ABOUT
Helping regions turn bold economic visions into action.
OUR MISSION
Bienestar Community Economics exists to help regions build inclusive economies where community well-being, economic vitality, and opportunity reinforce one another.
We work alongside local leaders, institutions, and communities to design and carry out economic strategies that are place-based, coordinated, and rooted in equity—especially in regions navigating economic transition or long-standing disinvestment.
What Drives Our Work
Our work is driven by a commitment to:
Inclusive regional economic development that integrates economic strategy, human capital, and place-based planning
Community-centered processes that elevate the voices of residents, workers, and frontline communities
Cross-sector collaboration that brings together public agencies, nonprofits, philanthropy, education, and industry
Moving from planning to action, with strategies designed to attract investment, strengthen partnerships, and sustain impact over time
Grounded in an Inclusive Regional Economic Development framework, we support complex, multi-jurisdictional initiatives where coordination, learning, and trust are essential to success.
We work with public agencies, philanthropies, nonprofits, educational institutions, and regional intermediaries who are advancing economic growth, inclusion, and well-being while navigating complexity, capacity constraints, or moments of transition.
Who This Is For
Our clients come to us when:
The work spans multiple sectors or jurisdictions
Community trust and participation matter
Implementation and follow-through are as important as vision
They need a thoughtful partner to help bring structure, alignment, and momentum to the work
We meet partners where they are by offering research, facilitation, strategy, and capacity-building support tailored to each region’s context and goals.
OUR UNIQUE APPROACH
Bienestar specializes in inclusive regional economic development in complex, place-based contexts where coordination, learning, and implementation often break down. Grounded in an Inclusive Regional Economic Development (IRED) framework, we help partners align strategy, systems, and investment.
Our work combines systems-change methodologies, practical evaluation and learning, and deep experience supporting cross-sector regional collaborations across California and nationally. With a small internal team and a flexible bench of subject-matter experts, we bring tailored, non-extractive support designed to meet partners where they are.
MEET THE TEAM
Ana Bertha Gutierrez
CEO & Founder
Ana is the CEO and Founder of Bienestar bringing together approaches to systems change, economic, and human capital development that prioritize inclusion, well-being and place-based strategies.
Ana has held leadership roles in education, non-profits, and government for over 20 years. She is focused on integrating economic, place-based, and human capital development systems to build inclusive and resilient regional economies where individual well-being is valued as an economic indicator of success. She has held full time tenured teaching positions in high school and a CA community college. She has conducted research on registered apprenticeships for the U.S. Department of Labor and has been a local consultant building place-based education pathways. Before founding Bienestar Community Economics, she led the California office and a national program at Jobs for the Future, an education and workforce intermediary.
Ana is a proud daughter of immigrants and first generation college graduate. In 2004, she was the youngest elected City Council Member in the City of Brentwood, and only Latina to hold the office of Vice Mayor and Acting Mayor.
EDUCATION
MEd in Cross-Cultural Teaching from National University
MPA in Economic and Territorial Development and Global Energy Sustainability Policy from SciencesPo (Institut d’etudes Politiques de Paris)
BA in Molecular and Cell Biology and English Literature from UC Berkeley
MEET THE CONSULTANTS
Dedication. Purpose. Expertise.
At Bienestar Community Economics, we believe in the power of specialized expertise to drive meaningful impact. For all our projects, we partner with a diverse network of consultants who bring deep subject matter knowledge and unique perspectives to our work.
We invite you to explore their profiles, learn more about their specialties, and discover how they could contribute to your work in building inclusive and equitable communities.
