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RJ Susko: Meet Our Experts Series
From local government to planning consulting: Award-winning planner provides insights from both sides of the table
RJ Susko joined OHM Advisors’ Pittsburgh office earlier this year, contributing a decade of municipal management and planning experience in Pennsylvania communities. We sat down with RJ to learn how her background in local government shapes her work at OHM Advisors.
Quick Facts
- Title: Senior Planner
- Years in the Industry: 11
Striking the right chord: Engaging communities to create inspiring visions and actionable plans
RJ is passionate about empowering communities through good governance, strategic visioning, and cohesive planning. Her Pennsylvania public sector experience includes roles as planning and development director for the Town of McCandless, borough manager of Crafton, and assistant township manager of Robinson. With a bachelor’s degree in public health and a Master of Public Administration, RJ understands the intersection of community development and the health and wellbeing of residents. In 2023, RJ received the Distinguished Public Service Achievement Award from the Keystone Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration for her innovative contributions to the field.
What attracted you to local government work, and what led you to OHM Advisors?
I’ve always been curious about how things work and how they can be improved, which led me to public administration. With local government, you get to see firsthand the ways you and your team are making a difference in your city or town, whether it’s addressing an immediate issue that makes someone’s day better or working on a plan that will be implemented over several years. Joining OHM Advisors was a way for me to take what I learned from the public sector and amplify it with OHM’s resources and nationally recognized expertise. As a result, I’m able to help more communities achieve their goals.
Joining OHM Advisors was a way for me to take what I learned from the public sector and amplify it… As a result, I’m able to help more communities.
Let’s talk about some of those takeaways. How has your experience on the municipal side shaped your approach at OHM Advisors?
Our clients trust us to take care of their communities. It’s a privilege to support them, knowing the weight and the impact our recommendations can have on residents’ lives.
OHM Advisors has quite a few people like me who have been on the public side, and those perspectives enhance our ability to provide advice that’s tailored and useful to municipalities. With the fresh perspectives and inspiration outside experts provide, it’s important that we strike the right balance between the aspirational and the implementable.
With the fresh perspectives and inspiration outside experts provide, it’s important that we strike the right balance between the aspirational and the implementable.
You’ve worked for small, medium, and large communities. What kinds of trends and challenges are you seeing in local governments today?
Local governments have limited funding, and their staff members are doing more with less. These challenges call for increased efficiencies, like lining up projects to get the most out of funding. In addition, when cities and towns partner with consultants who offer additional skillsets or connections to helpful resources, it can help reduce the burden on staff members who are juggling multiple priorities.
Your first-hand experience and knowledge around complexities and how government works—particularly in Pennsylvania—must be beneficial to your current work on the Allegheny Places Comprehensive Plan Update. Tell us a bit more about that project and what it means to you.
OHM Advisors is co-leading the update of Allegheny County’s comprehensive plan, which hasn’t been revised since 2008. Allegheny County includes 130 incorporated municipalities, more than most counties in the country, which is a unique challenge that requires a grounding in local context. The plan will help the county convene conversations that shape future land use, infrastructure, housing, culture, open space, and economic development efforts. The process is rooted in collaboration and community engagement, so we’ve been listening to a variety of stakeholders to understand their needs and perspectives.
This project is especially meaningful to me because I’ve worked in several Allegheny County communities and—in grad school—I had a fabulous mentor, Dr. David Y. Miller, who was a leader in the concept of regionalism. It’s exciting to apply my firsthand experience and carry on Dr. Miller’s legacy by fostering regional coordination. When communities develop purposefully and collaboratively, it helps the whole region succeed.
When communities develop purposefully and collaboratively, it helps the whole region succeed.
Speaking of success…what makes for a successful project, in your mind?
I define a successful planning effort as one that brings joy to communities as they imagine their future. That’s what motivates me to do my best every day.
What else do you enjoy about what you do?
I love getting to know communities and carrying a piece of them with me. For example, during grad school I participated in the Local Government Academy’s Municipal Intern Program, which places students in municipalities full-time during the summer to complete a special community project. My assignment was to help start up a Main Street program in Castle Shannon, and now every time I visit the borough, I feel connected to that place. At OHM Advisors, I get to engage with many cities and towns, rooting for them and thinking of them fondly.
At OHM Advisors, I get to engage with many cities and towns, rooting for them and thinking of them fondly.
What are some of your interests outside of work?
I'm a musically inclined person—I’ve played piano for years and dabbled in other instruments. For years I wanted to learn guitar, and when I realized I could get a left-handed guitar, I taught myself to play by looking up images of people playing chords. I'm either thinking in spreadsheets or I'm thinking in songs.
