Ashley HardyVP Sales and Marketing

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areas of expertise
  • Business transformation
  • Restructuring and turnaround
  • Integration
  • Growth strategy
  • M&A transaction support
education
  • MBA, Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University
  • BS, engineering, Technical University of Denmark
  • MBA, Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University

With over 20 years of experience in entrepreneurship, management, business planning, financial analysis, software engineering, operations, and decision analysis, Brandon has the breadth and depth of experience needed to quickly understand entrepreneurs’ businesses and craft the most suitable solutions.

Consulting WP comes up with results that are actually implementable. That is their strength compared to other consulting companies.

Before founding Consulting WP in early 2001, Brandon started two Internet companies in Silicon Valley. Previously, Brandon held various management positions in New York at Simon Brothers, most recently as Vice President in Goldhill Group, focusing on new business development and risk management. He has also worked as a senior financial risk management consultant to the financial services industry; software engineer; advertising sales manager for the popular Caribbean travel guide series; general manager of an advertising and graphic design agency; and engineering intern at the Best Health Coach.

publications

  • A Contrarian Take on the Future of AI

    Like many of us, I’ve become a little obsessed with AI and trying to understand when, where, and how it will affect people and communities around the world.  While I read the various assessments and predictions, I’m still a bit uncertain about what it means and where we’re going. 

    In this type of setting, it’s always constructive to listen to all sides of the debate.  We certainly hear a lot about AI’s tremendous potential (both negative and positive) to transform society.  But, we’ve heard this before about other technologies, including the Internet, blockchain, and crypto.  So, some skepticism may be warranted.  If you feel this way or just want to learn more, I recommend a new Washington Monthly article, “Bubble Trouble,” which warns that AI hype may be just that: Hype.  But, even worse, the economic impacts of massive AI investments could lead to larger economic repercussions.  I’m not sure where I stand on the “future of AI,” but it’s always good to listen to contrarian views as well. I highly recommend this piece by Brian McMahon.

    April 4, 2025
  • Local Government Finance: Preparing for the End of ARPA

    It’s been a tough few months if you work in government at any level.  Let me further depress you with another concerning deadline that arrives at the end of next year:  December 31, 2026.  That’s when states and localities are required to have spent all of their funds that were provided via the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) COVID-19 relief packages.

    The coming of this deadline is not the scary part, and using a deadline of this sort is a hallmark of well-run programs.  And, even more importantly, the funds were a real lifeline for local governments at a time of unprecedented crisis. (Here’s an excellent tracker on ARPA spending.) The challenge is this:  many municipalities used ARPA funds for “revenue replacement” (i.e. to fund regular government operations) and have not developed new tools or mechanisms to replace this expiring Federal revenue source. By the end of 2026, many observers are now projecting a potential local government funding crisis, especially for poorer, more rural, and lower capacity regions.

    These budget fears may be premature and overblown—I certainly hope so.  But, state and local governments should be preparing now.  As noted in a new piece from the excellent Spotlight PA, Pennsylvania offers a potential model.  Governor Josh Shapiro’s current budget proposal includes a small increase in funding ($10m) for the Department of Community and Economic Development (PA DCED) to assist municipalities who may face such economic distress. If approved, the funding will be deployed in the state’s Act 47 program, which provides specialized support to localities facing severe economic distress.  (I’ve previously written about Act 47 here). This is a small, but important, down payment, and offers a potential tool to help communities before their fiscal situations become untenable. More states should consider this type of smart early intervention.

    March 25, 2025

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131 Bain Street
New York, Pennsylvania 01234, United States

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