CommunitySync is passionate about helping organizations and teams work more effectively, both internally and with their stakeholders and partners.

Founded in 2004 by Suzanne Hershey, CommunitySync brings policy into practice.

Her commitment to community-building stems from her experience as a teacher in an inner city Washington, D.C. high school during the early 1990's. Recognizing that the school and the district could not “do it alone” for young people facing challenging circumstances, she set out on a path to explore what policies and partnerships could make a difference at the grassroots level. She earned a Masters in Public Affairs from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, and has been developing strategic partnerships ever since.

Suzanne collaborated with community leaders to establish a nonprofit intermediary organization for education and workforce development in Austin, Texas, the Capital Area Training Foundation (now Skillpoint Alliance),including grant development worth more than $2.5 million for project start-up and continuation. Her application to the Peter F. Drucker Foundation for Nonprofit Innovation resulted in a well-deserved Special Recognition Award for Knowbility and an opportunity to meet Peter Drucker. She is formerly a Director of Economic Development with the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, and was privileged to work with the excellent team at School and Main Institute as a Site Coach and Initiative Coordinator on the Texas Workforce Commission's statewide Youth Program Initiative.

Knowbility Recognition by Drucker Foundation

Suzanne is a skilled facilitator with experience conducting planning sessions, meetings, and other group processes to help community partners work together productively. She also works as a researcher and manager on projects where stakeholders identify key challenges, recommend solutions, and take action.