Staff Spotlight: Donovan Raymond
Donovan is a senior grant accountant at Sustainable Northwest, helping ensure we pay the bills on time, charge to the right grant sources, and generally keep track of our funding.
“I grew up during the timber wars in Oregon, and that had a big impact on me and made it important for me to do what I could to help save as much forest and old growth as possible. I’ve also seen the way communities are affected by the lack of trees and timber available in the mid valley. You always saw mills closing, so both of those things made me excited to work at SNW.”
How did your childhood influence your decision to work in sustainability?
I was born in Portland and grew up in Corvallis and spent my childhood camping all over the northwest. My parents were very involved in conservation efforts, so I had a lot of exposure to nature and the forests. I also grew up during the so-called timber wars in Oregon, and that had a big impact on me and made it important for me to do what I could to help save as much forest and old growth as possible. I’ve also seen the way communities are affected by the lack of trees and timber available in the mid valley. You always saw mills closing, so both of those things made me excited to work at SNW.”
How did your educational and career path lead you to Sustainable Northwest?
I studied accounting at Portland State University. I was always interested in sustainability accounting – carbon counting, ecosystem resource accounting – but there wasn’t really anything like that offered at Portland State, at least not in the business school. So when I graduated, I started looking for opportunities in the resource conservation and ESG (environment/social/governance) space. I worked in the area of low income housing for a while, which is where I had my first real experience with grant administration. SNW had been on my radar for some time, and when I saw there was an accounting position open here, I jumped right on it.
Before focusing on accounting, I did all kinds of stuff. I’ve worked in really any industry you can think of – breweries, various offices doing bookkeeping or logistics, event production, Cheffing, construction, I even drove a limousine for a little while. For a number of years, I was a semi-professional musician. At least, that was my main source of income.
What do you like most about your position at Sustainable Northwest?
I was hired at a time when the accounting systems here were still in a development stage, so I’ve been able to help build those systems out, which is really exciting. Also, it’s a small team where I feel like I have a real impact and can help the organization by doing my job.
I like the organization because of the incredible talent that’s here and the wealth of knowledge people have in their various areas. The broad spectrum of what we do here means that those people have a variety of different expertise, from the Clean Energy team with all of their knowledge in that area, to the Wildfire team, to the Regenerative Ranching team, it’s just amazing to work with so many people who are so talented in all of these different areas.
Passions outside of work: My family. Trying to keep my old house from falling apart. Hanging out with my golden retriever. And I still play music every now and then.
Something you think is overrated: Artificial Intelligence
Favorite thing to do on a day off: Go hiking with my wife and our dog, Buckley
Favorite place in the PNW: It’s hard to choose. The North Umpqua area is still amazing even after the recent fires. And you just can’t beat the Oregon Coast.
Book recommendation: Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson
Cats or dogs?: I like them both living together
