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The Spokane Workforce Council is pleased to welcome Max Baca to its Board of Directors. Max brings more than three decades of experience in higher education leadership, financial stewardship, and government relations, along with a career-long commitment to developing people and building pathways for future leaders.

A Strategic Leader in Higher Education

Max currently serves as Vice President for Business and Strategy at Eastern Washington University (EWU). In this role, he oversees financial operations, human resources, information technology, campus safety, procurement, capital planning, and government relations, giving him a broad view of how education, employers, government, and communities intersect.

In his first year at EWU, Max has made significant progress on the university’s strategic priorities. He developed a new budget model in partnership with faculty, deans, cabinet, and campus stakeholders, led an inclusive campus master planning process that delivered a final plan to the Board of Trustees, and advanced a major capital portfolio that includes a new residence hall, an athletic track, and renovations to SIERR, Catalyst, and Sutton Hall. He also reduced the university’s FY27 structural deficit by $2.3 million through revenue and expense initiatives.

A Proven Record of Financial Stewardship

Before joining EWU, Max spent nearly a decade in senior leadership at New Mexico Highlands University, most recently as Executive Vice President for Finance, Administration & Government Relations. He managed a $127 million institutional budget, delivered 11 consecutive balanced budgets, and grew institutional reserves from $1.1 million to $18.7 million. He also oversaw more than 27 capital projects and three major information technology conversions.

His government relations work spans more than two decades. Max has advocated for higher education capital and operating funding, helping secure $27 million in recurring funding and $93.6 million in capital funding. He also played a leadership role in developing New Mexico’s $3.4 billion public education operating budget for FY2020, which invested in teacher compensation and pipelines, mentorship and professional development, early childhood education, extended learning, and improved data reporting.

Bringing People Together and Building Pathways

Max is known for building consensus among stakeholders with differing perspectives. As lead negotiator for three separate bargaining units, he negotiated agreements focused on working conditions, compensation, and organizational performance. During his tenure, faculty, staff, and administrative salaries increased by more than 35 percent, and he led a comprehensive staff compensation study.

He is equally committed to developing the next generation of leaders. Max co-created and led the New Mexico Highlands University Legislative Leadership Fellowship Program, giving students hands-on experience in leadership, government, and the legislative process. Fellows went on to student leadership roles, internships, and law school, and together they advocated for nearly $2 million in funding to improve the student experience.

Extensive Board and Community Service

Max’s board service includes the Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation, the New Mexico Educational Retirement Board, Alta Vista Regional Hospital, the Northern New Mexico Citizens Advisory Board for the U.S. Department of Energy, and New Mexico Technology in Education. Across these roles, he has held executive, finance, investment, and retirement plan leadership responsibilities.

Why His Voice Matters on Our Board

Strong workforce systems depend on close partnerships between education, employers, and government. Max has spent his career working at exactly that intersection. His experience in labor relations, compensation, and talent strategy gives him a practical understanding of what it takes to attract, develop, and retain a workforce, while his background in financial analysis and strategic planning supports the Council’s commitment to data-informed decisions and strategic investment.

His collaborative, community-centered approach to leadership aligns directly with the Spokane Workforce Council’s mission of investing in people, businesses, and communities across Spokane County.

We are proud to have Max’s voice, experience, and leadership guiding our work.

Spokane Workforce Council
140 S. Arthur St. Suite 300A
marketing@spokaneworkforce.org