Leading with Perseverance, Passion & Purpose

Gina Gonzalez, Economic Development Director, for the City of Menifee, has perseverance, passion and purpose. She leads with a servant heart, doesn’t take no for an answer, and works tirelessly to create solutions to development impediments. This type of passion is why Menifee is California’s #1 Boomtown and the Nation’s #7 Boomtown. This determination has catapulted Menifee’s development in the short time she has overseen the City’s Office of Economic Development and their strategic plan for development as the City’s Director, creating award winning business attraction, retention and expansion efforts. “Winners find ways, a term our Mayor voiced long ago – and has resonated with me ever since,” says Gonzalez. Settling for the answer ‘no’ is taking the easy way out of a difficult situation. “I believe in living in the gray area and thinking outside the box when dealing with complex situations. I take risks and walk confidently in my beliefs and passions,” says Gonzalez. “I would not be in the position I am today without pushing boundaries, taking risks, standing my ground and letting my heart guide my path through all adversity- because when you have a belief in this mindset- anything is achievable and do-able… and this is something I like to share with my team, mentees, and those around me.”

Armed with this frame of thinking, Gina wants to take the city to new heights. Since her tenure in the City of Menifee, she has been a part of a lot of the city’s historic firsts; acquiring the city’s first piece of land, developing and building the city’s first public facility, developing the city’s first Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) and Jobs Blueprint Plan; Citywide Branding, first Incoming Innovation District and the city’s Unique Restaurant Strategy; and today, she is a part of California’s only award-winning Smart Cities Certified Executive Team and is responsible for assisting in growing city coffers from $59M to close to $200M in 5 years; and has assisted in spurring over 13M sq ft of new industrial development, over 1.5M in retail development, and over 120k of incoming office development that is processing in the city.

Her tenacity for her community, where she also lives, has led to one of Chick-fila-A’s most significant development purchases in history that will provide a much-needed and complex revitalization project within the city. She has also led the efforts to coordinate and cultivate the region’s top industrial market at the north end of her city (Northern Gateway), which is kicking off with over $300M in infrastructure.

These projects will begin the city’s first industrial wave with incoming fortune 500 companies, new jobs, and much-needed beautification and revitalization. Gina’s commitment to bettering Menifee for residents and visitors is transforming this city from just a “travel through” to a “travel to” destination – where today Menifee’s culinary scene has started to blossom – housing three So Cal Chef Open Pinnacle and People’s Choice winning Chefs Mario Amaral, Dylan Soro and Rosie O’Connor.

Menifee’s Economic Development strategy developed the “Building Better Business” (B3) program and assists as a business ombudsman and ambassador for business owners in the community while also helping and encouraging business expansion. The City’s B3 program provides programming, workshops, partnerships, opportunities for investment, and support to assist growing local businesses. The City’s Economic Development team also helps with business attraction in the city and bridges landowners with developers, site selectors, and companies to cultivate projects for the city, and today has over 275 current and active projects bustling in the city – coining the city as a “development jungle.”

Once a project partner has decided to invest in the city, Gina and her award-winning team assist the business/tenant/ or developer with the government process internally, assuring their project is “streamlined,” and their approval and building process is as easy as saying 3-2-1! Menifee’s development team triages projects together that have led to Menifee being recognized as one of the most Business-Friendly Cities in California and recognized as Partner of the Year with the Building Industry Association (BIA) Inland Empire Chapter, the only city in the organizations history to receive this designation.

Ms. Gonzalez believes she is only as strong as the team she’s surrounded by. She provides her team with all the tools and opportunities needed for career and personal advancement, creating high workplace performance and purpose. This has led to her team is one of the few in California that is state-certified Economic Developers (ACE) by the California Association for Local Economic Development. Gonzalez is a great communicator, active listener and values her team’s input individually. She is personable, collaborative, and a huge team player; and shows this through her daily interactions in the community. Through her actions as a servant leader, she has created an innovative and motivated work environment which has reflected in the success of Menifee’s Economic Development Department and in the transformation of the City of Menifee. Gina leads by example, influencing and encouraging her team to be the leaders of tomorrow.