City of PasadenaCandidate for City Council, District 7

Andy Wilson is a serial entrepreneur having led, founded or invested in almost two dozen Southern California high tech start-ups. He has a long history of service with local not for profits including leadership roles at Pasadena Heritage, Pacific Oaks College, the Gamble House and SteamCODERS.  Andy is a co-founder and board member of Innovate Pasadena, which is dedicated to advancing the east side of Los Angeles as a vibrant innovation community. He is a frequent speaker on the role of innovation to create high paying local jobs with the goal of enhancing quality of life in our community.

Andy has extensive volunteer experience with the City of Pasadena including service on the Planning Commission, Design Commission, Urban Forestry Advisory Commission and the Pasadena Center Operating Committee. Andy currently serves on both the Municipal Services Committee and the Economic Development and Technology Committee of the City Council.

Andy is an advocate for thoughtful urban planning that protects neighborhoods and is committed to the Complete Streets and Active Transport concepts, making it easier for people to walk, bike, use transit and ride share. Since in office, Andy has been active in both the South Lake Business Association and the Playhouse District Association in an effort to attract high quality tenants and promote the success of these District 7 Business Improvement Districts.  With an extensive background in finance, Andy is committed to fiscal responsibility while maintaining high quality service in key areas like public safety and recreation and parks.

Andy holds a degree in engineering with honors from Dartmouth College and an MBA from Harvard Business School.  He is a graduate of Leadership Pasadena and has completed advanced certificate programs at Columbia University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Northwestern Kellogg School of Business.  He and his wife Liz can often be seen walking with their school aged boys and rescue dog in Madison Heights, their home for 20 years.

Community and collaboration are the basis of effective problem-solving.  I have learned this lesson many times as tech entrepreneur.  The best way to a better future is keeping an open mind, listening to others, seek innovative approaches and following through.  I see diversity as an incredible strength; it encourages new ideas and creative solutions.  We can only address the growing challenges in our society by working together and embracing the best ideas regardless of source.  I am a proponent of a "bridges, not walls" mindset that allows us to actively embrace others who think, act and behave differently in hopes that we can find innovative solutions to tackle important problems. As long as we share core values (integrity, respect, transparency, honesty, etc.) and commit to a better future, then we'll have the glue to drive us forward collectively.  Diversity drives creativity and community drives high impact action.