Alexis Cureton

I am a curious, data-driven, and relationship focused professional with a high sense of responsibility for myself and my duties. My professional experience includes working with states, local governments, and frontline communities on thought leadership, policy research/advocacy, and coalition building related to climate adaptation, energy equity, and community development paired with strategy development and execution, informed by community consent, research, and excellent project management. I am highly capable of strategic leadership, meeting facilitation, and collaboration.

I prioritize clear communication practices paired with interpersonal skills aimed at building and sustaining a healthy work relationship with internal and external stakeholders. I am adept at navigating ambiguity and implementing processes to ease complex administrative burdens. Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and web-based DMS.

I'm receptive to feedback

Project Manager, Energy and Sustainability at Microsoft (2022-03 – 2024-11)

• Provided strategic input in self-produced monthly regional reports to executive level management to inform budget and program delivery decisions pertaining to cost, sustainability, resilience, and environmental justice
• Contributed to the Industry leading Environmental Justice in Renewable Energy Procurement report detailing the lessons learned from Microsoft's first Environmental Justice power purchase agreement ensuring benefits for positive community investment and community benefits
• Developed the federal clean energy strategy that included environmental KPIs and associated metrics through collaborative engagement across internal stakeholders paired with market research to inform data center development across a sixteen-state portfolio and provided guidance to improve measurable environmental, financial, and health outcomes of communities within our service territories
• Created internal policy tracking system for North America to ensure proactive vs reactive policy and regulatory engagement across issues areas impacting data center development and clean energy policy yielding 10% reduction in energy costs through tariff and rate case engagement
• Managed 15 supplier and subcontractor relationships from ideation, contraction execution, to service payment with biweekly reports on milestones, schedules, and payments to executive leadership

Clean Energy and Equity Advocate- California State Lead at NRDC (2019-09 – 2022-02)

• Led program and project management for both the Climate and the Thriving Communities programs as the direct point of contact for budget, grant scoping, advocacy, and reporting for the Energy Efficiency for All California coalition funded by the Energy Foundation while recommending capacity expanding grants
• Coordinated across state and national partner organizations to identify collaborative impact opportunities like the utility debt campaign which erased LADWP utility debt from the pandemic and AB 1087 which created a $100 million dollar program for climate resilience Hubs in California through the Strategic Growth Council
• Authored written briefs, talking points, meeting agenda, strategy memos, and presentations to inform grant funded impact focused on addressing energy efficiency, building electrification, and climate displacement
• Created and sustained strategic relationships with diverse community and state stakeholders such as BAAQMD, CARB, CEJA, Governor's office, and partner foundations through stakeholder convening and listening sessions
• Led bi-monthly internal equity learning sessions on climate and energy impacts on the health, comfort, and safety of disadvantaged communities within California

Summer Associate, Policy Advocate at The Greenlining Institute (2019 – 2019)

• Researched 5 barriers preventing low-income people of color from achieving economic resilience through an environmental equity framework which yielded 4-page written policy memo examining these barriers along with a collaboratively executed presentation

Electric Vehicle Fellow/Project Manager at GRID Alternatives (2018 – 2019)

• Managed and led programmatic efforts to increase electric vehicle adoption for low-income residents through California's first statewide zero emission financial assistance program: Clean Vehicle Grants Program, resulting in 85 grants totaling $425,000 for direct payment assistance for zero emission transportation options
• Authored public comments and advocated for continued investment in zero emission transportation technology for low-income communities

11th Hour Foundation/Spark Northwest fellow at Environmental Grantmakers Association, University of Michigan Environmental Fellowship Program (2017 – 2017)

• Presented research findings on Seattle City Lights' Low-income utilities rate program and identified 76,750 energy burdened households within their service territory, findings were shared with internal leadership and 75 environmental nonprofit representatives at industry conference
• Managed advocacy efforts through written and verbal communication strategies between the city of Seattle and local nonprofits within Seattle to implement an engagement plan for participants of rooftop solar in multifamily housing dwellings

Communications Intern at Solar Energy Industries Association (2016-06 – 2016-08)

• Researched and produced weekly Solar Energy news on state, national, and international dealings in the realm of policy, regulation, or project announcement/management that increased organization membership by 10
• Presented a 10-minute analysis entitled Fighting for a Green Future in Communities of Color, which identified solutions and policy recommendations to address constituent issues involving net metering, customer-consumer education, and collection of job creation data

Master of Public Affairs in Policy Analysis – Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs

Bachelor of Arts in Sociology – Clark Atlanta University