PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Lauren Mixon
[email protected]
313-833-0100 ext. 408
www.nextenergy.org
NextEnergy Announces New Director of Mobility Initiatives, Smart Cities and Communities
Detroit (Feb. 27, 2025) – NextEnergy is pleased to announce the promotion of two staff members who will help progress decades-long technology and mobility work meant to bolster equity and efficiency in Michigan communities. Lauren Mattar, technical program manager at NextEnergy since 2022, has been promoted to director of mobility initiatives. Nick Thomas, former director of NextEnergy’s MiNextCities program, has been named the director of smart cities and communities. In this role, he will also lead the Michigan Clean Cities coalition programs. Thomas has been with NextEnergy since 2023.
In Mattar’s new role, she will work to maintain organizational partnerships and advance clean mobility efforts by:
- supporting the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification in distributing Michigan Mobility Funding Platform (MMFP) grants that fund the piloting, testing and deployment of mobility technologies in Michigan.
- strengthening Michigan’s mobility ecosystem through the Global Epicenter of Mobility (GEM) by supporting infrastructure investments in southeast Michigan’s world-class testing facilities to enhance the capabilities of these sites.
- assisting startups in onboarding, testing and deploying parking and autonomous vehicle solutions at the Detroit Smart Parking Lab.
- serving as a program director for the Hydrogen Heavy Duty Vehicle Industry Group to expand hydrogen refueling infrastructure for commercial and heavy-duty applications through industry collaboration and research.
Mattar will leverage her background in engineering and project management to bolster equity and improve the quality of life of Detroit and Michigan Residents.
“I am excited to step into this role continuing the great work NextEnergy has done in the mobility space and I look forward to leading an enthusiastic team working to drive clean and accessible mobility in Michigan and beyond,” said Mattar.
Similarly, Thomas’ transition to director of smart cities and communities expands on NextEnergy’s efforts to prepare medium-sized Michigan cities for a shift toward alternative fuels, in addition to more than 20 years of mobility work led by Michigan Clean Cities. This new role entails managing a broad portfolio of work, including:
- Assisting with the expansion of Michigan Carshare locations in collaboration with the Affordable Mobility Platform (AMP) to ensure access to clean, reliable transportation for Michiganders.
- Supporting the Michigan Capitol Area Regional Electric Vehicle Charging Gateway Initiative to increase electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and training in Lansing and surrounding communities.
- Continuing collaboration with LISC Detroit to bring reliable, clean transportation to affordable housing communities and neighborhoods in the 48202 ZIP code.
“I’m proud to lead the exceptional team integrating NextEnergy’s initiatives with the Michigan Clean Cities coalition. Drawing on my background in smart city development and clean technology innovation, uniting our collective strengths allows us to amplify our impact, transforming innovative ideas into real-world solutions that build more connected, resilient and sustainable communities,” said Thomas.
“Lauren and Nick both bring tremendous experience, passion and creativity to accelerating the commercialization and deployment of new energy and mobility solutions which will positively impact our communities and the state of Michigan, said Jim Saber, president and CEO of NextEnergy. “We are excited about the fresh perspective they bring to NextEnergy’s leadership and mission.
To learn more about their roles and the future of their work with NextEnergy and Michigan Clean Cities, contact Lauren Mattar at [email protected] and Nick Thomas at [email protected].
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About NextEnergy: Founded in 2002, NextEnergy is a nonprofit that accelerates smarter, cleaner, more accessible solutions for communities and cities by working with innovators locally and across the globe. Since its inception, NextEnergy has worked with more than 500 companies, universities, federal agencies and philanthropic organizations to drive more than $1.6 billion in advanced energy and mobility technology investments.
Media Contact: Lauren Mixon | NextEnergy | 313-833-0100 ext. 408 | [email protected]