Susan Parsons
Director, Online Services
Business Education Compact
Director of ASTD-Cascadia Chapter Events (serving under the VP of Events)

This month's spotlight is on a volunteer ASTD newcomer who has taken on the challenge of our monthly events with focus, enthusiasm and…. sparkle!

Susan Parsons recently stepped into the Director of Events role after enthusiastically embracing her role on the events committee. Susan has the ability to look at the broader scope of our monthly programs and ask how our programs are serving the needs of our ASTD community. She has created a sub-committee to improve the evaluation process and understand how evaluation drives programming in an effort to better serve our members. Susan has also taken an active role in adding “sparkle” to our committee meetings by ensuring that our committee members connect with each other in the process of working together. 

“What inspires me about being involved with ASTD is the collective heart for serving that everyone seems to have. It is an extraordinary learning community that excels at giving of their time and energy to make every program rich and meaningful. Time and again I get far more back as an active volunteer than what I give” says Susan.

If you ask Susan about her career, she will tell you that she has enthusiastically devoted her high-level people, project management, and training skills throughout the Portland-metro area for the past 20 years. 

In her 10-year career at U S West Communications, she implemented information management systems for internal departments providing training and support services. She also served on the board of U S West Women in a variety of roles culminating in a term as President, as co-director of the U S West Resource Awareness Fair, and as a representative on the U S West Pluralism Council.

For the past 10 years, Susan has focused on making contributions to the non-profit educational arena. She served as program manager for an international intern program at the World Forestry Center, as conference planner at NW Regional Educational Laboratory for the final 16th Work Now and in the Future conference, and in her current position she is program director for partnership services at the Business Education Compact, bringing business and education together in a learning exchange that connects students with real-world career opportunities and community partners.

Susan joined the ASTD Cascadia Chapter in October of 2004 and is very excited to participate as the new Director of Events Management, using her skills and love of learning to assist in facilitating excellent, meaningful chapter programs. 

Susan is a Portland native and enthusiast. Her favorite quote by Eleanor Roosevelt sums up her personal philosophy: "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." She believes in the power of each individual to create an inspired life of dream living every day!

You can contact Susan at www.becpdx.org.

Return to Top