3-D image of the earth used with the permission of Cornell University
     Sustain-NW written in green and blue script lettering

trainer - consultant - coach



About Jill Sughrue and Sustain-NW

The mission of Sustain NW, LLC is to connect people with sustainability practices and principles.  

As a professional trainer and consultant, Jill brings 27 years of commercial risk management experience to the sustainability arena.  She is an Associate with The Natural Step Network, facilitating workshops on sustainability for businesses, educators, governments, non-profits and citizens. In addition, she is a founding member of the International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP), a trained presenter with The Climate Project, and recipient of the University of Oregon’s certificate in sustainability leadership.  As a public speaker, she has addressed both professional audiences and engaged learners ranging from fifth graders to retirees.
 
In addition to training and consulting, Jill is also a personal coach - assisting individuals in finding their joy and following their passion.

Some clients and projects include:

  • Earth Advantage Institute - Facilitation of the STAR workshop for real estate professionals since its inception in 2007
  • First Independent Bank - Greenhouse gas inventory
  • City of Vancouver, WA - Consultant to the green ribbon panel for sustainability planning
  • Clark College, Vancouver, WA - Adjunct instructor for mature learners course
  • The Collins Companies - workshop on sustainability and The Natural Step framework
  • Columbia Springs - sustainability workshop for educators
  • Natural Step Network USA - sustainability for leaders workshop facilitation
  • Columbia Credit Union - workshop on sustainability for executives
  • Vancouver Watersheds Council - board retreat strategic planning

An Associate and  volunteer with the Northwest Earth Institute, Jill also assisted in development of two of NWEI's discussion guides: Sustainable Systems at Work and Global Warming: Changing CO2urse

Jill is passionate about sustainability, which she considers the only long-term, viable solution to the increasing risk and associated hazards of global warming.  An endorser of The Earth Charter, she encourages everyone to become familiar with this inspiring global initiative to create a peaceful, just and sustainable global society.

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As the insurance director for Portland General Electric Company (PGE) from 1990 to 2005, Jill was responsible for the management of property and casualty risk associated with the operation of the investor owned utility with over 2,800 employees. Prior to joining PGE, she was an account executive for six years with Alexander & Alexander, Inc., international insurance broker, with clients ranging from the City of Portland to NERCO, Inc., PacifiCorp’s mining subsidiary.

In the course of her career in risk management, which started in 1978 at the corporate headquarters of Evans Products Company in Portland, Jill has managed numerous projects, including:

  • Successful negotiation of multi-million dollar property insurance claim settlements. .
  • Preparation and reconciliation of annual operating budgets over $10 million.
  • Analysis of the corporate cost allocation mechanism leading to new procedures.
  • Orchestration of high-profile industry forums between insurers and clients.
  • Chair of an industry conference, which netted record proceeds for the professional association.

Professionally and in the community, Jill has demonstrated her leadership and communication abilities as:

  • Facilitator of experiential leadership workshops at PGE.
  • Certified trainer of personal safety and self-defense skills with the WomenStrength program.
  • President, Oregon Chapter of the Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS).
  • Mentor to high school students at St. Mary’s Academy and RIMS national chapters.
  • Speaker at risk management venues, including RIMS, Edison Electric Institute, U.S. Council on Energy Awareness and the American Society of Safety Engineers.

Jill earned her Associate in Risk Management (ARM) from the American Institute of Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriters and was an ARM 54 instructor for two years. Her philosophy of life-long learning commenced at Oregon State University in the mid-1970s and continues to this day via workshops and coursework at regional universities and numerous professional venues.

For more information or a formal resume, please contact Jill directly.

 

Member

 

Member

 

Jill Sughrue with Dr. David Suzuki at The Climate Project's North American Summit in Nashville in May 2009

 

 Jill was one of five alumni profiled in the Spring 2008 issue of St. Mary's Academy's magazine for alumnae, parents and friends.

“Life is a …splendid torch which I’ve got to hold up for the moment and  … make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.”

~ George Bernard Shaw

Photo of Jill talking with Al Gore

The "torch butterfly", Dryas Julia
 Photo © Carolinehenri | Dreamstime.com 

 

 

Jill journeyed to Nashville, TN, in January 2007 where she completed training under former Vice President Al Gore as part of
The Climate Project
See Press Release (67 KB, PDF).

 

Sughrue presents the principles of sustainability to a high school class in Portland