Lisa Benjamin

Lisa Y. Benjamin, CPA, is a partner at Atlanta-based consultant firm Lexicon Strategies that specializes in public affairs, media, marketing, and strategic consulting engagements for national and international firms. She is the former Chief Operating Officer for the City of Atlanta where she was the highest-ranking public official appointed by Mayor Andre Dickens. She previously led a staff of 8,500 and was responsible for city operations including public safety, transportation, water and sewer, capital infrastructure, convention hospitality, small business development, information technology, innovation, and operation of the world’s busiest airport Hartsfield Jackson International. The City has financial oversight for over $11 billion in funds. She served as the Vice Chair of the City’s Pension Investment Board with close to $4 billion in institutional investments. The city won numerous awards during her tenure, including Money Magazine naming the City of Atlanta the Best Place to Live. Financial stewardship led to city reserves exceeding $200 million and Moody’s and Fitch affirmed Aa1 and AA+ bond ratings for its general obligation debt. Prior to this role, she served as President and CEO of Atlanta Habitat for Humanity and led one of the country's highest-producing and impactful affiliates, serving over 1,000 families in five years. The organization was recognized as the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Best Charity in Metro Atlanta and the Best Place to Work by the Atlanta Business Chronicle. She is a strategic leader and consensus builder who enjoys working on complex business issues that leverage technology and creating opportunities for robust client-focused solutions. She has a strong acumen for complex financial transactions, public-private partnerships, and small business development. She was appointed as a Global Governing Trustee Board after serving on the Americas Executive Committee of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and Chair for ULI Atlanta, the leading commercial real estate and development organization serving 45,000 members globally. She also serves on the Advisory Board for ULI’s Terwilliger Center of Housing. Lisa was recently recognized for her leadership by Syracuse University with the 2023 Orange Circle Award for distinguished service, 100 Most Influential Women in Georgia Engineering 2023, the Atlanta Business Chronicle as a 2021 Power 100 - Most Influential Atlantans, and Women Who Mean Business. Other noteworthy awards include Atlanta Magazine’s Top 500 Leaders, and Bisnow magazine’s Top 40 most influential women in commercial real estate. Lisa graduated from The Maxwell School at Syracuse University, is a Georgetown University alum, and received her second master’s degree from Nova Southeastern in Accounting. She is a licensed CPA in the State of Florida. She is an avid golfer who lives in Atlanta, Georgia and enjoys spending time with her family.