San Francisco Sun

San Francisco's Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) has appointed Iowayna Peña as the new Director of Workforce Development. The announcement was made by OEWD Executive Director Sarah Dennis Phillips, who praised Peña for her blend of public-sector enthusiasm and private-sector expertise. Peña began her role on January 6, 2025.

“Iowayna brings exactly the right mix of public-sector passion and private-sector know-how to supercharge our work creating pathways to good paying jobs while advancing equity and inclusion," stated Dennis Phillips. "We are thrilled to have Iowayna join the City’s leadership team.”

Peña expressed her excitement about joining the team, saying, “I am deeply honored and excited to join this incredible team. My goal is to empower and support San Franciscans through innovative programs that ensure our workforce attains the necessary skills to thrive in a rapidly evolving economy."

Before joining OEWD, Peña served as Director of Government Affairs & Real Estate Development for the San Francisco Giants. During her tenure with the Giants, she played a key role in delivering phase one of the Mission Rock development project along with launching Mission Rock Academy.

Her previous roles include working as a Legislative Aide and District Director for Supervisor Malia Cohen in 2018 and serving on the City’s Workforce Investment San Francisco Board. State Controller Malia Cohen commended Peña's commitment: “Having worked closely with Iowayna, I can attest to her brilliance and her commitment to improving the lives of all San Francisco residents.”

Meg Anne Pryor from Local 3 also supported Peña's appointment: “Iowayna is a great person for this job... She is going to do great things for the City of San Francisco.”

Peña is actively involved in supporting LGBTQ communities and holds degrees from California State University, Fullerton.