Marnese is an Environmental and Climate Justice activist, advocate, trainer and educator from Pontiac, Michigan where she is a mother of two children London and Dawson. Marnese is the inaugural and first Black Woman Executive Director of Midwest Building Decarbonization Coalition. Prior to her appointment, Marnese was the Co-Director of Equity and Community Engagement at Midwest BDC. Marnese was previously with Mothers Out Front in December 2018 as the Frontline Organizing Program Manager where she focused on building the base of Mothers in Frontline communities. During this time, Marnese was the staff liaison to US Climate Action Network, staff Equity Team and BIPOC Affinity Team member. Marnese also managed the Youth Global Climate Strike (2019) and Earth Day Live (2020). She is the former Midwest and Great Plain States Regional Organizer for the NAACP’s Environmental and Climate Justice Program.

Marnese holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Interdisciplinary Public Relations, Communications, Journalism and African American Studies from Eastern Michigan University and a Master of Arts Degree from Marygrove College in Social Justice. Marnese is on the board of USCAN, and a chairperson of the Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition. Marnese is a member of the 2020 Michigan Clean Energy Leaders Cohort and of the 350.org BIPOC Cohort member. Marnese was appointed in 2021 to Governor Whitmer’s Michigan Council on Climate Solutions. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Building Performance Institute and the Michigan Climate Action Network.