Empower Your Mission

Who We Are

Peter Aust is the principal consultant at Excelsior Strategic Consulting. His 25+ years experience in association and not-for-profit leadership have given him unique insights into how organizations can reach the potential for greatness. Peter most recently served as the Executive Director of the Chamber Alliance of New York State (CANYS), the statewide association of Chambers of throughout New York State. His leadership of two regional Chambers of Commerce as CEO over the course of 17 years provided him invaluable wisdom on how not-for-profits and associations can harness their resources to exceed their mission. He has served as the interim CEO of a regional United Way in addition to the interim leadership at other not-for-profits. He has been involved in leadership positions in a myriad of organizations throughout his career, both as a board officer and volunteer. He received his IOM certification from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organization Management at Loyola-Marymount University and is a graduate of the Lowery Institute of Management in Chicago.

Our Services

Helping associations and nonprofits thrive through expert assessment.

Governance Review

Evaluating your board structures to strengthen leadership and accountability.

Strategic Planning

Crafting clear, actionable plans to guide your mission forward.

Board Development

Building an effective boards that will drive impact and community trust.

Organization Assessment

Codifying the strengths you possess and identifying opportunities while addressing weaknesses and threats to your organization.