Robin Straughan, Sustainability & Resilience Manager, Hillsboro
We were developing a community-based initiative and feeling overwhelmed by the process. When we brought Janet in to help manage the project we quickly began to make progress. Janet helped us frame the project goals and strategy, connect with key partners, and navigate detailed grant requirements. We ended up building a fantastic community collaboration with nine organizations and developed relationships that will help us work together on this and future projects.
Sam Baraso, Director, Portland Clean Energy Fund
I had the pleasure of working closely with Janet on the launch of the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF). She consistently showed up as diligent, thoughtful, and deeply knowledgeable. Janet genuinely cares about bringing people together to tackle challenges, and always rolls up her sleeves to create the space and structure needed to make things happen. Her blend of project-management skills and grounded, practical research makes her a standout collaborator in any complex effort.
Jill Fuglister, Managing Director, Build US
I turn to Janet for her sharp analytical skills, thoughtful insights, and collaborative approach. Janet consistently delivers high-quality work and builds strong, respectful relationships with partners. I’ve brought Janet on board for many projects over the years including when I was co-director of the Coalition for a Livable Future and when I led Meyer Memorial Trust's Healthy Environment Portfolio. She’s an exceptional consultant who always exceeds expectations.
Evan Ramsey, Senior Director, Bonneville Environmental Foundation
We engaged the Collaboratory to help us pursue an ambitious Federal program. Throughout the process Janet was committed to the vision, timeline, and deliverables. Over several months we benefited from her top notch outreach, research, narrative development, compliance assessments, and project management — despite a scope that hadn’t been fully defined and a tight timeline. The final product was a successful grant application, and a holistic and inclusive program design that gained national recognition. We couldn't have done it without Janet!
Janet Soto Rodriguez, Business Oregon
Janet is a brilliant systems thinker with a true commitment to addressing root causes and delivering real and lasting solutions. On a statewide level she successfully managed and delivered key insights and recommendations to Business Oregon regarding opportunities to enhance rural entrepreneurial ecosystems. Her findings inspired new strategies for communication, metric evaluation, and community engagement that were instrumental in developing locally responsive initiatives.
Allison Handler, Principal, Travertine Strategies
Working with Janet across several projects, I’ve been consistently grateful for her thought partnership and ability to turn ideas into action. Janet brings a rare combination of content expertise, thoughtful process design, valuable insight, and deft meeting facilitation — all while managing complex project details with remarkable ease. I particularly appreciate her ability to see both the forest and the trees, combining big-picture thinking with sharp attention to detail. Her boundless enthusiasm and infectious curiosity were icing on the cake.
Gustavo Cruz, Jr., Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce & Prosper Portland
I have participated in the strategic planning process as a member of numerous boards and committees, and my experience with Janet Hammer and The Collaboratory was outstanding. She and her team thoughtfully and efficiently synthesized numerous perspectives, and brought direction to our board. It was a pleasure to work with The Collaboratory.
Dan Gundersen, Former COO, Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority & Fellow International Economic Development Council
Janet's thought leadership introduced the Triple Bottom Line concept to the economic development profession. She was on the front lines of a new economy that embraces and measures sustainability because it is smart and profitable to do so.