Barbara Hayes

Executive Director

SACTO
400 Capitol Mall, Suite 2500
Sacramento, CA 95814
Ph:       (916) 441-2144
Fax:     (916) 441-2312
Email:  bhayes@sacto.org

Barbara Hayes is the Executive Director of the Sacramento Area Commerce and Trade Organization (SACTO).  As Executive Director, she is responsible for directing the 500 member-supported organization and its 2 million dollar budget and 10 staff.  She facilitates the six-county region’s economic development efforts by collaborating with local economic development partners, being active in the business community and marketing the Sacramento Region to businesses in an effort to create investment and jobs to ensure regional prosperity and global competitiveness. 

Hayes represents the region through marketing and recruitment missions throughout the U.S. and overseas to attract quality business to the area and strengthen ties with companies already in the area.  During her leadership of SACTO, the organization has been responsible for the successful location and expansion of high-profile companies including Jetblue Airways, Carquest, DeVry University Center, Oracle, Verizon Wireless, Polyclad Technologies, Affymetrix and the GAP Direct, to the Sacramento Region. 

Prior to joining SACTO, Hayes held several positions within the California Trade and Commerce Agency.  She served as the State Director of the California Small Business Development Center Program where she oversaw the operations of 24 small business development centers located across the State and was responsible for the administrative and policy development aspects of the program. Hayes also worked in the Agency’s Office of Business Development where she provided site location assistance to businesses looking to locate in, or relocate within, California.  Additionally, she worked in the Office of Local Development where she provided technical assistance to small businesses and local government officials in an effort to promote economic development activities within a specific geographic region of the State. 

Hayes received her degree in International Relations and Economics from the University of California, Davis.  She is a member of the International Economic Development Council, California Association for Local Economic Development, Industrial Asset Management Council and Corporate Real Estate Network (CORENET).  She sits on the board of the Sacramento Workforce Investment Board, UC Davis InnovationAccess, and the UC Davis Research Park. Hayes is frequently asked to speak on behalf of the Sacramento business economy and serves as a regional spokesperson on a local, national and international stage. She was an honored recipient of the Sacramento Business Journal 2005 “Women Who Mean Business” Award.