Biography

Polly Baca is currently the president and CEO of Baca Barragan & Perez Associates, a consulting firm specializing in political campaigns, multicultural leadership development, diversity training, motivational presentations, policy analysis and development, and government relations. Prior to this, she directed the Latin American Research and Service Agency (LARASA) as its president and CEO. A nonprofit organization, LARASA was created in 1964 to lead and influence change to improve the quality of life for Latinos through advocacy, capacity building, and education. Ms. Baca also served as the regional administrator of the General Services Administration for the six-state Rocky Mountain Region. In 1994, she was appointed as special assistant to President Bill Clinton and director of the United States Office of Consumer Affairs. Previously, she was the executive director of the Colorado Hispanic Institute, a nonprofit organization promoting multicultural leadership development. She was a member of the Colorado State Legislature for 12 years, elected to the Colorado House of Representatives in 1974 and to the Colorado Senate in 1978. A graduate of Colorado State University, with a Bachelor of Arts in political science, Ms. Baca is also known for her leadership skills and motivational presentations. She has appeared on numerous TV and radio programs including ABC's Nightline and the The NewsHour. Ms. Baca was inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame and is one of the 14 original members of the National Hispanic Hall of Fame. Among her many awards is the 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Colorado Democratic Party.