Speakers

Alessandra Carreon is the Chief Climate Officer. In this role, Carreon oversees the Office of Climate and Energy (OCE) driving action to fulfill the state’s mission to address climate change impacts as outlined in the state’s MI Healthy Climate Plan. The office works on developing and implementing policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance energy efficiency, and support the transition to renewable energy sources. Through collaboration with varied partners and engagement with community, the OCE aims to create a resilient and sustainable future for all Michiganders.
Before joining EGLE, Carreon was appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer to the Michigan Public Service Commission as the first Asian-American commissioner in state history. Previously, Carreon also held key roles in the private and nonprofit sectors, including leading projects focused on electric vehicle battery circularity and equitable fleet electrification in carbon-free transportation at RMI and managing responsible raw material sourcing at Ford Motor Company.

Carreon brings nearly two decades of experience in sustainability and an equitable clean energy transition, including environmental consulting, regulatory compliance, and corporate responsibility. 
Her extensive experience and passion for environmental sustainability, clean energy, and public engagement are at the forefront of Michigan’s climate initiatives.

Alessandra is a licensed Professional Engineer and holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Rice University, as well as a Master of Business Administration from the University 
of Michigan’s Ross School of Business.
She lives in Detroit with her family. In her free time, Alessandra enjoys planning and preparing elaborate meals for her loved ones and community, making Neapolitan pizza, and studying enology.

Marcene Mitchell is the senior vice president of Climate Change at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Marcene is advancing WWF's important climate agenda in the US and globally and building greater synergies across WWF's climate change mitigation and resilience initiatives—with a particular focus on nature-based climate solutions. Marcene’s role is crosscutting because addressing the climate crisis cuts across all aspects of work at WWF.

Marcene previously served as the Global Head of Climate Strategy and Business Development at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank. In this role at IFC and in previous positions, Ms. Mitchell’s expertise has been on creating new markets for business to invest in low carbon technologies and infrastructure. She’s pioneered work at IFC in resource efficiency for the built environment and established new market transformation programs for developing countries in distributed solar generation, offshore wind, and waste and water management.

In addition to her work internationally, Marcene has been part of Green Bank initiatives in the United States, which scale climate finance by leveraging public sector funds with private investment. She is currently the Vice-Chairman of the Board of the Montgomery County Green Bank which brings renewable energy and energy efficiency to small businesses and moderate- and low-income households in Maryland.

Marcene holds a degree in International Relations from Brown University and an MBA in Finance from Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
 

Henry Jerred

Henry Jerred is an undergraduate in his fourth year at Michigan State University (MSU) studying Social Relations and Policy in James Madison College with minors in Environmental and Sustainability Studies and Anthropology. He joined the MSU Center for Community and Economic Development (CCED) as a senior research assistant in October of 2024. Since then, he has worked to advance Michigan’s circular economy through research, knowledge dissemination, and network building. His work includes conducting surveys, organizing educational events, and facilitating communication and collaboration across the CCED’s Circular Economy Network. Henry also serves as the internal hub coordinator for Sunrise Movement MSU, a youth-led social and environmental justice group. 

Rex LaMore

Rex LaMore is Director of Michigan State University’s Center for Community Economic Development, and an affiliated member of the faculty in the Urban and Regional Planning Program.  Dr. LaMore has 50 years of experience in Community and Economic Development where he has focused his career on the challenges of revitalizing distressed communities and promoting equitable and sustainable development. https://ced.msu.edu/  

His teaching encompassed over 20 years of teaching in environmental planning, community economic development, urban policy, ethics and the field-based planning practicum course that brought students and community partners together in local planning projects. In the fall of 2024, he co-taught MSU’s first honors college section on Circular Economy.

He is the founding director of the MSU Regional Economic Innovation partnership which co-creates, disseminates, and applies innovative community and economic development tools, models, policies, and practices and is the founder of the “Science of Domicology” a fundamentally new conception of the built environment and the circular life cycle of structures. https://domicology.msu.edu/  

Dr. LaMore received his B.S. and M.S. degrees at Michigan State University and his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan.

Emily True

Emily True is the Director of Sustainability at Pizza Hut, where she was brought on to spearhead the development of the brand’s first global sustainability strategy, focused on more equity, less carbon, and better packaging, and now drives cross-functional, market-wide sustainability initiatives. Previously, Emily spent four years at Conagra Brands, integrating sustainable practices into brand marketing and product development, including the launch of a carbon-neutral product. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from the University of Massachusetts Boston and a Master’s degree in Environmental Management from Duke University.