Our Team

As the Chief Economist and Co-Founder of Smart Growth Economics, LLC, Dr. Mahesh Ramachandran drives the company's vision and strategy, leading a team of researchers in delivering high-quality, data-driven insights to inform complex policy decisions.

With over 15 years experience in policy analysis, leadership, and research, Dr. Ramachandran brings a unique perspective to his work. Previously, he served as the Chief Economist for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, where he provided strategic insights and thought leadership to the Governor's team and the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development.

Dr. Ramachandran's expertise spans state economic policy, regional economic development, urban, labor, and environmental economics, with a focus on delivering accessible data stories and actionable recommendations to policymakers, stakeholders, and the public. He has a proven track record of driving innovation, growth, and sustainable development through his work, and has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and presented at national and international conferences.

Dr. Ramachandran holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Clark University and has received several awards for his contributions to the field of economics, including the EPA Environmental Merit Award and the Paper of the Year award from the Northeast Agricultural and Resource Economics Association.

Ashley Howard manages operations, implements customer-specific strategies, and oversees customer services. As a Design Manager, she leads the design team by providing strategic direction to tailor customer-focused solutions. Her role includes communicating policies and concepts to diverse, non-technical audiences. She has worked in both the government and private sectors as an information designer, conveying technical standards, ordinances,  and details to general audiences. After graduating from Wellesley College, she earned her MBA and MA from Clark University, with additional training at RISD. She is excited to tell your information's story in a compelling way. 

Affiliates

Sam Shepler

Videographer

Sam Shepler is a video producer and startup investor who has been making documentary style business videos for over a decade. Previously, he was the founder and CEO of Skyscope, a B2B video production agency that was acquired in 2016 by Matter Communications, Inc. Currently, he’s investing in startups and keeping his video skills sharp with contract projects. Sam brings a results-focused vision and cinematic flair to any project he touches, be it drone videography or emotional customer testimonials. He helps SGE with all things video and related communication efforts.