Mark de la Vergne is nationally recognized for his experience in innovating and implementing new mobility solutions in cities and states, from bike lanes in Chicago (circa 2008) to connected automated roadways in Michigan (circa 2023). Mark started his career as a traditional traffic engineer in Chicago, cranking out traffic studies and widening suburban intersections. A light bulb went off in 2007 after reading “The High Cost of Free Parking”, and Mark pivoted his career to focusing on building better streets in cities, starting in Chicago where he was a critical member supporting Chicago’s efforts to become the most walkable and bikeable city in America. After getting the opportunity to work in a number of cities in North America, Mark was recruited by Mayor Mike Duggan in 2016 to create the Office of Mobility Innovation with the mission of launching new mobility services for all Detroiters and ensure the City served as a model partner with the private sector. This office was the first of its kind for a city in the US and Mark established the playbook for how cities and the private sector can work together. By focusing on inclusive innovation, the outcome of this work was clear: it became easier, safer and more affordable for all Detroiters to get where they need to go, compared to when he started. Highlights of this work included expanding car share across the city, supporting the deployment of autonomous vehicle testing, installing the city’s first public EV fast chargers, launching bike share and scooters, leading the City’s transportation Covid-19 response by developing a transportation service to transport patients to the City’s testing site, and developing TNC and micromobility programs to support essential employees, developing a late-night transit service pilot for first/last mile taxi service, aligning fares among transit providers in Southeast Michigan and launching mobile payment, reorganizing city transportation services into one overall group, and raising over $11M in grants and philanthropy funding for mobility innovation efforts over three years. Most recently, Mark was the VP of External Affairs and Project Development at Cavnue, a start-up with the goal of unlocking roads for connected and automated vehicles. Mark launched the company’s first project in Michigan, was critical in building a nationwide pipeline of opportunities, including in Florida, Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, Michigan, and California, assisted with growing the company’s team and brand and was instrumental in raising $130M for Cavnue’s Series A.