Real intelligence.
real relationships.
real success.

Built for The People Who Move the Lakes

what we do

Inland Seas Advisory helps Great Lakes maritime operators move faster and smarter in a rapidly changing environment.

As markets shift, regulation moves, and public and private capital deploys at scale, Inland Seas Advisory turns policy signals and funding programs into practical action, often through grants, public-private partnerships, and strategically deployed capital.

We are market makers, proactively helping our clients unlock new trade lanes, attract emerging commodities, and connect supply with demand before patterns are fully set.

who we are

Most consultants bring engineering or policy expertise alone. Inland Seas Advisory brings the full stack: Great Lakes operational credibility, infrastructure commercialization experience, grant navigation, capital markets understanding, policy fluency, and market-making orientation — paired with expert environmental engineering partners and municipal finance partners for execution.

Meet Our Team

Michael CooperPrincipal Advisor, Inland Seas Advisory
Business Development Manager – Renewable Energy, Solar PV, Biofuels, Biomass, Bioenergy, Project Development, Marine Transportation, Infrastructure, Capital Finance
Michael Cooper
“Doing something for the first time is always the hardest — and most of what I’ve done in marine transportation had never been done before, which made task completion difficult but made the resulting success that much sweeter. Those successes came only through real intelligence and real relationships, built over years of positioning and patience.”
Michael Cooper, Inland Seas Advisory, Principal Advisor
Daniel FalconeAdvisor
Marine Bunkering, Biodiesel, Renewable Diesel, Major Oil Storage Facilities
Robert SwainAdvisor
Financing, Financial Modeling, State/Federal Economic Development, Agricultural Business Development, Bioenergy
Scott VeldhuisAdvisor
Grant Writing, Tax Increment Financing, Local Economic Development
J. Edwin LubbersAdvisor
Energy Transition Specialist, U.S. Navy Veteran

partnerships & memberships

Michigan Economic Developers Association
Holman Capital