Please join me in supporting former Sacramento County Supervisor and former member of the California state Assembly Roger Dickinson in his race for Sacramento City Council. There is just one problem: Roger is not running for city council. I have never spoken with him about running for city council. However,…
It was a big year for leadership change in the Sacramento region
The Sacramento region saw an unusually high turnover rate in top jobs in 2015. New leaders took over in some of the biggest companies and industry groups. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the most high-profile changes. Aerojet Rocketdyne The region’s No. 1 public company had a roller-coaster year,…
Spotlight On…Colleen Spitz, Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce
Colleen Spitz was a bit nervous when she decided to move back to Sacramento from Washington, D.C., to lead communications at the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce. “It was the first time I ever took a job without meeting my boss,” she said. Spitz had spent the previous few years…
It was a huge year in economic development for the Sacramento region
The business of bringing business to the Sacramento region produced a lot of news in 2015, particularly with the advent of a new CEO-led group on the scene. After deliberative hearings and a flurry of last-minute negotiations, the Sacramento City Council in October adopted a local minimum wage. But the…
Metro Chamber announces annual award winners
The Sacramento Metro Chamber has named Martha Clark Lofgren its 2015 ‘Sacramentan of the Year.’ Lofgren, a partner at Brewer Lofgren LLP, served as the chamber’s chairwoman in 2013 and as interim CEO in 2011. In addition to her work at Brewer Lofgren, Lofgren is being honored for a combined…
New Metro Chamber chair outlines priorities for 2016
A senior vice president of Bank of America in Roseville will ascend to the top leadership role in the Sacramento Metro Chamber next year. Ashil Abhat, currently first vice chairman of the chamber board, said he wants to continue to enhance the chamber’s policy presence in a busy election year.…
Metro Chamber revamps advocacy efforts with new coalition
The Sacramento Metro Chamber plans to ramp up its political advocacy efforts in 2016 with a rebranded coalition that includes more statewide groups. The new coalition, called Keep Sacramento Working, came together this year for the minimum-wage fight at Sacramento City Hall. Chris Worden, the chamber’s vice president of public…
Paragary’s Owner Reportedly Planning New Hotel
What if you could see a show at the new B Street Theatre in Sacramento, eat right next door and stay the night in a great hotel on the same block? There’s been a buzz in the business community that prolific restaurateur Randy Paragary plans to turn the corner at…
Chamber View: 2015: Expanding Conversations
Shovels breaking dirt, storefronts with an ‘open’ sign, cranes soaring high and businesses announcing “we’re hiring.” It’s been a solid year for Capital Region businesses slowly emerging from the economic downturn. We aren’t out of it yet, but we are certainly moving in the right direction and the region continues…
What Sacramento Can Learn From Chicago
The annual Study Mission takes residents of the Sacramento area to other parts of the country known for their regional prosperity. This year’s mission was held in Chicago, Illinois. Sacramento Metro Chamber CEO Peter Tateishi and chair of this year’s mission Michelle Odell from Kaiser Permanente join host Scott Syphax…