Suzanne Donaldson, founder and CEO of Donaldson Consulting, LLC, provides training/mentoring to businesses or individuals on outreach, business plans, marketing plans, presentation skills, appearance, business development, and documentation. Known to many MWESB-certified firms as key mentor because of her excellent leadership skills, outreach experience, and public speaking savvy, she conducts training on MWESB certification, sustainability in contracting, and proposal writing, educating traditionally underserved businesses on how to do business with public agencies. She also trains clients on how to expand the diversity of their contractors and workforce, resolve conflict, and build long-lasting mentoring relationships.
DBE Coordinator, Onboarding Manager, and Project Management Plan Manager, 2018-2021
Managed the project handbook and monthly progress reports and coordinated and trained DBE subcontractors for this comprehensive planning and design effort to help address the impacts of future growth while preserving neighborhoods and creating more great places.
Consultant, 2019-2024
Providing project management, outreach services for certified firms, subcontracting planning and reporting, subconsultant onboarding and management, program development and oversight, mentorship and capacity building, project progress report management, Commercial Useful Function reviews and training, development project consulting and oversight, diversity program compliance, conflict resolution, project support, focus group facilitation, disparity study support, request for qualifications coordination, community participation planning, and technical and support services.
Mentor/Protégé Services Facilitator, 9/2016–11/2017
Facilitated introductory meetings with each design mentor/protégé team to identify goals and action plan for the following year. Monitored and checked in on each team on a quarterly basis. Wrote and submitted reports to the team lead.
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Diversity and Small Business Consultant, 2015-present
Working with Metro staff in continuing to develop Metro’s small business development program to align with their strategic diversity, equity, and inclusion goals. Serving as an advisor to make recommendations for additional improvements.
Developed and cofacilitated a “How to Respond to RFP” workshop; performed outreach to potential bidders; identified potential barriers to proposing; assisted qualified firms with the certification process; provided technical assistance to proposers responding to requests for proposals; and provided due diligence documentation. As an example, for one RFP, helped five firms become certified and provided proposal technical assistance to six firms. A total of 15 certified firms received a contract, over 50 percent of the contracts awarded to certified firms.
“With Suzanne’s outstanding leadership, dedication, and ability to support our organization’s project goals, we achieved great success in providing assistance to our clients. I strongly recommend Suzanne Donaldson for projects that require strong leadership, professionalism, great organizational skills, and a pleasant demeanor. Suzanne has been very dedicated in helping Metro to increase diversity in contracting. I had the pleasure of organizing a workshop for which Suzanne was one of the winning proposers and took a leadership role in making the event a success. Suzanne worked on a project team to plan the workshop and conduct training on MWESB certification, sustainability in contracting, and how to do write successful proposals. Suzanne distinguished herself from other team members by her excellent leadership skills, outstanding outreach work, and dedication to the workshop. I particularly appreciate Suzanne’s authentic approach and excellent presentation skills to educate traditionally underserved businesses about how to do business with public agencies. The weeks following the workshop, Suzanne committed herself to providing technical assistance to the workshop attendees in order for them to achieve their MWESB certification and write strong proposals. As a result, Metro has received an increasing number of successful proposals from traditionally underserved businesses. Suzanne is a great team player and easy to work with. We are looking forward to working with her in the future. We are in the process of planning more workshops and outreach events for which we will seek Suzanne’s great expertise again.”
Gabriele Schuster, Procurement Manager, Metro
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Mentoring Program Development Consultant, 2014-2018
Played a key role in developing the SafeBuild Alliance’s first mentoring program, which partners construction companies with mature safety programs with MWESB/DBE contractors who have expressed a desire to improve their safety performance and work toward zero incidents on construction projects.
“As a member of SafeBuild Alliance, Suzanne Donaldson-Stephens immediately began demonstrating leadership skills. She joined the SafeBuild Alliance committee that was charged with developing and implementing a mentorship program focused on improving Safety performance for contractors in Underutilized and Disadvantaged communities. Suzanne’s commitment to social equity and her expertise was quickly evident. She guided the committee as the framework, content, and details of the program were developed.”
Karen Blythe, Executive Director
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MWBE Expert Consultant, 2015
Provided oversight regarding inclusion of diverse MBEs and WBEs; developed a mentor-protégé program; conducted outreach, dispute resolution, and monthly compliance meetings; monitored utilization reports; and trained JR Merit staff and teaming partners on issues affecting certified firms.
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M/W/ESB Construction Contracting and Outreach Consultant, 2009-2010
Developed and implemented outreach sessions targeted for Native-American-owned businesses. Business owners had the opportunity to meet the commission staff, learn about the services the commission has to offer, and hear about upcoming projects. Worked with firms to create or revise their business plans and marketing plans and assisted firms with the state certification process. Coached and mentored firms as needed. All data collected was used to help the commission recognize the region’s Native American business owners and the various types of services and products available.
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Trainer, 2010-2011
Provided training for the Workforce Development Program. Provided outreach to primes and subcontractors that have worked on ODOT projects, and developed workforce training materials for project managers, forepersons, apprentices, and journey workers to build long-lasting mentoring relationships. Introduced the program and training materials to contractors, provided classroom training, and provided mentoring and crisis services information to apprentices. ODOT’s goal in creating the landmark Workforce Development Program was to find, train, and employ a diverse, skilled workforce that is prepared to meet upcoming construction demands. The program is designed to expand diversity in employment, increase apprenticeship participation, and increase training resources and opportunities.
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DBE Coordination Consultant, 4/2001-2012
Provided DBE consulting services on the final design engineering of the west segment of the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Transit Project. Used a hands-on approach and worked closely with the project manager and DBE teaming partners. Conducted bi-monthly outreach with DBE partners to stay actively engaged, checked on status of work completion, and assisted in alleviating any concerns over work products or delivery schedules. Reviewed past utilization and risks/opportunities for enhanced future engagement with DBEs. Determined skill sets, capacity information, and deficiencies such as accounting, software knowledge, QA/QC practices, and project tracking systems. Assisted firms by providing hands-on Elations Training and by locating and suggesting programs to train small businesses. Attended monthly DBE meetings with TriMet’s Capital Projects, Diversity and Transit Equity representatives and project management staff to review and discuss progress or future deficiencies. Provided reports as applicable and assisted in advertisement and recruitment of students to the TriMet Internship Program by reaching out to local colleges and Universities. Coordinated internship candidate interviews, developed interview questions, attended interviews, and made recommendations.
“Suzanne’s innovative approach to the DBE coordination has included one-on-one meetings and hands-on support and mentoring for each of 10 DBE contractors on the project…Suzanne’s performance has also received positive attention from the owner, TriMet. She has been praised for her collaborative style and drive for constant improvement of the DBE program. Her approach has not only ensured quality delivery by our DBE contractors, but also has grown the capacity of the firms that she has mentored — a key goal of TriMet’s. Perhaps my highest praise for Suzanne is that I would not hesitate to work with her again on future projects.”
John Willis, former CH2M HILL Vice President, NW Transportation Manager
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Outreach and Community Engagement Consultant, 6/2011-9/2014
Conducted outreach events and activities to help generate interest from MWESB firms and provide opportunity to understand the proposing process. Distributed Invitations to open houses and invitations to bid while documenting responses and attendance and follow-through. Compiled information from interested MWESBs to assist project team when preparing bid documents. Consulted with non-certified contractors and assisted with identifying scopes of work and certified firms. Identified real or perceived barriers by the MWESB community in regard to bidding the project. Represented client at associations, organizations, and chambers of commerce. Maintained transparent communication with certified firms, client, owners, and the public. Provided mentoring and technical assistance as appropriate, such as completion of the contractor’s online procurement system. Kept up with the many changes on a $200 million design-build project and established an approach for certified business utilization plans for each second-tier contractor, which are documented post-bid and pre-award and may become part of their contract.
Learn more about our Community Engagement, Diversity Consulting and Training/Mentoring Services.