The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas has tapped Arturo Barrio to serve as vice president and regional executive for El Paso. He will focus on building relationships with local businesses and community groups to gain greater insight into the surrounding economy, which includes West Texas and southern New Mexico.
As regional executive for the only Federal Reserve Bank branch on the U.S./Mexico border, Barrio will also be responsible for deepening the Dallas Fed’s connections with border economy leaders and experts. The El Paso branch is uniquely positioned in the 11th District, which covers about three-quarters of the U.S./Mexico border and includes Texas, the top state for exports.
“Arturo brings a wealth of relationships in El Paso and knowledge about the region. I look forward to his contributions to our work of listening to community leaders to gain real-time insight on the state of the regional economy,” says Lorie Logan, Dallas Fed president and CEO. “This grassroots work informs the Federal Reserve’s views on monetary policy, and I’m happy to welcome him to our trusted team of regional executives.”
A University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) alumnus, Barrio previously served as assistant vice president for international relations at the university, fostering regional partnerships and expanding its international profile. He also served as senior adviser to the UTEP president on Mexico and Latin America. Prior to that, Barrio worked for Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, overseeing economic and cooperation affairs for Mexico at the Organization of American States. He also chaired the City of El Paso’s Committee on Border Relations from 2018 to 2021. He serves on the Texas Advisory Committee of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. Last year, he joined the Council on Foreign Relations and was selected as a Presidential Leadership Scholar.
“El Paso’s economy is driven by flows of trade and people along our southern border, making the kinds of relationships and connections Arturo will bring in his new role critical to our understanding of a transforming region,” notes Roberto Coronado, Dallas Fed senior vice president and senior economist.
