Thank you for stopping by Pactola Consulting - we're so excited that you're here! 

For those who are wondering, Pactola Consulting is indeed named after the Pactola Reservoir here in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota. There is a deeper meaning to why we chose this name, however, and it ties in directly with the work that we do.

Before it became the lake we know and love today, this area was named Camp Crook after General George R. Crook who set up his headquarters in this are to simultaneously fend off prospectors and attempt to remove the Native Americans to whom the Black Hills was a sacred location.

After the US Government broke the Treaty of Fort Laramie, miners were able to officially take over the valley. They named their small city Pactola after the Pactolus River that was filled with specks of gold deposited there, according to Greek mythology, by King Midas himself.

Eventually, after the mines in the area stopped producing sufficient amounts of minerals, the city of Pactola became a ghost town and was subsequently dismantled in the 1950s. In order to supply more water to Rapid City and other surrounding communities in the Black Hills, the valley in which Pactola had existed was flooded and became the Pactola Reservoir. Check out this link for more info on the history of Pactola.

How has this story inspired Pactola Consulting? At its core, our consulting business has evolved to focus on helping to support individuals, groups, and organizations to improve their self-awareness and to increase their intercultural competence. As the story of the founding of Pactola illustrates, there have been many cases of intercultural conflict that have affected every part of this region (and our world in general). History shows repeatedly how people are corrupted by greed and a desire for power, and how issues stem from a lack of understanding of themselves and others. 

While we may not be able to claim that everything we touch turns to gold, we do believe that helping our clients to invest in themselves, their teams, and their organizations will create an abundance in opportunities and growth for everyone involved. This is the kind of abundance that continues to grow and evolve - it's truly a gift that keeps on giving!

Thank you again for stopping by and make sure to check in regularly as we will be providing insights, articles, and other useful information related to all things personal and professional development.