Christie Gross is the founder of Clean Connect Strategies, where she helps communities, developers, and policymakers navigate the complex intersection of infrastructure development, public policy, and community engagement. With more than 20 years of experience in communications, strategy, and clean energy policy, she has advanced renewable energy initiatives nationwide and advised utility-scale projects on stakeholder engagement, permitting, and political strategy. Christie is the creator of the Investment Ready Communities framework, an innovative approach that equips communities to define local priorities before projects are proposed while helping developers better understand community expectations, reduce project risk, and build stronger partnerships. She holds a Master of Public Administration from the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration and bachelor's degrees in English and Political Science from the University of Delaware.