A close-knit team of four.

Nicholas ("Nick") Ducote is the founder and president of Ducote Consulting LLC, a firm dedicated to helping rural communities in Eastern Oregon secure and manage critical funding for infrastructure and community development. After working with J-U-B Engineers in La Grande as a Funding Specialist and technical writer, Nick started Ducote Consulting in 2016 to expand grant and funding-related services in the region. Since then, the Ducote Consulting team has written and administered more than $55 million in grants and loans, including over $20 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) projects.

Nick's expertise spans grant administration, NEPA environmental review, and labor standards compliance, with a proven record of guiding projects from initial funding applications through construction and closeout. He works directly with cities, special districts, nonprofits, and other entities to implement capital projects ranging from water and wastewater systems, public facilities, parks, emergency services, and community infrastructure. He holds an M.A. in History and a B.A. in Political Science from Louisiana Tech University.

Grounded in a commitment to practical problem-solving and long-term partnerships, Nick has built Ducote Consulting into a trusted resource for rural Oregon communities navigating the complexities of federal and state funding.

Sarah Fischer is a community grant specialist with a focus on equity consulting. Born and raised in Eugene, Oregon, she holds a BA in English Literature from Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, and has worked in the education, agriculture, and affordable housing sectors, always with a community focus.

Since joining the team at Ducote Consulting in 2022, she has received grants for parks, trails, homeless shelters, cybersecurity initiatives, fire departments, affordable housing, and more. She also works with clients to create and implement equity initiatives and language, creating space for more funding opportunities. When not grant writing, she's usually arranging flowers or on an adventure with her daughter.

Judy Vicek is a grant writer and grant administrator specializing in labor compliance. Originally from Oregon and raised in Eastern Oregon, she has a heart for rural America. Judy worked for a nonprofit for 11 years as the Economic Development Officer, helping various cities and counties throughout Eastern Oregon.

In 2022, she joined Ducote Consulting, where she achieved success in securing several grants. Primarily, her responsibilities involve collaborating with grant recipients and funding agencies to ensure compliance and facilitate the filing of reports. Judy likes to sew, golf, kayak, travel, bake bread, and spend time with friends. Most evenings, she can be found unwinding at home with her husband and two dogs.

Ian Clark is a freelance grant writer and designer, and the newest member of Ducote Consulting. In his first two assignments with the firm, he dove headfirst into the narrative component and helped secure $70K for the City of Stanfield and $125K for the City of Irrigon.

Drawing on a career that spans event programming, commercial filmmaking, education, and the nonprofit sector — along with critical research skills and semi-fluent in Spanish — Ian brings a unique blend of creativity and strategy to every project. He holds an MFA in Art + Technology from the University of Oregon, and when he's not writing grants, he's making films, traveling through Latin America, and spending time in the mountains of eastern Oregon.