Bari Bean Promoted to Assistant County Executive Officer in Imperial County
Imperial County officials have promoted Bari Bean to Assistant County Executive Officer to centralize leadership over key economic and energy initiatives. Bean, a lifelong resident and former Deputy CEO for Natural Resources, played a vital role in the 'Lithium Valley' initiative, aimed at establishing the region as a hub for lithium extraction and geothermal energy.
In her expanded role, she will continue as County Development Concierge, Tribal Liaison, Regional Innovation Officer, and California Lithium Ombudsman. Bean's focus will be on integrating lithium extraction with advanced manufacturing, workforce development, and infrastructure planning.
She holds an Executive MBA in Energy from the University of Oklahoma and a master's degree from Georgetown University. This appointment is part of a broader effort by the County Executive Office to modernize leadership and enhance coordination among departments to meet industrial demands.
