About

I’m Marissa Pittman, a policy strategist and coalition builder with over a decade of experience bridging government, community, and business to drive meaningful change.

Currently, I work in Tennessee state government with Democratic legislative leadership on strategic priorities, policy development, and stakeholder engagement. My career has spanned state, local, and federal government – including work on major political campaigns – giving me a comprehensive view of how policy operates at every level and how diverse groups come together to move it forward.

What drives my work is a fundamental belief: policy is most powerful when it’s a tool for convening people across differences. Over the past ten years, whether organizing communities, managing campaigns, or working in government, I’ve brought together stakeholders who don’t always agree – community voices, government leaders, business interests – to find solutions. Real change happens when you can get people to the table and help them see shared interests.

As a daughter of the South – raised in Memphis, educated in New Orleans – I’ve witnessed energy and environmental challenges firsthand. From extreme weather events straining our infrastructure to communities bearing the brunt of industrial pollution, these aren’t abstract policy debates to me. They’re about my neighbors, my home, and our collective future.

My policy focus centers on energy and water infrastructure in the South. I’m particularly interested in how states navigate the tension between economic development and sustainable resource management – from the strain data centers place on our energy grids to the challenge of modernizing rural water systems.

Through this site and my newsletter, The Grid & The Ground, I share insights on Southern policy and emerging trends in renewable energy. All views expressed here are my own and do not reflect the positions of any elected official or organization. Whether you’re a policymaker, organizer, business leader, or simply curious about how change happens, regardless of party, I hope we stay connected.