Mari Silbey is Director of Communications for US Ignite and Director of US Ignite Forum, convening workshops around the country that bring local government officials and their partners together to share smart city challenges, strategies, and best practices. Prior to joining US Ignite, Mari spent several years as a journalist covering broadband infrastructure, video delivery, and smart cities. Her telecom and cable roots go back further through work as an independent writer and analyst with both analyst firms and several private-sector companies including Limelight Networks and Motorola before its acquisition (and later sell-off) by Google.