Experienced agency leaders bringing data-driven results

We've been in your chair. As former agency leaders, we understand statutory constraints, budget cycles and legislative oversight. And we've made lasting change.

Now we offer a structured approach to help your team level-up.

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Two Leaders.
One Mission.

We are a boutique consulting firm built on years of frontline public-sector leadership. We don't advise from the outside — we've worked inside agencies we now help transform.

Peter Barca

Peter@4CornersConsulting.com
312-952-7814

Former Secretary, Wisconsin Department of Revenue.

With more than 30 years driving efficiencies in the public and private sector, Peter specializes in organizational transformation that puts the customer at the center of the experience.

Mark Godfrey

Mark@4CornersConsulting.com
816-304-0554

Former Director, Taxation Division, Missouri Department of Revenue.

A transformative and data driven JD/CPA, Mark combines a breadth of consulting knowledge with a depth of public sector experience.

Our Services

Structured Offerings to Improve Performance

From initial assessment to sustained culture change, our nine core service lines address multiple dimensions of public-sector organizational health — with measurable outcomes at every stage.

Featured
AI and Advanced Technologies

Evaluating current readiness for AI and Advanced Technology deployment to develop a roadmap for deployment

Targeted Outreach Assessment

Evaluating specific outreach efforts to targeted audiences, such as small business owners or non-English speaking populations

Business Process Design


Reviewing current agency business processes for faster onboarding of new teammates and measuring value of current actions

Performance Management & KPIs

Selecting mission-critical and leading practice metrics that give the frontline and management instant visibility into agency performance.

Customer Service Metrics

Evaluating current state of customer service metrics compared to rising customer expectations, in order to develop a plan to meet and exceed customer expectations.

Strength of Strategic Planning

Reviewing your past and present strategic planning and how it aligns with customer expectations.

Change Management

Assessing the organization's openness to change by evaluating past efforts and present needs; then we build a progression to prepare the team for future changes without disrupting essential services.

Transparency in Auditing

Evaluating performance metrics, audit selection, turnaround time and customer service to plan for the future of a high-profile area.

Succession Planning

Illuminating the current and future needs of the organization and developing plans for leadership continuity and mission stability.

Leadership Team Assessment

Evaluating the executive levels of the organization in order to specify current state and build your people into a team that can meet the organization's goals.

External Engagement and Communications Plan

Assessing the existing external communications framework and developing a plan to improve clarity and public engagement.

Internal Engagement and Communications Plan

Evaluating the mode, frequency and effectiveness of internal communication to teammates—in order to develop a plan to  internally align your team.

Our Approach

A Proven, Collaborative Method

Why Our Approach Works

We don't hand you a report and walk away. Every engagement is built on genuine co-creation — your team's expertise combined with our experience and analytical rigor. We rely heavily on the Appreciative Inquiry approach — because staff support that which they help to create.  The result is a solution that your team believes in and will use.

An Example of Our Methodology

Rapid Prototype

Pilot & Scale

Co-Created
Action Plan

Assessment

Road Map

Results

Success Stories You Can Measure

Every engagement we undertake is defined by concrete, documented outcomes. Here is a snapshot of the impact we have delivered for public sector agencies we have led.

Missouri

Forecasted the number of teammates needed to achieve processing goals and then led a secondment to cross-educate teammates to address the work as it arrived—decreasing individual income tax return processing time by more than 60% compared to prior years. 

Developed and deployed KPIs, cross-education curricula, staffing plans and professional development programs that improved the division’s workflow management—resulting in a 70% year-over-year reduction of manual review backlogs for individual income tax returns and 95% reduction for property tax credits.

Established expected turnaround times for 111 division-wide workstreams, separating unacceptable backlogs from targeted works-in-progress.  Operationalized stand-up meetings and volume boards, equipping frontline staff to make data driven staffing assignments.  In five months, the division decreased the percentage of workstreams in backlog status from 55% to 16%.

Wisconsin

Developed a three-year strategic plan and timely implemented 22 out of 24 recommendations that the staff helped devise through more than a dozen working sessions. 

Developed and implemented an Emerging Leaders Initiative to foster leadership skills for promising teammates who were nominated by colleagues and supervisors. More than 50 teammates successfully completed the program in the first three years, bolstering our succession plan and increasing our list of internally qualified candidates. 

Established a system for veterans to claim the Wisconsin Homestead Credit without filing a full income tax return if they did not have a taxable liability. 

Collaborated with the Wisconsin Legislature and Governor to pass 20+ legislative initiatives, including 

  • a new compliance system to better prioritize follow-up programs 

  • an organ transplant system using the tax system to complement efforts of the DMV at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation 

  • a landmark bipartisan compromise sales tax system to implement the Wayfair U.S. Supreme Court decision

  • required registration of all vaping products sold in Wisconsin, to reduce the number of children who ended up in the emergency room from toxic products

What People Are Saying

  • Strong commitment to responsive, citizen-focused public service.

    I had the pleasure of working with Peter and Mark during our FTA and IRS ETAAC service. Both are experienced, dedicated revenue agency leaders who consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to responsive, citizen-focused public service. Throughout their distinguished careers, they have been passionate advocates for innovation and service excellence, continually seeking opportunities to improve agency operations and enhance constituent services.

    Bob Grennes
    Former Commissioner, Indiana Department of Revenue

  • Commitment to a customer-centric approach

    I had the privilege of serving alongside Peter and Mark on the ETAAC Advisory Board for the IRS, where they consistently demonstrated deep expertise in tax administration. What set them apart was their commitment to a customer-centric approach—they championed the idea that taxpayers deserve to be treated as valued customers, not just compliance subjects.

    Their recommendations weren't just technically sound; they were grounded in a genuine desire to help tax agencies meet and exceed expectations. I'd welcome the opportunity to work with either of them again.

    Carlos Lopez
    Founder and President, Latino Tax Professionals

  • Track record of executing improvements

    Both Peter Barca and Mark Godfrey are leaders in the field of tax administration. I served with them on ETAAC (an IRS Advisory Committee) where they stood out for their ability to articulate creative and practical ideas to improve tax administration. Peter and I also served as officers for the Federation of Tax Administration, where we made significant strides to improve the organization and sustain a strong future.   

    Peter and Mark don't just bring ideas and plans, they have a track record of executing their improvements--ranging from precision staffing, to employee empowerment, to lowering turnaround time and decreasing the causes of inbound customer communication.

    Vernon Barnett
    Former Commissioner, Alabama Department of Revenue, Past President of the Federation of Tax Administrators Board of Trustees, Former Chair of Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee for the IRS

  • Defining clear standards for success

    I worked with Mark Godfrey for several years while serving as Deputy Director of Revenue where Mark was Director of the Taxation Division.  During that time, Mark maintained a strong focus on every major taxation process, including income tax, sales tax, business tax, corporate tax, compliance audits and cashiering.  He was strategic in identifying the root causes of backlogs, improving processing methods and using performance measures to guide progress.  Month after month, backlogs decreased and customers were served more quickly. 

    Mark also helped staff understand the importance of tracking performance and backlog trends.  He engaged his team by creating storyboards that visually displayed daily and weekly progress.  Mark led his team to define clear standards for success and encouraged staff to look beyond the way things had always been done.  It was a pleasure working with Mark, and any business would benefit from his consultation.

    Lynn Kempker
    Former Deputy Director, Missouri Department of Revenue

Free Resources for Government Leaders

We believe in building the public sector's capacity — even before you become a client. Our Knowledge Hub delivers actionable intelligence for agency leaders navigating today's complex governance landscape.

Bi-Weekly Blog

Modern Governance Insights — Latest post: Honoring the Scope of the Declaration of Independence

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Our Initial Offering:
The 90-Minute Strategy Sprint

We know your time is your most limited resource. To demonstrate our "rapid-precision" approach, we are offering a complimentary 90-minute consulting session for your team. You select up to three high-priority service lines, and we provide immediate, actionable feedback.

Identify your most impactful improvement opportunity

Receive a tailored resource recommendation on the spot

Schedule on Calendly

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Let's Talk.

Prefer to start with a note? Share your agency, your challenge, and the best time to connect — we respond within one business day.