Introducing…. Permit Me To Explain

Written By Brent Efron

Co-written By Nikki Chiappa

We launched a Substack!

Introducing PERMIT ME TO EXPLAIN

Nikki Chiappa and Brent Efron are fascinated by the opaque processes by which the government decides what gets built or repaired. And we think anyone serious about making it easier to build should be too.

Nearly every week our team is meeting with state and federal leaders figuring out how to deliver more of (and faster) the infrastructure projects and environmental outcomes their constituents want. We will use this space to document what we have been learning, endorse ideas that we think have a real chance to speed things up, and sometimes just share a hot take or two.

We hope you'll join them in unpacking how America builds! 🏗️

Check Out Our Substack
Brent Efron

Brent, based in Washington, D.C., is a project management and policy professional with nearly 8 years of experience across local, state, and federal government, political campaigns, and the private sector. Most recently at EPA, Brent served in the Office of the Administrator as a Special Advisor for Implementation, supporting the deployment of $100 Billion in IRA/BIL funding. In that capacity, Brent regularly coordinated with staff from over 30 climate and infrastructure financial assistance programs, managed numerous projects related to program implementation and grant compliance, and served as EPA staff lead on multiple White House interagency policy initiatives. Prior to EPA, Brent conducted policy research for the Massachusetts Climate Chief and contributed to drafting a whole-of-government strategy for increasing Massachusetts’ climate ambition. Brent holds an M.P.A. from Princeton University and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis.