City director recognized with regional ’40 under 40′ award

By Sara Beth Williams–
Thirty-nine-year-old Meghan Huber, who serves as the Citrus Heights economic development and community engagement director, was recognized this month with a “40 Under 40 Award” by the Sacramento Business Journal.

The annual awards celebrate 40 young professionals in the Sacramento area who have “made their mark on the region and deserve to be recognized.”

“It’s an honor to be recognized,” Huber said in an interview with The Sentinel, adding that she wouldn’t be able to do her job without the support of her family, City Hall colleagues, and the Citrus Heights community.

A Nov. 17 article in the Journal includes a photo of Huber and her answers to five questions, including what she describes as her best recipe for personal growth: “inspiration and discomfort.” She also describes her work to “give back” by serving on the board of Single Mom Strong, a local nonprofit that provides programs to help single mothers succeed.

Huber grew up in the Sacramento region and graduated with a degree in Business Administration and Marketing from California State University of Sacramento. She has always lived in or near Citrus Heights and said that Citrus Heights is where her family “works, shops and plays.”

Huber spent the first ten years of her career in hospitality sales and marketing with companies like Marriott and Hilton. She then joined the board for a tourism business improvement district called Visit Rancho Cordova, where the City of Rancho Cordova Economic Development Department worked alongside the hotel community to launch a tourism bureau that Huber said “transformed” the local tourism economy.

“Witnessing local government create positive change, build the local economy, and increase the quality of life inspired me to consider a career in local government,” Huber said.

Huber has been with the City of Citrus Heights since 2019, first joining as economic development manager and later expanding her responsibilities to include communications, public relations, and other areas, before she eventually took on her current position. According to Huber’s profile on the city’s website, she is currently spearheading the effort to revitalize the 100-acre Sunrise Mall into a mixed-use destination.

“I’m thankful to do the work I’m passionate about,” Huber said.