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Headquartered in Yorktown, Virginia
OUR COMPANY
Orca Strategies is a consulting firm that specializes in strategic initiatives for companies, nonprofits, and communities. We help our clients conceptualize, plan, and execute creative solutions that advance their organizational mission.
Our clients thrive as a result of our multidisciplinary experience in fields like:
Strategic Planning
Economic Development
Government Relations
Corporate Training
Project Management
Revenue Growth
Take advantage of our team's diverse background and high level of achievement in these fields.
At Orca Strategies, we love TEAMS
We help our clients reach their goals by assembling teams of the very best people... taking into account their skills, experience, and cohesiveness.
WHY THE ORCA?
When working in the fields of business and politics, one has to "swim with the sharks". Sharks are scary and sharks are aggressive, but the Orca "killer whale" is smarter and more strategic... They even work in teams to prey on great whites!
When you bring us in, you too can be an Orca... the one who wins through brilliant strategy.
Our Team
MEET OUR TEAM
Orca Partners
Chris Davidson
Founder & Lead Strategist
Chris Davidson is a nationally recognized business strategist, acclaimed speaker & trainer, public policy expert, and dedicated community servant. As a 2001 graduate of James Madison University, he went on to hold management and executive roles in the sectors of finance, technology, and commercial real estate. Early in his career, Chris discovered a knack for redesigning business processes and packaging them into simple, duplicatable systems. This led to him founding his own consulting company in 2012 (then called "IMPACT Advisory Group").
Chris has a passion for leadership and service. He has served on numerous public and private boards and has served as President of eight organizations. Chris was named to the Hampton Roads "Top Forty Under 40" by Inside Business Magazine in 2014. Chris lives in York County, VA, with his beautiful wife Melissa, and their three children. CONNECT WITH CHRIS
Melissa Davidson
Partner & Lead Analyst
Melissa's diverse background, coupled with her strong mind for planning and analysis, gives her a unique advantage in identifying business challenges and creating growth plans to overcome them.
Most recently, she was Assistant Director of Economic Development for York County, Virginia, where she served for nearly twenty years. Prior to that, she headed up business development and marketing for Collier Aerospace, a software firm specializing in structural sizing and optimization.
Melissa is active in the community, serving on leadership teams, boards, and committees for various organizations. In 2019, Melissa was named to the "Top 15 Under 50" by the Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce. She graduated from Christopher Newport University in 2001 and earned her master's degree in public administration from Troy University in 2007. Today, she lives in York County, VA with her husband Chris and their three children. CONNECT WITH MELISSA
Orca Associates
Karen Dutro
Project Management
For 16 years, Karen served as Founder and Executive Director of NetworkPeninsula, a capacity-building organization that has helped hundreds of member nonprofits remain sustainable, expand their reach, and identify resources to help them grow. In that role, Karen created continuing education curricula and board training programs, planned annual conferences and monthly networking events, and handled grant-writing, marketing, and communications initiatives.
Karen is a creative, proactive, action-oriented operations professional who thrives on delivering a high quality work product and creating systems that propel clients to new heights of achievement.
Tim Ivy
Videography
Tim Ivy is a master videographer, accomplished producer, and award-winning documentarian with over 40 years experience in the art of visual storytelling and musical composition. He gives each production a unique character and identity based on carefully listening to client needs and desires. Tim attended Berklee School of Music in Boston, MA, and the Army/Navy School of Music in Norfolk, VA. His work has been recognized by industry peers, earning him the AAM award for his feature on the Monitor Center at the Mariner's Museum in Newport News, VA in 2007. Whether he's shooting high definition video, editing content with verve and imagination, or scoring productions with original music, Tim is a consummate professional who routinely exceeds clients' expectations.
Melissa James
Communications & Marketing
Melissa has over 20 years experience in communications - including copy editing, graphic design, web development, crisis management, strategic communication, and nonprofit consulting. She previously served as marketing director for The Curtis Group and Peake Childhood Center, and as managing editor of the products division for Colonial Williamsburg. Her consulting clients include Cleveland Clinic, Regent University, and The Home Depot, among dozens of other organizations.
Melissa has served on multiple boards, including literacy-focused Peninsula Reads (past president), and she also volunteers as a business and entrepreneurship mentor in local schools. In 2018, she was named to the Hampton Roads "Top Forty Under 40" by Inside Business Magazine. Melissa is a 2001 graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and currently resides in York County, VA with her husband Lt. Col. Derek James, and their two children and five cats.
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