About us

Who We Are

At Urbanova, our purpose is simple: find new ways to make communities better for people. We bring partners together to learn, test and discover how new technologies, integrated data and jointly developed solutions can improve lives. Founded in 2016 by a collaboration between city, university and industry partners, Urbanova started as a smart city initiative to deploy and test new innovative technologies in Spokane's University District. You can read more about our founding story or watch this overview to learn more about our background.

In recent years, our work has focused increasingly on placing the strengths, struggles, opportunities and needs of residents at the center of new ideas on city solutions. We believe that new technologies or emerging innovations can only be effective when these solutions provide benefits to all. Our team is focused on driving place-based and research-informed solutions that measurably improve equity and resilience in communities. Increasingly, our work has centered around efforts that promote health equity, energy independence and connected communities.

Our Mission

extending innovation and expanding opportunity

we bring together civic groups committed to building data-informed, resident-centered solutions that strengthen community connections, improve health equity and treatment access, and support clean, consistent energy alternatives that benefit all

Our Values

Can-do - we are problem solvers, 'how can we' is our favorite question

Candor - we create shared trust through honesty, integrity and transparency, even (or especially) when differences exist

Collaborative - we enable co-creation to reach outcomes not previously achievable

Curious - we are open to new ideas and fresh perspectives and committed to learning and discovery in every effort

Inclusive - we are a community organization here to embrace differences, empower residents, and work to ensure that all participants in civic innovation projects are equally seen, heard, and welcome

Who We Work With

Cities

public sector organizations working to improve resident quality of life

Universities

faculty and subject matter experts focusing on community research and solutions

Nonprofits

community based groups prioritizing community impact and equitable outcomes

Businesses

community-minded corporations and utilities building public-private partnerships

Board of Directors

Officers

Jason is the Verizon public policy and community affairs director for eastern Washington and Idaho. He started his career with the Department of Transportation (Caltrans) in California, where he coordinated more than 30 projects and acquired over 150 properties. Later, Jason moved to Spokane where he accepted a position with Bonneville Power Administration. Here, he had numerous responsibilities in the Federal Land Management department, including filing the necessary federal land permits in over 50 different county, city, and federal agencies and municipalities covering three different states. In 2017, Jason moved into the wireless industry to work with local and state agencies across Washington and Idaho to develop small cell deployment processes, wireless ordinances, and partnership agreements to help cities and communities access and develop technology.
Jenny Halvorson is a Managing Director at Accenture.  Jenny has spent over 20 years working with clients around the world on complex digital transformation programs.  Jenny has extensive experience as an enterprise architect specializing in data & analytics and emerging technologies.  She has worked with small and large technology and academic partners on business development, asset creation, and delivery.  Jenny earned a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and an M.S. in Management with a concentration in Information Technology from the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce.  Jenny moved from Washington D.C. to Spokane in 2010 where she lives with her husband and two sons..

Directors

Rich Christensen has been a senior vice president of global research and development at Itron, Inc. since 2013. He has been responsible for developing and supporting numerous product lines and solutions for each of the company’s business segments and regions since joining Itron in 1995, including software applications and electricity, gas, and water meters and communications modules. Prior to Itron, Rich he served as a senior engineer and project lead for Motorola’s Government Electronics Group in Scottsdale, Arizona. In this role, he developed and supported various radio products for both military and commercial customers. He received a BS in electrical engineering from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he focused on electromagnetic waves and antenna design. Rich’s post-graduate work at Arizona State University was focused on antenna and radio frequency circuit design.

Heather Rosentrater is president and chief operating officer at Avista Corp., where she’s responsible for overseeing Energy Delivery, Energy Resources and Enterprise Technology. She has led Avista’s Grid Innovation, Smart Grid and Smart City efforts. Heather also has broad experience on both the electric and natural gas sides of Avista Utilities, having managed departments and projects in natural gas supply and electric transmission and distribution, as well as asset management.

Heather is a registered Professional Engineer and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Gonzaga University.  She serves on the board of directors for Spokane’s 2nd Harvest and YWCA.  In addition, she is a member of Gonzaga University’s School of Engineering and Applied Science Executive Council.

Dan Wadkins serves as a Principal in the Business & Corporate Finance practice group of Foster Garvey, PC in Spokane.  Wadkins brings a broad range of corporate, securities and finance, commercial transactions and intellectual property experience to the firm, along with a passion for helping emerging companies navigate the complex business and legal landscape through every stage of the business lifecycle. He is recognized as a leading corporate attorney among emerging startup companies in the Pacific Northwest.

Will Walker is the Founder and Executive Director of Community One Consulting. Since 2008, Dr. Walker has developed strategic initiatives and delivered socially and culturally complex, organizational, employee engagement/training and multi-stakeholder programs and policies designed to support effective incorporation of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices. Through his firm, Community One Consulting, Dr. Walker utilizes multiple methods – research, training, technical assistance, direct engagement with grassroots stakeholders – to foster inclusive, cross-sector partnerships that benefit all communities while reducing disparities. Clients range from grassroots community efforts, public /private partnerships, education stakeholders (redistricting, parent-teacher association) and philanthropic organizations.

Founding Partners

Avista Corp. is an energy company involved in the production, transmission, and distribution of energy as well as other energy-related businesses.
Spokane is home to nearly 230,000 people in the heart of the Inland Northwest. The city facilitates economic opportunities and is unequaled in living, learning, and leisure.
McKinstry is a full-service, design-build-operate-and-maintain (DBOM) firm specializing in consulting, construction, energy, and facility services.
Connecting the core strengths of its educational institutions with regional economic drivers, the University District provides an urban laboratory for the creation of knowledge.
Founded in 1890, Washington State University drives a preeminent research portfolio and provides transformational student education experiences on campuses throughout the state.
Itron is a world-leading technology and services company dedicated to the resourceful use of energy and water.

Awards & Recognition

Urbanova was a Smart Buildings Finalist and the City of Spokane a Smart Water Finalist in the 2020 IDC Smart City North America Awards.

Spokane was named 2019 Smartest Community by Public Utilities Fortnightly in July 2019.

In June 2018, Urbanova was one of 10 finalists for AWS’s City on a Cloud Innovation Challenge, Partner in Innovation award.