Sustainability consulting has become overly complicated—buried in jargon, endless compliance checklists, and frameworks that leave businesses frustrated. At Emerger Strategies, we take a different approach. We simplify sustainability, making it practical, measurable, and valuable. No unnecessary complexity. No greenwashing. Just clear, expert guidance that helps businesses reduce costs, mitigate risks, and strengthen their reputation. And because we believe sustainability should deliver a return on investment, we tie sustainability goals to real business outcomes—giving companies the tools and support they need to turn sustainability into a competitive advantage.
Our Story
Emerger Strategies was born from a love of the natural world and a deep appreciation for fly fishing. Our founder, Rick Crawford, grew up in Savannah, GA, exploring salt marshes, barrier islands, and coastal plains of the Lowcountry, but it wasn’t until he moved to Wyoming in 2008 that he became truly obsessed with fly fishing. The cool meandering rivers, abundant trout, and vast wilderness were a stark contrast to the saltwater landscapes of his childhood, but the connection to nature was the same.
That summer, while working at the A Bar A Ranch in Encampment, WY, Rick read Let My People Go Surfing by Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard. It was a revelation: business could be a force for good. That realization sparked a vision—to marry fly fishing and sustainability, using business as a tool to protect the places we love.
Rick’s journey wasn’t without challenges. He worked at two sustainability startups—one in biodiesel, another in green building software—both of which ultimately failed. But those experiences taught him a crucial lesson: sustainability, for the sake of sustainability, isn’t enough. Businesses need real, measurable value. Sustainability has to make business sense. And that’s exactly why Emerger Strategies was created—to help companies reduce costs, strengthen their brands, and navigate sustainability in a way that drives success while protecting the planet.
Our Name
In fly fishing and entomology, an emerger is an aquatic insect in the critical transition between a nymph and an adult. It’s a moment of transformation, growth, and vulnerability—making emergers an essential food source for trout.
While learning to fly fish in Wyoming, Rick became fascinated with entomology, which also served as an introduction to systems thinking—a holistic way to understand how different factors interact within a larger system. Just as a mayfly, a sipping trout, and a river ecosystem are connected, so too are businesses and the environment.
The name Emerger Strategies reflects this belief in transformation and interconnectedness. We help businesses evolve, break through barriers, and emerge as more sustainable, resilient, and competitive organizations—proving that sustainability isn’t just good for the planet; it’s good for business.
Our Founder
I am a husband, father and nature nerd, as well as a fly fishing obsessed sustainability consultant. I am also the founder of Emerger Strategies, the host of The Sustainable Angler podcast, and the founder of the Fly Fishing Climate Alliance, and my life’s work is to help as many businesses as possible adopt sustainable business practices to protect the planet.
After graduating with an MBA in Sustainable Business from Marylhurst University in 2011, and spending several years in the renewable energy and green building industries, I decided to marry my passion for fly fishing and sustainability by launching Emerger Strategies in 2016, and today we partner with fishing and outdoor brands, guiding them on their sustainability journey, and helping them make the business case for sustainability.
I am humbled to have been named one of the “fifteen people, places, and ideas forging the South of tomorrow” by Garden & Gun Magazine, have been featured in the Patagonia film DROP, and named one of “Charleston’s 50 Most Influential People” by Charleston Business Magazine. I proudly serve on the board of The Sustainability Institute and enjoy spending time with my family on the water.
I started my company to protect what I love, and if you are a business owner who loves fishing and the outdoors, I would welcome the opportunity to show your company how to make the business case for sustainability.
Protect what you love,
Rick
Want to talk sustainability? Book a free 30-minute consultation, or email Rick: rcrawford@emergerstrategies.com
