Public-private partnerships get things done, Build America Bureau official says

Profiles in Power highlights public officials nationwide who are improving their communities through their dedication, enthusiasm, creativity and experience.

This week’s profile is Jennifer Hara, innovative finance strategic partnerships program manager with the Build America Bureau.

The bureau advances investments in transportation infrastructure by lending federal funds to qualified borrowers.

Public career highlights and education: This is my first public sector role, but I am so excited to contribute to moving all of this country’s transportation infrastructure forward. I have a master’s in international economics from the Elliott School of International Affairs at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and a bachelor’s in international politics and Spanish from Seattle University.

What I like best about public service: Being able to give back to the community and support both our elected and appointed public officials and servants. Though my previous career was entirely in the private sector, the partnership between the public and private sector IS what gets things done.

The best advice I’ve received: Be a good listener. Really listening allows you to learn something more than just factual information. What you learn from really listening can be critical in making decisions, creating new paths forward or forming new partnerships.

People might be interested to know that: I’m half Japanese. I grew up in Seattle and am a fourth-generation Japanese American. I am also the daughter of a politician, one of the first Asian-American elected leaders in the Pacific Northwest. I guess that’s two things, but I’m so glad the call to public service finally caught up to me!

One thing I wish more people knew about the Build America Bureau: We are here to help! The bureau serves as the single point of contact and coordination for states, municipalities and other project sponsors seeking federal transportation expertise. We offer project-specific guidance to get your project off the drawing board and into action.