Dr. Carlos Ayala, President and CEO of Growing Inland Achievement, announces retirement

Dr Carlos Ayala, the President and CEO of Growing Inland Achievement (GIA), will retire in June. GIA is a regional network of education, government, nonprofit, and business partners that serves both San Bernardino and Riverside Counties in the Inland Empire. Their collective goal is to achieve educational and economic success in the region.

During his tenure, Ayala worked closely with GIA’s partners to establish the organization as a 501(c) (3) tax-exempt entity. He also helped to double the organization’s size and raise millions of dollars for education in the Inland Empire. Under his leadership, GIA was selected as one of only six organizations in the United States to participate in the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Intermediaries for Scale program, bringing $10 million of support to the region for postsecondary transformation reforms.

Ayala expressed his gratitude to the GIA Board of Directors and employees for their commitment to the people and students of the Inland Empire. He also thanked those who were dedicated to improving the economy of the Inland Empire through education. The Board of Directors will be responsible for selecting Ayala’s successor.

GIA’s shared vision is for San Bernardino and Riverside counties to be widely recognized for their educated workforce, thriving communities, and vibrant economy that creates prosperity for all by 2035. Dr Kim Wilcox, GIA Board Chair and Chancellor of UC Riverside praised Ayala’s leadership and thanked him for his efforts. Ann Marie Sakrekoff, COO of Growing Inland Achievement, acknowledged Ayala’s deep knowledge of the education landscape, strong leadership, and passion for positively impacting student lives. She also stated that he was leaving GIA in an excellent position to succeed in the next chapter of the organization’s development.