Have Brain, Will Travel Consulting

Small businesses, non-profits, and other groups who don't have massive budgets often face a major obstacle in solving problems: they need some help, but they only need a bit. Most consulting firms aren't interested in working on projects that only amount to a few hours here and there, and their rates can take your breath away. Have Brain, Will Travel is different. Whether you need months of assistance, or just a long, well-planned lunch meeting, you'll get the help you need, and the respect you deserve, at a price you can afford.

The Have Brain, Will Travel Pledge

I will help you.: Whether it's just pointing you in the right direction, helping you plan your journey from start to finish, or taking you all the way to where you want to go, I will leave you better off than than when we started.
I will respect you.: If you ask for my help, I will treat your problems seriously, and you as a human being.
I will charge you fairly.: You will know what you are paying for, and how much it will cost, and it will be a price you can afford.

Who I Am

My name is David A. Spitzley, and for over 15 years I've made a living developing database and web applications, a task which has allowed me to develop not only the obvious technical skills, but a talent for helping groups of people map out their work processes and determine how to get from where they are to where they want to be. More formally, I have a Ph.D. in Economics and Masters in Public Administration, which in combination grants me a wide range of analytical and organization knowledge and experience. I have also served in elected leadership roles in my community and in political organizations for many years, and am experienced in guiding group activity as well as working with individuals.

Services

I can help you solve a range of problems, whether by addressing them directly myself, or by working with you to give you the tools you need to solve them yourself. Examples include:

Help you brainstorm solutions to problems which have you stymied, and even assist you in concretely defining what those problems are
Develop new processes and procedures to deal with the obstacles you face
Clarify, refine and document your existing processes to make them more effective
Research anything from regulations to academic writings to give you a better understanding of your circumstances
Identify technology resources you need on an ongoing basis, including hardware, software and services as appropriate
Consolidate, organize, analyze and summarize the data you collect but can't take advantage of
Create software tools to help you organize and manage information and support your daily activity
Teach computer skills, academic subjects, creative thinking, or a variety of other topics
Provide general advice, guidance and encouragement

Beyond those services I can provide myself, I have a broad personal network, and can call on it to obtain assistance for you with almost anything you can think of, including:

Graphic Design
Copyediting
Bookkeeping
Grant Writing
Marketing
Legal Services
Product Development
Real Estate Services
Art Restoration
Costume Design
Electrical Engineering

Experience

I've done many things over the years, and can bring that experience to bear on your needs:

Spent 15 years developing database and spreadsheet tools for use by state and local school district personnel
Created enhancements to Detroit's Sugar Law Center for Economic & Social Justice staff time tracking processes
Designed and developed tools used by the Ferndale Friends newspaper to organize their editorial and publishing cycle
Rebutted conclusions by government agencies and Michigan's Mackinac Center about educational efficiency and performance through statistical analysis of personnel and testing data
Guided groups of dozens of people in development of documents and policies, both in person and online
Helped plan major events held by the Center for Community Based Enterprise (as well as serving on their Executive Board)
Assisted in the creation of online businesses and research websites, on both the technical side and the creative side
Created a variety of different things, ranging from t-shirts to boardgames

In addition, I regularly teach myself new skills, ranging from computer languages to home appliance repair, so I am open to tackling problems which are completely new to me.

Prices and Billing

I am extremely flexible with regard to billing cycles, payment methods and other minutiae, but here are a few standards I adhere to:

All billing will include an itemized list of services provided, in 15-minute increments, along with any expenses. You'll always know what you're paying for.
Expenses will be billed at cost, and will be cleared in advance if they total more than a single billable hour (and usually even then).
My basic rate is $100 per hour, but I offer significant discounts for non-profits, locally-anchored or employee-owned businesses, Detroit community development efforts, anything I find personally interesting, and anything odd enough to make a good story. If you think I can help you, we will work out a price you can afford.
I work above-the-table, and pay taxes on all payments I receive.