Meet Nate Birt
Founder and CEO of Silver Maple Strategies | Communications Strategist, Executive Adviser, Writer and Facilitator
Welcome! I’m Nate Birt, founder of Silver Maple Strategies.
I help leaders bring clarity, confidence and momentum to complicated work—especially when the stakes are high, the stakeholders are diverse and the path forward is not obvious.
My work spans executive communications, editorial strategy, thought leadership, stakeholder engagement, facilitation, training and responsible AI integration. I bring particular depth to agriculture and food, sustainability, conservation, regenerative agriculture, education, media and business-to-business organizations.
At heart, I’m a journalist. My most valuable work happens before and after the writing. I ask sharp questions, uncover how different people see an issue, identify the meaning hidden across their perspectives, and help leaders decide what to do next. Then, I translate that understanding into communication people can trust and act on. Along the way, I help my clients learn from the responses their communication yields.
Our Mission
Silver Maple Strategies helps executives and organizations breathe, lead, and grow.
That means creating the space to step back from the noise, see the situation more clearly and determine the next useful step.
We help clients communicate complicated ideas, strengthen trust with the people who matter to their work and move important initiatives forward without sacrificing judgment, accuracy, or human relationships.
Why Work With Us
You’re leading consequential work—and you need a partner who can understand the subject matter, ask thoughtful questions and help you communicate with clarity and credibility.
Silver Maple Strategies combines strategic judgment with exceptional interviewing, writing, research and facilitation. We can help you:
-
Translate complex subjects into clear, actionable language
-
Navigate high-stakes communications when the path forward is uncertain
-
Develop credible thought leadership that reflects an executive’s authentic voice
-
Build editorial and content programs that strengthen trust and visibility
-
Understand and engage stakeholders with different experiences and priorities
-
Facilitate productive conversations that lead to useful next steps
-
Develop persuasive proposals and coalition narratives
-
Integrate generative AI into communications and editorial workflows responsibly
Our work is thoughtful, collaborative and tailored to the situation at hand. We are not a high-volume content factory or a one-size-fits-all service provider. We serve as a trusted outside partner for leaders who value curiosity, candor, sound judgment and communication grounded in genuine understanding.
Experience
20 Years of Strategic Communications, Storytelling and Cross-Sector Leadership
Over two decades, I’ve worked across executive communications, corporate communications, external affairs, journalism, editorial and content strategy, stakeholder engagement, business development, training and partnership leadership.
Highlights include:
Leading America’s Conservation Ag Movement (ACAM), a national public-private partnership that delivered over $5 million in value to U.S. farmers
Helping lead proposal strategy, writing and coalition development on a
USDA proposal selected for a $40 million award under the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program
Interviewing farmers, executives, researchers, and other subject-matter experts
to create credible, accessible stories and reports
Training professionals to use generative artificial intelligence (AI) thoughtfully without compromising judgment, trust, or accuracy
Hosting the Perennial Pen (What Matters Most) podcast
Authoring a book for nonprofit leaders titled 7 Secrets of Highly Effective Social Impact Communicators
My Story
From Journalism to Farming And Into the Future of Climate Solutions
I began my career as a newspaper and online journalist serving small towns and urban communities. Then, my family relocated to rural Missouri to raise our family—plus chickens, cows, turkeys, vegetables, and fruit. That lived experience has transformed me.
Some of our personal favorite nonprofit causes include supporting families seeking to adopt children and improving food security for all.
Today, our team helps executives and organizations achieve their biggest goals through strategic communication, facilitated conversations, and AI skills-building, recognizing the world needs more generosity, creativity, and passion for the public good, now more than ever.