Board Member James Sly

Board Member, Appointed by East County Area Mayors

James Sly serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Grossmont Healthcare District, where he leads initiatives to strengthen community health, expand access to care, and support residents across East County. Sly is responsible for guiding the District’s strategic direction, partnerships, and investments to improve health outcomes and quality of life throughout the region.

Prior to joining the District, Sly served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the East County Economic Development Council (EDC), where he defined and implemented a diverse project portfolio spanning education, industry, workforce, and government. He led major initiatives supporting small business growth, advancing healthcare and manufacturing workforce pipelines, and securing millions in state, federal and grant funding. During his tenure, he also oversaw the launch and expansion of the East County Small Business Development Center and various novel workforce development initiatives.

Earlier in his career, Sly worked as a management consultant supporting startup and mid-sized businesses across San Diego, and as a workforce expert for the One-Stop Career Center Network and San Diego’s CalWORKS Welfare-to-Work and Refugee Resettlement programs. He has been able to leverage this multifaceted skillset to the region’s benefit, coordinating resources from across the spectrum to support stakeholders throughout East County and the larger San Diego community.

A San Diego native, Sly holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from San Diego State University, an MBA from Western Governors University, a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt from UC San Diego, and leadership certifications from the San Diego Public Leadership Institute and Harvard Business School.

The East County area mayors appointed Mr. Sly to the Board for a term ending on January 31, 2028.