Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter has appointed Julie Lyons Bricker as the chief sustainability officer who will move the county toward its bold vision to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Lyons Bricker brings more than two decades of experience in sustainability leadership, project management and public service to her new role. Her career spans both public and nonprofit sectors, previously serving as Oakland County’s sustainability project manager. She also held dual roles in the City of Royal Oak as energy and sustainability manager and executive director of the Royal Oak Civic Foundation.
“Julie is the right leader to guide us forward as we build a more sustainable and resilient future,” Coulter said. “Her leadership will help us accelerate our sustainability goals in meaningful ways that benefit the county government, our communities and future generations.”
Lyons Bricker’s qualifications are underscored by her professional credentials and education. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from Michigan Technological University and has completed the Executive Education for Sustainability Leadership program at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and LEED AP in Operations and Maintenance.
“I'm delighted Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter has appointed me to be the county’s next chief sustainability officer,” she said. “I look forward to leading our internal and external sustainability and resiliency efforts and the many opportunities we have to make a substantial difference in the region.”
Under Lyons Bricker’s leadership, in her previous role as the county’s sustainability project manager, Oakland County was awarded Gold Certification by the Michigan Green Communities (MGC) program for its leadership in environmental sustainability, climate resilience and community engagement. The recognition was announced as part of the 2024 Michigan Green Communities Challenge, which saw a record number of local governments across the state participate.
Oakland County earned gold status for significant progress across several categories including resource protection, green buildings, hazard mitigation, flooding and stormwater mitigation, energy efficiency improvements and environmental stewardship. Notable achievements include the implementation of countywide green infrastructure practices, continued investment in energy efficiency upgrades at county facilities, expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, programming for Oakland County homeowners to make energy efficiency improvements to their properties and robust community engagement through programs.
Oakland County joins 42 Michigan communities that earned gold certification in the 2024 MGC Challenge. The program recognized a total of 68 local governments, with six achieving bronze status, 18 earning silver and two communities reaching platinum. Oakland County is working hard to benchmark and track sustainability data with the goal of reaching platinum status within the next two years.
The Michigan Green Communities program is a free statewide initiative that supports local governments in making measurable progress toward sustainability goals. Backed by a coalition of state agencies and local government associations, MGC helps communities strengthen their infrastructure, improve public health, reduce environmental impact, and enhance economic competitiveness.
For additional information about Oakland County’s environmental initiatives, visit www.oakgov.com/sustainability.
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