Vi Lyles

For Mayor Lyles, job creation is an essential indicator of economic growth, but workforce development is her personal passion. She is seen as a champion for those facing employment barriers, helping them develop and enhance their talents and skills and ensuring that the city is committed to all opportunities.

Under the leadership of Mayor Lyles, job growth has flourished, and more than 27,000 new jobs have been created. Among the recent honors, Charlotte is the fastest-growing technology city in the United States, one of the top 10 rising cities among the top 10 start-ups, and the top growth city for companies owned by American companies. Just last year, Honeywell, a Fortune 100 company, moved its headquarters, and Microsoft has promised to expand its operations in the city.

Before the mayoral election, Lyles served two terms on the City Council as a representative from 2013 to 2017. Her career highlights include leading the restructuring of government programs to assess performance audits for city programs and creating the city’s first capital budget.

Lyles hails from Columbia, South Carolina. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Queens University and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of North Carolina. Lyles was married for 17 years to John Lyles before his death in 2013.