Email: [email protected]
Cassandra A. Thomas is a senior strategist and economic development expert with over 20 years of experience advising federal, state, and municipal governments on climate adaptation, resilience planning, workforce development, community engagement, and equitable economic growth. She has served in leadership roles across FEMA, the City of Providence, and multiple national disaster recovery initiatives, supporting long-term recovery, climate-aligned infrastructure planning, and interagency coordination across the United States.
As Founding Principal of Yemaya Strategy, Cassandra advises public and philanthropic clients on economic impact modeling, climate adaptation tools, and partnership development. Her work includes securing multimillion-dollar funding opportunities, developing climate-resilient infrastructure strategies, and leveraging advanced modeling platforms such as IMPLAN and Lightcast to inform growth and investment decisions.
Previously, as Director of Economic Development for the City of Providence, she led a multidisciplinary department of 90 professionals and authored grant strategies totaling more than $100M in potential revenue, while integrating equity and climate resilience into municipal planning. Cassandra also spearheaded major renewable energy and logistics projects at Karp Strategies, supporting state and city leaders with actionable, data-driven recommendations.
Cassandra’s experience spans multiple federally declared disasters, including Hurricanes Harvey and Maria and the COVID-19 recovery effort in New England, where she led interagency task forces, philanthropic engagement, supply-chain resilience programs, and community-centered recovery initiatives across more than 26 federal agencies.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and a Master’s degree in Transportation and Engineering Management from California State University Maritime Academy, and is currently completing graduate studies in Global Security Studies at Johns Hopkins University with a concentration in energy and environmental security. Cassandra maintains a Public Trust government security clearance and is certified in business continuity and emergency management.
Her interests include climate adaptation policy, urban design, local politics, live music, equity initiatives, and innovative technologies supporting resilient infrastructure and community development.
