Category: Community Engagement

Suzanne Donaldson, a community engagement practitioner and founder and CEO of Donaldson Consulting, LLC, works as a cultural ambassador and facilitation consultant, engaging with community-based organizations, underrepresented populations, and all community stakeholders. She helps build productive, authentic relationships to work toward a more inclusive community with opportunities for all.

She leads and develops community participation plans, facilitates sessions with community-based organizations, conducts interviews and surveys, acts as an owner’s representative on major projects in educating and involving community stakeholders, introduces opportunities to interested certified firms, cultivates and makes connections with community members and clients, and maintains transparent communication with the community.

  • Northwest Environmental Business Council Oregon Brownfields Conference 

    Tribal Relations & Government-to-Government Consultation Training 

    May 2026

    Presented at the Oregon Brownfields Conference on the topic “From Outreach to Partnership: Elevating Community Engagement and Government-to-Government Consultation.” Spoke about how effective engagement requires more than outreach—it requires intention, respect, and a willingness to listen across different types of relationships. Explored how community engagement with the public and government-to-government consultation with Tribes can be approached with equal authenticity, while honoring the distinct responsibilities each requires. Sharing practical strategies and real-world examples, highlighted how storytelling—grounded in community values, culture, and lived experience—can build trust, inform decisions, and strengthen partnerships, ultimately leading to more resilient and inclusive outcomes.

  • Kennedy-Wong Consulting | Port of Camas-Washougal

    Tribal Relations & Government-to-Government Consultation Training 

    Tribal Cultural Facilitation and Training, 2026-present

    Developed and delivered a comprehensive Tribal relations training program for Port leadership and staff focused on government-to-government consultation with federally recognized Tribes. Designed the customized curriculum to address when, how, and why consultation is required under federal and Washington State law. Presented a historical timeline of federal Indian law and policy, including treaty-making, allotment, termination, and self-determination eras, to provide context for contemporary Tribal relations. Defined and explained key concepts including Tribal sovereignty, treaty rights, federal trust responsibility, and consultation triggers. Provided practical guidance on initiating consultation, documenting engagement, and integrating consultation into infrastructure and environmental project workflows. Facilitated discussion on cultural appreciation vs. cultural appropriation, including appropriate institutional representation and engagement practices. Strengthened organizational capacity, reduced regulatory risk, and improved staff competency in intergovernmental Tribal engagement.

  • Ricondo | Port of Portland, Portland International Airport (PDX)

    PDX 2045 Master Plan

    Strategic Advisor and Facilitator, 2024-present

    Facilitating the PDX 2045 Planning Advisory Committee, which is advising the PDX 2045 project team and providing insights on decisions that benefit or affect community members. The purpose of PDX 2045 is to update the master plan, defining a framework for planning and implementing development and investments at PDX to meet future demand. The PDX 2045 project will ensure the airport has the space and facilities to serve travelers, cargo, employees, and businesses across the region.

    Updating the master plan involves forecasting future needs, comparing those needs to current capacity, and analyzing alternatives to best meet the Port’s shared prosperity mission. The plan will help the Port prepare for emerging opportunities and trends in the aviation industry while also exploring ways that PDX can bring economic benefits to everyone across the region.

  • Barney & Worth | Portland Water Bureau

    Bull Run Filtration Projects Urban Indigenous Engagement Circle

    Community Engagement Facilitator, 2021-2025

    Facilitating engagement circles with six urban Indigenous communities as part of a billion-dollar improvement project that will serve safe, clean drinking water to over a million people in the metro area. The bureau wants to improve engagement with urban Indigenous communities, in recognition of Indigenous peoples as the original stewards of the land. The project will result in guidance for opportunities to connect through water, taking a long-term view, and advancing native stewardship of land and water. It will also result in an internship focused on representation of Native languages and partnerships with Native organizations.

  • Diameter | Portland Water Bureau and Bureau of Environmental Services

    City of Portland Advanced Metering Infrastructure

    Community Outreach Leader, 2023-2024

    Conducting community outreach for a project to replace the City’s utility meter reading and online customer service technology. The project will move the utility bureaus from the manual meter technology collecting customer usage data once per quarter to advanced metering infrastructure that collects data for every meter, every day. Includes consolidating online customer services in four separate systems into a new online and mobile customer engagement portal.

  • Perteet |City of Everett, Washington

    Housing Development Incentive Program

    Researcher and Writer, 2022-2024

    Assisting the city in reviewing and updating its housing development incentives program, with a grant managed by the Washington State Department of Commerce, Growth Management Services. Implementing recommended actions to encourage construction of affordable and market-rate housing in more housing types at affordable prices. Incentives could increase housing production for people of all incomes.

  • Metro | 2030 Regional Waste Plan Community Engagement

    Cultural Ambassador and Facilitator, 2/2017-2/2018

    Served as cultural ambassador and facilitation consultant for community engagement on Metro’s 2030 regional waste plan. Included facilitation of sessions with community-based organizations (sometimes with interpreters), asking people what they know about Metro’s waste plan, and discussing garbage and recycling. Later accompanied the groups on a tour of area recycling plants so they could see how their waste is being processed.

  • JH Kelly | Multiple Construction Projects

    MWESB Implementation Oversight and Diversity Outreach Consultant, 1/2016-present

    PDX PA and ConRac Facility Mechanical Plumbing: Providing assistance in implementing the project’s minority, women, and emerging small business (MWESB) program, conducting project outreach events, and organizing an open house.

    Oregon Convention Center Hotel (Hyatt Hotels): Conducted diversity outreach for this new hotel located north of the Oregon Convention Center, to attract larger conventions to Portland and spur additional economic development in the neighborhoods surrounding the convention center. 

  • Urban Development Partners | City of Portland NE Killingsworth Multiple-Unit Limited Tax Exemption Program

    Third-Party Oversight and Diversity Manager, 2/2019-present

    Serving as third-party diversity manager and providing oversight and guidance to the general contractor. Tasks include reports, due diligence review, and monthly compliance meetings. 

  • Keen Independent Research —  Disparity Studies

    Community Engagement Consultant, 2014-present

    Conducting disparity studies on behalf of Keen Independent Research for the City of Vancouver, City of Tacoma, City of Providence, RI and State of Rhode Island, Port of Portland, Santa Clara County, State of Oregon Mental Health Regulatory Agency, Salem Area Mass Transit Department, and Oregon Department of Transportation.

    Participating in internal and external stakeholder meetings, conducting in-depth interviews throughout Oregon, and preparing monthly progress reports analyzing whether there is a level playing field for MBE and WBE firms in the Oregon transportation contracting industry and in its own contracts. Conducting reviews of agency procurement and contracting materials.

    Also conducted a workforce equity study for the City of Tacoma, assessing whether the makeup of the City’s workforce looks like the residents of Tacoma and surrounding communities.