Diverse Steering Committee to Help Guide Thriving Economy Project Policy Recommendations
Former top advisors from both parties and leaders from across the public, private and civic sectors come together to shape a bold report on job creation, economic opportunity and affordable energy
WASHINGTON, DC – June 11, 2026 – A diverse coalition of former bipartisan advisers, private-sector experts, and advocates are collaborating to offer guidance on an upcoming set of policy recommendations aimed at strengthening economic competitiveness, creating jobs, and delivering affordable and reliable energy for American families and businesses.
The following 18-member Thriving Economy Project Steering Committee will oversee the development of this pragmatic policy blueprint scheduled for release in September 2026:
Farah Ahmad, President, Partners for Rural Transformation
Former Special Advisor for Economic Development, National Economic Council
Former Deputy Undersecretary for Rural Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Christopher Coes, Executive Director, America FWD
Former Assistant Secretary for Transportation, U.S. Department of Transportation
Former Senior Fellow for Metropolitan Policy Program, The Brookings Institution
Patrick Flynn, Founder, Switchboard
Former Sustainability Lead, Salesforce
Advisor to Generation Investment Management, TOPO Finance, Tradewater and Symbiosis
Saul Griffith, Founder and Chief Scientist, Otherlab and Rewiring America
Author of “Electrify” (2021) and “The Big Switch” (2022)
Chelsea Henderson, Director of Editorial Content, RepublicEn
Former Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Senator John Warner (R-VA)
Former Senior Policy Advisor, U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
Len Hering Sr., President, Center for Sustainable Energy
Advisory Board Member, Center for Climate & Security
Rear Admiral, United States Navy (Ret).
Jay Inslee
Former Governor, State of Washington
Former U.S. Representative, WA-04 & WA-01
Aurene Martin, Founder and President, Spirit Rock Consulting
Former Acting Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior
Monica Medina, Arnhold Distinguished Fellow, Conservation International & Board Member, Scientista
Former Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans, International Environment, and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Department of State
Former Special Assistant to the Secretary, U.S. Department of Defense
John Morales, Founder and Senior Meteorologist, ClimaData & Co-Chair of Campaigns, ClimatePower
Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Television, 1993, 2006, 2010, and 2018
Former Chief Meteorologist and Hurricane Specialist, NBC 6 South Florida
Mike Murphy, CEO, American EV Jobs Alliance
Former senior strategist to John McCain’s 2000 presidential campaign; Arnold Schwarzenegger’s successful California gubernatorial campaign; GOP Governors and Senators, including Jeb Bush, Mitt Romney, Terry Branstad, Lamar Alexander, Jeff Sessions. Slade Gorton, Christie Whitman, Dirk Kempthorne, Tommy Thompson and John Engler.
Lisa Harshad Patel, M.D., Executive Director, The Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health
2007 recipient of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Trudy A. Speciner Award
Former Policy Lead, Climate, Health and Equity Task Force at Stanford University
Former Co-chair, American Academy of Pediatrics Advocacy Committee, California Chapter 1
Joanne Pérodin, PhD, MPH, Vice President of Programs, CLEO Institute
Former Appointee, White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council
Ann Phillips
Former Maritime Administrator, U.S. Department of Transportation
Rear Admiral, United States Navy (Ret.)
Former Special Assistant to the Governor for Coastal Adaptation and Protection, State of Virginia
Costa Samaras, Trustee Professor and Director, Carnegie Mellon University Scott Institute for Energy Innovation
Former Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) Principal Assistant Director for Energy and Chief Advisor for the Clean Energy Transition, White House
Former Adjunct Senior Policy Researcher, RAND Corporation
Roger Sant, Co-Founder and Chairman Emeritus, The AES Corporation
Former Assistant Administrator for Energy Conservation and the Environment, Federal Energy Administration
Jigar Shah, Co-Managing Partner, Multiplier*
FormerDirector, U.S. Department of Energy Loan Programs Office
Co-founder and former President, Generate Capital
Jeffrey Thompson, M.D., CEO Emeritus and Chairman of the Board, Gundersen Lutheran Health System
Maggie Ullman, Founder and Principal, Ullman Consulting & City Councilwoman, City of Asheville
“The need to act is urgent: families, businesses, and communities across the country are already feeling the strain of rising costs, changing energy markets, and worsening climate impacts,” said Max Frankel, Executive Director of the SEEC Institute. “This effort is about meeting that moment with durable solutions that can ease pressure today while laying the groundwork for a future that is more affordable, resilient and secure. Our Steering Committee reflects a commitment to listening broadly and advancing recommendations that can deliver real results now.”
The Steering Committee will join an existing coalition of Members of Congress and some of the best energy and environmental policy minds from former administrations and Congress, and other leading energy and environmental policy and technology experts.
The Thriving Economy Project is the signature effort of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) Institute, a nonprofit founded in 2024 to advance climate and clean energy solutions.
The project will include policies that can be considered immediately, combining an ambitious vision of the country’s economic future with a realistic look at today’s challenges.
To develop practical solutions, the Thriving Economy Project continues to gather ideas and feedback from people across the country, including farmers, manufacturers, small business owners, labor leaders, public sector leaders, CEOs, researchers, students, and community advocates.
In total, the project has received nearly 1,200 policy recommendations from hundreds of organizations, associations, advocates, and more. The project has also received roughly 140 RFI responses from Fortune 100 companies, environmental NGOs, utility districts, academia and elsewhere.
More details and information on how to get involved can be found at https://www.seecinstitute.org/thriving-economy-project
Media Contact:
Pearson Croney-Clark
Director of External Affairs
SEEC Institute
pearson@seecinstitute.org