who we are

Working with B&A means working with experienced leadership.

Our team of Managing Directors and Client Relationship Managers collectively bring decades of combined municipal expertise to every engagement.
our story

Built for municipal 
government.

B&A is a full-service grant consulting firm built exclusively around the needs of local and regional government agencies. We don't dabble in grants — it's all we do.
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Our relationship-driven service model means every client gets a dedicated relationship manager who understands your community's priorities, your council's expectations, and your staff's capacity. We become an extension of your team, not just another vendor.
AGWA Member
GPA Member
NGMA Member
our approach

Four disciplines that drive results.

01
Grant Strategy &
Planning
Dedicated relationship management with ongoing needs assessments to align the right funding opportunities to meet funding goals.
02
Grant
Research
Daily monitoring of federal, state, and regional funding backed by agency relationships and proactive tracking.
03
Grant
Development
Strategic, compliant application development with compelling narratives, early timelines, and full service support that reduces staff burden.
04
Grant
Management
End-to-end grant management oversight ensuring compliance, reporting accuracy, and maintaining a strong standing with funding agencies.
Leadership

The team behind your funding.

Our team brings decades of experience to each engagement.

Team member pic

Natale Lessey

chief executive Officer
A visionary leader who has spent over a decade defining how municipalities access and leverage grant funding. Natale shapes the firm's strategic direction, anticipates the evolving needs of public agencies, and ensures B&A remains at the forefront of municipal funding solutions.
13+ years grant services experience
Infrastructure, RAISE / BUILD, California
Team member pic

Whitten Guajardo

chief operating officer
A seasoned operations executive who oversees all company divisions, driving efficiency, team performance, and scalable growth. Whitten leads strategy and innovation alongside day-to-day operations, ensuring B&A is built to deliver excellence for every client. Whitten also serves as B&A's in-house AI expert, driving forward-thinking initiatives to keep the team ahead of the curve.
10 years of client facing experience
Operations, Service Delivery
managing directors
Team member pic

Susan Worley

managing director of grant development
Expert grant writer and team leader with 100+ applications authored and $72M secured across transportation, water infrastructure, parks, and hazard mitigation. Deep expertise in federal, state, and local funding landscapes for municipalities and councils of government.
10+ years grant services experience
Grant Writing, Narratives
Team member pic

Ursula Drake

Managing Director of Research and Grant Management
Over two decades of grant management experience spanning federal, state, and regional programs. Former U.S. Department of Energy Contracting Officer with specialized expertise in compliance, multi-million-dollar portfolio oversight, and full lifecycle management from application through closeout.
25+ years grant services experience
Compliance, Post-Award
client relationship managers
Team member pic

Melissa Lowry

Client Relationship Director
Team member pic

Laurie Bayles

Client Relationship Manager
Team member pic

Alexandra Castaneda

Client Relationship Manager
Team member pic

Arnoldo Lozano

Client Relationship Manager
the difference

What sets us apart.

Cost-Effective, 

Full-Service Support
B&A serves as an extension of your team, delivering management of the full grant lifecycle without the overhead of a building an internal department.
Grant-Exclusive Focus
Daily monitoring of federal, state, and regional funding backed by agency relationships and proactive tracking.
Honest Assessment of Win Probability
We seek to be a good steward of your City's limited resources. As your trusted advisor, we'll recommend a no-go early if a project is not competitive.