Jennifer McLain Hiramoto, Executive Director for the City of Ontario, is now the chair of the board of directors for the California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED). Jennifer has been a member of the Association for more than 15 years, including serving as an active member of the CALED Board of Directors. Her peers elected her to this leadership position due to her passion for championing economic development tools and resources and her work in supporting and elevating her peers as evidenced during her service as the first chair of CALED’s Project Development and Finance Division.
Not only has she invested in helping the next generation of economic development professionals through her work with CALED, but she has also provided testimony in Sacramento to support efforts to promote economic development tools and to defend local flexibility so communities can create economic opportunities for their residents.
As the largest economic development association in the state, CALED represents more than 850 economic development professionals and stakeholders working hard to help their economies thrive and create opportunities for residents.
“Since its creation in 1980, CALED has led the way in teaching economic developers, local elected officials and state representatives the value of economic development and how it is used to grow businesses, generate revenue to expand the local economy and pay for the services that residents require,” said Gurbax Sahota, CALED’s President and CEO. “We are fortunate to have Jennifer share her expertise, energy, and perspective with us as she leads the board of directors.”
In her role as chair, Jennifer wants CALED to be a strong support system for economic development professionals on their own journey to drive progress in their communities, regions, and across the state.
“It is an honor to be appointed to serve as chair of CALED,” Jennifer said. “CALED has provided a strong foundation to my 15-year career in economic development, and has provided tools I need in my personal commitment to drive progress and improve the quality of life for future generations.”
She is committed to ensuring that CALED’s programs and membership reflect not just the diversity of the areas we represent but also enable us to have a profoundly positive and lasting impact on those who live and work in our communities.
Join us in congratulating Jennifer McLain Hiramoto as she begins her two-year tenure as chair of the state’s premier economic development association.
For more about CALED, visit caled.org.