Barbara Hayes is the President & CEO of the Sacramento Area Commerce and Trade Organization (SACTO). Ms. Hayes represents the region through marketing and recruitment missions throughout the U.S. and overseas to attract quality businesses to the area and strengthen ties with companies already in the area. During her leadership of SACTO, the organization has assisted in the successful location and expansion of more than 160 companies in the Greater Sacramento Area — including Apple, RagingWire, Siemens, and Mori Seiki, to name just a few. Prior to joining SACTO, Hayes held several positions within the California Trade and Commerce Agency.

She 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 more than 10 boards and advisory councils around the region and nationally having to do, primarily, with economic and workforce development.

At our October Meeting, Ms. Hayes will discuss the industrial trends and corporate prospects SACTO is working with and what it will mean to the Sacramento Region. She will also touch on the outcomes of a regional initiative designed to create catalytic economic change and accelerate job creation and investment.

Last month I noted that this would be a politically charged year given that there is an election just around the corner. I noted that ACEC-CA is supporting Proposition 32 and the Sierra Chapter is also fundraising for one of the local Assembly candidates. You may be thinking “we are engineers and surveyors, not politicians, why do we care?” Well, ACEC is first and foremost a business organization. Hopefully your company is a member because of the support and representation that ACEC provides your engineering business. When it comes to “watching our backs” as businesses operating in the engineering world, ACEC is our “go to” organization.

Both at the national and state level, ACEC staff and committee members are constantly monitoring new legislation that may be harmful, propositions that will stifle business, and agencies’ policies that are unlawful or simply unfair. On the positive side, ACEC actively promotes legislation and propositions that help protect our businesses as well as liaison opportunities with agencies. In addition, ACEC provides member firms with business start up tools and training such as contract templates and webinars related to business management issues.

By now you’re probably thinking “Steve, the topic at hand is politics, so get to the point already?” One of the lasting lessons that I’ve learned from helping to run a successful business is that it always comes back to who you know and your relationships. And when it comes to having a say as a political lobby the same basic premise applies. Which gets me to the real point of this message: Why does ACEC support specific candidates?

If you’ve read all the way to this point, hopefully you can surmise the answer. For those of you that skimmed to the bottom I’ll keep it short and simple. To be effective as a business organization and lobby, it is essential that ACEC have strong relationships with lawmakers (aka politicians) that support business. To be even more effective, we need business friendly politicians to be successfully elected. You may note that this is a non-partisan comment. Personally, I think it is important to make the distinction to focus on “business friendly” and less on political party. Indeed, ACEC has historically supported candidates from both political parties.

What are the risks of supporting a specific candidate? Probably the largest risk is what happens if that candidate doesn’t get elected. Won’t the other candidate hold a grudge against the organization, possibly making working with that newly elected more difficult? Perhaps, but if the organization limits lobbying efforts only to propositions and laws it will constantly be working in a reactionary mode instead of a grassroots proactive approach that attempts to slowly turn the ship in the direction of protecting and promoting California businesses.

I believe the proactive approach is worth the risk. Please feel free to send me your thoughts on this topic by emailing me at steve@cecwest.com.