SMUD official to lead SARTA

BYLINE: Clint Swett Bee Staff Writer

J.D. Stack, head of SMUD's economic development program for the past 14 years, has been named the new chief executive of the Sacramento Area Regional Technology Alliance, the technology group said Monday.

Stack, who's held a variety of posts in more than 30 years at the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, will replace Oleg Kaganovich as leader of SARTA, the public/private partnership that promotes the Sacramento region's technology industry.

Kaganovich, who is joining West Sacramento venture capital firm DFJ Frontier, will remain at SARTA to help with the transition. Stack starts his new position on May 14.

"I'll be retiring from SMUD, but I won't really be retiring," said Stack, 55. Calling it an "active and challenging assignment," Stack said the SARTA post is "the next logical step in terms of the economic development work that I do."

At SARTA, Stack's task will be to bring together business and government to foster the technology industry in the nine-county Sacramento region.

"J.D. has worked in economic development for a long time, so he really understands the space and the players," Kaganovich said. "He's a fantastic collaborator and part of his role is to bring the community together."

A 1973 graduate of California State University, Sacramento, Stack joined SMUD as a computer programmer in 1974. He's worked there as a solar energy analyst, an air quality coordinator and government affairs supervisor.

Much of his recent work has focused on promoting the formation and growth of clean-energy businesses.

A member of SARTA's board since 2005, Stack has been active in other technology development efforts, including CleanStart, the McClellan Technology Incubator and Partnership for Prosperity.

"We're really sad to see him go, but we're glad he will be working in the region," said Paul Lau, SMUD's director of customer service. "He will be great in his new job."

Barbara Hayes, executive director of the Sacramento Area Commerce and Trade Organization, said she's worked with Stack for 13 years on various projects. "I think he's been fantastic," she said. "Nobody else brings his background and depth in working with the region's governments and businesses."

The Bee's Clint Swett can be reached at (916) 321-1976 or cswett@sacbee.com.