ABOUT JOANNA
FROM CRISIS COMMUNICATION TO AI INNOVATION
Hi, I'm Joanna Doven, and I'm passionate about helping cities, developers, and innovators thrive in our rapidly evolving economy. My career began as one of the country’s youngest big city mayoral press secretaries, where I led stakeholder relations and communications for Pittsburgh's 2009 G-20 Economic Summit. That experience taught me the power of strategic collaboration and set the foundation for founding Premo Consultants in 2013.
As a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University—the world's #1 AI school—I've had the privilege of helping some of the world's largest companies and prominent real estate developers formulate game-changing ideas that have resulted in record government funding, growth-generating strategic partnerships, and national media exposure. My crisis communications background has taught me to thrive on creating out-of-the-box pivoting strategies, which has been instrumental in my success working at the intersection of development and innovation. I serve as a senior strategic advisor to innovators, focusing on bringing accelerated benefits and return on investment to transformational projects.
But transforming ideas into reality requires more than strategy—it demands the ability to see opportunity where others see obstacles.
Continue reading below to see how this vision has translated into real-world impact…
Reshaping the Future of Cities and AI
In 2023, I reshaped my consulting practice to address one of our most pressing challenges: helping cities, developers, and institutions remake themselves in the post-Covid world. This includes repositioning downtowns for growth and advising how cities can lead in the new artificial intelligence economy. My work as a strategist for Walnut Capital on Pittsburgh's 34-acre Bakery Square development—home to Google and over 15 AI companies—led to the reshaping of commercial real estate and workforce strategy, positioning what we now call the AI Avenue Corridor.
My expertise in strategic communications and partnerships has enabled me to create meaningful change through collaboration. I established an AI Working Group in Pittsburgh comprised of 20 stakeholders, including Carnegie Mellon, civic and nonprofit leaders, and major tech companies like Duolingo and Google. This effort culminated in organizing the inaugural AI Horizons Summit, headlined by Governor Josh Shapiro and CNN's Laurie Segall, founder of Mostly Human Media. I'm particularly proud of helping steer the signing of a historic partnership that made Pittsburgh Nvidia's first "AI Tech Community."
This foundation in AI development opened doors to an even more ambitious vision—one that addresses the massive infrastructure challenge of our AI-driven future.
Building Tomorrow's Infrastructure
As a partner in Fezzik Energy, I'm working with strategic partners including municipal planning organizations, laborers, and industrial property owners on an exciting mission: transforming defunct steel sites into AI Factories to grow regional economies. This work addresses a critical need, as the International Energy Agency predicts that by 2026, data centers alone could consume 1,000 terawatt-hours of electricity—double the amount in 2022 and comparable to Japan's entire energy consumption. As we evolve from data centers to AI factories, the demand for power will soar, driven by supercomputing needs for self-driving cars, autonomous machines, and industrial robots.
Working alongside leading urbanist Bruce Katz, I continue to author pieces highlighting Pittsburgh's significant advantages in the AI economy. Our region sits atop one of the world's largest natural gas reserves, has access to abundant water supplies, and boasts a skilled labor force—assets that position us uniquely for the AI-driven future.
But creating change isn't just about having the right strategy—it's about sharing knowledge and building the next generation of leaders who can carry this work forward.
Sharing Knowledge and Insights
I believe in the power of education and storytelling to drive change. As a guest lecturer at Carnegie Mellon University, I share insights with graduate students about the intersection of technology, development, and strategic communications. I also serve as a guest talk show host on KDKA, the world's first radio station, where I explore topics shaping our region's future.
My expertise in AI economy transformation has led to speaking engagements at conferences, summits, and industry events where I share insights on urban development, strategic partnerships, and positioning cities for AI leadership. These platforms allow me to connect with fellow innovators and city leaders who are tackling similar challenges in their own communities.
My crisis communications experience led me to create "On Crisis," a podcast where I spoke with leaders whose experiences with crisis management led to drastic career or company pivots. I'm currently repurposing this platform to focus on the "crisis opportunity" present in our rapidly evolving AI economy—because I believe that within every challenge lies the seed of extraordinary opportunity.
My no-barriers approach to helping clients unearth opportunities through big thinking, combined with my deep governmental, corporate, civic, and media relationships, has earned respect from renowned leaders across sectors. I'm energized by the possibility of what we can achieve when we think boldly, collaborate authentically, and remain committed to transformational change.
Whether you’re a city leader looking to position your community for the AI economy, a developer seeking to create meaningful impact, an event organizer in need of a speaker on AI-driven urban innovation, or an innovator ready to scale your vision, I’d welcome the opportunity to explore how we can work together—or for me to share these insights at your next conference or workshop—to shape the future.
Leading Through Strategic Innovation
FOUR DEFINING MOMENTS
IN MY STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP
2007-2009
Government Foundation
Started as Deputy Press Secretary and rose to Press Secretary for Pittsburgh Mayor, becoming one of the U.S.'s youngest big city mayoral press secretaries.
2009
Crisis Communications Leadership
Led communications and stakeholder relations for Pittsburgh's G-20 Economic Summit, earning recognition from the U.S. Secret Service for exceptional crisis communications work.
2013
Entrepreneurial Launch
Founded Premo Consultants as a full-scale marketing, public relations, and government consulting firm, deploying expert consultants to solve clients’ top problems.
2024-Present
AI Economy Leadership
Became Executive Director of the AI Strike Team, leading the nation's first collaborative initiative to position southwestern Pennsylvania as a top 10 AI tech hub by 2028.
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