Board
May 22, 2026Board Member Feature: Jennifer Vey
When Jennifer Vey joined NDC’s board in 2020, she brought with her more than two decades of nationally recognized expertise at the intersection of place, placemaking, and inclusive economic development.
What she has given NDC since is harder to quantify — the kind of engaged, generous connector energy that elevates everyone around it. Read about her experience and perspective.
A Career Built on Place
Jennifer’s professional journey is a masterclass in turning ideas into impact.
For 22 years at the Brookings Institution, she served as a Senior Fellow and ultimately Director of the Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Center for Transformative Placemaking, a research hub dedicated to exploring how place-based investments can build more vibrant, connected, and equitable communities. Her work at Brookings generated dozens of publications and brought national attention to the economic and social power of thoughtful placemaking.
She is the co-editor of Hyper-local: Place Governance in a Fragmented World (2022), a book that examines how local governance structures can better serve diverse communities — and a title that feels right at home on the NDC bookshelf. Her writing has appeared in outlets including The Atlantic, and she has been called upon by CNN and other national media to speak on economic inequality, urban policy, and the future of cities.
In 2023, Jennifer joined the Greater Baltimore Committee as Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, where she now helps shape the regional policy agenda for more than 300 companies, nonprofits, and institutions across the Baltimore area. She holds a Master of Urban and Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia and a B.A. in Geography from Bucknell University.
Bringing It Home to Baltimore — and to NDC
Despite a career at the center of national urban policy conversations, Jennifer has always kept Baltimore close.
Her work had long focused on placemaking and inclusive economic development — just not always locally. When a fellow board member suggested NDC as a way to channel that passion into her own city, the fit was immediately clear.
Since joining the board, Jennifer has been a thoughtful contributor to NDC’s conference and convening work.
Jennifer helps the organization think through how to design meaningful learning experiences for practitioners, partners, and community members. She has been a champion for Placemaking Week, NDC’s flagship gathering that draws place-based thinkers and doers from across the region and beyond.
She has engaged friends, family, and colleagues in NDC’s mission — cultivating new fans and new supporters at every turn, whether at the Trash Dash, Placemaking Week, or anywhere in between.
One of Jennifer’s favorite NDC convenings? Bike the Sites.
From 2021 to 2024, the Neighborhood Design Center’s yearly Bike the Sites events connected noteworthy placemaking destinations (many of which were NDC projects) along a several-mile-long route. As a group, participants rode from stop to stop, seeing change in action, and joyfully reclaiming the streets
“Bike the Sites brought NDC’s placemaking work to life in a way that felt especially meaningful and immersive. It created space to connect with new people, and perfectly combined learning, movement, and community at a time when all three were deeply needed.”
Why It Matters
NDC is fortunate to have board members who believe in the work deeply enough to roll up their sleeves, and Jennifer is exactly that kind of board member.
Her expertise lends credibility and national context to what NDC does every day. Her network opens doors. And her genuine love for this city and this organization reminds us why the work matters in the first place.
We are grateful for everything Jennifer brings to NDC — her sharp mind, her generous spirit, and her unwavering commitment to making Baltimore a more vibrant, connected, and inclusive place for everyone.
Connect with Jennifer LinkedIn or learn more about her work at the Greater Baltimore Committee.