Janea Stark is the Executive Director & Tribal Liaison for the Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB), where she has served since 2004. A Washington native, Janea has built her career on the belief that strong relationships are the foundation of lasting economic growth. She provides day-to-day leadership of CERB, working closely with the Board and Legislature to shape state policy on economic development and rural broadband, while also providing resources and technical assistance to local governments and tribes developing projects for CERB support.

Janea has authored key legislative language for CERB programs, including the proviso that created the Rural Broadband Program in 2018 and updates to site readiness and rural broadband statutes in 2023 and 2024. She also played a pivotal role in securing a historic funding appropriation in 2022 and again in 2025. Through this work, she has helped expand broadband access, spur private-sector growth, and ensure communities—especially rural, tribal, and underserved ones—have the tools to thrive. She is also the creator of the Community Builders Collective (CBC), a peer-led space hosted by CERB that supports the people behind the infrastructure projects in Washington’s rural, tribal, and historically under-resourced communities. The CBC helps project leads access practical tools, troubleshoot challenges, and share real-world lessons, ensuring no one has to figure it out alone.

In addition to her leadership of CERB, Janea serves as Chair of the Infrastructure Assistance Coordinating Council (IACC).