Former Little Rock chief of staff launches consulting firm

Kendra Pruitt, former chief of staff for the City of Little Rock, announced Monday (June 2) the launch of Solution Seekers, a boutique consulting firm offering a variety of services to small cities, emerging nonprofits, philanthropies and mission-minded companies across the country.

Core services will include:

• Strategic advising and government affairs;
• Stakeholder engagement and coalition building;
• Policy design and implementation;
• Regulatory and legal compliance strategy;
• Operational assessments and system improvement; and
• Professional development and training.

As chief of staff for Arkansas’ capital city, Pruitt developed and oversaw the strategy that led to the announcement of 11,000 new jobs, reduced overall crime by nearly 20% over the past five years, strengthened public private partnerships, and modernized internal systems to better serve residents among other initiatives, according to a press release.

Pruitt said her previous private and governmental work, legal and regulatory background, and operational knowledge are assets to engage with clients.

“I launched Solution Seekers to expand my work beyond one city, because the state, nation, and even the world need solutions that actually move the needle,” Pruitt said. “This firm is built on a simple but powerful belief: when you center people, strategy becomes more than a plan. It becomes a pathway to transformation.”

Pruitt is a Newport, Ark., native and graduate of Ouachita Baptist University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in finance. She also attended the University of Arkansas School of Law earning her Juris Doctorate.

Pruitt practiced corporate litigation, regulated business compliance, and state lobbying at Mitchell Williams law firm before joining the City of Little Rock to lead policy and strategic initiatives. She is licensed to practice law in Arkansas.

“Solution Seekers specializes in working with those who are ready to think differently, lead boldly, and build systems that serve everyone better. Whether advising a mayor, or helping an organization scale its impact, the firm brings clarity, capacity, and momentum,” Pruitt said. “We meet people where they are and help them move forward with purpose. Every client relationship is a partnership in progress.”

Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott, Jr., who worked with Pruitt for the last half decade, offered his endorsement of her services.

“I often say, ‘Kendra Pruitt is my left and right brain,’ and I mean that,” said Scott. “She has become an operations expert making government run more efficiently, and she has facilitated various workshops and retreats to manage change and develop a cohesive team. This, coupled with her natural curiosity and legal background, makes her a strong choice for any candidate or company.”

Pruitt tells Talk Business & Politics that she is pursuing business across the U.S.

“We are positioning ourselves as a national firm with unique local perspective. We have built strong relationships in the Southern region and are positioning ourselves as the go-to firm for work from Little Rock and Shreveport, to Memphis all the way to Jackson, Birmingham, and Atlanta,” said Pruitt. “Some of our clients we are locking in are global companies that work specifically with municipalities or even governments beyond Little Rock.”