MOVE PURPOSEFULLY WITH
Portage & Practice is a boutique, principal-led consultancy centered on strategic design, leadership, and change for arts and other mission-driven organizations across the U.S. and Canada.
Founded by David B. Devan, Principal
I’ve Been Where You Are
Across more than three decades as a leading cultural CEO, I didn’t just advise on strategy — I lived it. Today, I partner with executive leaders and boards who need to balance competing priorities without losing sight of their purpose. We’ll work collaboratively to create practical, field-tested solutions tailored to your specific context.
PORTAGE & PRACTICE
How Portage & Practice Is Different
Executive Experience, Not Just Consulting Theory
Most consultants evaluate organizations from the outside. I’ve led one from the inside.
Solutions That Don’t Sit on Shelves
My deliverables are living tools that show up in leadership practice, operational decisions, board conversations, and day-to-day decision-making.
High-Touch Discovery That Uncovers the Real Problem
Initial symptoms rarely reveal true root causes. We’ll dig deep to understand your organization’s culture, constraints, and aspirations before designing any solutions.
Balancing Stories and Numbers
One of my core strengths is holding qualitative insights and quantitative data in equal regard. I use proven tools to help you avoid the trap of numbers-only or story-only decisions.
Honest Assessment of What’s Possible
Your organization can’t do everything. My role is helping you determine what’s realistic and what you may need to release to create space for other areas to flourish.
The Portage Metaphor
The name Portage & Practice reflects both my approach and my personal passion for backcountry canoeing.
Portage is the act of carrying a canoe — and everything in it — over land between two bodies of water.
As an avid backcountry canoeist, I’ve found that navigating organizational change has the same requirements: clear assessment of what you need, collaborative effort to carry the load across uncertain terrain, and intentional action to reach calmer water.
When leaders encounter a moment of transition, they need to slow down, assess what’s essential, and deliberately carry those elements to the next phase. I can help you meet these messy in-between moments with clarity, intention, and care so you can move forward with purpose on the journey you’re meant to take.