A Message from AFI President/CEO, Michael Wilkes

Since becoming President and CEO of the Alliance for Innovation (AFI) in February, one message I have heard consistently from our members is clear: you want more frequent and meaningful communication with AFI staff. We have listened, and we are taking action.

Beginning October 1, 2026, AFI has introduced a new regional approach to member engagement designed to strengthen our relationships with members and ensure organizations are getting the greatest possible value from their Alliance membership.

Our membership will be organized into four regions, East, Midwest, West, and Texas, with an AFI staff member assigned to each region. That staff member will connect with every member organization in their region at least once each quarter.

More Than a Check-In

These quarterly conversations are intended to create a stronger, more consistent connection between AFI and the local government leaders we serve. Each conversation will focus on three areas:

• Maximizing your Alliance for Innovation membership. We will highlight annual and organizational member benefits, identify opportunities your organization may not yet be using, and help connect your team to the resources available through AFI.

• Keeping you connected to AFI. We will provide a quarterly update on content, programs, events, resources, research, learning opportunities, and other developments across the Alliance.

• Listening to you. Most importantly, we want to hear what is happening in your organization. What are you excited about? What challenges are you facing? What ideas, innovations, and emerging issues are commanding your attention?

That third conversation may be the most important of all. AFI aspires to be the hub of innovation for local government, and we can only fulfill that role when we understand what our members are experiencing. By learning more about your challenges and achievements, we can identify common issues, connect members facing similar opportunities, share promising practices, and facilitate greater collaboration across the Alliance community.

Building the Relationship with Local Government Leaders

Initially, these quarterly conversations will focus on the chief executive of each member organization. Throughout my years of involvement with the Alliance, as part of a member organization and as a member of the AFI Board, I have seen firsthand how important that leadership relationship is. When the chief executive understands and engages with the Alliance, the opportunities for the entire organization to benefit from AFI grow significantly.

Our goal is to demonstrate AFI's value to you as the leader of your organization while helping you extend that value throughout your team. This initiative is about more than increasing the frequency of our communication. It is about building relationships, listening intentionally, connecting people and ideas, and making the Alliance more responsive to the needs of the local governments we serve.

We look forward to connecting with you in this upcoming quarter and to learning more about the work taking place in your community. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. We are here to support you, your organization, and your efforts to transform your community.

For more information contact Michael Wilkes, President and CEO of the Alliance for Innovation at michaelwilkes@transformgov. Link to more information about Our Team here.

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