The Collaboratory was founded by Janet Hammer, PhD — a leader and team player with two decades of experience helping organizations and communities envision and create better futures. Below, I share a bit about my background and approach.

Where It Began 

I’m naturally wired as a pragmatic systems thinker and collaborator, committed to serving people and planet. These qualities led me to study planning, policy, transformational learning, and multi-stakeholder collaboration — earning degrees from UC Davis, the University of Pennsylvania, and Portland State University.

Contributions

For more than two decades my work has advanced climate action, sustainable economic development, regional food systems, community-centered planning, and cross-sector partnership — always at the intersection of environmental, economic, and social flourishing. In addition to supporting on-the-ground initiatives, I’ve contributed to broader field-building that has shaped both theory and practice.

Who I Work With

I partner with public agencies, nonprofits, businesses, foundations, and universities, across urban, suburban, and rural settings — often at moments when the path forward is unclear, the landscape is shifting, or collaboration across differences is essential. Drawing on my multi-disciplinary and cross-sector background, I help groups make sense of complexity, discover shared priorities, and connect people, ideas, and resources for greater impact.

How I Work

Most clients come to me via word-of-mouth. People value my big-picture perspective paired with attention to detail, my clear communication and reliable follow-through, and my commitment to their success. I genuinely love helping groups advance their important work, tailoring my approach to their goals and context.

I work on projects small and large, including with teams distributed across organizations and time zones. Depending on what’s needed, I draw on my network of talented professionals to assemble the right team for the project.

Let’s Connect

Check out past projects and client testimonials, and connect with me to explore how The Collaboratory can support your important work. 

Collaboration - it's how we do business.