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Real credentials
David Mitroff, Ph.D. — UC Berkeley Extension instructor, Google for Startups mentor, two-time TEDx speaker, featured business expert for NBC, ABC, Forbes, Inc. Magazine, Washington Post.
— The Reality
What "best" actually means — and why most search results don't deliver it.
"Best small business consultant" is the most-searched phrase in this category — and almost every result returns generic agency content optimized for the keyword, not for the actual buyer.
Here's what matters when you're evaluating consultants for an operating business: can they execute, not just diagnose? Will they integrate with your team or hand you a deck? Do they have pattern recognition across enough businesses to spot the real problem — or are they applying the same playbook to everyone? According to Harvard Business Review research, consulting engagements that include implementation alongside strategy are 3× more likely to deliver measurable ROI than strategy-only engagements.
The questions to ask: How long is the typical engagement? What's the implementation model? Can I see real client work? What's the credentialed background of the lead consultant? At Piedmont Avenue Consulting, every engagement is led personally by David Mitroff, Ph.D. — a UC Berkeley Extension instructor, Google for Startups mentor, and two-time TEDx speaker.
Engagements run a six-month minimum because real change in established businesses doesn't happen faster. Strategy through implementation, not consulting tourism. By month six, your team owns the methodology — we become advisors, not operators.
Four questions every founder should ask:
01
Strategy or execution?
Many consultants stop at the deck. Real consulting stays through implementation until outcomes show up.
See methodology → 02 Engagement length?Quick-hit projects rarely change operating businesses. Six-month minimum signals serious work.
View packages → 03 Real client work?Pattern recognition comes from operating across many businesses, not one playbook.
See case studies → 04 Credentialed lead?Who's actually doing the work? Ph.D.-led, UC Berkeley faculty, TEDx speaker, Bay Area-based.
Meet David →Sound familiar?
The free 30-minute interview is where we sort signal from noise.
Why Choose PAC
What makes us different.
These are the patterns that distinguish working with Piedmont Avenue Consulting from typical agency or consultancy engagements.
02
Six-month minimum
No quick-hit projects. Engagements run six months minimum because real change in established businesses doesn't happen faster. Strategy through implementation, not consulting tourism.
03
Skills transfer
By month six, your team owns the methodology. We become advisors, not operators. The engagement endpoint is documented processes plus team capability — not dependency.
04
Real partnerships
Registered partner with Google, Facebook, Constant Contact, YouTube, Yelp, Salesforce, WordPress. These integrations are deployed in client work, not just listed on a website.
05
Bay Area roots
Oakland-based since 2011. Deep relationships with Bay Area media (SF Chronicle, San Francisco Magazine, Diablo Magazine, East Bay Express) — useful for client PR campaigns.
06
Measurable outcomes
Every engagement starts with a written diagnostic and ends with documented outcomes. Real numbers, not "we feel like marketing improved."
Want to see the full scope for your business? The interview gets specific.
Engagement Model
How it works.
Standard engagement flow. Different clients need different emphasis — but the structure stays consistent.
01
30-min interview
Free, no-pitch conversation. We figure out together whether we're a fit. You walk away with two or three concrete actions either way.
02
Assessment
Multi-day diagnostic across six dimensions. Output is a written report you own — whether or not we proceed. See Full Assessment.
03
Six-month engagement
Four levers: brand, lead generation, loyalty, operations. Weekly working sessions with your team. Monthly KPI review. Quarterly strategy refresh.
04
Handoff
Documented playbooks, trained team, established cadence. We move into advisory mode — available for follow-up but no longer running operations.
Real Credentials
Not just another consultant.
David Mitroff, Ph.D. is a UC Berkeley Extension instructor, Google for Startups mentor, two-time TEDx speaker, and featured business expert for NBC, ABC, Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Washington Post.
Bay Area Roots
Local relationships that matter.
Oakland-based since 2011. Deep relationships with Bay Area media (SF Chronicle, San Francisco Magazine, East Bay Express) translate directly to client PR campaigns and local visibility.
Watch · 2 min
Why clients choose us.
▶ Why Bay Area Businesses Choose Piedmont Avenue Consulting
"David is my go-to person when I hit obstacles and he always helps me find a way around them. I highly recommend his services to anyone who wants to grow their company and increase sales."
Kathi T. · Director of Marketing & Business Development, Axis Construction Consulting
Get Started
Ready to find out?
The free 30-minute interview is the answer to "is PAC the right consultant for my business?" No pitch, no pressure — just a real conversation.
Or call us · +1 (510) 761-5895