SBND Event - The Future of Water in Southeast Michigan

The Future of Water in Southeast Michigan

Water is a vital resource, essential for life. But sustaining sustainable access to clean water requires both immediate and long-term solutions. Please join us for an informative event about how our infrastructure impacts sustainable water resources, the challenges, the solutions, and how infrastructure affects economic growth.

Speakers:

Palencia Mobley, PE, is the founder and CEO of Mode Collective, an operations consulting firm for utilities, government, and nonprofits.

She previously served as the deputy director and chief engineer at the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD). Under her leadership, DWSD increased investment in green stormwater infrastructure by $19 million in ten years, the City of Detroit passed the first post-construction stormwater ordinance, and DWSD implemented a full lead service line replacement program in 2018. That same year, Palencia was appointed to the Michigan Infrastructure Council, where she serves as the Board Chair.

Jim Nash has been Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner since 2013 and previously served as an Oakland County Commissioner.

In each of these roles he has focused on environmental sustainability, green building, and regional cooperation, including hosting six annual Green Building Workshops.

In his current role, he has been deeply involved in regional collaboration efforts related to sustainable development and resource conservation. He has worked with the Oakland County Executive and others to develop the Great Lakes Water Authority, and he and his teams also organized and hosted annual regional stormwater summits to learn about and advocate for green solutions to stormwater quality.

Amy O’Leary

Executive Director, SEMCOG Amy O’Leary has been employed at the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments since 1994. She became deputy executive director in 2017 and executive director in 2020. She attended Harvard University’s Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government at the John F. Kennedy School of Government as well as other specialized training. She holds leadership positions at Six Rivers Regional Land Conservancy, the Detroit Area Agency on Aging, and the Executive Directors Council of the National Association of Regional Councils.

Moderator:

Anika Goss is CEO of Detroit Future City (DFC), a nonprofit think-and-do tank focused on land use and sustainability, community and economic development, and economic equity in Detroit. Anika leads efforts to implement the DFC Strategic Framework, a comprehensive 50-year guide to decision-making and investment in Detroit. Since taking the helm, Anika has repositioned the organization through several significant research studies, a web-based dashboard that illustrates the deep disparities that exist in Detroit and the region, and the awarding of over $330,000 in grants toward vacant land revitalization. Previously, Anika had nearly 25 years of national and local leadership in community development and nonprofit management. More about Anika here.

EVENT DETAILS

7:30-8 a.m., registration and networking

8-9:30 a.m., event

Location: The Henry, Fairlane Plaza, 300 Town Center Dr, Dearborn, MI 48126

Cost: Free, but registration is required.

Questions about the event content? Contact Inforum Vice President Cindy Goodaker at cgoodaker@myinforum.org.

Questions about event details/logistics? Contact Anna Grace, Inforum member experience and event manager, at agrace@myinforum.org

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