Board Member

Carmen Mays, MPA is an urbanist and creative entrepreneur that believes in the balance of thought leadership and implementation. She affirms that all people have value, and each place holds invaluable stories.

Carmen employs a place-based approach that facilitates agency and self-determination to develop blueprints that industry leaders successfully leverage. She has over a decade of public sector experience, with a significant portion of her career spent in community economic development at various local governments. Carmen served as the Neighborhood Revitalization and Public Safety Administrator for the mayoral transition team in the City of Birmingham. There, she led a team of 70+ community volunteers through the policy development process, culminating with a report that details the community's policy directives. Carmen also re-launched the Minority Business Development program for the City of Spartanburg in South Carolina, earning Federal Transit Administration approval for the City’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program. Additionally, she has led courses on Anti-Racism in Local Government and provided thought leadership on Equity Centered Policy and Programming.

Carmen currently serves her hometown as the Chief of Staff to the Honorable Carole E. Clarke, Birmingham City Council District 8. She also is a sought-after speaker, consultant, and creative entrepreneur at her company, Elevators.