Affiliations & Awards
Building Economies. Empowering People. Leading with Integrity.
Barry Broome is nationally recognized for building economies, mentoring leaders and advocating for equity. As the first President & CEO of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council (GSEC) and the founding CEO of Southwest Michigan First, Barry has led some of the most innovative and results-driven economic development organizations in the country.
Through his leadership at GSEC, Barry built California’s first CEO-led public-private economic partnership, aligning more than 50 CEOs and 22 communities to drive regional prosperity, equity, and innovation. His work has helped position Greater Sacramento as a destination for advanced industries and high-growth companies, all while keeping people at the center of economic progress.
Before GSEC, Barry led:
Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC)
Brought 250+ companies and over 50,000 jobs to the region. Under his direction, GPEC was named one of North America’s top economic development organizations by Site Selection Magazine for six of his ten years.
Southwest Michigan First
Built the organization from the ground up, creating venture funds, supporting 31 life science startups, and earning national accolades including Inc. Magazine’s Fast 50 — the first nonprofit ever to receive the honor.
Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority
Led Project Jeep, one of the largest brownfield-to-industry redevelopment efforts in U.S. history, preserving thousands of automotive jobs.
Leadership Roles & Speaking Engagements
Barry is a respected voice in national conversations around economic growth, workforce development, and mentorship. He has served on numerous boards and spoken at top-tier institutions across the country:
Most Admired CEO, Sacramento Business Journal
Economic Developer of the Year, Arizona Association for Economic Development
Economic Developer of the Year, Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Real Estate Executive of the Year, Arizona Commercial Real Estate Magazine
Community Leadership Award, Phoenix Black Chamber of Commerce
International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Award
Driven by Purpose
Beyond the boardroom, Barry leads with heart. He’s an outspoken advocate for policies that support working families and underserved communities — including his stance against Proposition 15, which he believed would negatively impact low-income Californians and small businesses.
Barry is also a committed mentor and community leader. He moderated the 2020 IEDC panel on mentorship, highlighting the importance of guiding the next generation of economic leaders. He led a Light the Night campaign in support of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, helping raise funds to advance lifesaving blood cancer research around the world. View Barry’s Light the Night Fundraiser.
Barry believes true leadership means standing up for what’s right — mentoring others, fighting for equitable access to opportunity, and using economic development as a tool to uplift communities.
Affiliations
GET IN TOUCH
Contact Barry’s team for media inquiries, speaking engagements or other requests for information about his work.