Meet Colin Tetreault, Relentless Change Agent
Board Member, Phoenix IDA
For Colin Tetreault, creating a better future is both a profession and a passion. He describes himself as a “relentless change agent,” focused on building shared opportunity for governments, businesses and communities. His career has spanned consulting, academia, nonprofit leadership, entrepreneurship and public service – all with a foundation in sustainability and community advancement.
Today, Tetreault works as a consultant for EY, a global climate change organization, advising commercial and government clients of all sizes on how to improve efficiencies, unlock value and keep people at the center of decision-making. He has also been a faculty associate at Arizona State University (ASU) for more than 15 years, blending theory with practice in the classroom. Earlier in his career, he served as the City of Phoenix’s Senior Policy Advisor for Sustainability and chaired the city’s Environmental Quality and Sustainability Commission.
Tetreault was drawn to serve as a board member for the Phoenix IDA because of its unique role in bridging finance and community impact. “Finding the ways to put good finance to good projects, to catalyze outcomes for people and focus on long-term benefits for residents and our environment, is what excites me,” he explained. He believes financial tools, when used with purpose, can be powerful engines for equity and opportunity.
His values align strongly with the Phoenix IDA’s mission. With a deep commitment to justice, he emphasizes the importance of addressing the needs of underserved communities. “Our region should be measured by how well we support our most at-risk populations, not just those already thriving,” he said. That belief fuels his passion for initiatives in affordable housing and education – two areas he considers essential to breaking cycles of hardship and empowering people to succeed.
From mountain biking and scouting to cheering on ASU and shaping policy, Colin Tetreault brings his passion for people, community, and sustainability to everything he does.
Looking ahead, Tetreault sees opportunities for the Phoenix IDA to lead on sustainability, particularly in aligning capital with projects that address extreme heat and climate resilience in Phoenix. He also underscores the importance of solving both availability and affordability in housing, noting, “We can’t solve just one variable; we need to address both at the same time.”
Though newer to the board, he already takes pride in supporting affordable housing projects that provide stability and dignity for families. “I hope someday I can tell my kids, ‘Dad played a small part in helping people live in these great communities.’”
Outside of his professional commitments, Tetreault enjoys coaching youth sports, hiking, mountain biking, participating in scouting with his children, and cheering on his beloved ASU Sun Devils. His guiding advice for future leaders is simple but powerful: “Serve selflessly and often.”
