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MURIEL BOWSER
MAYOR
April 21, 2026
The Honorable Phil Mendelson
Chairman
Council of the District of Columbia
John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 504
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Chairman Mendelson:
In accordance with section 2 of the Confirmation Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979 (D.C. Law 2 -
142; D.C. Official Code § 1-523.01), and pursuant to section 8 of An Act providing for the zoning of
the District of Columbia and the regulation of the location, height, bulk, and uses of buildings and other
structures and of the uses of land in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes, approved J une
20, 1938 (52 Stat. 799; D.C. Official Code § 6 -641.07), I am pleased to nominate the following
individual:
Ms. Michelle Pourciau
Oliver Street, NW
Washington, DC 20015
(Ward 4)
for appointment as a member of the Board of Zoning Adjustment, filling a vacant seat formerly held
by Carl Blake, for the remainder of an unexpired term to end September 30, 2028.
Enclosed, you will find biographical information detailing the experience of the above-mentioned
nominee, together with a proposed resolution to assist the Council during the confirmation process.
I would appreciate the Council’s earliest consideration of this nomination for confirmation. Please
do not hesitate to contact me, or Steven Walker, Director, Mayor’s Office of Talent and
Appointments, should the Council require additional information.
Sincerely,
Muriel Bowser
Mayor
1
2 hairman Phil Mendelson
3 at the request of the Mayor
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6 A PROPOSED RESOLUTION
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10 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
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15 To confirm the appointment of Michelle Pourciau to the Board of Zoning Adjustment.
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17 RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
18 resolution may be cited as the "Board of Zoning Adjustment Michelle Pourciau Confirmation
19 Resolution of 2026".
20 Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia confirms the appointment of:
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22 Michelle Pourciau
23 Oliver Street, NW
24 Washington, DC 20015
25 (Ward 4)
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27 as a member of the Board of Zoning Adjustment, established by section 8 of An Act Providing
28 for the zoning of the District of Columbia and the regulation of the location, height, bulk, and
29 uses of buildings and other structures and of the uses of land in the District of Columbia, and for
30 other purposes, approved June 20, 1938 (52 Stat. 799; D.C. Official Code§ 6-641.07), filling a
31 vacant seat formerly held by Carl Blake, for the remainder of an unexpired term to end
32 September 30, 2028.
33 Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia shall transmit a copy of this resolution,
34 upon its adoption, to the nominee and to the Mayor.
35 Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
Michelle L. Pourciau
MP Synergy LLC
President, 2019 – present
Independent consultant and technical expert. Expertise in planning, creating, executing, and leading programs and projects
that modernize and improve infrastructure and grow companies, cities and opportunities. Transportation, infrastructure and
municipal advisory services. Clients include engineering and traffic safety companies, transit agencies, transportation and
public works departments, and non-profits. Manages programs, projects, and grants, performs strategic and urban planning,
business and leadership advisory services, and business development among other services. Extensive experience on both
private and public goals and a unique perspective to clients.
Baltimore City Department of Transportation
Director, 2017 – 2019
Led the 1,250 employee, combined average annual $250 million budget Baltimore City Department of Transportation in the
construction, maintenance and operation of roads, bridges, transit, bike facilities, alleys, sidewalks, traffic signals,
streetlights, and the conduit system. Using a coordinated transportation planning, complete streets, and data driven asset
management process and implementation program, structured the department to enhance proactive program performance
while maintaining service delivery.
Activated aggressive construction program of over $250 million bridge construction, over $15 million/year of conduit
repair and replacement, over 100 annual miles of roadway rehabilitation, substantial completion of the downtown bike
network including the award winning “Big Jump” bicycle project and started the dockless scooter and bike program.
Developed department-wide strategy, performance tracking, and creation of the DOT platform using the CityStatSmart
data driven process fully integrating budget and performance. Lead installation of over 100 speed and red-light cameras
and pioneered automated truck enforcement. Chaired the Baltimore Region Transportation Board , board member
Downtown and Waterfront Partnerships, National Association of City Transportation Officials and Central Maryland
Regional Transit Commission. Women Who Move the Nation, 2018 Award Recipient, Conference of Minority
Transportation Officials.
University of the District of Columbia
Executive Director, External Affairs, 2016 - 2017
Lead and managed operations and personnel responsible for legislative analysis, development and coordination, community
outreach, communication and marketing strategy and implementation, events planning and coordination, fundraising and
alumni affairs. Represented the UDC President on boards and commissions.
Sigma Associates, Inc.
Senior Director, 2013 - 2016
Established Sigma’s transportation and infrastructure presence, office and efforts in the Mid-Atlantic region. Oversaw
business development, strategic marketing and planning, personnel, practice oversight and management, and profit and loss
management for Sigma’s multi-disciplinary consulting and engineering firm. Provided management of transportation, water
and wastewater, industrial and institutional facilities, infrastructure and related IT and asset management services.
Contracted with federal government, local government, independent agencies, utilities and private clients.
McKissack & McKissack, Washington, D.C.
Vice President, 2008 – 2013
Developed, managed, and lead the McKissack & McKissack Transportation Practice. Responsible for business
development, strategic marketing and planning, personnel, practice oversight and management, and profit and loss
management nationwide with a focus on providing public projects and mass transit solutions to clients. The Transportation
Practice grew to provide construction management and program management services on major bridge, roadway and transit
projects. Additional services included rail safety, capital budgeting, design oversight and support, utility and permit work,
planning, security and risk avoidance, public outreach and strategic communications.
American Traffic Solutions
Director, Washington DC Program, 2007 - 2008
Initiated and managed the ATS team contracted for the Washington, DC photo enforcement program including operations,
performance, strategy, and business development. Interfaced with clients and ensured client expectations were achieved.
Ensured a high level of performance and growth. Managed all District personnel and subcontractor relationship s to ensure
effectiveness. Expanded the program into Virginia.
Michelle L. Pourciau (Page 2)
District of Columbia Government, 1985-2007
Director, Department of Transportation, 2006 - 2007
Mayoral appointee and City Council confirmed Director of 800+ employee Department responsible for operating,
maintaining and constructing bridges, roads, traffic signals, streetlights, sidewalks and transit in the District of Columbia.
Directed management of District-owned public space, the urban tree canopy, bicycle and pedestrian programs. Oversaw
District funding and activities of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Department’s FY07 budget was
$400+ million, a 200% increase from $135 million in FY00.
Awarded $11+ million in supplemental Federal funding for FY06, highest amount ever for the District.
Contracted largest dollar value of work ever - $240 million in FY06.
Received top agency customer service award by Mayor Williams.
Initiated and implemented new transit operations including the Circulator Bus, Streetcar, rapid bus and bus shelters.
Appointed Board Member, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.
Elected Second Vice-Chair, National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board.
Deputy Director, Department of Transportation, 2000-2006
Assisted Department Director in all facets of management. Developed policy for and represented Mayor on complex
transportation issues before local, regional and national boards and commissions. Led post 9/11 homeland security and
emergency preparedness efforts.
Developed Joint Performance Plan with local division of the Federal Highway Administration, resulting in “Joint
Performance Team Award” from the Federal Highway Administrator.
Convened the Mayor’s Downtown Congestion Task Force, a collaboration of business leaders and elected officials,
completed a consensus report focusing on transit alternatives and implemented recommendations.
Facilitated award-winning public-private multi-utility reconstruction partnership, “The Georgetown Project.”
Completed the Transportation Section of the District’s Emergency Response Plan.
Director’s Assistant, Capital Programs, Policy and Planning, Dept of Public Works, 1985-2000
Developed and ensured compliance with $3 billion capital budget for the Department of Public Works and 12 other District
agencies including Transportation, the Water and Sewer Utility Administration, and the Office of Property Management.
Tracked project implementation from scope development and budget request, through contracting, design and construction,
to close out for more than 1000 projects using management information systems. Managed technical staff responsible for
planning and policy development. Ensured compliance with Federal regulations for $100 million federal transportation
planning program. Initiated and implemented new and innovative programs. Completed the first District of Columbia
Strategic Transportation Plan, fully integrating all travel modes.
EDUCATION:
• Eno Center for Transportation Leadership, Transit Executive Seminar
• Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Cambridge, MA
Senior Executives in State and Local Government
• George Washington University, Center for Excellence in Municipal Management, Washington, DC
C.P.M. (Certified Public Manager)
• Howard University, School of Architecture and Planning, Washington, DC
M.A., cum laude, City and Regional Planning
• The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
B.A., Urban Studies
References available upon request
Execut
ive Office of the Mayor – Mayor’s Office of Talent and Appointments
John A. Wilson Building | 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 600 | Washington, DC 20004
Michell
e Pourciau
Ms. Mi
chelle Pourciau is the President of MP Synergy LLC, a strategic
advisory firm focused on infrastructure, transportation leadership,
organizational strategy, and business development. Ms. Pourciau partners
with public agencies, private organizations, and leadership teams
navigating complex challenges in infrastructure, mobility systems, and
organizational growth.
Prior to MP Synergy, Ms. Pourciau held Mayoral appointments as District
of Columbia Department of Transportation (DDOT) Director and the
Baltimore City Department of Transportation (BCDOT) Director. She
was the first woman to serve as the transportation director for both DDOT
and BCDOT as well as the first African American to lead DDOT.
In Ms. Pourciau’s 20+ years at DDOT, she directed an 800+ employee department responsible for
operating, maintaining and constructing bridges, roads, transit, bikeways, throughout the District
of Columbia. She also oversaw the DDOT budget and the funding for the Washington
Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (WMATA).
A Ward 4 resident, Ms. Pourciau earned her Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies from University of
Michigan and her Master of Arts in City and Regional Planning from Howard University.
GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Executive Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser
Office of the General Counsel to the Mayor
______________________________________________________________________________
The John A. Wilson Building • 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW • Suite 300 • Washington, D.C. 20004 • Office (202) 724-7681
To: Tomas Talamante, Steve Walker
From: Betsy Cavendish
Date: April 15, 2026
Subject: Legal sufficiency review of Resolution s nominating Michelle Pourciau and
Marquisha Powell as members of the Board of Zoning Adjustment
This is to Certify that this office has reviewed the above -referenced resolution s and
found them to be legally unobjectionable. If you have any questions in this regard, please do not
hesitate to call Erika Satterlee, Deputy General Counsel, Executive Office of the Mayor, at 202-
724-1303, or me at 202-724-7681.
______________________________
Elizab
eth A. (Betsy) Cavendish