaware Series LLC structure

  • Designed the structure to support asset-level liability protection, financial clarity, and scalable growth

  • Coordinated restructuring to ensure continuity of operations during transition

• Property management systems design and optimization to support portfolio expansion

• Procurement and hiring support (approximately 10 procurements and/or key hires across operations, finance, and support functions)

• Website and digital marketing revamp aligned with growth, investor readiness, and brand clarity

• Marketing platform optimization across Airbnb, Furnished Finder, Zillow, and related listing platforms

• Ongoing executive advisory support across finance, communications, asset performance, and growth planning

Outcomes

• Portfolio growth from 5 units to 32 doors

• Oversight of $11M+ in real estate assets under management

• Successful restructuring of the portfolio into a Delaware Series LLC, improving governance, scalability, and risk management

• Business awarded $650,000 in private investment, supported by improved operational clarity and asset performance

• Sustained low vacancy rates across short-term and long-term rental platforms

• Strengthened digital brand presence aligned with investor and growth objectives

• Scalable internal systems enabling continued portfolio expansion without operational strain

Impact

TBE functioned as a long-term, embedded partner—guiding SURE Development through organizational restructuring, asset growth, and operational maturity. The engagement positioned the firm for sustained expansion, capital deployment, and professional asset management—while maintaining operational continuity, financial discipline, and tenant experience.

Case Study: HBCU Environmental Justice Technical Collaborative (HEJT Collaborative)

Organizational Management, Brand & Communications Leadership

Engagement Period: December 2021 – Present

Overview

Launched in December 2021, the HBCU Environmental Justice Technical Collaborative (HEJT Collaborative) is a national, HBCU-affiliated network of experts advancing environmental justice, climate equity, and data-driven decision-making. Having completed over $1M in projects, the Collaborative operates at the intersection of climate resiliency, racial equity, technology, and public policy, supporting communities, governments, and institutions through applied research, technical assistance, and advanced tools.

TBE serves as the organizational manager, brand director, and communications lead, providing the structure, coordination, and public-facing strategy required to scale a multidisciplinary, multi-institutional collaborative.

Challenge

HEJT brought together an extraordinary group of HBCU-affiliated subject matter experts in GIS, engineering, economics, public health, and environmental science. However, as the Collaborative expanded nationally, it required:

• Centralized organizational management and coordination

• A cohesive brand identity and narrative

• Structured communications and external engagement

• Operational systems to support grants, partnerships, tools, and events

• A trusted internal manager to translate technical excellence into accessible, funder- and community-ready outputs

Without these systems, growth risked becoming fragmented and overly dependent on individual contributors rather than a durable collaborative structure.

TBE Role & Services

TBE operates as the backbone organization, enabling HEJT to function as a coordinated, high-performing national collaborative.

Organizational Management

• Day-to-day organizational coordination across 20+ members and multiple institutions

• Internal governance support and role clarity across leadership, co-founders, and members

• Grant-aligned operational planning and execution support

• Management of timelines, deliverables, and cross-institution collaboration

Brand Direction

• Development and stewardship of the HEJT Collaborative brand identity

• Narrative positioning at the intersection of HBCUs, environmental justice, technology, and policy

• Alignment of technical outputs with funder, academic, and community audiences

• Brand consistency across tools, presentations, conferences, and media

Communications & External Engagement

• Lead communications strategy for conferences, workshops, trainings, and national convenings

• Development of presentation materials, talking points, and public-facing content

• Coordination of HEJT’s visibility across major national platforms and events

• Support for partner communications, announcements, and stakeholder outreach

HEJT Technical Scope

HEJT provides technical assistance and subject matter expertise across:

• Public Health, Environmental Science, and Environmental Justice

• Community Outreach, Engagement, and Strengths-Based Planning

• Risk, Compliance, and Collaborative Governance

• Engineering (civil, environmental, water resources, green infrastructure, coastal resilience)

• Finance, Budgeting, Economics, and Market Impact Analysis

• Mapping and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

• Program Design and Management

TBE ensures this work is organized, communicated, and operationalized effectively.

Key Tools & Innovations

• HCEJST (HBCU Environmental Justice Screening Tool): An HBCU-led, GIS-based adaptation of the federal Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool, incorporating race-conscious analysis

• Justice40 Funding Data Tracking Tool: Supports evaluation and accountability for Justice40 implementation across states and programs

• Justice40 EJ Hub Leader Map & Dashboards

Selected Past Performance & National Engagements

(Managed, coordinated, and communicated with TBE leadership)

• Justice40 Tracking Tool Development (MD, PA; TX, LA) – Bezos Earth Fund & Bullard Center

• HBCU CEJST Tool Announcement & Trainings – New Orleans, Houston

• CEEJH Symposium (Houston)

• Northstar GIS Homecoming Conference – Howard University

• Society of Governmental Economists Conference – American University

• ESRI Education Summit – San Diego

• Freedom & Justice Summer Conference – Spelman College

• TUgis Conference – Towson University

• NASA Data Science Alliance EJ Technology Conference – Nashville

• Greater Baltimore Climate Summit – UMCES IMET

• Ongoing academic, federal, and community trainings through 2025

Federal Technical Assistance

U.S. EPA Community Change Grant Program – Technical Assistance Provider

Duration: November 2023 – November 2024

Prime Contractor: ENDYNA

TBE supported HEJT’s role in delivering EPA-aligned technical assistance, including:

• Project and program design, scheduling, and budgeting

• Environmental justice, public health, and environmental science expertise

• Community engagement and strengths-based planning

• Risk, compliance, and collaborative governance

• Engineering and GIS-based analysis

• Finance, economics, and feasibility assessment

Impact

With TBE serving as organizational manager, brand director, and communications lead, HEJT has evolved from a loose network of experts into a nationally recognized, operationally coherent collaborative.

Key impacts include:

• Sustained coordination of 20+ HBCU-affiliated experts

• National recognition across academic, federal, nonprofit, and technology spaces

• Scalable systems enabling continued grant funding and tool development

• Increased accessibility and visibility of complex EJ and GIS work

• Strong positioning as a trusted technical assistance provider for Justice40 and EJ initiatives