Melinda Yee Franklin is a thought leader and legislative strategist with a sustained track record of successfully enhancing corporate reputation to generate sales revenue and drive business development. She has cultivated a global network of high level corporate, government and civic leaders which enables her to execute on business initiatives. Through her various leadership roles, she has demonstrated strong expertise in corporate governance, risk management, public policy, strategic development, and international affairs.

In 2019, she was named one of the most influential women in Bay Area Business by the San Francisco Business Times. She is the Chair of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce. She is also a past Chair of the San Francisco Travel Association and sits on the boards of the San Francisco Opera, the National Association of Corporate Directors Northern California Chapter, the Hong Kong Association of Northern California, the San Francisco/Shanghai Sister City Committee and the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation.

Since 2006, she has served as the Managing Director of Corporate and Government Affairs for the Western Region for United Airlines. She is the company’s lead advocate on legislative, corporate, and policy issues related to California, Hawaii, Alaska, Oregon, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, and Washington State. She has been the chief corporate strategist on the California Consumer Privacy Act, tax and other critical business issues that impact the aviation industry.

Prior to United, she held senior positions at The Siena Group and Meet World Trade where she advised organizations on strategic investment, marketing, human resources, and business development initiatives.

Specialties: Corporate Governance, Risk and Crisis Management, International Trade, Strategic Business Development, Organizational Change, Leadership, Government Relations, Transportation and Aviation Policy, Political Appointments, and Public Affairs.

San Francisco runs through Joe D’Alessandro’s blood. He’s the grandson of Italian immigrants who arrived in San Francisco over 100 years ago. It’s only fitting that he now leads an organization that was founded at roughly the same time.

Since taking the job as President and CEO in 2006, Joe has driven San Francisco Travel to adopt the San Francisco ethos of community, innovation, openness and change as its core business values. The association has embraced an award winning comprehensive digital marketing strategy that makes the most of a rapidly evolving technological landscape. It has forged partnerships with and between hotels, attractions, and neighboring destinations to maximize both the visitor experience and organizational goals.

Among his achievements was the development of the San Francisco Tourism Improvement District, which created a unique and sustainable funding structure that has become a national model for tourism promotion. He led the massive renovation and expansion efforts of the Moscone Center, one of the most in-demand convention centers in the nation. And the association has rebranded and refocused, charting an ambitious strategic course for its next 100 years that includes focused efforts in destination management, sustainability, economic development and public policy.

Before joining San Francisco Travel, Joe was the CEO of Travel Portland and CEO of the Oregon Tourism Commission, where he was named State Tourism Director of the Year by the National Council of State Tourism Directors. Joe is a leader in the city as well as in the industry. He has lent his knowledge and skills to a number of groups, including serving on the boards of US Travel, Visit California and the San Francisco’s Super Bowl 50 Host Committee. He was named the Most Admired CEO by The San Francisco Business Times.

Rodney Fong is the President & CEO at the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, and a fourth generation San Franciscan, has an extensive business and civic background, including serving on the San Francisco Planning Commission for eight years, with two years as President.

He formerly served as President of the San Francisco Port Commission, Chair of the San Francisco Travel Association & on the boards of the San Francisco Bay Area Super Bowl 50 Host Committee, the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, Fort Mason Center, Fisherman’s Wharf Merchant’s Association, Fisherman’s Wharf Community Benefit District, Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation, and the Bay Institute.

As the president of Fong Real Estate Company, Fong oversees leasing and tenant concerns for properties including the 100,000 square foot Wax Museum Entertainment Complex building in the heart of historic Fisherman’s Wharf, as well as Broadway Apartments. He also served as a third generation operator/owner of the world-famous Wax Museum at Fisherman’s Wharf until its sale in 2013.

Franklin Mak, a graduate of New York University and received his Master at Chinese University of Hong Kong, has been working for Marriott over 27 years. He started his journey with Marriott International at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel in 1991 and worked at a number of Marriott Hotels in New York including New York Marriott Eastside and the former New York Marriott Word Trade Center. Franklin was a survivor from the 911 event when he was station at Marriott World Trade during the incident.

In 2004, Franklin moved to Asia and joined the JW Marriott Hong Kong. In 2010, Franklin opened the Area office in Beijing and has taken the role as Area Director of Finance and the Vice President of Hotel Opening.

In 2014, Franklin was appointed by Marriott International as Market Vice President (MVP) of North China. In his MVP capacity, he took care of hotels in North China in cities like Beijing, Tianjin, Harbin, Zhengzhou, Suzhou, Wuhan, Chengdu, Chongqing etc.

In 2016, Franklin was promoted to Senior Vice President, Greater China and took the responsibility as corporate legal entity. He plays a critical leadership role for the region, driving key finance and strategic planning efforts in this very important region for our company.

Franklin has been recognized with numerous awards in Marriott as well as in the hospitality industry.