Aimee Faucett has spent her career in the room where decisions get made.

From City Hall to the Chamber of Commerce—and now as CEO of the San Diego County Building Industry Association—she’s built a reputation as someone who doesn’t just understand how things work in San Diego, but how to actually move them forward.

In this episode of Dear San Diego, Tony Manolatos and guest co-host Elizabeth Wilberg sit down with Aimee to talk about what it really takes to lead under pressure—and why some of the region’s biggest challenges remain so difficult to solve.

Chapters:

00:00:00 – Welcome to Dear San Diego & ECS Community Impact
00:04:17 – Introducing Aimee Faucett: From City Hall to Housing Leadership
00:09:03 – Early Life, SDSU, and a Career in Public Affairs
00:13:00 – Inside the Mayor’s Office: Pressure, Crisis, and Leadership
00:17:20 – COVID Response and Managing Citywide Challenges
00:19:39 – Leadership Styles: Jerry Sanders vs. Kevin Faulconer
00:28:10 – San Diego’s Housing Crisis: Policy, Politics, and Reality
00:35:21 – Leading the Building Industry: Solutions Over Complaints
00:38:20 – Women in Leadership: Challenges, Mentorship, and Growth
00:43:53 – Is San Diego on the Right Track? Final Thoughts & Predictions