Gina Barro

Director of Member Relations

Gina Barro is the Director of Member Relations at the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC). The LAEDC's mission is to attract, retain and grow businesses and jobs in the regions of Los Angeles County, as well as to identify trends and affect positive change for the local economy.  Since 1996 the LAEDC, a 501(c) (3) public benefit corporation, has helped attract, retain, and expand more than 132,600 jobs from over 936 businesses, providing $5.6 billion in annual direct economic impact from salaries and an estimated $95 million in annual tax revenue benefit to Los Angeles County.

Ms. Barro joined the LAEDC in October 2007 to help attract leadership from private sector businesses as well as municipal and educational institutions, and to engage members in LAEDC programs, including taskforce and committee meetings, networking activities and special events.  Prior to the LAEDC, Ms. Barro served as Business Planning Manager at Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. in Torrance, CA where she lead the effort to institutionalize the planning process to better connect business needs and financial plans. She also developed and managed internal strategic communications, covering topics such as the automotive industry and economic outlook, company sales and profit performance, employee relations, and key business initiatives.

Prior to this position, Ms. Barro worked in Toyota’s corporate learning and development division and held management roles in Marketing and Communications, Learning Technology, Finance, and Operations.

Ms. Barro’s career at Toyota spans over 15 years, and during that time she also held positions with Toyota Financial Services in Cedar Rapids, IA, Baltimore, MD and Torrance, CA.

Ms. Barro earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in international business from Alma College in Alma, Michigan, and a Master of Business Administration degree from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

Ms. Barro is an active Board member of the Loyola Marymount University MBA Alumni Association, and served as Chair of the Professional Development Committee.  The Committee offers interactive forums to bring MBA students and alumni together with business and community leaders, industry experts and academia. She is also a graduate of the 2005 Leadership California Annual Issues and Trends Program.