Cassandra Costello
Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director @San Francisco Zoo & Gardens
Signup · Get unlimited contacts
WORK HISTORY
Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director @San Francisco Zoo & Gardens
EDUCATION
University of San Francisco
Bachelor's Degree, Communication Studies with emphasis on Journalism
SKILLS
ABOUT CASSANDRA COSTELLO
About Cassandra Costello Forward-thinking nonprofit executive with over 20 years of experience driving meaningful change across public policy, community development, and economic growth initiatives. Known for forging strategic partnerships across government, nonprofit, and business sectors to deliver transformative results, with a commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion. Key StrengthsStrategic Leadership | Public Policy Expertise | Community Advocacy | Nonprofit Management | Fundraising & Budgeting | Economic Development | Tourism Promotion | Crisis Management | Stakeholder Engagement | Media Relations Career HighlightsStrategic Visionary Leadership: Directed the Vision 2025 planning process, aligning organizational goals and cross-departmental initiatives to drive sustainable growth.Community Impact & Advocacy: Helped to found the San Francisco Community Benefit District Alliance Board, ensuring critical representation for SF Travel while addressing key tourism challenges.Revenue Growth: Renewed and expanded the Tourism Improvement District (TID), securing over $28M in funding to enhance long-term marketing strategies.Program Development: Spearheaded the $20M Welcome Ambassador Program, integrating innovative safety and sales strategies to attract convention and group business.High-Stakes Negotiations: Negotiated multi-million-dollar leases, generating $40M+ in annual revenue and securing a $5.5M post-COVID recovery grant to revitalize tourism operations. Mission-Driven ExpertiseRecognized for reshaping bureaucratic systems, building collaborative partnerships, and aligning operations with best practices. Proficient in managing complex budgets, securing substantial funding, and leading high-performing teams to implement large-scale initiatives. Commitment to San FranciscoDedicated to enhancing San Francisco’s reputation as a global destination by driving tourism development, improving visitor experiences, and advocating for innovative public policies that foster economic growth and community resilience.🤝 Let’s connect to explore opportunities to collaborate and make a lasting impact on communities and organizations.
This profile is compiled from publicly available professional sources. Unifers is not affiliated with or endorsed by LinkedIn. Request removal of this profile.