BOARD OF DIRECTORS SPOTLIGHT
Mark Noriega (Accenture)
Mark Noriega is a Managing Director at Accenture and the Fiscal Year 2022/2023 Secretary of GSEC’s Board of Directors. Learn more about why he values economic development, working with GSEC and living and working in the Greater Sacramento region in the Q&A below.
As a regional leader, why is economic development important to you?
Economic development is critical to the vibrancy of our community, it’s key to championing diversity and creating growth opportunities for the people of the Greater Sacramento Region. We need to address issues in urban development so we can continue building a community in which we can all thrive, while also attracting top businesses to create positive economic impact.
We are seeing Sacramento grow as a business and technology hub – we are no longer just a government hub, but a region that is fostering innovation and enabling exciting technological advancements in areas such as e-mobility, life sciences and electric vehicles. As a result, we are also seeing a migration of talent who are choosing to live in Sacramento. However, with virtual work capabilities, we also need to ensure that this talent is attracted to work at local businesses.
There is an incredible opportunity ahead of us to build an economy that will enable us to create job opportunities, tap into underserved talent pool and build skills. Together, we can help redefine what the Future of Work will look like. We can grow programs like the earn-and-learn Apprenticeship Program to establish career pathways for a more diverse workforce. We can help reskill talent whose jobs have been impacted by the pandemic, empowering them to leverage their skills and capabilities in new ways to drive impact in our communities, at work, and in their lives. I am excited for what the future holds, and together with other like-minded business leaders, we can build a community that is economically strong and vibrant.
What excites you most about being part of GSEC?
GSEC brings together an incredible group of leaders who are passionate about creating a stronger community, driving economic growth opportunities and ensuring that we are active and engaged in the communities in which we live and work. The composition of leaders brings diversity in opinion, thinking and experiences. The wealth of knowledge from this collective group enables us to address and tackle some of the region’s biggest challenges – bringing together various perspectives to drive change.
One of the key strengths of this group of leaders is that we all agree on things that are bigger and greater than the individual. We are driven by our passion to drive generational change and solve for problems that have tremendously impacted the people in our community in areas such as homelessness and economic disparity.
This is a group of people who are driven by action, they represent our strong community, while bringing together new and innovative thinking that leads to positive outcomes.
What do you like most about living and doing business in the Greater Sacramento region?
As a longtime resident of Sacramento, I continue to be proud of the diverse community we have built and how we have come together to overcome some of our greatest challenges. Over the past few years, we experienced the strength of our community and I have firsthand seen how many of you have stepped up to help one another, stood up for your rights, and took action to get more involved with local organizations to help communities that needed us most.
Our dedication and commitment to create a better future is absolutely what makes Sacramento a great place to live. I could not think of a better place to raise my children, and for my grandchildren to grow up.
From a business perspective, the opportunities are limitless. If we tap into our diverse talent pool, we can innovate and build organizations that are global leaders. By welcoming new residents into our community, we can establish Sacramento as a business, technology and cultural hub in the West. By attracting world class organizations to bring their businesses to Sacramento, we will create leading job opportunities in some of the most advanced fields that exist today. And with a growing population of college students and young adults, we will continue to thrive as a community.
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Henry Li (Sacramento Regional Transit)
Henry Li is General Manager and CEO of the Sacramento Regional Transit and a member of GSEC’s Competitiveness Council. Learn more about why he values economic development, working with GSEC and living and working in the Greater Sacramento region in the Q&A below.
Sabya Das (VideoVerse)
Sabya Das is President and COO of VideoVerse and a member of GSEC’s Board of Directors. Learn more about why he values economic development, working with GSEC and living and working in the Greater Sacramento region in the Q&A below.