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Sam Bayless

Sam joined Valley Vision in Spring 2025 as a Senior Project Manager after nearly a decade in government affairs, focused on transportation and transportation fuels. He serves as the in-house Sector Investment Coordinator for the We Prosper Together initiative under California Jobs First.

Professional Experience

Prior to joining Valley Vision, Sam served as State and Local Government Affairs Manager for a zero emission truck manufacturer and hydrogen refueling station developer. This role exposed him to the intersection of community engagement, infrastructure projects, and business development. In this role he engaged local governments to secure permitting for fueling site operations, obtained funding for infrastructure and vehicle deployments, and worked with community college and university systems in Arizona and California to ensure workers had access to the green economy. 

Education

Sam has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Santa Clara University.

Interests

When not working, Sam enjoys exploring the outdoor opportunities of California including camping on our public lands and kayaking the rivers and lakes in the area. He is also passionate about cooking, public access to public lands, and wildlife conservation. Sam is always open to restaurant recommendations and live music. 

Sam’s Top 5 Strengths

  • Responsibility: Take psychological ownership of what they say they will do. Committed to stable values such as honesty and loyalty.
  • Individualization: Intrigued with the unique qualities of each person. Figure out how people who are different can work together productively.
  • Strategic: Create alternative ways to proceed. Faced with any given scenario, quickly spot the relevant patterns and issues.
  • Relator: Enjoy close relationships with others. Find deep satisfaction in working hard with friends to achieve a goal.
  • Analytical: Search for reasons and causes. Have the ability to think about all the factors that might affect a situation.