Nathan Suter of Build. helped design and lead workshops for Watersheds United Vermont in both organizational development and in addressing justice, diversity, equity and inclusion (JEDI). In both cases, he deftly facilitated a large group of watershed professionals and had just the right tone and style to make the sessions meaningful and enjoyable. Nathan has a rare and impressive ability to really listen to what others are saying while he is also able to provide concrete and valuable suggestions to help people make positive changes in their organizations. Nathan’s grounding in nonprofit socially/environmentally conscious work allows him to understand the challenges groups are dealing with and authentically provide guidance and suggestions. We look forward to having the opportunity to work with Nathan again in the near future. 

Lyn Munno, Director, Watersheds United Vermont


I would definitely recommend BUILD to other groups looking to further engage with equity, diversity, justice, and inclusivity.  For me, and the part I feel I play in Addison Allies Network, I did have this sense that we were "doing the work", albeit slowly, but it was hard to feel really confident we were actually accomplishing anything.  But BUILD, and your contributions, Nathan, really helped anchor this idea in me that although the work is done very slowly, it IS still being done.  We need to honor that!  You helped us to see the way through the darkness of sidebar issues and obstacles to light up more clearly the direction we needed to take.  Of course, the right path for us is the one that seems most daunting, and so we would side step it often, but your persistence and encouragement really brought us around.

I would characterize his work as patient, thoughtful, consistent, all with a firm hand of guidance and willingness to call out what he recognizes as "destructive" to the growth of this work.

Kathy Comstock, Addison Allies Network


BUILD did a terrific job of managing a crowded agenda in a short period of time.  You were politely assertive to keep the team on track, and I felt you had a complete understanding of our goals and expectations.  I would certainly recommend BUILD to other organizations.

Dimitri Garder, The Lightning Jar board member, CEO Global Z

You maintained the group focus despite too much complex information to reasonably digest in the time allotted. You carefully navigated the need to foster and allow discussion while simultaneously encouraging forward progress.

James Trimarchi, The Lightning Jar board member, Director of Planning, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center

I would ABSOLUTELY recommend BUILD as a facilitator to a stakeholder meeting. Your experience coupled with your sense of calm and ability to listen to the many perspectives was palpable. You held the space well and answered more challenging questions without judgement and a tremendous amount of clarity.

Christine Everett, Mountain River School

 

Select Clients:

State of Maine, Juvenile Justice Advisory Group

BUILD facilitated the formation and strategic planning of a Juvenile Restorative Justice Council for the State of Maine.

  • Convening a diverse and multidisciplinary team of stakeholders

  • Establishing Council operations, including governance structure and decision making process

  • Developing an initial work plan for the Council that aligned with Maine's goals for building and implementing statewide restorative justice options for all.

  • Stakeholder outreach, recruitment, and retention

  • Leadership coaching

  • Encouraging diverse voices and finding common ground among group members

  • Coordination of multiple state agencies, NGOs and stakeholder groups

  • Meeting facilitation

  • Record keeping, organization, and distribution of resources, notes and other Council information

  • Drafting of external & internal communications


Town of Highgate, Vermont

In collaboration with Centerline Architects and Park Architecture, BUILD led public engagement and concept brainstorming with Highgate residents in service of their Village Core Master Plan, and specifically resolving ideas about how to redevelop the core of their downtown.

  • Public engagement sessions with stakeholders

  • Public design charrettes

  • Digital and print survey design and reporting

  • Collaboration with project Steering Committee and other town leaders

Vermont College of Fine Arts, Montpelier, VT

We worked with VCFA leadership to advance the institutional goal of improving diversity and inclusion by training the MFA in writing faculty in diversity, equity, and inclusion. We approached these topics with this group using a framework of understanding oppression.

  • Curriculum design

  • Advance resources including readings, videos and podcasts

  • Facilitation and training

Hitchcock Center for the Environment, Massachusetts

In collaboration with PEER Associates, BUILD supported HCE in its long-term planning process and built a 5 year financial projection to aid their strategic decision-making.

  • Strategic planning

  • Financial modeling

Addison Allies Network, Middlebury, Vermont

AAN is a group of volunteers building a stronger, more diverse, and inclusive community by teaching English, providing needed services, and hosting social opportunities to migrant farmworkers living in Addison County. BUILD led justice, equity, diversity and inclusion discussions with the board and migrant farmworkers as AAN moves toward inclusive governance and a solidarity approach to their work.

  • JEDI training and facilitation (bilingual)

  • Bilingual facilitation of board meetings

  • Collaborative re-imagining of AAN’s governance structure 

  • Action planning for board development and leadership development 

Vintage Trailer Supply, Montpelier, VT & Santa Fe, NM

BUILD performed a staffing audit and built a multi-stage capacity plan, crafted a staff leadership development plan, and composed job descriptions that aligned the ideal with the realistic.

Our work included:

  • Business transition & capacity planning

  • Multi-stakeholder analysis of business functioning

  • Developed position descriptions

  • Drafting and establishing company values

  • Drafting and Personal standards of work

  • Draft and refine values driven evaluation protocols

  • Research and establish compensation ranges for staff positions

  • PPP loan application & forgiveness, EIDL application

The Lightning Jar, Bennington, VT

The Lightning Jar is a resource to members and aspiring entrepreneurs in the Bennington region, offering a first class office co-working space, a professional peer community, relevant programming, and guidance for visionaries and start-ups. They asked BUILD to facilitate a multi-stakeholder strategic planning meeting for their next year.

Our work included:

  • Refining organizational goals

  • Identifying strategic priorities

  • Facilitating creation of an action plan for achieving 1-year goals

Watersheds United Vermont

  • Board development training

  • Non-profit budgeting “The Fuller Pie: Budgeting for Grants and Sustainability”

  • Justice Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion - facilitated conversation 

Racial Equity Alliance of Lamoille (REAL), Vermont (pro-bono)

Nathan worked with community members from Stowe and Morrisville in the wake of several high profile incidents of racism and hate speech on the coalition and the steering committee of a grassroots community coalition that evolved to become REAL. The work included:

  • Outreach to numerous stakeholders

  • Drafting language, group statements, and governance models

  • Coalition building and caucusing with participants to advance the group conversation

EarthWalk, Plainfield, VT

BUILD engaged the organization’s board of directors in clarifying and prioritizing its role in the organization, developing its operating structure, and reviewing policy positions.

Our work included:

  • Board development

  • Meeting facilitation

  • Succession planning

  • Policy and document review & revision

AO Glass, Burlington, VT

BUILD facilitated a series of meetings with frontline staff, middle management, and the executive team in an analysis of current workplace culture, leadership strengths, and areas for development.  

Our work included:

  • Workplace culture analysis including diversity and inclusion

  • Development of actionable recommendations

  • Communications coaching

  • Leadership development

Mountain River School, Stowe, VT

BUILD facilitated a strategic planning process, created a framework within which school leadership made far-reaching, time-critical decisions, and lead the roll-out of significant changes to the school community.

Our work included:

  • Strategic planning

  • Community & stakeholder engagement

  • Meeting facilitation

  • Crafting of external & internal communications

 

Image: Reaction Control System (RCS) flush mounted liquid-fueled rocket thrusters on the nose of the Space Shuttle Discovery used for attitude control  during launch, orbit and re-entry.