Mary Leslie

Mary Leslie is President of the Los Angeles Business Council (LABC), a nonprofit advocacy and education organization dedicated to serving L.A.s business community while strengthening public policy in the region. Under Ms. Leslies leadership, the LABC has grown into one of Southern Californias most influential business advocacy organizations, shaping innovative policy on such issues as housing, transportation, education and sustainable development. Most recently, Ms. Leslie led the LABCs successful advocacy on behalf of a solar feed-in tariff (FiT) program for Los Angeles, which will be the largest urban rooftop solar program in the United States.Before joining the Los Angeles Business Council, Ms. Leslie served as Deputy Mayor for Economic Development under Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, and was Deputy Director of the U.S. Small Business Administration, where she oversaw Northridge Earthquake relief funds for Los Angeles. She also served as Executive Director of the California Economic Development Commission, overseeing policy development and trade missions for California business. Before that, she served as President Bill Clintons California Finance Director during his successful 1992 campaign.Ms. Leslie received her Bachelor's degree from the University of Santa Clara, holds a Master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California, and attended the Executive Management Program at the UCLA Anderson School of Management. She has served on the Los Angeles Board of Water and Power Commissioners and the Los Angeles Conservation Corporation Board of Directors, as well as on the Advisory Committees of L.A. Family Housing and the California Womens Law Center.