Judy Lee
San Francisco,CA
Summary
Senior public-private executive with 10+ years leading urban economic development, capital deployment programs, and downtown revitalization initiatives in San Francisco. Proven track record managing $10M+ public funding portfolios and mobilizing $1M+ annual philanthropic capital through cross-sector partnerships spanning government, private sector, and civic institutions. Experienced in structuring stakeholder coalitions, aligning regulatory and funding environments, and advancing place-based economic activation strategies in dense urban environments.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Program Director
San Francisco Chinese Chamber of Commerce
04.2025 - Current
- Lead downtown economic activation initiatives generating $5M+ annual impact through public-private programming and sponsorship-driven corridor engagement.
- Structure partnerships across civic, private, and public-sector stakeholders supporting downtown revitalization and commercial activity.
- Oversee budgets, vendor contracts, financial operations, and multi-stakeholder execution across citywide initiatives.
Program Director
Rose Pak Community Fund
11.2024 - Current
- Direct $1M+ annual capital deployment through philanthropic funding, grants, and cross-sector investment partnerships.
- Design community investment strategies focused on housing stability, neighborhood revitalization, and economic mobility.
- Coordinate with public agencies, advocacy coalitions, and civic stakeholders on urban development and equity investment priorities.
Senior Program & Campaign Director Roles
Multi-Organization Civic & Coalition Leadership
San Francisco
03.2023 - 11.2024
- Directed multi-stakeholder civic initiatives involving 100+ staff and volunteers and complex operational budgets across urban policy and infrastructure-related campaigns.
- Built and managed coalitions of 150+ labor unions, advocacy organizations, and community stakeholders aligned around housing, infrastructure, and economic development priorities at the SF Labor Council.
- Designed and executed cross-sector engagement strategies including public forums, stakeholder briefings, and bilingual outreach campaigns.
- Managed funding, operational budgets, and external partnerships supporting large-scale civic and economic initiatives.
Senior Manager, Government Affairs
Cruise, LLC
01.2022 - 03.2023
- Advised executive leadership on public-private partnership structures, identifying regulatory risks in urban markets.
- Led regulatory strategy and public-sector negotiations, facilitating deployment of autonomous and electric mobility systems in dense urban environments.
- Coordinated permitting, entitlement, and agency alignment, streamlining processes for large-scale infrastructure deployment.
Senior Manager, Economic & Workforce Development
City & County of San Francisco
12.2019 - 01.2022
- Managed $10M+ economic development portfolio to enhance small business recovery, stabilize corridors, and provide COVID-19 relief.
- Oversaw grantmaking and capital deployment to strengthen commercial districts and downtown-adjacent neighborhoods.
- Coordinated public-private partnerships with financial institutions, nonprofits, and government agencies to drive urban revitalization initiatives.
- Mayors Office
Deputy Director, Neighborhood Services
City & County of San Francisco
01.2018 - 12.2019
- Facilitated stakeholder engagement among government, community, and private-sector partners on citywide urban initiatives to strengthen collaborative efforts.
- Coordinated cross-agency efforts on neighborhood investment, infrastructure issues, and public realm improvements to enhance community development.
- Mayor's Office
Early Career
City & County of San Francisco
01.2012 - 01.2018
- Legislative Aide, Board of Supervisors (District 11) | 2017 – 2018 Supported development of policy initiatives related to transportation, public safety, and neighborhood economic development.
- Project Coordinator, Mayor’s Office | 2016 Coordinated citywide community engagement and multilingual outreach programs across multiple districts.
- Human Resources / Payroll / Financial Analyst Roles (SFMTA & City HR) | 2012 – 2016 Managed payroll, compliance, and financial operations supporting large municipal workforce systems (5,000+ employees); Ensured regulatory compliance and audit readiness across public sector financial systems.
Education
Dual Bachelors of Arts & Sciences - Statistics & Economics
University of California, Davis
Davis, CA01-2012
Associate of Science - Accounting
College of San Mateo
San Mateo, CA01-2013
Skills
- Project management
- Partnership development
- Grant writing
- Budget management
- Urban planning
- Policy and procedure improvements
- Economic analysis
- Strategic planning
- Operations oversight
- Team leadership
- Data analysis
- Political advocacy
- Communication strategies
- Public speaking
- Organizational leadership
Board And Governance Experience
- SF.CITI, Policy Advisory Board Member, 01/2022 - Present, Technology policy and regulatory modernization for urban innovation and economic competitiveness.
- San Francisco Chinese Chamber of Commerce, First Vice President, Board of Directors, 01/2014 - 06/2025, Executive governance supporting downtown cultural and economic activation initiatives.
- Rose Pak Community Fund, Finance Committee (Founding Member), Stewarded $1M+ annual philanthropic capital for community investment programs.
- Rose Pak Democratic Club, Vice President of Finance / Treasurer, Financial governance, budgeting, and bilingual stakeholder communications.
Civic And Community Leadership - Summary
Campaign and civic engagement leadership roles managing 50+ staff/volunteers, bilingual outreach operations, and citywide voter engagement initiatives. Mentorship and workforce development programming supporting 50+ youth participants.
Selected Capital And Urban Development Impact
- Managed $15M+ in public economic development funding supporting small business stabilization, neighborhood investment, and COVID-era recovery across San Francisco commercial corridors.
- Delivered $5M+ annual downtown economic activation impact through public-private programming, sponsorships, and corridor-based cultural and commercial initiatives.
- Mobilized $1M+ annual philanthropic and grant capital supporting housing, education, and community-based economic mobility programs.
- Led cross-sector coordination across city agencies, private-sector partners, and civic institutions on urban development, infrastructure alignment, and economic activation strategies.
- Supported regulatory coordination for urban mobility infrastructure deployment (autonomous/electric systems) in dense urban environments.
Languages
English
Native/ Bilingual
Chinese (Cantonese)
Native/ Bilingual
Chinese (Mandarin)
Native/ Bilingual
Timeline
Program Director
San Francisco Chinese Chamber of Commerce
04.2025 - Current
Program Director
Rose Pak Community Fund
11.2024 - Current
Senior Program & Campaign Director Roles
Multi-Organization Civic & Coalition Leadership
03.2023 - 11.2024
Senior Manager, Government Affairs
Cruise, LLC
01.2022 - 03.2023
Senior Manager, Economic & Workforce Development
City & County of San Francisco
12.2019 - 01.2022
Deputy Director, Neighborhood Services
City & County of San Francisco
01.2018 - 12.2019
Early Career
City & County of San Francisco
01.2012 - 01.2018
Dual Bachelors of Arts & Sciences - Statistics & Economics
University of California, Davis
Associate of Science - Accounting
College of San Mateo