Working with staff and key stakeholders, Michael Catsi is responsible for developing strategies and principles for engaging in economic development activities and identifying growth opportunities throughout Tacoma Public Utilities’ service areas. In addition, Mr. Catsi collaborates in multi-party negotiations for significant economic development projects, engages in subarea planning efforts, and assists with economic development policy analysis. TPU is comprised of Tacoma Power, Tacoma Water and Tacoma Rail, serving Tacoma and Pierce County, WA. Prior to joining TPU, Mr. Catsi was the Business Development and Communications Director of the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority where he pursued business development opportunities, conducted initial financial and economic reviews of new finance requests, provided client liaison services, and managed the Authority’s business and community outreach efforts.

Prior to that, Mr. Catsi served as the Executive Director of the Southwest Alaska Municipal Conference, a regional economic development organization, which advocates for the needs of the region’s rural communities and for the responsible development of the region’s core economic sectors.

Mr. Catsi began his economic development career as the Executive Director of the Skagway Development Corporation in Skagway, Alaska. As the first ED of this startup corporation, he developed the economic development program for the community and elevated the need for the City to proactively support and finance a permanent economic development entity.

Working collaboratively with multiple entities to help grow the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Anchorage and Alaska, Mr. Catsi served on the Advisory Boards of Launch:Alaska (accelerator), Blue Pipeline (incubator) and the Alaska Ocean Cluster group. In the past, he has served as President of the Alaska Partnership for Economic Development and of the Alaska Manufacturing Extension Partnership. In addition, he was elected to the Skagway City Council, and served on the Board of Directors for the Alaska Municipal League.

Mr. Catsi is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), a Development Finance Certified Professional (DFCP), and he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Geography from the University of New South Wales, Australia.