Chanell Scott Contreras

On many Friday nights, ’70s funk and R&B echoed throughout Chanell’s childhood home as her father deejayed their family dance parties. Most other nights, Chanell was busy with homework and extracurriculars, as the family’s appreciation of music and culture only came second to a steadfast pursuit of achievement. Today, this dual focus on creativity and excellence characterizes Chanell’s leadership style as she collaborates to build equitable and sustainable solutions across diverse communities.

Chanell serves as the president and chief executive officer of Michigan Saves, a nonprofit managed by Public Sector Consultants that provides accessible financing solutions to advance climate equity and resilience. Chanell collaborates with the board of directors on strategic growth and partners with staff and stakeholders to cultivate resources, implement programs, and deliver outcomes to increase energy efficiency and clean resources throughout Michigan.

Chanell joins PSC and Michigan Saves with 15 years in community economic development and most recently served as executive director of ProsperUs Detroit. Under her leadership, ProsperUs was spun off into a successful standalone operation and formally certified as a community development financial institution (CDFI). Earlier in her career, Chanell consulted on community economic development initiatives, served as a National Urban Fellow at the Cleveland Foundation, and launched an online retail store of fair-trade and sustainable goods.

Email: [email protected]