Innovation Award Mentor – Lilias Folkes John

Since 2020, Lilias has worked for the City of Charlotte as the Public Private Partnerships Advisor / Senior Program Manager. In this role, she is responsible for deploying over $109 million of public investment funding to be leveraged into over $3.3 billion of transformative development for the City of Charlotte with projects being fully built over the next 20-30 years.

She is also responsible for advancing notable join development projects including Camp North End, Ballantyne Reimagined and The River District.  Her position enables her to direct staff across multiple departments to promptly resolve critical issues impacting project progress and public approvals.  Perhaps her biggest strengths are maximizing and effectively strengthening relationships internally, externally and throughout the community.

In addition to these achievements, Lilias jointly developed and implemented a Leadership Development Program with the Senior Operations Manager and Deputy Director to elevate the skills, confidence, storytelling/messaging, communication and project management skill of a staff of 18 people.  Her extensive real estate and economic development background serves her well in all of her endeavors.

Lilias received her Bachelor of Arts with an Economics Concentration from Hunter College as well as her Graduate degree in Urban Planning and an Economic Development Concentration.  She received her Master of Science in Real Estate Development from Columbia University and also holds a Leadership Certificate from Columbia Business School.

In her spare time, Lilias volunteers with the Urban Institute and is founder of His Faithful Steward, a financial management program serves those within the faith-based community and those in at-risk communities.