The History and Origin of Texas Consilium

Texas Consilium was established to serve as a catalyst for business improvement and economic growth across Texas. Its origins trace back to the innovative work conducted at TMAC (Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center), the federal Manufacturing Extension Partner for Texas and a research center affiliated with the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). Jim Ratchford, a key figure in its creation and the initial Executive Director of Texas Consilium, brought a holistic approach to TMAC and was instrumental in developing and refining the Accelerating Profitable Growth (APG) initiative during his tenure at TMAC, starting in 2013.

The APG initiative was designed to provide a comprehensive framework for diagnosing and enhancing the performance of Texas manufacturing businesses. It offered a robust diagnostic analysis and action planning process, which assessed the current state of businesses, outlined actionable improvements, and quantified the potential benefits of implementing these changes. This initiative also highlighted the importance of integrating diverse areas of business expertise—ranging from finance and marketing to executive leadership. This framework became known as MAPS, representing the four functional areas of business: Money, Activities, People, and Sales.

In its early stages, APG demonstrated promising results with several TMAC clients. However, as the initiative expanded, it became evident that the expertise required to scale the program was not sufficiently available within TMAC’s internal staff. To address this, Ratchford recruited independent professionals from across Texas, forming a network of experts referred to as “The Consilium”—Latin for “council of wise advisors.” These experts collaborated with TMAC to support clients, propose innovative solutions, and drive business development.

Despite its success, policy and procedural challenges within UTA’s procurement system impeded TMAC’s ability to fully implement the APG initiative as envisioned. These barriers included restrictions on contracting with third-party vendors and delays in obtaining approval for critical sales and service proposals. By mid-2015, these obstacles rendered TMAC unable to continue scaling the APG program within its organizational framework.

Recognizing the need for a more agile and independent entity, Ratchford and other participants in “The Consilium” took steps to formalize their efforts outside TMAC. Thus, Texas Consilium was established as a separate nonprofit organization in July 2015. This transition allowed the initiative to operate with greater flexibility, free from the constraints that had hindered its growth within TMAC. The separation also enabled Texas Consilium to expand its reach beyond manufacturing, serving businesses across various industries by diagnosing challenges, creating strategic growth plans, and implementing actionable solutions in an industry-agnostic manner. Since Texas Consilium is no longer supported by federal and university funds, client records are no longer subject to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) or Open Records Act requests, ensuring that all client information remains confidential.

Today, Texas Consilium embodies the principles and methodologies developed during its inception while continuously evolving to meet the needs of Texas businesses. Its journey from a collaborative initiative within TMAC to an independent entity underscores its commitment to fostering profitable growth and operational excellence across the state. Through its network of expert collaborators and innovative strategies, Texas Consilium continues to play a pivotal role in driving economic success for Texas businesses.