StrategistDoctorate-level rigor
A Doctorate, Master’s, and Bachelor’s in Clinical Psychology, with coursework in law and business — a foundation for sharp critical thinking applied to growth.
Piedmont Avenue · Oakland
Marketing & business consulting in Oakland.
37.8270° N, 122.2497° W · Oakland, CA
Piedmont Avenue Consulting has called Oakland home for more than two decades — headquartered on Piedmont Avenue itself. We help East Bay owners win clients predictably, build durable brands, and grow with confidence.
Strategy that wins clients — predictably
20+
Years starting, growing & expanding firms
200+
Businesses advised
100+
Workshops & keynotes delivered
7+
Companies founded & co-founded
Quick answer
Piedmont Avenue Consulting is an Oakland-based marketing and business consulting firm founded by David Mitroff, Ph.D. From our Piedmont Avenue headquarters, we help East Bay restaurants, law firms, retailers, and professional-service businesses generate leads, strengthen brand and reputation, and retain customers.
Why Oakland
Built in the East Bay, for the East Bay.
Oakland isn't a market we expanded into — it's where we started. Our office sits on Piedmont Avenue, and for 20+ years we've worked alongside owners from Rockridge and Temescal to Jack London Square and Lake Merritt. That proximity matters: we know the corridors, the foot traffic, the local press, and the partner networks that move the needle here.
We've supported the Bay Area's small-business backbone directly — including work connected to the Alameda County Small Business Development Center — and our team understands the difference between a campaign that looks busy and one that fills tables, books consultations, and earns referrals. Most Oakland engagements begin with focused business consulting and a clear growth plan.
What we do
Marketing services for Oakland businesses.
Senior strategy and hands-on implementation across the channels that actually move revenue — built around your goals, not a one-size template.
Brand awareness
Sharpen positioning, identity, and reputation so the right clients recognize and remember you.
Explore →Lead generation
Predictable pipelines from search, referrals, content, and social — not one-off campaigns.
Explore →Customer loyalty
Turn first-time clients into repeat business and referrals with retention systems that compound.
Explore →Public relations
Real media relationships and earned coverage — placement, not press-release blasts.
Explore →Event marketing
Use events, workshops, and partnerships to build pipeline, authority, and community.
Explore →Business consulting
Strategy, operations, and growth planning for owners who want to scale with confidence.
Explore →
Who we help
Industries we serve in Oakland.
Restaurants & bars
Law firms
Retail & local services
Hospitality & hotels
Professional services
Nonprofits & community orgs
Areas served across Oakland
Piedmont AvenueRockridgeTemescalUptownJack London SquareLake MerrittDowntown OaklandMontclairGrand LakeFruitvale
Watch
See David in action.
Keynotes, panels, and on-camera appearances — a sampler of the strategy Oakland clients get.
Keynote Speaker & Marketing Expert reel
David Mitroff, Ph.D. on NBC News
Bar & Restaurant Consulting
3 Keys for Business Networking
Your consultant
Meet David Mitroff, Ph.D.
For more than 20 years, David has helped start, grow, and expand businesses — from solo owners to international firms. He founded Piedmont Avenue Consulting, Inc. and is an Instructor at University of California, Berkeley and recognized by U.S. Small Business Administration, and a mentor for Google for Startups.
Media ExpertFeatured nationwide
A go-to business and marketing expert featured by NBC, Forbes, Inc. Magazine, Entrepreneur, and many more national and regional outlets.
Keynote SpeakerOn stages worldwide
A 2× TEDx speaker who has delivered keynotes across the U.S. and internationally — from Berlin and Barcelona to Dubai and Bangalore.
Founder & MentorBuilt businesses, not just plans
Founder and co-founder of 7+ companies and a mentor to founders — David has lived the operating challenges Oakland owners face.
Trust & recognition
Trusted by businesses — and featured by national media.
As featured in
Questions
Oakland consulting FAQs.
Where is Piedmont Avenue Consulting located in Oakland?
Our headquarters is at 3873 Piedmont Avenue, Suite #2, Oakland, CA 94611, in the heart of the Piedmont Avenue district. We have been based here for more than two decades, which gives us first-hand knowledge of the East Bay market and its neighborhoods. We meet Oakland clients at our office, on-site at your business, or remotely by video. Because we are local, in-person working sessions are easy to arrange.
Do you work with small Oakland businesses?
Yes. We work with everyone from solo owners and first-location operators to established multi-site businesses across the East Bay. Engagements are scoped to your stage and budget, so a newer business and a mature one receive very different plans. Many Oakland clients begin with a focused strategy engagement before expanding into ongoing support.
Which Oakland industries do you serve?
We regularly advise restaurants and bars, law firms, retail and local service businesses, hospitality and hotels, professional services, and nonprofits. Our experience spans both consumer-facing brands and B2B firms, so we adapt the approach to how your customers actually find and choose you. If you are not sure whether your industry fits, a short consultation call will tell you quickly.
How does a typical engagement start?
Most engagements begin with a free consultation call to understand your goals, challenges, and current marketing. From there we build a clear strategic plan with priorities and milestones, then move into implementation. You will always know what we are doing, why we are doing it, and what to expect next. Scope can flex from a single project to ongoing monthly support.
Do you offer ongoing marketing support or just strategy?
Both. Some Oakland clients want a strategic roadmap they can run themselves, while others want us to implement and manage the work month to month. We are comfortable acting as your outsourced marketing team or as an advisor to your in-house staff. The right structure depends on your capacity and goals, and we will recommend what fits.
How is pricing structured?
We scope each engagement to the work and outcomes you need, so there is no single fixed package. Projects, strategic plans, and ongoing retainers are all options, and we are transparent about what is included before you commit. On the consultation call we will walk you through the most cost-effective path for your stage. There are no surprise fees.
Get started
Ready to grow your Oakland business?
Book a free consultation call. We’ll talk through your goals and challenges and show how to win clients predictably, build your brand, and keep customers coming back.
