Kate Sofis

Kate Sofis works at the intersection of maker-­entrepreneurship, manufacturing, and urban economic development. Kate currently serves as Founding Executive Director of SFMade. A public-­private partnership launched in 2010 and already viewed as a new national model, SFMade brings together San Francisco’s government leaders, the technology community and other major corporations, and private capital to catalyze the local urban manufacturing sector. SFMade’s innovative programs -­ which include a powerful shared local brand platform, education and advisory services, real estate and capital support, and “Maker-­Force” development -­ currently reach more than 550 San Francisco-­based manufacturers, employing close to 5000 diverse urban residents.

Kate is also co-­founder of the Urban Manufacturing Alliance, a national initiative which currently engages more than 30 other major US cities in a new collaborative platform, all working on developing their own respective urban manufacturing economies. Prior to SFMade, Kate held senior positions at Pacific Community Ventures, ICF Consulting, and Ernst and Young. She has also held operating roles at a wide range of manufacturers, spanning computer and medical devices, ceramic tile, furniture, and green building products.

In addition to serving on numerous local boards and task forces, Kate has participated as an invited member of the Clinton Global Initiative on the US Economy since its inception in 2011. Kate is also an appointee to the bi-­partisan Special Commission on Manufacturing at the Miller Center in Washington D.C. Kate holds an M.S. in City Design and Social Policy from the London School of Economics and an A.B. in Economics from Harvard University. Originally from Buffalo, NY, Kate lives with her “SFMade” daughters, in the Mission District of San Francisco.