Kim Thomas is the Executive Director of Infinite Erie, a community and economic development strategy intended to leverage state and federal funding opportunities, enhance public, private and philanthropic collaboration and increase equitable economic development strategies throughout Erie County. In this role, Kim provides day-to-day support to the various entities implementing projects identified in Erie’s ever-evolving Investment Playbook.

Kim has spent two decades serving the Erie region in various roles and capacities. Prior to joining Infinite Erie, Kim spent nearly eight years working in the public sector as the northwest regional director for the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and the Governor’s Action Team. Kim holds a Masters in Public Administration from Gannon University and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Edinboro University. Additionally, Kim is a Certified Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) through the National Development Council.

Wyatt has worked on the issue of homelessness and affordable housing for over 14 years, stemming from a fervent belief that everyone deserves a safe, stable, and affordable home. He has served roles from executive nonprofit leadership to grassroots organizer to local government official.  

Wyatt serves as the Executive Director of Hemlock & Forge, a supportive housing consultancy focused on ending homelessness and achieving housing equity in Pennsylvania and Delaware.  

Prior to launching Hemlock & Forge, Wyatt was the Director of Community Partnerships for the City of Boise, guiding all social service partnerships for City Hall. He has served a number of roles in his work on housing equity, including Executive Director of CATCH, Idaho’s largest supportive housing agency and Principal at Bowling Business Strategies, serving communities across the country by designing and managing public-private partnerships that led to the development of affordable housing and increased housing outcomes for marginalized populations.  

Wyatt is proud to have been a key leader in the development of Our Path Home, the public-private partnership in Ada County, Idaho dedicated to ending homelessness. This leadership led to the creation of the state’s first coordinated entry system on homelessness; developing New Path Community Housing, the state’s first Housing First-based supportive housing building; and launching the Campaign to End Family Homelessness, a five-year strategy to bring aggressive philanthropy and innovative service design to achieve functional zero.  

Wyatt holds a Master of Business Administration from Villanova University and a Bachelor of Arts from Allegheny College, and a professional certificate on Real Estate Development from Fordham University. 

Colleen Dougherty is a problem-solver — in her career, she tackles the challenges that face metro areas like Erie, studying the way issues impact these communities and actively seeking out ways to positively shape the futures of these areas.  

Born and raised in Erie, Colleen attended Fairview High School before earning her BA in Philosophy, Law, and Politics from John Carroll University and her MA in German and European Studies  from Georgetown University, where she now serves on the alumni board.  

In her work as a research officer with the Nowak Metro Finance Lab at Drexel University, Colleen dedicated her time to not only identifying challenges and opportunities in cities and metros, but also aims to apply solutions that will help foster sustainable development: "I am deeply passionate about leveraging innovative approaches to address the evolving needs of our communities," she said. "My work involved not just studying existing solutions, but actively shaping the future of urban development through deep, objective research on innovative financial instruments and inclusive financial strategies."  

Colleen's passion for Erie inspires much of the work she does — after living in Washington, D.C. for four years, she moved back to Erie as a fully remote employee so she could continue her research and eventually apply it in ways that will directly benefit our own city. "Ensuring that Erie thrives in the face of evolving economic landscapes requires a commitment to both capturing proven solutions and pioneering new pathways for sustainable and inclusive economic development," she said, something that her research aims to achieve.  

Colleen also leads the group "Perspectives for the Future, Respect, and Participation" as a non-resident fellow with Das Progressive Zentrum, a think tank of professionals based in Berlin. "Together, we delve into the complex issues impacting industrial heartlands across the transatlantic," she said. This work has afforded her the opportunity to create international connections and champion Erie at conferences and in spaces on the international stage.  

In Erie, Colleen has delved right back into community involvement in the time she's been back — she is a member of the Transforming Industrial Heartlands Regional Initiative that is run out of the Jefferson Educational Society, as well as a member of the Erie Women's Fund and Emerging Erie Fund.