Dawn is a certified John Maxwell coach, trainer and speaker who thrives when she can support people in reaching their full potential. In addition to developing leaders, FSC provides interim leadership for organizations in leadership transition and has done so as an acting Franklin County Commissioner and Interim Executive Director for Dress for Success and the Charitable Healthcare Network. Forrest Street also executes and manages special projects and helps to introduce, acclimate and integrate African American professionals, and their families into the central Ohio community.
Prior to founding Forrest Street, Dawn served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Columbus, Ohio Mayor Andrew J. Ginther. There, she was the highest ranking African American appointed official and was responsible for advancing the Mayor’s Equity Agenda. She was also tapped by the Mayor to lead the city’s first ever national search for its police chief.
Her transformative work history also includes Senior Vice President for Community Impact at United Way of Central Ohio, Founding Executive Director of Partners Achieving Community Transformation (PACT), a community development collaborative, Assistant Vice President for Government Relations and Assistant Vice President for Outreach and Engagement at The Ohio State University, Board Liaison for Columbus City Schools, Columbus City Council Legislative Aide and Housing Policy Director for the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio.
Dawn has been featured in Business First, Columbus Monthly Magazine, Columbus Alive! and Who’s Who in Black Columbus, and has received numerous awards including being named a YWCA Woman of Achievement. She is a graduate of Harvard Business School Young Americans Leadership Program and the African American Leadership Academy (AALA). She serves on the AALA Advisory Board and is a member of the City of Columbus Civil Service Commission. Dawn earned her master’s degree in urban affairs and public policy from the University of Delaware with a specialization in housing and community development, is a proud graduate of Hampton University and an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.
Dawn lives on the eastside of Columbus, Ohio, with her entrepreneur husband, Robert E. Lee III, and their two lovable, but sometimes ornery, dogs Chiqui and Charli, both rescued from Puerto Rico.
