Strategic Together.
In 1979, Alan R. Leist, Jr. founded Strategic with a dual aim: to secure a future for his family and empower others to achieve their visions of a great life. Having relocated his son to three different schools in just as many years underscored the importance of establishing roots in a strong community and finding balance in life. This philosophy quickly became the company’s bedrock and now serves as a living embodiment of our core values: Serve, Grow, and Live. Today, this ethos extends beyond our day-to-day work as we seek to actively engage with local programs and initiatives that uplift and unite the communities where we live and work – a tribute to the vision our founder had over four decades ago, a vision that continues to shape our culture and our core reason for existence – to help people live a great life.
We’re in the business of helping people – propelling our clients, elevating our team, and uplifting our communities. It’s about synergy, not just support. Every interaction is an opportunity to forge partnerships that spark transformative journeys. From our clients to our team, from the boardroom to the community playground, together we elevate, we collaborate, we celebrate —we are Strategic Together.
Our Work In Action
Setting the Stage for the Stars of Tomorrow
The MVCC Foundation offers nearly 140 scholarships in a variety of disciplines. Every scholarship fund was created for a personal reason, standing as an enduring legacy of MVCC alumni, faculty, staff, students, loved ones, and local organizations. In 2024, Strategic made a 5-year sponsorship of $20,000 per year in support of this great program and our continued commitment to open doors to new opportunities and brighter futures for the next generation of local leaders.
Delivering Unique Experiences
Strategic is the proud presenting sponsor of the Downtown Classic Utica, A 4-day basketball showcase and youth jamboree hosted at the Nexus Center in the heart of Downtown Utica, NY. In 2023, this inaugural tournament featured over 30 of Upstate New York’s top boys and girls high school teams competing for school pride and community spirit. Headlining the event, was the first ever Utica Cup, an intra-city rivalry match-up that brought a community together for an afternoon of spirted basketball. Strategic will once again be the presenting sponsor for the 2024 Tournament.
Revitalizing Youth Sports
With an initial sponsorship from Strategic and the work of Strategic team members, the Clinton, NY Recreational Softball program was started in 2022. Now in our third season, the program is successfully running as an independent 501(c)3 Not-for-profit organization providing over 50 girls under the age of 12 an opportunity to compete, make new friends, learn and have tons of fun!
Celebrating Community Culture
In February 2024, the Strategic team joined forces with Munson and the Greater Utica Chamber to host 200+ community members for a truly unique networking experience. The collaboration offered a unique opportunity to share with the community how two organizations in very different industries can bond over their shared commitment to community enrichment and showcasing the transformative power of art.
Strengthening Community Bonds
Oh, what a night it was at the 5th Annual Rome Area Chamber of Commerce Speed Bowling Bonanza! Strategic’s newly minted “Bowling Team” hit the lanes with nothing but strikes, spares, and a whole lot of laughter in mind. It wasn’t just about rolling the perfect game; it was about rolling together, strengthening bonds and celebrating the great businesses and leaders in the Rome community.
Capturing the Moment With "Together T's"
“Together T’s”, designed and printed in-house. are all about celebrating the power of community. Whether it’s cheering on our local teams to championship victory, coming together for a good cause, or simply bringing a little extra sizzle and fun to our local youth programs, these shirts embody community spirit and celebrate the power of playing “together.”
