Company: SDK, Minneapolis, MN
Company Description: SDK infuses community, staff and stakeholder experiences into helping clients define and tackle complex policy and management challenges. We combine decades of engagement experience with sharp analysis and compelling communications to help clients create a more connected future. SDK's core services are : Community-informed research, engagement-driven planning and change-minded management.
Nomination Category: Company/Organization Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Company of the Year – Business Services – 10 or Less Employees
 Nomination Title: SDK
- Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes, explaining the achievements since July 1, 2022 of the nominated organization, OR written answers to the questions? (Choose one):
Written answers to the questions
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video. If you are submitting written answers to the questions for this category, provide them in the appropriate spaces below:
- Briefly describe the nominated organization: history and past performance (up to 200 words):
Total 200 words used.
SDK infuses community, staff and stakeholder experiences into helping clients define and tackle complex policy and management challenges. We combine decades of engagement experience with sharp analysis and compelling communications to help clients create a more connected, equitable future.
Stephanie Devitt founded SDK in 2012 to facilitate cross-sector innovation projects for foundations, health care providers and other socially-minded organizations. Since 2019, SDK has pivoted to a firm serving state and local governments with community-informed research, engagement-driven planning, and change-minded management services.
SDK has been at the forefront of helping Minnesota’s state, city, county and regional governments navigate the post-pandemic world through cutting-edge projects in public safety, digital equity, telehealth adoption and expansion, and equitable access to transportation options, among others. These projects have had a significant impact on shaping new policies and program designs that ensure people of all racial, ethnic, ability and economic backgrounds have access to opportunity as the pandemic subsides and a new, digital-oriented world emerges.
At the same time, SDK has made significant business strides in recent years. Stephanie Devitt graduated from Goldman Sach’s 10k SB program in May 2023, and the firm has grown more than 100% per year each year from 2020 to 2023.
- Outline the organization's achievements since July 1 2022 that you wish to bring to the judges' attention (up to 250 words):
Total 250 words used.
Since July 2022, SDK has led nearly a dozen projects for Minnesota state and local governments that examine different aspects of how underserved communities (people of color, people with disabilities, older adults, rural and others) access opportunities post-pandemic, and how people use and share public spaces like libraries and parks.
Across projects, SDK heard from hundreds of people about their needs, priorities and experiences navigating barriers to getting online, barriers to transportation, and feeling cut-off from the online world in a time when in-person opportunities have become more limited.
The end result: SDK has helped to shape critical programs and policies for Minnesota cities, counties, regional governments and the state that will have impact for years to come. Some examples include:
- Hi-Lake Intersection: SDK led a community-driven process to design new, added public space blocks away from the 3rd Precinct where Minneapolis’ 2020 civil unrest began.
- Saint Paul Public Library: SDK designed a values-driven model of public safety in libraries that keeps patrons and staff safe while providing all patrons with access to computers, books and more.
- Connectivity Blueprint: SDK led an in-depth investigation in digital equity to uncover barriers for getting online faced by people of color, unhoused, those leaving the corrections system, older adults and others.
- Telehealth Payment Parity: SDK worked with Minnesota’s Department of Health to help shape a thorough review of telehealth use during the pandemic and after.
These projects and more occurred as SDK paved a new path for public input to drive critical decisions.
- Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):
Total 187 words used.
Work sample attachments:
- SDK capabilities statement
- Saint Paul Public Library safety model (SDK deliverable). Operating model and implementation tools for values-driven, equitable approach to safety.
- Met Council Transportation Policy Plan report. Summarizes input from nearly 100 people to inform future transportation spending and policy for the Twin Cities region.
- Travel Behavior Inventory data analysis and description of SDK process to reach nearly 450 BIPOC Minnesotans. SDK led outreach, survey redesign for digital equity, and data analysis and visualization.
- Telehealth qualitative report. Summarizes themes around telehealth needs, priorities and preferences for healthcare delivered online/remote post-pandemic. Results reflect input of more than 90 providers, patients and community-based advocates.
- Hi-Lake story map (linked) SDK led a community-driven process to understand people's priorities for future space design. StoryMap captures SDK's work to frame the opportunity (photography, writing), and results from robust engagement. StoryMap is linked and final report describing project attached.
- Connectivity Blueprint. Report summarizing policy research, expert interviews, and input from more than 100 people on experiences, barriers and successes accessing online opportunities.
- Recommendation letters. Letters from clients collected as part of SDK's master contract reauthorization process in spring 2024.
- Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the organization's past performance (up to 250 words):
Total 249 words used.
SDK’s contributions to the public sector, and business services broadly, are unique and significant for several reasons:
1.SDK is showing a new approach to engagement and information. Our work blends management consulting principles with deep knowledge of community engagement and public communications practices to create a direct through-line between public priorities and client actions. Our methods build from founder Stephanie Devitt's two decades of experience leading complex, public-facing initaitives.
2.SDK is creating unity in a time of division. Our work brings honesty and transparency to clients' projects, and lifts the voices of interested citizens. This approach builds shared understanding and unity in a time marked by limited or misinformation. The result: client projects build from a foundation of trust, progress and momentum.
3.SDK is demonstrating consultant’s unique value as a neutral, trusted partner to public good. Our approach blends human-centered design principles with time-tested engagement methods so that public input is helping to inform policy and projects on topics like digital equity, public safety, transportation spending, telehealth reimbursement and more. SDK's role as a knowledgable, respected but neutral partner to both state and local governments and community is key to achieving this outcome.
Our contributions are a sharp contrast to the large engineering firms or national management consultants who have traditionally led engagement for government projects and policies. These national groups lack true knowledge of engagement and equity practices and, as a result, are regularly faced with distrust and disrespect from the public, agencies or both.
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