As the new Director of Smart Cities and Communities at NextEnergy, I’m honored to build upon our pioneering initiatives and leverage the robust experience and partnerships of the Michigan Clean Cities coalition. My mission is to drive meaningful innovation that empowers communities to become more connected, resilient, and sustainable.
Collaborating closely with government representatives, industry partners, and community leaders, my team and I develop strategies that enhance mobility, boost energy efficiency, elevate public safety, and promote digital equity. This role advances NextEnergy’s mission by ensuring emerging technologies translate into real-world benefits for communities across Michigan. I firmly believe that smart city solutions should be more than just technological advancements; they must be thoughtful, scalable, and aligned with long-term goals. Guided by data and shaped by community-driven input, I strive to make technology a tool for improving lives, not creating obstacles.
Our current smart cities and communities initiatives include:
- The MiNextCities Program: In partnership with Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), has teamed up with Dearborn, Flint and Marquette to tackle and advance smart city challenges across environmental mitigation and monitoring, residential energy improvements and electrification, and fleet electrification.
- The Michigan Capitol Area Regional Electric Vehicle Charging Gateway Initiative: The staff at Michigan Clean Cities is supporting the City of Lansing to train new and existing workers in mobility electrification to increase the number of EV chargers and ensure equitable access for all communities in the Capital Region.
- The Michigan Carshare Expansion: Having supported applications for funding, MICC is committed to helping grow the network of shared electric vehicles accessible to Michigan residents. MI Carshare, a collaboration between Mobility Development Operations (MDO) and the AMP program, is expected to continue expansion across the state in 2025 and beyond.
- Clean Transportation Action Plan Implementation: In partnership with LISC Detroit, MICC is supporting the community in developing a clean transportation action plan for residents of Detroit’s 48202 ZIP code.
Looking ahead, I envision Michigan’s smart city initiatives fostering an environment where every community is empowered to leverage technology to address its most pressing challenges. Through dynamic collaboration with state partners including EGLE and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), and our federal allies at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Department of Energy (DOE), and Department of Transportation (DOT), I’m committed to expanding the impact of our efforts. Together, we’ll transform the lives of residents and cultivate a smarter, more connected Michigan.
I’m incredibly excited about the journey ahead and the opportunities that lie before us. By uniting innovation with purpose and aligning technology with the needs of our communities, we can create a future where every Michigander thrives.