Jerra Thomas
Portsmouth,Ohio
Summary
Results-driven professional with 10+ years of experience executing sustainable solutions to achieve organizational success. Articulate communicator with the ability to assess company performance leading to better risk management, enhancing operational resilience and increasing business opportunities.
Overview
2025
2025
years of professional experience
Work History
Environmental Coordinator
NiSource, Inc.
01.2022 - 01.2025
- Gathered/interpreted/submitted data to ESG benchmarking companies (DJSI, Sustainalytics, ISS, MSCI) to improve sustainability rating
- Prepared and submitted public disclosures and environmental reports (CDP, SASB)
- Primary point of contact for company ESG data, including data requests to internal subject matter experts, confirming accuracy and storing final utilized metrics
- Assisted in the production and review of our corporate sustainability report
- Calculated annual natural gas and electric consumption for localities and assisted with grant applications
- Created new procedure manuals and operating policies for sustainability organization
- Engaged with subject matter experts across the company to execute sustainability strategy
- Represented NiSource at industry conferences and events (EPRI, TCB)
Contact and Pricing Coordinator
Tailored Management
01.2021 - 01.2021
- Transitioned purchase agreements and amendments into contract lifecycle management tool
- Reviewed, validated and assured compliance of contractual terms in agreements
- Created formulas to calculate quarterly, monthly and annual pricing
- Updated contract nomenclature and documented inventory of agreements
Contract Analyst
American Electric Power
2017 - 2020
- Procured coal, consumables, fuel oil and transportation contracts and amendments
- Calculated monthly and quarterly fuel surcharges for coal and transportation contracts
- Liaison between accounting department and customer to resolve pricing disputes
- Responsible for departmental 10-K/10-Q reporting obligations
- Completed monthly plant calibrations and force majeure occurrences
- Trained employees to update and retrieve data in Enviance, Documentum, ShareNow and internally developed software applications
Sustainability Coordinator
American Electric Power
2007 - 2016
- Contributed the production, design and marketing of our corporate accountability report
- Collected/analyzed company data to improve sustainability performance with ESG rating agencies
- Chaired a planning committee that organized and facilitated activities across our 11-state service territory to further embed sustainability within AEP
- Worked with business units and subsidiaries to pilot an energy efficiency program in Oklahoma schools
- Project manager for AEP’s social media outreach campaign to promote safety and sustainability
- Developed and advanced stakeholder relationships, served as primary contact for AEP’s engaging stakeholders’ program
- Interpreted data to evaluate crucial past, present and future performance metrics
- Aligned and developed internal sustainability strategies to generate financial and reputation value
- Connected executive management with critical stakeholders to create partnerships
- Updated internal sustainability website utilizing Adobe Contribute software
Legislative Assistant
Thomas P. Pappas & Associates
01.2000 - 01.2007
- Represented clients before Ohio General Assembly committee hearings
- Drafted bill amendments and assisted clients with testimony
- Completed and filed state required forms including Campaign Finance Reports and Joint Legislative Ethics Committee Statements
- Managed grassroots campaigns to educate public officials and support goals identified by clientele
- Represented various organizations at trade shows and conferences
- Organized and directed legislative receptions and special events
Technical Coordinator
The Andersons
01.1998 - 01.2000
- Conducted/supervised field testing of fertilizer and pesticide products at universities
- Provided presentations to technical department summarizing field testing and assisted in marketing decisions
- Customer service contact for questions regarding product use and storage
Education
Graduate Courses - Sociology for Graduate Studies/Statistics
University of Toledo
Toledo, OH1998
B.A. - Environmental Policy and Analysis
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green, OH1997
Skills
- Knowledge of ESG questionnaires, materiality assessments and leading sustainability practices
- Experience leading cross-functional teams and building consensus
- Proven relationship-builder with unsurpassed interpersonal skills
- Proficient at demonstrating how departmental goals feed into overall business strategy
- Ability to prioritize multiple tasks to meet deadlines
- Strong skills in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint and SharePoint
- Strong analytical and project management skills
- Contract creation, evaluation and modification
Timeline
Environmental Coordinator
NiSource, Inc.
01.2022 - 01.2025
Contact and Pricing Coordinator
Tailored Management
01.2021 - 01.2021
Legislative Assistant
Thomas P. Pappas & Associates
01.2000 - 01.2007
Technical Coordinator
The Andersons
01.1998 - 01.2000
Contract Analyst
American Electric Power
2017 - 2020
Sustainability Coordinator
American Electric Power
2007 - 2016
Graduate Courses - Sociology for Graduate Studies/Statistics
University of Toledo
B.A. - Environmental Policy and Analysis
Bowling Green State University