Emily Houk
President
Emily Houk is the President of Research to Practice Consulting (R2P) and brings a wide range of experience from both the public and private sectors. Before founding R2P, she held leadership roles in program consulting, technology, advocacy, and state government. Through these roles, Emily developed a strong foundation in systems building, infrastructure, process improvement, and regulatory frameworks, skills she now applies to her work in health, human services, finance, and education.
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Emily is passionate about helping her clients succeed and brings a thoughtful, strategic approach to every project. She has a strong track record of developing and refining strategic plans, action agendas, and operational road maps. As a skilled project manager, researcher, and communicator, Emily focuses on people-centered, data-driven solutions that stay on time and within budget. She’s known for her adaptable leadership style, her ability to build consensus, and her collaborative work with diverse partners to solve complex problems. Emily is also a supportive and trusted mentor, helping teams find their voice, clarify their vision, and work toward meaningful change.
Emily has led successful efforts to improve outcomes in areas like early childhood home visiting, quality childcare, children’s healthcare, workforce development, and access to financial services for underserved communities. As a certified grant writer, she’s helped clients secure millions of dollars in funding through winning proposals. She’s also delivered major process improvements and helped scale both government and business operations to boost efficiency, sustainability, and impact.
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Whether at work or at home, Emily is known for being thoughtful, collaborative, and deeply committed to making sure everyone feels heard. She’s a proud mom of three and a devoted daughter, and she loves spending time up north with her family and her two lovable labradogs. When she’s not using her facilitation skills to guide client teams toward success, she’s putting them to good use at home, often to help her family agree on what’s for dinner.
