Michelle Pourciau Appointed Chairperson of the District of Columbia Board of Zoning Adjustment
June 2, 2026 | Washington, DC
Michelle Pourciau, Founder and President of MP Synergy, LLC and longtime transportation and infrastructure leader, has been appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council of the District of Columbia to serve on the District of Columbia Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA). Pourciau currently serves as Chairperson of the Board.
The appointment marks another chapter in Pourciau's decades-long commitment to public service, transportation, infrastructure, planning, and community development in the Washington, DC region.
The District of Columbia Board of Zoning Adjustment is a five-member, quasi-judicial body responsible for hearing and deciding cases involving zoning variances, special exceptions, and appeals of administrative decisions, among other matters. As Chairperson, Pourciau brings extensive experience in public administration, transportation planning, municipal management, infrastructure policy, and community-focused leadership to the Board.
Pourciau's career spans more than three decades across the public and private sectors. She previously served as Director of the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and Director of the Baltimore City Department of Transportation (BCDOT), becoming the first woman to lead both agencies and the first African American to serve as Director of DDOT. During more than 20 years of service with the District government, her leadership responsibilities included transportation planning, capital programming, public space management, and infrastructure policy.
Her connection to planning also extends to her education. Pourciau earned a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies from the University of Michigan and a Master of Arts in City and Regional Planning from Howard University.
Throughout her career, Pourciau has remained passionate about the intersection of infrastructure, transportation, planning, and community development. Her service on the Board of Zoning Adjustment provides another opportunity to contribute that experience to the thoughtful growth and development of Washington, DC.
Today, Pourciau continues her work as Founder and President of MP Synergy, LLC, providing strategic leadership and advisory expertise across infrastructure, transportation, program and project management, strategic and urban planning, and business development.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving the District in this new capacity and look forward to contributing to thoughtful growth and development across Washington, DC.” — Michelle Pourciau
Learn More: https://dcoz.dc.gov/am/page/about-board-zoning-adjustment
