Our Team
Megan MotilFounder & Principal
Parallel Solutions |
Megan has spent her career dedicated to community growth and development, land and water conservation and restoration, food and farming systems, housing, transportation, and access to nature and outdoor recreation. Pairing her professional experience in community and organizational development with a personal zeal for building trust, openness, and clarity in governance and decision-making, Megan founded Parallel Solutions in 2014.
Before launching Parallel Solutions, Megan worked from 2007-2014 at the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy where she served as Associate Director and Director of Development for one of Michigan's largest land trusts. She managed the organization's staff and operations, guided the strategic protection of significant natural and farm lands and stewardship efforts, led the fundraising team and campaigns, built and nurtured relationships with individual donors and foundations, and collaborated with partners to create and enhance public access to nature and recreation at places like Glacial Hills Pathway and Natural Area, Maple Bay Park and Natural Area, Arcadia Marsh, and Acme Township's Bayside Park. From 1999-2007, Megan worked at Networks Northwest as a planner, then as Regional Planning Director. While there she developed land use, transportation, housing, and economic development plans, coordinated education for local officials, and supported and facilitated inter-jurisdictional and local decision-making. Megan served as an advisor on the development of the Michigan Water Trails Manual in 2017 and co-authored the Conservation Millage Toolkit in collaboration with the Huron River Watershed Council in 2018. In addition to serving clients directly, Megan offers consultation regarding strategy and decision-making, governance, partnerships and collaboration, and meeting design and facilitation to eligible non-profits as a member of the Capacity Advisory Pool hosted by Rotary Charities of Traverse City. She provides additional consultation to community leaders through Rotary's Systems Change coaching team. She currently volunteers her time as the President of the board of directors of Paddle Antrim, as Treasurer of the board of SEEDS Ecology & Education Centers, and as the Chair of the board of Commonplace, a community innovation hub and co-working space in Traverse City, Michigan. Megan also serves as a member of Common Cents Capital, a private member-managed investor group making micro-loans to "triple bottom line" local businesses. She is a past board member of Michigan’s Complete Streets Advisory Council, of the Michigan Association of Planning, and of the Homestretch Non-profit Housing Corporation. Megan is a 1999 graduate of Miami University (Ohio) where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography and a Bachelor of Philosophy degree from the School of Interdisciplinary Studies/Western College Program, and completed her thesis work focused on local food systems. She earned a Master of Arts in Organizational Management from Spring Arbor University, and pursued additional training in mediation, conflict resolution, mindfulness, and workplace diversity. She was recognized by the Traverse City Business News as a "40 Under 40" leader in 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012, and as one of the region's "50 Leading Women in Business" in 2017. She was awarded the Roger Williams Planner Award for Excellence in the Professional Field of Planning by Grand Traverse County in 2005. Megan lives in Traverse City, Michigan with her daughters. In her free time, you can find her out on the trails, kayaking, gardening, reading, or writing. From 2001-2021, Megan’s professional work was accomplished and credited as Megan Olds. |
Affiliated Consultants
Parallel Solutions is a small business. We welcome the opportunity to work as part of a team, and we build teams to meet a client's needs. Depending on the scope of work and outcomes you require, Parallel Solutions may suggest a collaboration with an Affiliated Consultant or additional professionals.
Sarah Naperala has over 20 years of experience and has worked in the not-for-profit, research, technology and education fields. Performance management and professional development coaching are two of her specialties. Sarah has extensive experience in not-for-profit policy and procedures development and evaluation. She guides and coordinates the work of land conservancies who are seeking Accreditation status from the National Land Trust Alliance. Prior to launching her consulting business, she worked as the Human Resources Director and Special Projects Manager at the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy. Sarah volunteers as the coordinator for the Orchard Heights Neighborhood of Traverse City, MI where she worked with neighbors, city staff, city commissioners and funders to improve a 3-acre neighborhood city park. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Michigan Technological University.
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Gary Howe is the advocacy director for Norte, a walk and bike advocacy organization based in Traverse City. For over 15 years, Gary has been a local leader for streets and places designed at the human-scale. Gary is also a freelance photojournalist and writer. His work is a regular feature in Edible Grande Traverse and often in the New York Times. He has a bachelors degree in International Studies from Northern Michigan University. He speaks Mandarin Chinese, last living in China as a graduate student at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center for Chinese and American Studies. Gary has over 20 years of teaching experience both in Taiwan and as an adjunct instructor at Northwestern Michigan College. He formerly served as a City Commissioner for the City of Traverse City. Together, Gary and Megan co-design and facilitate Norte's Explore Academy.
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Gabe Schneider, Founder and Principal of Northern Strategies 360, has 15 years of experience and specializes in government affairs, policy development and advocacy, and state and federal legislative action. Prior to launching his firm, Gabe served as the regional representative for Senator Carl Levin in northern Michigan. Over the course of his professional career, Gabe has worked on issues such as economic development, land and historic preservation, infrastructure development and maintenance, and agricultural and manufacturing job growth and retention strategies. He holds a degree from Michigan State University’s James Madison College in International Relations with a specialization in Environmental Economics. Gabe volunteers as the Vice President of the Adams Chapter of Trout Unlimited.
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Elise Crafts founded Statecraft in 2018 to combine and leverage her experience in providing zoning, land use planning and community development services. Prior to that, she worked as a community planner for Networks Northwest and as a zoning administrator for Peninsula Township. She gets deep satisfaction from listening to and understanding different perspectives and creating land use policies with people - resident, developer and Planning Commissioner - in mind. She also enjoys helping to build the relationships and resources necessary to move policy to action. Elise majored in geography, sociology, and writing at Aquinas College and holds a masters in geography with an emphasis on community development from Western Michigan University.
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