The transition to clean industries is often discussed in terms of national targets and global frameworks, but one analysis suggests its success will be determined at the local level. The clean industrial revolution may be underway on factory floors, in industrial corridors, and within the communities supporting manufacturing.
In this CATALYZE Series webinar, industry experts present a blueprint for building manufacturing ecosystems at the local level. We explore the rise of regional manufacturers as leaders of the next era of industrial growth.
Learn More: Your Questions About the Clean Industrial Revolution Answered
This is an opportunity to understand how the goal of rebuilding industry converges with the work to mitigate climate change, clean up industrial processes and reduce costs.
NYC Regional Manufacturing Supports a Clean Industrial Transformation
New York City provides a full ecosystem of support for clean-tech startups and manufacturers. Mikhail Hutton, Climate Leader at SeconMuse, describes NYC as an example of regional leadership in advancing clean industry.
Toward a National Climate Commons
In an article published in Utility Dive, Lara Croushore, Head of Climate at SecondMuse, and Stacey Weismiller, President and CEO of the American Manufacturing Futures Institute, explore how cities like New York, Pittsburgh, and Los Angeles, along with the Great Lakes corridor, are leveraging their industrial heritage to become hubs for climate innovation. They proposed the possibility of a national climate commons comprised of regional leaders.
Why regional manufacturing will power the next clean economy [Utility Dive]
This clip features Mikhail Hutton in conversation with Iana Aranda, President of Engineering for Change, describing NYC’s role in a national climate commons.
The Climate Tech Startup Pivot
Some American climate tech startups have had to change course as funding for clean technologies has disappeared. In conversation with Iana Aranda, Dr. Margarita Hernandez, Vice President of Venture Development at the Centrepolis Accelerator at the Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Michigan (USA), describes the trend from her view in Michigan.
How to Repurpose Industrial Assets to Support Emerging Clean Tech
Industrial assets are being repurposed to support emerging climate and other technologies. In conversation with Iana Aranda, Dr. Margarita Hernandez shares examples from Michigan.
Presenters
Mikhail Hutton is a Senior Manager at SecondMuse & Head of Scale For ClimateTech. He leads the Scale For ClimateTech initiative across New York State, helping to bring high tech climate startups into the ecosystem and supporting them as they scale their operations to solve some of our world’s most difficult problems.
He brings nearly 15 years of experience from a variety of leadership roles. Most recently, he served as the CEO of AgTech startup Candidus, which helped commercial greenhouse growers better manage their energy usage and grower operations. Prior to that, he served as VP, Marketing & Customer Success for Artemis Ag, a software company helping commercial farmers in the US, Europe & Middle East to digitize their operations. He has deep experience helping growth-stage startups to build healthy businesses that can make a decades-long impact.
Mikhail is a graduate of Penn State University, where he studied Communication, Arts and Sciences. He currently lives in New York City with his wife and 3 kids. In his free time, Mikhail is very involved in the NYC tech community as well as various non-profit organizations.
Sandra Sassow is the Co-Founder and CEO of SEaB Energy, a pioneering clean technology company transforming organic waste into renewable energy and sustainable resources. A dual UK–French national with over 20 years of experience in technology and climate innovation, Sandra has built and scaled businesses across international markets, with a strong focus on decentralized, circular economy solutions.
She is a recognized thought leader in green technology, having spoken at global forums including COP28 and the UN Solution Summit. Sandra is passionate about regional manufacturing, sustainable infrastructure, and empowering the next generation of climate leaders, particularly women in STEM.
SEaB Energy is a London, UK-based clean technology company that designs and manufactures modular, containerized systems that convert organic waste into renewable energy, water, and fertilizer. Its flagship products enable on-site waste-to-energy conversion, reducing carbon emissions, waste transport costs, and reliance on centralized infrastructure.
With a strong emphasis on regional manufacturing and deployment, SEaB Energy’s systems are built using localized supply chains and are designed to be rapidly deployed across diverse geographies—from urban environments to remote or infrastructure-limited regions. This approach supports local economies, enhances resilience, and accelerates the transition to a circular, low-carbon economy.
Dr. Margarita Hernandez is Vice President of Venture Development at Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Michigan. She is an accomplished life sciences and technology commercialization leader with extensive experience advising, coaching, and accelerating early-stage startups. She most recently served as Vice President of Entrepreneurial Services at Ann Arbor SPARK, where she guided hundreds of founders through ideation, IP strategy, R&D planning, product development, manufacturing, scale-up, fundraising, and market entry.
Before SPARK, Dr. Hernandez held leadership roles at Pathware Inc., where she managed partnerships with academic institutions, advanced clinical validation, and helped shape product-to-market strategies for emerging medical technologies. She also previously coordinated commercialization education at the University of Michigan Medical School, supporting clinicians, residents, and students in bringing biomedical innovations to market.
The Centrepolis Accelerator supports Michigan’s small manufacturers and hardware entrepreneurs by providing access to mentors, workshops, technologies, corporate connections, student and faculty engagement, events, workspace, and a collaborative community of peers.
Moderator
Iana Aranda is the President of Engineering for Change and Managing Director of Sustainability in the Engineering for Sustainable Development division of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. In these roles, Ms. Aranda leads cross-functional efforts to develop sustainability business strategy focusing on advancing engineering knowledge, enhancing technical workforce readiness, facilitating the energy transition, and accelerating innovation to improve the quality of life for people and the planet. She also oversees ASME’s emerging climate technology and sustainability stakeholder engagement groups.
