Our
Leadership

Darrene L. Hackler, Ph. D.
Darrene is consultant and Senior Advisor to Smart Incentives. Darrene brings economic development expertise in economic equity and inclusive growth, community engagement, entrepreneurship and small business, innovation, and broadband. She assists local and regional governments, economic development and non-profit organizations, and foundations with policy analysis, strategic plans, incentives analysis, and technical assistance. She works with a variety of stakeholders 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
Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
COVID-19 and Entrepreneurial Firms
Incentives for Entrepreneurial Firms
Kansas City, MO
The James Irvine Foundation
Strategic policy consulting
San Francisco, CA
Pew Charitable Trusts
Equitable Economic Development and Community Engagement
Washington, DC
Prosper Portland
Business & Industry team metrics
Portland, OR
Franklin County Economic Development and Planning
Department
Economic Development Strategic Plan and SWOT Analysis
Franklin County, Ohio
City of Sacramento
Project Prosper: Strategic Stakeholder and Community Engagement
Project Prosper: Neighborhood Economic and Community Development
Strategy Sacramento Now Economic Action Agenda
Sacramento, California
Greater Sacramento Economic Council
Inclusive and equitable economic development performance metrics
Organizational research review
Sacramento, California
Arlington County Economic Development and Commission Economic Sustainability, Resiliency, Competitiveness, and Innovation Assessment
Arlington County, Virginia
Orange County Business Council Information and Communication Technology Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
Orange County, California
Smart Incentives
Kansas City Enhanced Enterprise Zones Review
Michigan Economic Development Business Incentive Analysis
Pine Bluff, Arkansas Downtown Revitalization
Arlington, Virginia
Center of Excellence, Northern California, California Community Colleges and Los Rios District
Strategic consulting and analysis on projects, industry cluster, regional workforce, Economic Development Administration CEDS.
Sacramento, California
Years In Business
Years of Experience
Active Partners
Workshops & Presentations
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