Partial Roster of Speakers
Shalanda Baker
Vice Provost for Sustainability and Climate Action | University of Michigan
Shalanda Baker
Director, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity
U.S. Department of Energy
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Shalanda Baker formerly served in the Biden-Harris Administration as the director of the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity at the U.S. Department of Energy. A leading expert on environmental and energy law, she is the architect of the DOE strategy for Justice 40. In 2018, she co-founded the Initiative for Energy Justice to support the delivery of equity-centered energy policy research and technical assistance to policymakers and frontline communities across the country.
Kerry C. Duggan
Founder and Managing Partner
SustainabiliD
Kerry C. Duggan
Founder & Managing Partner, SustainabiliD
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Kerry C. Duggan is a Founding & Managing Partner of SustainabiliD, a sustainability expert, corporate board director, angel investor, faculty member, national political advisor, and the former climate advisor to President Joe Biden.
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A Strategic integrator, she builds bridges and makes connections across disparate sectors and communities, finding creative new paths for the speed of implementing robust and equitable climate action plans.
Hon. LaToya Cantrell
Mayor
New Orleans, LA
Hon. LaToya Cantrell
Mayor, City of New Orleans, LA
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In 2018, LaToya Cantrell made history as New Orleans' first woman mayor in its 300-year history. After that historic victory, Mayor Cantrell was inaugurated to a second term on January 10, 2022. Her passion for the City of Yes and her dedication to its residents remains stronger than ever.
Kameale C. Terry
Co-Founder and CEO
ChargerHelp!
Kameale C. Terry
CEO , ChargerHelp
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Kameale Terry was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles. The daughter of Belizean immigrants Kameale has always had a focus on environmental sustainability and community engagement.
With over a decade of experience in CleanTech, Kameale formed ChargerHelp! with her co-founder Evette Ellis to create a reliable Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure. The CleanTech company, powered by technology, uses data to identify and provide maintenance and repair services for electric vehicle charging stations.
Mike Duggan
Mayor
City of Detroit
Mike Duggan
Mayor, City of Detroit
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Mike Duggan is the 75th mayor of the City of Detroit. He has been in office since January 2014 and currently is serving his third four-year term, which will expire at the end of 2025. Born in Detroit, Duggan has spent his entire career working in the city to solve some of the most complex issues facing Detroiters, including crime, blight, transportation, health care and access to jobs.
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Dr. Janell Hills
Director, Workforce Programs
Interstate Renewable Energy Council
Dr. Janell Hill
Director, Workforce Programs
IREC
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Dr. Janell Hills of Houston, TX is the Director of Workforce Programs at Interstate Renewable Energy Council. IREC builds the foundation for rapid adoption of clean energy and energy efficiency to benefit people, the economy, and our planet. Dr. Hills joined IREC to support the growth of a highly trained and inclusive clean energy workforce that empowers individuals and communities.
Garlin Gilchrist
Lieutenant Governor
State of Michigan
Garlin Gilchrist
Lieutenant Governor
State of Michigan
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Garlin Gilchrist has dedicated his career to solving problems. An engineer by training, he uses thoughtful and fact-based practices to solve real problems and make government work better for Michigan families.
Hiram E. Jackson
CEO, Real Times Media
Publisher, Michigan Chronicle
Hiram E. Jackson
CEO, Real Times Media
Publisher, Michigan Chronicle
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Hiram Eric Jackson is an entrepreneur and philanthropist with a 30-year track record of success in business and community activism. Hiram currently serves as the chief executive officer of Real Times Media (RTM), a multimedia company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan.
Natalie King
Founder & CEO
Dunamis Charge
Natalie King
Founder & CEO | Dunamis Charge
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Natalie King, Founder and CEO of Dunamis Clean Energy Partners, LLC, and Dunamis Charge, leading 150+ workers, was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2021 Michigan and Northwest Ohio. Dunamis Charge is an alumni of the Stellantis National Black Supplier Development Program and Apple Impact Accelerator Program. The Electric Vehicle charger manufacturer is part of the Cummins CARE BOA (Black Owned Enterprise) Supplier Program and is a Tier One Vendor to DTE Energy.
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Johnnie Turnage
Co-Founder
Black Tech Saturdays
Johnnie Turnage
Co-Founder
Black Tech Saturdays
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With nearly 15 years of experience, Johnnie is an award-winning grassroots activist and tech entrepreneur. Johnnie began his career in social justice and grassroots organizing early on working for Get Out the Vote where he led local youth in neighborhood canvasses and voter registration efforts. He founded EvenScore in 2021, bringing his passion for community organizing to the world of technology.
Kenneth Kelly
CEO
First Independence Bank
Kenneth Kelly
CEO, First Independence Bank
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Mr. Kelly has been part of the First Independence Bank team in different capacities for several years. He was named Chairman and CEO in February 2017. Mr. Kelly is also the Chairman of MAC Leasing, the Bank's majority owned subsidiary.
Darnell Johnson
Chair
Urban Efficiency Group
Darnell Johnson
Chair, Urban Efficiency Group
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Darnell Johnson is a spiritual and social architect committed to engineering solutions that humanizes the socio-economic existence of disadvantaged communities. With over two decades of entrepreneurial experience and a fixation on advancing energy equity, his emergence as an “ecopreneur” is evolutionary. Darnell is the CEO and President of Urban Efficiency Group, a utility implementation contractor and community sustainability design firm.
Robert G. Riney
President & CEO
Henry Ford Health
Robert G. Riney
President & CEO
Henry Ford Health
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Bob Riney has more than 40 years of experience at Henry Ford Health, as well as in the Detroit metro community, making him the ideal leader as Henry Ford Health continues to lead the nation in providing innovative, compassionate care. Bob, a graduate of Wayne State University, joined Henry Ford Health in 1978 and has had the privilege throughout his career to work in almost every business unit in the System.
Tony G. Reames, PhD
Director of Detroit Sustainability Clinic
U of M, School for Environment
Tony Reames, PhD
Director of Detroit Sustainability Clinic
University of Michigan, School for Environnent
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Dr. Tony G. Reames is a leading international energy and environmental justice scholar and senior government policy advisor.
Reames is the Tishman Professor of Environmental Justice at the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability, where he founded the Urban Energy Justice Lab and the Energy Equity Project. He is also the Director of the UM SEAS Detroit Sustainability Clinic.
Brynn C. Cooksey, Sr.
CEM, CMS
General Manager, Air Doctors Heating & Cooling
Brynn C. Cooksey, Sr.
CEM, CMS​
Brynn Cooksey Sr., affectionately known as the "Air Doctor," is a Detroit native and the Owner of Air Doctors Heating and Cooling, LLC. Brynn earned that nickname for his renowned engineering solutions in the HVACR and Electrical industries. After spending 15 years in the Utility Gas and Power industry, Brynn took over his family's heating and cooling business and rebranded it "Air Doctors" based on his industry-adopted nickname. The Air Doctors team has repeatedly reduced customers' utility bills by 50% or more with Brynn's award-winning Building Efficiency solutions.