• Passionate about building thriving communities

    THAT ARE BEAUTIFUL, SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE

Nonprofit management consultant for land use and civic
organizations

Mary Lydon's clients range from professional, business, economic development, community based, and social service organizations.

Proven strengths include:

  • Building Strategic Alliances
  • Entrepreneurial
  • Catalyst for Positive Change
  • Implementing Strategic Plans
  • Public and Government Relations
  • Strategic Fund Raising
  • Public Speaking
  • Community Development

Mary Lydon offers the following services and more:

  • Strategic Planning
  • Strategic Communications
  • Public and Government Relations
  • Community Engagement and Design Process
  • High Level Convenings with Expertise in the Built Environment

About Mary Lydon

Mary Lydon has worked with the private-sector, public-sector and nonprofit organizations and helped all set and achieve goals for new projects and services. She has held leadership roles within several major San Diego organizations and has helped organize and run a large range of successful conferences, workshops, studies, communication campaigns, community planning seminars and educational panels.

Ms. Lydon is a Certified Association Executive and Communication Strategist with a special focus on land use. With her depth of experience and ability to comprehend and connect complex ideas, she is able to work to find creative solutions where everybody wins. She is also able to work both sides of the political aisle with respect, dignity and grace.

Education

  • University of Wisconsin, Madison, June 1985, Bachelors of Science
  • LEAD San Diego Inc., Class of 1996
  • American Society of Association Executives, Certified Association Executive (CAE), 1995
  • Harvard Kennedy School, Executive Leadership Program, 2010

Professional and Civic Engagement

  • Center for Creative Land Recycling, Advisory Board Member
  • Humble Design, Advisory Board
  • San Diego Coalition for Public Places, Board of Directors
  • UCSD Center for Housing Policy and Design, Advisory Board
  • Ocean Beach People’s Food Co-Op, Community Outreach Committee
  • Open House San Diego, Co-chair, a global event focused on bringing architecture to citizens at large, 2016
  • Citizens’ Stadium Advisory Group 2015, City of San Diego, Appointed by Mayor Kevin Faulconer
  • American Society of Association Executives Member
  • City of San Diego Planning Commissioner, Appointed by Mayor Jerry Sanders, 2009 to 2013
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Speaking Engagements

  • Speaker at the American Planning Association National Conference 2022
  • Speaker at southern California universities, national and international conferences including the Aspen Institute’s Creative Arts World Summit in Muscat Oman in 2011

Author

Author of numerous articles for several publications including:

  • San Diego Daily Transcript
  • Voice of San Diego
  • San Diego Union Tribune
  • San Diego Business Journal
Chapter Co-Author:

Positions & Clients

HomeAid San Diego, Project Consultant
  • HomeAid builds and maintains housing and programmatic facilities for reputable nonprofit organizations and public institutions serving those experiencing homelessness by leveraging relationships within the building industry to garner in-kind donations of labor and materials.
 
Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties, YIGBY Initiative, Lead Project Manager
  • YIGBY works with leaders of faith communities, nonprofit organizations and local governments to help them transform their underutilized real estate into low income housing which serves their missions and communities. This is done using philanthropy and impact investing.
 
LeSar Development Consultants, Principal
  • Housing Policy Leadership Academy development and implementation
 
San Diego Architectural Foundation, Project Consultant
  • Leadership and fundraising development
 
Housing You Matters Coalition, Executive Director
  • Build a broad based coalition of nonprofit organizations to create an agenda of policies and practices that lowers the cost of new housing in the San Diego Region
  • Work with the coalition to find agreed upon platform, fundraise and create the structure for effective decision-making
  • Develop a communication strategy and implement
 
California Economic Summit, San Diego Host Committee, Project Consultant
  • Coordinate leadership team fund raising and program development activities
 
Urban Land Institute San Diego/Tijuana, Executive Director
  • Implemented new position within organization and set up first time office and systems including website
  • Coordinate more than 50 events/year focused on research and education around best land use practices
  • Over the course of the last 5 years have engaged 100s of members to work on as many as 12 committees
  • Moved organization from $125,000 a year operation to over $300,000 in 9 months from 2007 to 2008
  • Secured ULI Community Action Grants for Binational Mayors Forum, Creative Infrastructure Finance Technical Assistance Panel (TAP), Building Healthy Communities Conference and Innovation Economies Conference
  • Developed strategic alliances with regional organizations, universities, elected officials and the media
  • Positioned ULI in the public arena as a binational regional resource through marketing and public relations
  • Created, developed and implemented annual Smart Growth Awards program honoring projects, plans and people demonstrating outstanding sustainable practices
  • Worked with ULI Young Leaders to develop seven years of successful Forum programs
  • Conduct the overall administration of the organization plus manage membership, sponsorship and Management, Governance and Advisory Committee meetings
  • With Treasurer and Chair, develop and manage annual budget and re-certification process
  • Connect ULI members to national programs such as speaking opportunities at national conferences, Product Councils and authoring articles forUrban Land Magazine
  • Conducted TAPs for the following entities: City of National City; City of El Cajon, Port of San Diego, Jacobs Foundation, SANDAG; City of Tijuana. ULI San Diego/Tijuana charges $25,000/TAP.
  • In partnership with ULI CA district councils, conducted a State-wide TAP on High Speed Rail
  • For the past seven years have developed and coordinated an annual Real Estate Trends Conference
  • Created, developed and implemented a national program with the Aspen Institute, titled the Global Forum on the Culture of Innovation and its impact on Land Use. Developed and published report on Ten Principles for Creating Innovation Economies.
  • Participated on national Advisory Panel to develop 10 Principles for Building Healthy Places Report
 
Lambda Alpha International, Project Consultant
  • San Diego Chapter Management
  • Land Economics Weekend International Conference 2015 – Conference Management
 
Bronze Triangle Community Development Corporation, Project Consultant
  • Secured development partner for Comm 22, a $150 million mixed-use affordable housing TOD development
  • Lead team that secured a $1.5 million Smart Growth Improvement Grant from CALTRANS
  • Represented CDC in negotiating long term lease with the San Diego Unified School District
  • Represented CDC throughout pre-development process
  • Coordinated community design charrette for over 200 residents, and 20 architects and developers
  • Coordinated community site tour for 50 architects, developers and banks
  • Implemented EITC site, returning millions of tax dollars to low income families over three years
  • Strategically aligned organization with the business community and elected officials
  • Project awarded planning award from the American Planning Association Awards in May 2004
 
Stepner Design Group, Project Consultant
  • Coordinated team for Family Justice Center Design charrette
  • Coordinated team for Warner Springs Ranch Specific Plan Update
  • Coordinated team for Colina Park and Logan Heights visioning for the LISC Neighborhoods First program
 
San Diego Roots, Fund Raising Consultant
  • In partnership with San Diego Natural History Museum and OB People’s Food Co-op worked to secure urban farm land to develop community serving agriculture and education center
 
San Ysidro Business Improvement District, Project Consultant
  • Designed proposal that secured $300,000 CALTRANS grant for a pedestrian master plan
 
Greater Golden Hill Community Development Corporation, Project Consultant
  • Designed and Implemented an Organizational Rebuilding Strategy
 
Space 4 Art, Project Consultant
  • Worked with Board and Staff to develop a 2 year strategic plan focused on development of a $2 million live/work loft project for artists
 
Highland Partnership Master Builder, Business Development Director
 
 
Smith Consulting Architects, Business Development Director
 
 
Downtown San Diego Partnership, Vice President
  • Managed process and campaign for $3 million Property BID for Downtown San Diego
  • Advocated for association before various City and County agencies, media, businesses and other organizations
  • Formed business development programs to promote Downtown San Diego as the region’s center of commerce, government and culture
  • Managed Urban Design and Development, Parking and Transportation, and Maintenance Committees
  • Created International Business Committee, positioning Downtown as an international trade center
  • Created the Social Action Collaborative to focus on addressing issues with the homeless
  • Created the High Technology Committee, positioning Downtown as a High Tech Center
  • Created inaugural Downtown Parking Map
 
Armed Services YMCA, Director of Communications
  • Created and executed communications strategy
  • Served as agency spokesperson and managed all communications between agency and public
  • Designed and produced quarterly newsletters, and all marketing materials
  • Raised over $60,000 through special events
  • Applied for an received $130,000 in grants for program support
 
Armed Forces Fleet Week, Executive Director
  • In conjunction with the City, County and Port of San Diego, coordinated annual county-wide celebration saluting the military, consisting of twenty separate events and 45,000 participants
  • Raised $200,000 for program support