David Lee serves as Vice President of Small Business Retention and Expansion for the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, bringing extensive experience in workforce development, economic development, employer engagement, and organizational leadership.
Prior to joining the Chamber, David served with the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Division of Workforce Solutions, where he worked with economic development partners, employers, workforce boards, community colleges, and other organizations to develop recruitment and workforce strategies supporting business growth and major economic development projects across North Carolina. He previously served as Director of Workforce Development for the Foothills Workforce Development Board, overseeing workforce programs and NCWorks Career Centers across a four-county region.
Before beginning his civilian career, David served 21 years in the U.S. Army. His military career included leadership and recruiting assignments as well as deployments to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
David holds an MBA and a bachelor’s degree in business administration with concentrations in Finance and Accounting. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Strategic Leadership from Liberty University, with research focused on leading and mentoring a multigenerational workforce. He is also a Leadership North Carolina alumnus.
David’s work is centered on building relationships, connecting businesses with resources, and bringing partners together to help employers and communities grow.
