Across the country, local governments are addressing some of today’s most complex challenges, including expanding affordable housing, strengthening small business ecosystems, accelerating climate action, and building inclusive pathways to opportunity. This fall, 20 FUSE Executive Fellows are partnering with city and county leaders to drive bold, community-centered solutions that advance resilience and economic mobility.
Drawing on decades of experience across various sectors, industries, and disciplines, the Fall 2025 FUSE Executive Fellows bring innovation, empathy, and systems thinking to public service. Over the next year, they will work alongside civic partners to create lasting impact that transforms how communities grow and thrive.
Priyankur Roy
Making Boston a Home for Every Child — Boston, MA
Priyankur Roy brings more than 35 years of experience in IT leadership, AI and machine learning, data analytics, and digital transformation to his role as a FUSE Executive Fellow. A trusted advisor to executives at T-Mobile, Verizon, IBM, Ericsson, and other global organizations, Roy has built a career helping leaders turn complex technology challenges into opportunities for innovation and growth.
In partnership with the City of Boston’s Mayor’s Office of Early Childhood, Roy will coordinate citywide efforts to ensure that every child can learn, play, and thrive in neighborhoods that support families. His work will strengthen the Boston Children’s Council and advance key initiatives that connect caregivers to high-quality programs and services.
By developing tools that make resources easier to navigate and scaling community-driven models that work, Roy will help create a more cohesive and responsive network of support for Boston’s families, thereby laying the foundation for lifelong learning and well-being across every neighborhood.
I believe I would contribute to the Boston Children’s Council and the Boston community being served by the project by applying my knowledge and skills acquired over the course of my professional career.
Close to 40 years of experience in my consulting career, I bring the following skills which will be very effective for the objective of the FUSE program for the Boston Children’s Council:
- I am very good at listing to individuals to identify problems. This is practically the foundation of my professional career where we start an engagement with workshops to listen to the client’s needs as perceived by the various stakeholders in the organization. In this engagement the same skill is going to be paramount to identify the tasks necessary to deliver the objectives successfully.
- I have project managed and delivered over 100 consulting engagements globally. The same project management skills will be crucial to expand the Council’s capability to reach its objectives. It is essential to be able to capture necessary tasks, prioritize the captured tasks, assign owner, agree on inter-dependent priorities and delivery date for each task leading to end goal of the final objectives. My exposure to traditional waterfall method or current agile method with the tools in use will be key to project manage this program.
- Stakeholder orchestration is one of the key capabilities I have acquired over the course of my career. As a consultant it is very important that all the stakeholders are aligned to the purpose and objectives of the solution being proposed by the consultant. Mitigating conflicting priorities continues throughout any engagement and defines the chance of success at the end. Similarly in this FUSE fellowship program for the Boston Children’s Council also aligning and orchestrating various stakeholder will be essential.
- My basic understanding of public sector (from global experience with SBA Microloan Program, OGCIO Hong Kong SmatCity, UK HM Revenue & Customs Customer Experience transformation or Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality smart electric metering project) will help me navigate the intricate decision making process roadmap without the burden of being influenced with a predisposed perspective.
- I think my understanding of technology and future of networked society will be valuable in guiding, leveraging digital and AI solutions if necessary to make these projects successful.
- Lastly, my perspective on success of the program is same us what I have been practicing all my professional career. Any solution or a unit of success needs to be repeatable. So that we can replicate the success in other communities adjusting for specific environments. In this program also I am expecting to do the same where the Mattapan key initiatives, the city-wide Connect, Learn, Explore program, neighborhoods of opportunity, and city-wide heat resilience programs for early childhood can be modeled for other communities in Boston and rest of the country.
I am very much looking forward to participating in the program.
Adrian Wilton
Strengthening Phoenix’s Local Food Economy and Innovation — Phoenix, AZ
Adrian Wilton is a leader in urban agriculture and sustainable design, whose work has reshaped how cities approach food and green infrastructure. He implemented the first commercial-scale vertical farming and green roof projects in the United States, developed a patent for a vertical hydroponic system, and led the cultivation of New York’s first legal medical marijuana—all while championing opportunities for the green-collar workforce.
As a FUSE Executive Fellow with the City of Phoenix’s Office of Environmental Programs, Wilton will strengthen the city’s local food ecosystem and integrate food systems thinking into sustainable development practices. He will conduct a comprehensive study of Phoenix’s food supply chain by assessing what is grown and consumed locally, identifying market gaps, and uncovering opportunities for producers and distributors to expand their role in the city’s food economy.
Working alongside public and private partners, Wilton will translate these findings into actionable strategies that align with Phoenix’s goals for sustainable growth and environmental stewardship. By embedding urban agriculture and food access into new developments and city planning, he aims to help build a Phoenix where sustainability and community wellbeing grow hand in hand.
As soon I read the ‘Strengthening Phoenix’s Local Food Economy’ project at FUSE, I was drawn to learn more, and apply my skills towards helping push the city’s dreams of expanding food access, building stronger market infrastructure, and creating a more resilient, connected, and sustainable food network for all its residents.
Having come from NYC, an old american city built within the confines of islands and peninsulas, I am enthralled by the west’s ability to expand outward from city centers, at times with no limits. My passion for incorporating urban farming into the built environment is perfectly suited for Phoenix’s growth in population and developments, alongside the city’s goals to grow more food locally.
Beyond the particulars of the project, I was also drawn to being part of a cohort of executives from around the county who too are embarking on this career adventure together!
John Stringfellow
Transforming Public Housing for Sustainability and Climate Resilience — Tucson, AZ
John Stringfellow brings a breadth of leadership experience spanning the military, private industry, and nonprofit sectors to his role as a FUSE Executive Fellow. A former officer in the United States Navy, Stringfellow has led teams in various capacities, including as a manufacturing plant manager, national logistics manager, nonprofit leader, and entrepreneur. Most recently, he served as Board President of NAMI Boulder County, where he championed mental health advocacy and community engagement.
In partnership with the City of Tucson’s Housing and Community Development Department, Stringfellow will help implement a sustainability roadmap to modernize public housing and protect residents from extreme heat. His work will coordinate cross-departmental and community efforts to advance energy-efficient retrofits, renewable energy adoption, and water conservation initiatives.
By centering resident voices and fostering collaboration, Stringfellow will help Tucson create a new model for climate-resilient housing—one that improves comfort, reduces costs, and safeguards the well-being of the city’s most vulnerable residents.
I feel like this project is at a place where my personal life and work experiences collided. When my daughter was diagnosed with a severe mental illness, I began a journey where I realized that despite my own successes and means, I was limited in my ability to effectively help her in recovery. As I learned to advocate for people and families affected by mental illness, I realized that there were significant populations within our country that did not have the means or resources to improve their own lives; whether it was due to economic, health, race, age or other factors that put them in a vulnerable category. Through this project, my hope is that I will be able to create change that improves the lives of people living in Public Housing and that it will be sustainable for many years. It may be a smaller cross-section of our local population but I believe the ripple effect can lead to generational change.
Jody Bickel
Preserving Agricultural Land Through Community Engagement — Bernalillo County, NM
Jody Bickel brings more than 25 years of experience in sustainability consulting, environmental markets, and strategic implementation to her role as a FUSE Executive Fellow. As Founder and Chief Coach of Creekbank Associates, a certified woman-owned business, she has guided leaders across sectors to achieve meaningful environmental and organizational outcomes. Bickel also serves as an advisor to the Environmental Markets Conference and contributes thought leadership to Forbes Business Council and other publications.
In partnership with the Bernalillo County Assessor’s Office, Bickel will advance efforts to protect farmland and expand access to land for local growers. She will collaborate with community organizations to improve outreach, clarify processes, and develop bilingual materials that make agricultural preservation programs more accessible, particularly for seniors and Spanish-speaking residents.
Through this work, Bickel will help strengthen a community-centered approach to land stewardship that honors local traditions, supports intergenerational farming, and ensures the county’s agricultural lands remain productive and resilient for future generations.
I moved to New Mexico two years ago to be able to live, work and make a difference right here in this state.
The natural environmental resources of City of Albuquerque and the greater Bernalillo County have many expectations impressed upon them. These stem from remembrances of the past, to the workings of the present and reach to the desires of the up and coming generations. This fellowship project combines my expertise in agriculture and working lands resource stewardship, collaborative conservation and enabling effective partnerships all into a strategic engagement. I’ll be able to help guide the continued care of agricultural working lands by increasing landowner participation in the tax program benefits available to them through the Bernalillo County Assessor’s Office. Meaningful work in my home state that deploys my hard-won experience and leverages a strong partnership with a motivated county government leadership team is a powerful combination for progress!
Sandy Eapen
Advancing Economic Opportunity through Place-Based Resilience Strategies — Austin, TX
Sandy Eapen is a sustainability and social impact leader with nearly 25 years of experience helping organizations align purpose with performance. As Founder of Eapen Impact, she partners with companies and nonprofits to design and implement environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies that drive meaningful change. Eapen was the first Head of ESG & Sustainability at Coupa Software and has held leadership roles with BSR, American Express, Dow Chemical, and the UN Development Programme. She also coaches emerging leaders through UT Austin’s Sustainability Leadership Executive Program and serves on several community boards in Austin.
As a FUSE Executive Fellow with the City of Austin, Eapen will help advance citywide efforts to build a more inclusive and resilient local economy. Working alongside the Economic Resilience Lab and cross-sector partners, she will coordinate and scale strategies that expand access to opportunity, strengthen small businesses, and promote long-term economic sustainability.
Through this work, Eapen will help ensure that Austin’s growth benefits all communities, creating a stronger, more resilient foundation for the city’s future.
I care deeply about Austin – its people, its neighborhoods, and its future. As a sustainability and social impact leader, I want to help ensure our city remains resilient, equitable, and full of opportunity for all. This FUSE Executive Fellowship offers the chance for me to bring my nearly 25 years of diverse, global, cross-sector experience to serve the City of Austin and its communities. I will leverage my business expertise and skills, sustainability and social impact experience, community connections, and broader network to help deliver strategies that can scale and strengthen economic resilience.
When I returned to Austin in late 2021 after two decades in New York City, San Francisco, Houston, Africa, and India, I saw the pressures in the midst of progress and growth – shifting demographics, rising housing costs, and economic headwinds that have challenged individuals, families and small businesses.
I’m eager to partner with stakeholders and work alongside neighborhoods most affected by economic shifts strengthening ties to City programs, connecting communities to valuable resources, and creating inclusive spaces where residents and small businesses shape solutions that can scale and endure. I hope that through my work, I can help play a part in helping every Austinite, no matter their zip code or background, thrive.
Weijia Xie
Advancing Sustainability through City-Wide Fleet Modernization — Phoenix, AZ
Weijia Xie is an energy and infrastructure transition expert with more than 15 years of experience advancing sustainable transportation systems. A former management consultant, Xie has led high-impact initiatives in strategy development, fleet electrification, and infrastructure planning at organizations including Accenture, AECOM, Boston Consulting Group, Boeing, and Didi Global. With a background in Chemical Engineering and a passion for equitable climate solutions, Xie brings both technical expertise and strategic vision to the work of decarbonizing cities.
As a FUSE Executive Fellow with the City of Phoenix, Xie will help modernize the city’s municipal fleet to improve air quality, reduce costs, and enhance reliability. Collaborating across departments, Xie will analyze fleet composition, plan charging and maintenance infrastructure, and design a phased transition that prioritizes communities most affected by pollution.
Through this work, Xie will support Phoenix’s efforts to align its climate goals with operational excellence, creating a cleaner, more efficient fleet that delivers benefits to residents across every neighborhood.
What drew me to this FUSE Fellowship is the City of Phoenix’s vision to transform its municipal fleet as part of a broader commitment to sustainability, equity, and modernization. The City’s ambitious climate action and transportation electrification goals signal a determination not only to reduce emissions, but also to create healthier, more resilient neighborhoods for all residents.
Phoenix’s leadership is evident in its efforts to modernize one of the nation’s largest municipal fleets. By transitioning more than 8,000 vehicles to low-emission and alternative-fuel options, the City is setting a standard with national relevance. This work goes beyond climate targets; it is about protecting public health, improving operational efficiency, and ensuring city services are both reliable and inclusive. The benefits are especially critical for South and West Phoenix, and for communities along high-traffic corridors such as I-10 and SR-51, where residents of disadvantaged communities face disproportionate exposure to pollution and heat.
The development of a strategic roadmap presents an opportunity to align technology adoption with equity-centered decision making. Integrating infrastructure planning, workforce readiness, and interdepartmental coordination will help ensure that the transition is both comprehensive and durable. Importantly, this approach can guide investments toward the communities most affected by environmental burdens, building trust and demonstrating the City’s commitment to fairness and inclusion.
Through this Fellowship, I see an opportunity to contribute to a plan that positions Phoenix as a national leader in municipal fleet sustainability. A well-executed roadmap will not only reduce emissions and operating costs, but also reflect the City’s broader climate commitments—delivering visible improvements in air quality, resilience, and community well-being. Ultimately, this project represents a chance to build a more sustainable, equitable, and inclusive future for Phoenix, with benefits shared across all neighborhoods.
Lolita Jackmon
Expanding Access to Capital for Small Businesses — Baltimore, MD
Lolita Jackmon is a strategic initiatives leader with more than 20 years of experience spanning the corporate, government, and nonprofit sectors. She has led large-scale process improvement initiatives in institutional client onboarding for a global financial services firm and secured multi-million-dollar funding for nonprofits through her grant writing and program management expertise. With a background in finance, healthcare, and federal contracting, Jackmon brings a deep understanding of complex systems and a passion for advancing equity and community capacity.
As a FUSE Executive Fellow with the City of Baltimore, Jackmon will help expand access to capital for small businesses—particularly those in historically underserved communities. Working with city agencies, financial institutions, community development financial institutions (CDFIs), and small business owners, she will develop strategic recommendations to strengthen partnerships, improve financial accessibility, and design innovative funding models that promote business sustainability.
Through this work, Jackmon will help build a more inclusive and resilient small business ecosystem in Baltimore—one where all entrepreneurs have the opportunity and resources to grow and thrive.
What drew me to this project is its focus on expanding access to capital in ways that directly strengthen economic mobility for historically underserved communities. At this stage in my career, impact matters most. I’ve managed multimillion-dollar initiatives in finance, healthcare, and government, but what excites me now is helping entrepreneurs and communities thrive.
Through my grantwriting work, I’ve seen firsthand how often strong ideas and committed leaders are held back—not because the vision isn’t there, but because the funding or readiness support isn’t. That’s why this project resonates so strongly with me. The opportunity to partner with the City of Baltimore, CDFIs, financial institutions, and community groups to design strategies that close those gaps feels both urgent and meaningful.
I’m especially energized by the chance to pair innovative funding models with readiness support, so businesses are not only able to access capital but also positioned to grow sustainably. To me, this is about building an ecosystem where contracting equity and capital equity move hand in hand, creating long-term resilience for small businesses in Baltimore.
David Farias
Strategic Expansion of Municipal Solar Infrastructure — Phoenix, AZ
David Farias is an entrepreneurial leader with deep experience in procurement, real estate, contracts, and lending. Throughout his career, he has held roles at Freeport, Western Refining, and a peer-to-peer lending marketplace, where he earned a U.S. patent for Financial Collaboration Networks. Most recently, Farias collaborated with a nonprofit to develop strategies for property optimization and affordable housing projects, combining business expertise with a commitment to community impact. Fluent in Spanish, he brings a collaborative and solutions-driven approach to complex challenges.
As a FUSE Executive Fellow with the City of Phoenix, Farias will help expand solar energy across municipal facilities to advance climate goals, lower energy costs, and strengthen community resilience. He will coordinate with departments and partners to assess current agreements, identify new opportunities, and develop a business case that aligns investment with community priorities.
Through this work, Farias will help Phoenix harness its abundant solar resources to power a cleaner, more sustainable future, demonstrating how municipal leadership can drive both environmental and economic benefits for its residents.
As a native of Phoenix, I want the very best for all its current and future citizens. The Strategic Expansion of Municipal Solar Infrastructure project drew me to the FUSE Fellowship because it will help the City of Phoenix ultimately build a more sustainable and resilient energy future for all residents by optimizing existing solar assets and expanding renewable energy capacity. This will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce power costs.
I plan to leverage my extensive experience in strategy development, contracts, communications, capital planning, Finance and Management to develop a comprehensive business case and strategic plan. The first step will be understanding the current state and obtaining input from key groups. Understanding best practices in other cities will also be a key ingredient in the development of a plan. I believe this project will encourage citizens and businesses to also leverage Solar Infrastructure.
Daryl DeJean
Deploying Energy Resilience Solutions in Aviation — Phoenix, AZ
Daryl DeJean is a sustainability and resilience strategist who partners with governments and global businesses to deliver solutions that generate both social and economic impact. With deep expertise in renewable energy integration, DeJean has helped utilities and public agencies design roadmaps for clean energy and storage systems that reduce emissions while strengthening workforce and community outcomes. His work bridges innovation and practicality—ensuring that sustainability investments improve resilience for workers, families, and neighborhoods alike.
As a FUSE Executive Fellow with the City of Phoenix Aviation Department, DeJean will help advance clean energy solutions across the city’s airport system to improve reliability, reduce emissions, and support community wellbeing. He will coordinate with utilities, city departments, and aviation partners to evaluate technologies such as microgrids and on-site energy storage, developing strategies for scalable implementation.
Through this work, DeJean will help Phoenix demonstrate how critical infrastructure can lead the transition to a cleaner, more resilient future, setting a model for sustainability in aviation systems nationwide.
The complexity and thought leadership required for the project is what drew me to the FUSE Fellowship opportunity.
I believe my most meaningful contribution to the City of Phoenix Aviation Department (AVN) and the community it serves will come from my ability to combine technical expertise with inclusive leadership, trust-building, and a systems-based vision.
Success requires inclusive engagement. Airports are complex ecosystems with many competing interests, and my role is to balance operations, sustainability, resilience, and community health. By engaging leadership, utilities, airlines, workers, and community voices too often left out, I create trust and shared ownership. My approach ensures clean energy roadmaps reflect both operational priorities and community needs, strengthening resilience, sustainability, and health for all stakeholders. Through a structured listening tour and transparent feedback loops, I will build trust and deliver a roadmap that reflects both operational priorities and community needs.
The community and economic benefits of this work are significant. For workers, clean and reliable energy means healthier conditions in extreme heat and fewer lost workdays. For travelers, resilience prevents cascading delays and disruptions. For neighborhoods, renewable and storage investments cut fossil fuel reliance, improve air quality, and support
long-term health. For businesses, cleaner air and reduced absenteeism mean higher productivity, lower healthcare costs, and a stronger regional economy. Clean energy deployment also drives job creation in design, installation, and maintenance, multiplying its impact locally.Ultimately, my contribution is about leadership and trust. I lead by listening first, synthesizing complex data into actionable strategies, and following through on commitments. My goal is to create a shared vision that stakeholders at every level can see themselves in—one that strengthens Phoenix’s airports while also serving the broader economy and community.
My goal is to assist the Aviation Department position itself as a national model. Phoenix will demonstrate how sustainability, resilience, and health are inseparable—and how clean energy infrastructure delivers lasting benefits for workers, businesses, travelers, and communities alike.
I am excited to network and learn from all of the FUSE network with all of our projects being tremendously successful delivering meaningful and impactful project results.
MyChana Burton
Catalyzing Economic Opportunity in Complex Housing Benefits Landscapes — Fresno County, CA
MyChana Burton is an accomplished author and transformation consultant with more than 15 years of experience leading organizational and Agile methodology change. As CEO of WAY Agile, she partners with small businesses, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations to implement inclusive, data-driven solutions that strengthen teams and drive results. Previously, Burton led large-scale workforce transformation initiatives across both public and private sectors. She holds degrees in IT Management and Educational Technology & Instructional Design, combining technical expertise with a deep commitment to equity and empowerment.
As a FUSE Executive Fellow with Fresno Housing, Burton will help integrate financial empowerment and workforce development pathways into resident services, enabling families to build stability without losing vital support. She will design curricula, strengthen staff capacity, and coordinate community partnerships to create transparent and user-friendly services that help residents navigate benefits, increase their income, and pursue education or career advancement.
Through this work, Burton will help Fresno Housing expand a resident-centered model that connects financial capability, career growth, and housing stability, supporting families on their journey toward long-term independence.
What made my project attractive to me was the chance to utilize my talent in a way I had not had the opportunity to do before. I have seen it from the perspective of those who benefit from my church’s food pantry. We can provide food to eat, but that does not provide a roof over their head. I have seen many who desire to work but do not have a home and a place to shower daily; having steady employment is just out of reach.
In California, having affordable housing is often a challenge for employed professionals, who often come up with creative living arrangements. It’s more than building more units; it’s also about empowering residents to increase their income and providing case managers with options to help them chart a path.
I possess the skills and experience to consider the entire picture and establish relationships with all parties involved to determine the best path forward.
Christine Behr
Expanding Affordable Housing Supply for First-Time Homebuyers — Philadelphia, PA
Christine Behr is a results-driven healthcare leader and certified project manager with extensive experience leading operational excellence initiatives. At Jefferson Health, she spearheaded a multi-campus Lean transformation that enhanced patient throughput and care coordination. At Temple Health, she directed large-scale service transitions and cross-functional process improvements. Known for her collaborative leadership and data-informed decision-making, Behr excels at guiding diverse teams through complex change to deliver measurable results.
As a FUSE Executive Fellow with the City of Philadelphia, Behr will help expand equitable and affordable homeownership opportunities and enhance the City’s housing operations. Working with the Department of Planning and Development, the Philadelphia Land Bank, and the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, she will develop strategic recommendations and pilot solutions to address barriers in land acquisition, permitting, and developer capacity.
Through this work, Behr will help advance Philadelphia’s goal of delivering 30,000 affordable housing units by 2030, thereby increasing access to homeownership, reducing racial disparities, and fostering long-term neighborhood stability and economic mobility across the city.
What drew me to the FUSE fellowship is its bold commitment to partnering with city governments to accelerate systems change and improve public service, work that deeply aligns with my passion for operational excellence and community impact. Having spent my career leading complex, cross-functional initiatives in healthcare, I’m excited to apply those skills to Philadelphia’s affordable housing goals. Stable housing is foundational to health and equity, and this opportunity allows me to contribute meaningfully while growing as a leader in a new sector. I’m energized by the challenge, the collaboration, and the chance to help build pathways to generational opportunity.
Carlos Corcuera
Advancing Community Empowerment through Solar Energy Access — Tucson, AZ
Carlos Corcuera is a seasoned project manager and consultant with over 20 years of experience developing technology, compliance, and operational solutions that enhance organizations and communities. Most recently, he served as a senior project manager with CASAS Real Estate in Tucson, leading initiatives that integrated innovation with social impact. Having directed international projects across diverse sectors, Corcuera brings a global perspective, multiple professional certifications, and fluency in four languages to his work. He holds a Master’s in Asian Studies with a specialization in International Business, as well as a Bachelor’s in International Affairs with a focus on business.
As a FUSE Executive Fellow with the City of Tucson, Corcuera will help expand access to clean energy for low-income households, lowering costs, improving health outcomes, and strengthening community resilience in the face of a warming climate. He will collaborate with city departments and community partners to streamline program participation, align workforce training with industry needs, and develop a sustainability plan to ensure long-term impact.
Through this work, Corcuera will help Tucson build a more inclusive clean energy ecosystem—one that empowers families, advances climate goals, and invests in local capacity for a sustainable future.
What drew me to this FUSE project is its unique focus on renewable energy as a tool for community empowerment. Throughout my career, I have led complex IT, infrastructure, and compliance projects across technology, consulting, and government sectors, often managing cross-functional teams and diverse stakeholders. My international experience has given me the ability to bridge cultures and design programs that are both strategic and inclusive.
I bring expertise in program and project management, technology implementation, and innovative financing strategies that create measurable impact. By applying these skills, I hope to help Tucson develop a solar program that reduces costs for low-income households, increases property value, improves resilience against climate challenges, and strengthens trust in public initiatives and solar technologies.
Ultimately, I see this project as an opportunity to leave behind more than just a renewable energy program. It is about building a replicable model that empowers underserved communities, fosters stronger partnerships, and demonstrates how sustainable solutions can drive both economic and social equity.
Stacy Boone
Empowering Tulsa’s Youth to Pursue Economic Mobility — Tulsa, OK
Stacy Boone is dedicated to expanding access to education and economic opportunity for under-resourced youth. She has led federal, state, and city-level initiatives to improve postsecondary attainment for first-generation, low-income (FGLI) students, designing programs that increase college retention and graduation rates, and directing one of the nation’s largest citywide scholarship initiatives. With a background in psychology, sociology, and curriculum design, Boone brings a systems-thinking approach to building partnerships that drive equitable outcomes.
As a FUSE Executive Fellow with the City of Tulsa, Boone will help create a cohesive youth workforce ecosystem that connects young people to training, paid experiences, and meaningful careers. Working with the Mayor’s Office, educators, employers, and community partners, she will map resources, identify gaps, and co-develop solutions that make career pathways more visible and accessible.
Through this work, Boone will help Tulsa strengthen collaboration among schools, employers, and community organizations, ensuring that local youth can pursue dignified careers, contribute their talents to emerging industries, and thrive in the place they call home.
Before I was born, a group of community members formed a scholarship that would shift the trajectory of my career options and, consequently, my life. As I would enter college with their great-grandchildren, I would never be able to thank them, but they have inspired my work to create systems that foster equity and economic mobility. I have had the honor of building and expanding mass scholarship, education, and career access and success programs in Detroit and Atlanta, and I find the prospect of learning from and with the Tulsa community to bolster economic development for their youths quite compelling.
I especially appreciate Tulsa’s stakeholders understanding youth are humans before all other identities they hold. When basic needs are not met, participating in postsecondary and unpaid internship opportunities becomes nearly impossible. The City’s insistence upon arranging a web of supports for youth’s needs, including paid opportunities, provides fertile ground for attainable and sustainable success. Evolving career outlooks provide a ripe opportunity to match the varied talents and interests of Tulsa’s youths with thriving wage careers, and data-informed, youth-centered systems, and well-coordinated resources, will enable sustainable inclusive and clear access to equitable upward mobility. I am delighted to be joining the community’s work.
Keytoria King
Advancing Sustainability through Circular Economy Infrastructure Development — Phoenix, AZ
Keytoria King is a senior executive with more than 25 years of experience leading multimillion-dollar global product launches and enterprise programs across the automotive, defense, electrification, and high-tech industries. As Founder of Positive Impact Consulting, she partners with organizations to establish scalable project management offices (PMOs), optimize cross-functional execution, and integrate AI-driven decision-making. King also serves as a Board Director for PMI Phoenix, where she leads programs and events for more than 2,500 members. She holds an MBA in Technology Management and a B.S. in Plastics Engineering Technology.
As a FUSE Executive Fellow with the City of Phoenix Public Works Department, King will help advance the city’s circular economy initiatives, creating local systems that turn materials once considered waste into economic and environmental value. She will connect city divisions, universities, and industry partners to identify market opportunities, refine tenant strategies, and pilot projects that demonstrate the potential of circular operations.
Through this work, King will help position Phoenix as a national leader in circular innovation, reducing landfill dependence, supporting sustainable jobs, and building a stronger, more resilient economy.
Phoenix’s bold 2021 Climate Action Plan immediately caught my attention – a city committing to 50% waste diversion by 2030 and ultimately becoming 100% waste-free by 2050. That’s not incremental change; that’s transformational vision, and I wanted to be part of making it real.
Throughout my career, which spans traditional automotive manufacturing, electrification, hydrogen fuel systems, and enterprise transformation across global markets. All of that work operated within linear economies—take, make, dispose. This Fellowship represents something different for me: the opportunity to apply decades of operational leadership to circular economy infrastructure where nothing is waste, everything has value, and systems are designed for regeneration rather than depletion.
What makes this particularly meaningful is the Resource Innovation Campus concept—creating a physical ecosystem where businesses can collaborate to recover, recycle, and reuse critical materials from solar panels, EV batteries, and other emerging waste streams. This isn’t theoretical sustainability; it’s practical infrastructure that will define how Phoenix grows for generations.
As a Phoenician, I’ve given back through corporate volunteer initiatives and mentored emerging Program Management Professionals through PMI. But this Fellowship lets me contribute directly to the community where I live, using my systematic approach to capture the voices of residents, partners, and stakeholders who will make this vision succeed.
The change I envision? A Phoenix where circular economy isn’t a buzzword but lived reality—where businesses thrive by keeping materials in productive use, where residents see tangible environmental and economic benefits, and where we create an environment that our children’s children will inherit with pride, not regret.
Joyce Parton
Transforming Housing Access: Cleveland’s Comprehensive Plan for Renewal — Cleveland, OH
Joyce Parton is an accomplished operations and energy management leader with extensive experience spanning decarbonization, renewable energy, and ESG strategy. Over her career, she has held multiple executive roles across the public and private sectors, including Chief Operations Officer for NOPEC, Vice President of Integrated Design Services for Forest City Realty Trust, and Senior Vice President of the Energy Business Unit at ms consultants inc. Her leadership has guided organizations in advancing sustainability, energy efficiency, and client advocacy. Currently serving as Principal at Parton Service Group, she supports organizations in strategic development and public engagement.
As a FUSE Executive Fellow with the City of Cleveland, Parton will help refine and evolve the city’s Cleveland 2030: A Housing Equity Plan, a 10-year roadmap designed to increase equitable access to homeownership and address long-standing housing disparities. She will support project management, analysis, and stakeholder engagement to ensure the plan reflects fair housing and lending principles while integrating community perspectives and best practices from across the country.
Through this work, Parton will help Cleveland build a more inclusive housing landscape—one that expands opportunity, supports sustainable community development, and fosters stability for residents across all neighborhoods.
From my first conversation with a FUSE executive, I immediate made connections to my experiences as a life-long resident of Northeast Ohio, and a professional who has integrated an operations management career into the basic human needs element of our society. Working for utility companies, as well as commercial multi-family and residential housing builders, provides me with considerable practical experience to work on a housing equity plan. I’m excited about Cleveland’s vision for economic development, safety and crime reduction, and climate change impact, and believe these pillars are intertwined with the housing and equity plan, planning a better life experience for all of its residents.
LaSandra Barksdale
Advancing Economic Mobility Through Housing Access — Austin, TX
LaSandra Barksdale is a management consultant with expertise in customer experience, operational efficiency, and service design. As Founder of Kompass Customer Solutions LLC, she helps service-driven organizations streamline operations and elevate client experiences. Her career includes leadership roles at Hilton, Amazon, and Dropbox, where she focused on optimizing systems to improve performance and satisfaction. A dedicated community leader, Barksdale has also served on the boards of Hattiloo Theatre and Common Ground of Memphis. She holds a B.A. in Mathematics from the University of Memphis and an MBA from Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi.
As a FUSE Executive Fellow with the City of Austin, Barksdale will enhance housing programs that advance economic mobility and expand access to financial opportunity. Collaborating with the Housing Department and community stakeholders, she will develop data-driven strategies to assess program effectiveness, strengthen operations, and explore sustainable financing models that support first-time homebuyers and income-restricted renters.
Through this work, Barksdale will help Austin build a more inclusive housing system—one that connects affordability, upward mobility, and long-term financial stability for residents across the city.
I grew up seeing how much stability, or the lack of it, shapes a family’s future. That’s why this project spoke to me. I was drawn to this fellowship because it combines my passion for advocacy with my expertise in helping organizations design systems that truly serve people. I hope this project strengthens Austin’s housing programs so that residents experience housing not just as shelter, but as a foundation for stability, dignity, and long-term opportunity. My hope is that through this work, Austin families will feel seen, supported, and able to build the kind of security that lasts for generations.
Tina Yerkes
Advancing Regenerative Agriculture for Climate Resilience — San Diego County, CA
Dr. Tina Yerkes is a visionary executive with over 25 years of leadership experience in scaling mission-driven organizations across environmental sustainability, education, and public health. A former CEO and research scientist, she brings a rare combination of scientific expertise and strategic acumen to complex systems change. As a consultant, Yerkes partners with founders, boards, and leadership teams to guide organizations through growth and transition, building governance structures, diversifying revenue streams, and aligning operations with mission-driven goals. She also works in renewable energy business development, advancing clean technologies that drive measurable impact.
As a FUSE Executive Fellow with the County of San Diego, Yerkes will support the development and implementation of agricultural initiatives that advance the county’s Climate Action Plan (CAP). Her work will expand access to climate-smart farming practices, coordinate incentive programs for producers adopting energy-efficient equipment, and promote sustainable soil health and fertilizer management strategies.
Through this work, Yerkes will help San Diego County achieve its climate goals, strengthen local agriculture, and foster a more resilient and environmentally sustainable farming community.
I have over 30 years experience in NPOs in the environment, education and public health sectors, and this project in San Diego gives me the opportunity to work in the government sector on a topic that I am very interested in – incentives for farmers to use regenerative agriculture practices to impact carbon storage and improve climate impacts for frontline communities, small holder and specialty farmers. I have lived in San Diego for 4 years, but worked most of my career at national and international levels, so very much looking forward to working on a project that has local impacts.
Together, the Fall 2025 FUSE Executive Fellows represent a powerful force for innovation and inclusion in local government. Their work—spanning clean energy, affordable housing, small business growth, education, and economic resilience—will strengthen the systems that make communities more sustainable and connected.
By embedding private-sector expertise within public institutions, FUSE continues to accelerate progress toward a future where every community has the tools, partnerships, and opportunities to thrive.