Ruben Barrales

Ruben Barrales is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Barrales has an extensive background in both government and private industry, with experience as an elected official and as an advocate for business.

He served in the White House for more than five years as Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for President George W. Bush. Barrales was the president's liaison to the nation's governors and other state and local elected officials.

Prior to joining the president's staff, Mr. Barrales was president and CEO of Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network, a civic organization of Silicon Valley business, government and academic leaders focused on education reform and public policy.

In 1992, Mr. Barrales became the first Latino elected to the San Mateo County (California) Board of Supervisors. He was re-elected and became president of the Board of Supervisors in 1996.

Mr. Barrales has served on various boards, including the California Speaker's Commission on State and Local Government Finance, the California Commission on the 21st Century Economy, the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research and the Department of Homeland Security Southwest Border Task Force.

In 2005, Mr. Barrales received the "Ohtli Award" from the government of Mexico for his commitment to improving the well-being of Hispanics in the United States. Hispanic Business Magazine has listed Mr. Barrales as one of the "100 Most Influential Hispanics" in the United States three times. In 2000, the World Economic Forum named Mr. Barrales "A Global Leader for Tomorrow."

Mr. Barrales grew up in Redwood City, California and received a joint Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Administrative Studies from the University of California, Riverside.

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