Women in Construction: Phoebe Lee
Phoebe Lee
Affinity Apparel
CEO
8 years in the industry
Transferring her love for fashion into her dream business, Phoebe Lee serves as chief executive officer of Affinity Apparel, a national leader in the uniform marketplace. The company based outside of Dayton, Ohio provides daily workwear apparel for more than 400,000 employees annually, representing hundreds of companies. She previously oversaw operations at VDP Safety & Uniforms, a Cleveland-based supplier of safety apparel and equipment, where she held the position of president for five years. Lee began her educational pursuits at Cuyahoga Community College during her high school career and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Clark Atlanta University in Georgia where she graduated magna cum laude. While studying business administration and supply chain management, she never lost sight of her passion for fashion. While living in Brooklyn, NY, she also studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City and worked within the business of fashion.
Lee is a graduate of the inaugural class of the Emerging Young Entrepreneur (EYE) Program sponsored by the National Minority Supplier’s Development Council (NMSDC). She was selected as one of 13 Millennial CEO’s nationally to participate in this program.
The Shaker Heights resident has also worked as a model appearing on Good Morning America, The Today Show, NY Live, VH1, among other networks. She has been featured in several magazines including InStyle Magazine.
Active in the community, she serves as a mentor for high school students at John Hay High School through the ACE Program. She has also served as a committee chair for the NAACP Freedom Fund Gala. Appointed to a five-year term in 2018 by former Governor John Kasich to the Board of Trustees at Cuyahoga Community College, Lee serves on the Nominating and Workforce Development Committees. Lee is passionate about working with youth from the community that served her.
What would you like to see change in construction?
I’m concerned about the trades. There is a stigma. I don’t understand why. We have to do more to attract and keep people.