Sommer Woods is an equity and inclusion strategist, community engagement, and communication solution consultant with over 20 years of experience. She manages external relations for M-1 Rail, a streetcar circulator that strengthened the backbone of the Detroit region by connecting downtown Detroit to Midtown to New Center/North End. Her responsibilities include workforce development, government relations, community engagement/inclusion and minority/Detroit based business procurement. She was instrumental in ensuring that minority and women-owned businesses were given an opportunity to participate in and benefit from the business opportunities associated with the development of Detroit.Sommer was a member of former Detroit mayor Dave Bing’s administration, serving as the film, culture and special events director for the city of Detroit. In this role, she managed the city’s film-related efforts and coordinated all aspects of special events, including permitting, serving as the liaison with government officials, event logistics, tactical operations and community and business outreach and engagement. Prior to these roles, Sommer’s experience in marketing, community engagement, implementation and sponsorship fulfillment and activation included positions with the PGA TOUR and Super Bowl XL. During her tenure with the PGA TOUR, Sommer was a team member for the Tour Championship, the PLAYERS Championship, the NFL Golf Classic, and the President’s Cup. Sommer serves as Detroit City Council’s appointee to the Belle Isle Advisory Committee. She is a board member of Tour de Troit, Lofts @ Rivertown board member and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. She has accomplished many career goals, but being a mentor is her greatest achievement. She is an active and proud mentor with the Midnight Golf Program, a youth development program. She refers to her mentees as her “babies” and she beams from ear to ear when she brags about their success. Sommer and her mother created a scholarship fund honoring her college golf coach. Each year they award a deserving Midnight Golf student who will attend a historically black college or university. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Talladega College.