Lena is a recognized public affairs professional who works across Kentucky to better local communities and governments.

Lena has a breadth of experience advocating for state and local-level issues across Kentucky. Notably, she served for two years as Executive Director of You Decide, Kentucky! (YDK!), a nonprofit organization that supports modernizing the Constitution of Kentucky so that local revenue generation can empower economic growth and community decision-making throughout the Commonwealth. Prior to this role, Lena spent several years in Louisville Metro Government’s Office of the Mayor overseeing legislative strategy as Intergovernmental Affairs Liaison. She was responsible for developing and coordinating strategies and action plans to advance the office’s legislative agenda, with particular focus on policy regarding government administration, taxation, and public safety.

Prior to settling back in Louisville, Lena lived and traveled across South America for a number of years. Today she leads her community as a member of the Assumption High School Alumnae Association Board, Kids Cancer Alliance Young Professionals Committee, Home of the Innocents Stakeholder Engagement Committee, and as a program facilitator with the Kentucky YMCA Youth Association. She is a 2021 New Leaders Council Institute Fellow, a 2022 Leadership Louisville Ignite graduate, a 2023 Young Professionals Association of Louisville Award recipient, and a 2025 Bingham Fellow.

Lena graduated from the Honor’s Program of DePaul University with a Bachelor of Arts and completed her Master of Arts at Universidad de Belgrano in Buenos Aires, Argentina.Lena was raised in Louisville. She is married to Matias Polizzi, a business professional and proud Argentine expat, and their family is completed by their dogs Perry and Uco. They are joyous aunt and uncle to three nieces.