Our
Leadership
Darrene L. Hackler, Ph. D.
Darrene is a consultant based in Sacramento, California and Senior Advisor to Smart Incentives and Business Development Advisors. Darrene brings economic development expertise in economic equity and inclusive growth, entrepreneurship and small business, workforce development, innovation, and broadband. She assists local and regional government officials, as well as large and small economic development, non-profit organizations, and foundations with policy analysis, strategic plans, incentives analysis, and technical assistance. She works with a variety of stakeholders, including universities, think tanks, foundations, governments, and funding agencies to build partnerships that can strengthen local economic development ecosystems. She has served as an Executive Director at the University of California, Davis’ Office of Research, the Vice President of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), a Senior Fellow at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), and an Associate Professor at George Mason University.
EDUCATION
PhD Political Science and Economics – Claremont Graduate University
Master of Arts in Public Policy – Claremont Graduate University
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics – College of Idaho
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
California Institute for Water Resources, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
California Water Works Initiative
Davis, CA
Alianza Coachella Valley
Salton Sea: A Call for a New Generation of Water and Policy Governance and Management
Coachella, CA
Urban Institute/Central Valley Community Foundation Fresno Redevelopment
Equitable Development Consultant
Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
COVID-19 and Entrepreneurial Firms: Seeding an Inclusive and Equitable Recovery | Incentives for Entrepreneurial Firms
Kansas City, Missouri
State Small Business Credit Initiative
Subject Matter Expert, U.S. Treasury
Pew Charitable Trusts
Equitable Economic Development and Community Engagement
Washington, DC
The James Irvine Foundation
Strategic policy consulting
San Francisco, CA
Franklin County Economic Development and Planning
Department
Economic Development Strategic Plan and SWOT Analysis
Franklin County, Ohio
City of Sacramento
Project Prosper | Project Prosper: Neighborhood Economic and Community Development Strategy | Scale Up Sacramento: An Inclusive Economic Development Action Agenda
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Economic Council
Inclusive and equitable economic development performance metrics
Sacramento, CA
Business Development Advisors/Smart Incentives
State Council of Higher Education for Virginia Data Science Hub Design and Feasibility | Michigan Economic Development Business Incentive Analysis
Arlington, VA
Center of Excellence, Northern California, California Community Colleges and Los Rios District
Strategy, regional workforce, economic development CEDS.
Sacramento, CA