President
CurrentMcDaniel Consulting, LLC, is a strategy firm that helps historical organizations use history to build bridges within itself and to its broader constituents. It was founded by George W. McDaniel, Ph.D., who serves as its President. Dr. McDaniel retired after 25 years as Executive Director of Drayton Hall, a historic site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Charleston, SC, and was subsequently honored as its Executive Director Emeritus.About George W. McDanielDuring his career, McDaniel has learned first-hand about the range of issues nonprofit organizations deal with––leadership, planning, operations, and outreach––and has used that knowledge to help them with strategic planning, governance, board and staff development, education, interpretation, visitor services, fundraising, and membership.Clients may also draw upon his expertise in historic preservation, environmental conservation, and community engagement, for he was the first person in South Carolina to win leadership awards from the state in historic preservation and environmental conservation, with community engagement or bridge-building being a key.McDaniel also has first-hand experience in building relationships between historic sites and museums with their African American communities by developing strategies for preserving and telling a more complete story as a bridge.Since none of these organizational issues exist alone, but rather constitute an interrelated mix, McDaniel, as a former site director, understands the need to focus, be practical, and get things done, and so is open to clients’ short- or long-term projects, in a leadership role or as part of a larger team that will help forge partnerships–-all within a client’s unique needs, time frame, and budget.
