Urbanova Welcomes Mason Burley as Chief Executive Officer

Urbanova’s second CEO brings diverse talents to scale its place-based, research-informed services Spokane, WA (December 7, 2021) – Urbanova (www.urbanova.org) announced today that Mason Burley has been appointed CEO of the organization. Burley brings vast experience in building community-directed, data-informed solutions with an equity lens. He will succeed current CEO and co-founder Kim Zentz on […]
Energy Equity: In search of a new model for delivering clean energy to everyone, by Gordon Feller

The Fall 2021 issue of Washington Business Magazine highlights Urbanova: Spokane based, Urbanova is busy building a smart and connected utility to ensure the clean-energy future doesn’t leave anyone behind. Read full article
Parting Thoughts

Spokane Journal of Business interviews Kim Zentz as she transitions from her CEO role at Urbanova. Read full article
Urbanova Announces Executive Leadership Transition
Founding CEO to enter semi-retirement in November. Kim Zentz, CEO and co-founder of Urbanova, notified the board earlier this year of her desire to move toward semi-retirement while continuing to serve the organization as an executive consultant and board member. Urbanova is evaluating proposals from executive recruitment firms and will launch a national search in […]
Avista Launches Robust Transportation Electrification Programs
The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission recently approved programs outlined in Avista’s Transportation Electrification Plan (TE Plan), building off the learnings from the pilot programs started in 2016. The comprehensive TE Plan includes a regional buildout for public, workplace and fleet charging infrastructure, incorporating charging equipment incentives with specific attention to load management and grid […]
Spokane’s All-America City Finalist Award Highlights Urbanova

Since 1949, the National Civic League has been elevating cities across the country who demonstrate the best in American civic innovation, civic engagement, and cross-sector collaboration, with the prestigious All-America City Award. Recently, Spokane was recognized as one of the 20 finalist cities to become an All-America City for the fourth time. This year’s theme […]
Avista, city partners draft master agreement to build electric vehicle charging stations

Charging an electric vehicle in Spokane may soon be as simple as a walk in the park. Avista and the city have drafted a master agreement that will pave the way for the utility company to install several electric vehicle charging stations at parks and libraries across Spokane. The 10-year agreement would allow the city, […]
Spokane regional transportation council awarded $2.5 million for electric vehicle charging infrastructure
In partnership with The City of Spokane, Spokane City Council and regional municipalities (Spokane Valley, Cheney, Airway Heights, Liberty Lake), Spokane Regional Transportation Council (SRTC) was awarded $2.5 million dollars from the Washington State Department of Commerce for the installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructures throughout the Greater Spokane Region. Collaborations from Spokane County, Spokane […]
Urbanova CSO Justin Bibb Named to Crain’s Cleveland Business Forty Under 40
Justin Bibb traces his foray into politics and public service back to 2004. The Trinity High School (Garfield Heights) student had just been cut from the mock trial team when he saw someone wearing a “Wesley Clark for President” T-shirt. “That was the first campaign I worked on,” he said, “and the rest is history.” […]
Listening to Residents’ Voices to Build More Equitable Cities

People are drawn to cities because of the wide array of opportunities they offer, from employment to education to culture. The vast majority of Americans, approximately 84%, already live in urban areas and, before COVID-19, that percentage was expected to stretch to 89% by 2050. But with the pressure points of current urban design painfully […]