Danielle Lewis, Partner

Danielle Lewis’ career in communication was foreshadowed when she surprised her parents by learning to talk at 10 months.

She hasn’t stopped since then, but as a grown-up she’s channeled her chattiness into helping her clients get clear on communication. As one client said, “Sometimes when you talk to people, it’s like opening a can of worms, but talking with Danielle is always like shoving the worms back in the can.”

Danielle is a rare specimen who started her career as a consultant and is still consulting more than 20 years later. First at McKinney & Associates, Danielle learned the ropes of media relations while working on issues from affirmative action to housing discrimination. Then after being shouted at by one too many reporters, she joined Spitfire Strategies, where she led communication planning and message trainings for nonprofits worldwide and developed the firm’s approach to branding.

In 2013, Danielle founded her independent consulting practice which grew to become Springboard Partners. At Springboard, much of her work focuses on providing strategic counsel and communication support to the folks she fondly refers to as “fish people” — the foundations and conservation organizations that are making sustainable seafood the norm in North America and around the world. Danielle designs and facilitates in-person and virtual meetings that lead to clear agreements and action plans. She develops tools and trainings to increase the communication savvy of people working to end gender-based violence and keep America healthy. And she helps organizations large and small pinpoint who they are, what they do, and why it matters, and figure out how to connect with the audiences that are important to their work. Danielle authored Springboard’s publication Build on Brand, making the case for organizations to use their core identities to shape their strategic plans. More recently she partnered with long-time friend of Springboard Vermont Network to develop a guide for brand updates.

Danielle lives in an octogenarian house in Silver Spring, Maryland, with her rescue chihuahua, Zadie (short for Dr. Elzada Clover, the first woman to float the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon in 1938). Danielle and Zadie enjoy Zoom yoga, hiking, patio dining, and hanging out with Danielle’s niece and nephew.