Shirley Lee’s interest in the green industry came naturally. At age six, Lee and her family immigrated from mainland China to the U.S. Growing up in Orange County, she spent many Sunday afternoons next to her mother digging in the soil as well as helping her father repair lawn sprinklers for the family-owned apartment buildings.

Lee put herself through college. She sold handyman services during the school year and managed a team of 60 workers in the summer. Lee graduated with a double major in communications and women’s studies at the University of California in Santa Barbara.

Lee later moved to business development and became a published author and trainer with Dale Carnegie. She also built a green sourced construction company, managing the company’s finances, regulatory compliance, training and recruiting. That company was acknowledged by the San Fernando Business Journal as both a top minority and women-owned business in the Los Angeles area.

Lee continues to be deeply involved in the green industry, working on behalf of local water agencies to educate property managers and service providers on available resources, incentives, and grants to develop more sustainable landscapes. She is a certified water manager, irrigation auditor and qualified water-efficient landscaper.