If you are a member of the Board, you can access the members only Board of Directors page below:
Board of Directors Member Page
Bentley Johnson, Chair of the Board
Bentley is the Michigan League of Conservation Voters' Federal Government Affairs Director. In this role, he tracks all relevant activity in Washington, D.C., surrounding Michigan LCV’s issues. He engages with Michigan’s federal delegation to communicate MLCV’s position and ensure the protection of our land, air, and water throughout the decision-making process.
Tom Porter, Treasurer
Tom is President of the Porter Family Foundation and an integral founder of MiCAN. He is a retired venture capitalist and executive-in-residence at the Ross School at the University of Michigan. He supports big ideas that can make a meaningful difference for the environment. He co-founded the Council of Michigan Foundation’s Green & Blue Network and Voices for Carbon Neutrality at the University of Michigan. Tom resides in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in the winter and Empire, Michigan, in the summers.
Conan Smith, Secretary
Conan is an experienced nonprofit leader, policy innovator, and respected public official. He has long advocated for the environment, public health, and equity in Michigan. Starting as a volunteer and working his way up to leadership positions such as program director, executive director, and board member, he knows nonprofits' internal organization and external efforts from the ground up. The Ann Arbor native was appointed the Michigan Environmental Council’s first BIPOC president and CEO in May 2019.
Dr. Brandy Brown
Dr. Brown is the Chief Innovation Officer at Walker-Miller Energy Services, where she blends research and emerging technology to deliver innovative energy solutions to historically marginalized communities. Additionally, she serves on the School for Sustainability and Environmental Studies faculty at the University of Michigan.
Before joining Walker Miller, Dr. Brown served as Climate & Energy Advisor and led the Office of Climate and Energy created by Governor Whitmer in 2019 to coordinate the state’s climate action efforts.
Frank Houston
Frank is the Regional Program Manager for the BlueGreen Alliance. Since joining the Alliance in 2018, Frank has been a leader in its work to address climate change, protect strong fuel economy standards, promote electric vehicles and good manufacturing jobs, and encourage investing in good jobs and fair economic policies as part of a just transition for workers and communities as we move to a cleaner economy. Frank was also recently appointed to Governor Whitmer’s Environmental Justice Advisory Council.
Gabriel Vanloozen
Gabriel VanLoozen is a Climate tech investor and a Principal at Powerhouse Ventures. Though his professional focus is primarily at the national and international levels, he grew up on an organic farm in northern Michigan and wants to contribute more directly to climate action and technology deployment in Michigan through deeper involvement with MiCAN.
Jerry Jondreau
Jerry Jondreau is a Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) tribal member with a generational history of reserving harvesting rights in the Keweenaw Bay waters of Lake Superior. He is also part of the extraordinary pack of people behind Dynamite Hill Farms. Jerry’s background, passion and skill set bring a unique nature-based perspective to the MiCAN Board of Directors.
Marnese Jackson
Marnese is Co-Director at the Midwest Building Decarbonization Coalition, where she heads Community Engagement & Equity. She is an Environmental and Climate Justice activist, advocate, trainer, and educator from Pontiac, Michigan, where she is the mother of two children, London and Dawson.
Marnese serves as a board member of the U.S. Climate Action Network, membership chairperson of the Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition, and Environmental & Climate Justice chairperson of the NAACP Northern Oakland County Branch. She is a 2020 Michigan Clean Energy Leaders Cohort member and a 350.org BIPOC Cohort member. Marnese was appointed in 2021 to Governor Whitmer’s Michigan Council on Climate Solutions and also serves on the Board of Directors for the Building Performance Institute.