Hollie Lee

Hollie has a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Political Science from Mary Baldwin University and a Master of Public Administration from James Madison University. She also holds an Executive Certificate in Leadership and Management from Notre Dame University has a Leadership Coaching Certificate from the International Coaching Federation. She is a graduate of Leadership Charlottesville and the City’s Leadership Development Academy. In addition to former board positions with the Virginia Downtown Development Association, the local Workforce Investment Board, and the Central Virginia Small Business Development Center Advisory Council, Hollie helped launch the Chamber Minority Business Council.

Prior to joining the UVA School of Continuing and Professional Studies in May 2021, Hollie was employed with the City of Charlottesville Office of Economic Development for almost 14 years. There, she was instrumental in providing entrepreneurial support services and programing for Charlottesville businesses, establishing the City’s Minority Business Program and Business Equity Fund Loan and Grant programs. In 2013, her role expanded to include a concentration on workforce development, thus reflecting the City's efforts to further align workforce and economic development efforts. She oversaw the establishment of the City’s Downtown Job Center, which provides intensive employment services to job seekers; created the City’s first Workforce Advisory Council; and helped with the development of several new workforce development programs including GO Driver, a Commercial Driver’s License training program that prepares low-income City residents for employment with Charlottesville Area Transit. In 2016, this innovative program model received four awards from local, state, and national organizations.

In 2014, Hollie was recognized as a one of Charlottesville Woman Magazine’s 4 under 40 Award recipients at the Quadruplicity Women’s Conference and was presented the Volunteer of the Year Award by the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce. In 2016, she received the Excellence in Business Award from Forward/Adelanté, Virginia’s first bi-lingual business journal. She also received the John F. Bell Sr. Vanguard Diversity in Business Award from the Chamber of Commerce in 2018. She was recognized as a local Climate Leader (for Better Business Challenge and GO Solar) by the Community Climate Collaborative in 2019.