Michele is a Registered Architect and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional with over 20 years of experience in architecture, urban design and construction, specializing in sustainable design and operations. She leads urban design initiatives that advance smart, sustainable real estate development and infrastructure at the building and district scales. Michele coordinates partnerships with downtown business owners, stakeholders and city leaders to create vibrant, walkable, activated spaces. She also assists in advocacy efforts for development regulations that promote economic vitality, social equity, public health, and environmental sustainability. Prior to joining Downtown Alliance in 2016, she developed and led Seton Healthcare Family’s sustainability initiatives and practices for the design, construction and operations of Seton’s facilities totaling over 3.5 million square feet. She also founded Monarch Design/Consulting, an architectural design and consulting firm that specialized in healthy, high-performance buildings. She earned a Masters of Architecture from Virginia Tech and a Bachelor’s of Science in Architecture from the University of Illinois.