Linda DiMario

DiMario is a multi-dimensional economic development professional with over forty years’ experience in public, private and non-profit sectors. She served as the Greater Irvine Chamber’s Executive Vice President for over seven years leading a full scope of economic development and tourism work including business attraction, business growth strategies, foreign direct investment focusing on UK life science and technology company expansion to Irvine/Orange County, talent attraction solutions, growing the Irvine/OC innovation eco-system and winning the 2018 Presidential “E” Award for export assistance.
Currently, DiMario is contracted by OCTANE serving as Director, Community Engagement for the Octane Foundation for Innovation (OFI). In this role, she leads a portfolio of community initiatives including Women Leaders of Octane; STEAM Ahead, Non-Profit Accelerator and NPA 2.0 projects – all directed at underserved and underrepresented communities - accelerating women-led and founded businesses, encouraging early and consistent engagement in STEAM jobs and careers and helping non-profits increase their community impact in these same communities.

Before joining the Chamber, DiMario was the owner of DiMario & Associates, an economic development, community branding and tourism consulting practice working with over 100 cities, counties and organizations across the U.S. to help grow, rebuild, re-invent or reimagine their economies including IEDC/EDA mission recoveries post Hurricanes Katrina and Ike to Louisiana and Texas.
Prior to consulting, DiMario was president and CEO of the Arlington (TX) Convention & Visitors Bureau instrumental in the Dallas Cowboys Stadium development, CEO of the Long Beach Area (CA) CVB taking a lead role in the city’s economic transformation; VP Sales & Marketing, Visit Tucson, AZ; VP Sales & Marketing Oakland CVB; hotel sales management positions with Hilton, Queen Mary and Disneyland Hotel and Washington State gubernatorial and congressional campaign management.

She currently serves on the Board of Directors for OCTANE and the OC World Affairs Council. And is a regular guest contributor to fDi Alliance magazine. Recognitions include World Trade Week Global Leadership, OCTANE’s Leadership in Success of Orange County, Jaycees Belle Lowe Woman of the Year, Soroptimist’s Woman of the Year for Economic Development, City of Long Beach Black Manager’s Wings Beneath Our Wings, CA State Assembly District Woman of the Year and Central Washington State University, College of the Sciences 2017 Alumni of the Year.