By Judy Dorsey

As I approach retirement and reflect on my final months at Brendle Group and on more than 30 years of work alongside extraordinary colleagues and clients, I find myself returning to a simple truth: our greatest impact has always come through partnership.

At its best, our work goes well beyond the business transactions between client and consultant. It is about relationships that are built on trust, shared purpose, and a willingness to learn from one another over time. Two of those relationships stand out for their longevity and impact: our partnerships with the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) and Xcel Energy. These collaborations have not only shaped Brendle Group—they have shaped me personally and professionally.

A Shared Vision in the Mountains: 25 Years with NSAA

Our work with NSAA began more than 25 years ago with a shared belief: that ski areas could thrive and lead in sustainability while protecting the natural resources essential to their future.

Together, we built the foundation for sustainability programs that have become embedded across the ski industry. Over time, what began as guidance evolved into true partnership. We deepened our understanding of ski area operations, and our NSAA colleagues deepened their fluency in sustainability. The result has been stronger, more practical, and more lasting solutions. Today, Sustainable Slopes and the Climate Challenge have grown into mature, industry-wide sustainability programs that integrate climate action, resource efficiency, and community responsibility into everyday decision-making.

At the heart of this partnership is Geraldine Link, NSAA’s Director of Public Policy. For 25 years, Geraldine has been a peer, a mentor, and a trusted friend. Her leadership, insight, and unwavering commitment to the industry have elevated not just the work, but everyone involved in it – myself included.

Empowering Communities: A Decade of Partnership with Xcel Energy

Our relationship with Xcel Energy as a client tells a different, but equally meaningful, story—one grounded in community impact and innovation.

Through Xcel Energy’s Partners in Energy program, we’ve worked together to support communities in defining and achieving their energy and climate goals. The strength of this work lies in its practicality—bringing together utility expertise and community priorities to create plans that communities can act on with proven results. Over the past 12 years, we have continuously learned from Xcel Energy about the inner workings of regulated utilities in service to their customers. And they have learned from us as leaders in community sustainability. The result is a leading-edge program that keeps pace with the significant changes communities are experiencing. A program that empowers local leaders and builds capacity for communities to improve resilience and affordability.

I’m especially grateful for my partnership with Tami Gunderzik, Performance and Strategy Manager at Xcel Energy. Tami has been an incredible collaborator and thought partner—someone who continuously pushes the work forward while fostering a spirit of trust, creativity, and shared purpose.

What Enduring Client Partnerships Teach Us

These two relationships, while different in context, share common foundations:

  1. Business Can Be a Force for Good
    In both partnerships, the goal was never just to “deliver a program.” It was to create meaningful, lasting impacts, whether protecting mountain ecosystems or helping communities transition to a cleaner energy future.
  2. Shared Vision and Values Matter
    Our most successful work happens when we are aligned on purpose. With NSAA and Xcel Energy, that alignment around sustainability has been foundational.
  3. Learning Goes Both Ways
    Clients know their industries. We bring sustainability expertise. But the real magic happens over time, when those lines blur and we became more effective than either of us could have been alone.
  4. Trust Is Built Over Time
    Longevity matters. Trust is not built in a single project or even a single year. It grows through consistency, openness, and a shared commitment to doing the work well.

Looking Ahead with Gratitude

As I step away from day-to-day work, I do so with immense gratitude—for all our clients, colleagues, and partners who have placed their trust in Brendle Group and made this work so meaningful and rewarding. It has been a privilege to do this work together.

I’m especially thankful to Geraldine Link and Tami Gunderzik, whose partnership and friendship have enriched my career in ways I could not have imagined.

I’m also encouraged by what comes next. Andrea Sojda, as our new President, is already working closely with both NSAA and Xcel Energy. I’m confident these relationships will continue to grow and evolve, creating meaningful impact for many years to come.

I hope these two examples offer a glimpse of what’s possible when clients and consultants bring their best to the table—and commit to doing a little good in their part of the world together.

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About the Author – As the founder of Brendle Group and board chair, Judy Dorsey is a pioneering engineer, entrepreneur, and sustainability business leader with 30 years of executive expertise in innovation, strategy, and risk management. A natural team-builder, Judy has led the completion of more than 300 sustainability projects for over 150 clients across 30 states and is co-founder of the Colorado Clean Energy Cluster (CCEC) and the International Cleantech Network. Many of these projects pioneered new frontiers in sustainability, prior to national standards and certifications, in areas such as green building, greenhouse gas management and accounting, net zero energy, and climate resilience. Judy has also coached numerous business leaders and public policy makers on managing the risks and opportunities posed by climate change, energy system transitions, and other socioeconomic challenges.