Dee Williams-Ridley is an accomplished public sector leader with over 30 years of public sector experience, including more than 15 years in executive leadership roles. Known for her strategic vision, negotiation skills, and commitment to community engagement, Ms. Williams-Ridley is a proven leader dedicated to fostering effective governance and service delivery.
Currently serving as City Manager for the City of Berkeley, Ms. Williams-Ridley oversees a workforce of 1,800 employees and manages an annual budget exceeding $600 million. Her leadership encompasses all municipal departments, including public safety, public works, finance, and community services. She has successfully implemented over 230 City Council initiatives annually, spearheaded strategic planning efforts, and led significant policy initiatives such as Reimagining Public Safety and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging programs.
Ms. Williams-Ridley’s tenure in Berkeley includes managing major community-focused projects, labor negotiations for multiple bargaining units, and overseeing key infrastructure and public safety improvements. Her prior roles include Deputy City Manager and Human Resources Director for the City of Modesto, where she co-managed budgets exceeding $385 million and led transformative cost-saving measures, including labor contracts and outsourcing strategies that resulted in over $6 million in savings.
Earlier in her career, Ms. Williams-Ridley held leadership roles with the County of San Mateo and the County of Sacramento, where she implemented workforce strategies, conducted labor negotiations, and developed innovative succession planning and process improvements.