Patricia Spitzley during a recent trip to Japan participating in a kimono tea ceremony at Maikoya Kyoto where she enjoyed making authentic matcha.
Courtesy photo
LANSING, MI — Patricia A. Spitzley, Director of Government Relations and Deputy Redevelopment Manager for RACER Trust, has been appointed to the Board of Directors for the Center for Creative Land Recycling (CCLR).
Spitzley plays a leadership role within one of the largest environmental bankruptcy trusts in United States history, contributing to nearly 100 property sales that have generated more than 69,000 recurring jobs and $22.3 billion in total economic output across a 14-state portfolio. Her work centers on ensuring redevelopment efforts reflect the needs and voices of the communities that they are intended to serve.
Spitzley also brings significant public service experience to the role, having served as an at-large member of the Lansing City Council from 2016 to 2023, including a term as Council President. During her time on Council, she was known for her focus on community engagement, neighborhood development, and strengthening relationships between residents and local government. Her leadership in Lansing reflected a consistent emphasis on transparency and collaborative decision-making.
Having a background in government complements her current work in redevelopment and offers a practical understanding of how policy decisions impact communities at a ground level. That perspective will help guide her work with CCLR, which supports redevelopment in communities across the country.
Her appointment comes as CCLR welcomes a cohort of new leadership in 2026, bringing together professionals with deep expertise in environmental law, remediation, real estate development, and community organizing.
“I am honored to join the Board of Directors for the Center for Creative Land Recycling,” Spitzley said. “My career has centered on advancing community-driven urban redevelopment, environmental justice, and meaningful community engagement. The CCLR’s mission aligns closely with these priorities and reflects the work of my employer, the RACER Trust, in redevelopment and environmental remediation to support economic growth and renewal in urban communities. I look forward to contributing alongside such a distinguished group of board members.”
Patricia Spitzley, Director of Government Relations and Deputy Redevelopment Manager for RACER Trust, has been appointed to the Board of Directors for the Center for Creative Land Recycling based in California.
Courtesy photo
CCLR announced that five new Board members and one new Advisory Council member have joined the organization this year. These additions are expected to strengthen the nonprofit’s strategic direction and reinforce its mission of supporting communities impacted by brownfields, which are underutilized or contaminated properties that require environmental remediation before redevelopment.
New board members include Ed Holder of Mercy Housing, who oversees one of the nation’s largest nonprofit affordable housing development pipelines; Letitia D. Moore of Holland and Knight, a seasoned environmental attorney with more than 25 years of experience; Jon Munkers, co-founder and Chief Financial Officer of Alta Science and Engineering, with extensive work in hazardous site cleanup and rural development; and John Reekstin of The Olson Company, who brings decades of experience in community development and land acquisition.
In addition, Anna Kemper of 1000 Friends of Oregon joins the Advisory Council, contributing expertise in climate policy, housing advocacy, and community engagement.
As the nation’s oldest nonprofit dedicated to the reuse of brownfields, the CCLR provides cost-free assistance to local governments, tribal nations, and nonprofit organizations, focusing on transforming underutilized and environmentally impacted properties into assets that support safe, healthy, and economically vibrant communities.
Spitzley’s appointment reflects a growing focus on redevelopment that includes community voices. Instead of decisions being made without input, residents are part of the process. For example, when neighbors help decide whether a former industrial site becomes housing, green space, or business use, the result is often more successful and better accepted.
Her path from the Lansing City Council to a national board, along with her work at RACER Trust, shows how local leadership can have a broader impact. With experience in both city government and large-scale redevelopment, she brings a perspective that connects local community needs to projects that span multiple states and even international interests.
For more information, visit www.cclr.org.
