The expert on the state's transit industry and financing, Joshua Shaw of Shaw/Yoder, Inc. will be the featured speaker at the State of RT Breakfast, Friday, March 19. Shaw is executive director of the California Transit Association. Mike Wiley, RT General Manager/CEO, will also address the transit service priorities of the Sacramento region. This breakfast event will focus on TransitAction, RT’s new transit vision that will shape the future of transportation over the next 25 years. The event, hosted by the Sacramento Metro Chamber and the Sacramento Regional Transit District, also includes the annual TransitAction awards, given to organizations and individuals promoting public transit.

Curious about the region’s newly proposed entertainment and sports facility and what else is happening in the city of Sacramento? Members of the Sacramento First Citizen’s Task Force will review the proposed projects and the process for consideration at this year’s State of the City Address, hosted by the Sacramento Metro Chamber on Thursday, Feb. 25. And in the tradition of this 18th annual event, the Mayor of Sacramento will also speak. More than 700 business and civic leaders have already confirmed attendance at the Hyatt Regency Sacramento for the 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. luncheon. The event is presented by Drexel University and Umpqua Bank. “If you want to get an insider’s scoop on t

A thousand business people and civic leaders will gather at the Sacramento Metro Chamber's 115th Annual Dinner & Business Awards tonight at the Hyatt Regency Sacramento. The event is sold out. During the evening, 2010 Metro Chamber Board Chair Randy Sater of StoneBridge Properties will be inducted, and the Metro Chamber will recognize business leaders for their entrepreneurial and civic accomplishments. SACRAMENTAN OF THE YEAR—David M. Higgins Sr., Retired President of Harbison-Mahony-Higgins Builders Inc. AS THE FORMER CEO OF HARBISON-MAHONY-HIGGINS BUILDERS INC., MR HIGGINS IS A TRUE ICON IN OUR REGION’S COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS. HIS WORK – INCLUDING THE OUTSTANDING RESTORATION

Before a hundred-plus of the region’s business leaders, State Insurance Commissioner and GOP gubernatorial candidate Steve Poizner set down his 10-10-10 plan for putting California back into a leadership position. Poizner was a guest of the Sacramento Metro Chamber at its annual State Legislative Summit. The annual State Legislative Summit brings the region’s business leaders to the State Capitol to advocate on issues that will build jobs and business prosperity. Issues run the gamut from the very specific—tax credits for angel investments in qualified small business stocks—to the general—fast track of regulatory changes to enhance competition with other states. View the complete list her

For the next wave of economic recovery, it’s imperative that the Sacramento Metro Chamber collaboratively identify indicators and driving forces that capitalize on local innovation, intellect and influence. Additionally, we must use up-to-date technology and advances to develop a healthy, more sustainable economy that we believe will ultimately improve our region’s competitiveness. Our old consumer-based economy was obviously unsustainable. Built on easy access to money and lax lending standards, the housing and financial markets over-bloated other parts of the economy. Downstream job growth swelled, and when the housing market shriveled, other sectors followed. We await signs that our e

Having set dozens of appointments with state assembly members and senators, the Sacramento Metro Chamber calls for the region’s business and civic leaders to join up for the annual State Legislative Summit, Wednesday, Jan. 27, as the Metro Chamber will lead a regional advocacy effort focused on increasing jobs in the region by advocating for policies that will help employers and workforce expand in the coming years. “All business—every sector and every size—needs access to our State House,” said Matthew Mahood, president & CEO. “We encourage business to take advantage of this once-a-year opportunity. The Metro Chamber is advocating for critical issues important to jobs and business in our

An initial economic analysis of building a new entertainment and sports complex in Sacramento confirms the Sacramento Metro Chamber’s long-standing belief: A properly located arena will create thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in economic benefits for the entire region. “The Metro Chamber has long-held that a new entertainment and sports facility will be a huge job generator for our region,” said Matt Mahood, Metro Chamber president & CEO. “The Sacramento First Task Force’s “Threshold” report shows how—at a time when unemployment is so high—building and running the complex will create 4,095 new jobs. I say let’s get it started!” The report was released Jan. 7. Residents in simila

As promoting the region is high on the Metro Chamber's agenda, President & CEO Matt Mahood called for creativity and courage in planning for a new regional entertainment and sports facility that would be a world-class venue. "I honestly believe that if the right people get to the table, use best practices that have worked in other regions, and are creative and courageous, then there is no reason a deal can’t get done," Mahood said. "This is a critical issue to the business community in the Sacramento region." Since November 2000, the Metro Chamber has engaged dialogue on a new arena for the region. Among the points the chamber considers vital: • A modern sports and entrainment facility

Facing a dramatic toy shortage,The Salvation Army of Sacramento has announced a partnership with the Sacramento Metro Chamber for an eleventh-hour push to receive new, unwrapped toys this week. The Metro Chamber reached out to many of its members to help donate to the Salvation Army Toy Drive or to host a donation bin at their business location. A couple of member businesses responded in a big way: Bank of America and Wells Fargo. Bank of America has agreed to participate as a toy drop-off site in eight bank locations throughout the Sacramento region, through Friday, Dec. 18. Further, Wells Fargo Northern California Foundation is making a donation of $5,000 to The Salvation Army to help s

   A chilly morning brought out three dozen civic-minded business people Tuesday, Dec. 1, to West Sacramento for the annual Business Walk to gauge local business conditions, and early visits are finding folks upbeat and generally pleased with doing business in the city.    “West Sacramento is getting better,” said Discount Cigarette store owner Suni Malhi. “It’s way better than the last five years. There’s more police patrols.”    Malhi was visited by the Business Walk team of Juliet Romanishin of NorCal Wealth Management & Insurance Services, and Andy Wallace of Wallace Kuhl & Associates, who asked the three big questions of the day: How’s business, what do you like about doing business i

  With announcement of Sacramento First Entertainment and Sports Complex Task Force, Nov. 19, by Mayor Kevin Johson, the Sacramento Metro Chamber  issued this statement by President & CEO Matthew Mahood:   We are pleased that Mayor Johnson is taking a strong leadership role in solving this ongoing regional issue on how to finance and construct an entertainment and sports complex. We hope the task force can find a viable solution to building a world-class facility here that will attract quality entertainment for our residents.   The issue is complex and needs focused attention. We applaud the combination of task force members who have subject-matter expertise and civic interest in find

Transportation experts will gather today, Nov. 12, at Sacramento International Airport to review trends and specific projects that can make the Sacramento region a new international crossroads for goods movement to the Pacific Rim while providing new job and business opportunities for our region. An update on The Big Build expansion project at Sacramento International Airport will show how Sacramento will be well positioned to serve both passengers and goods needed for the projected increase of 14 million in the state’s population by 2035. The event is hosted by the Northern California World Trade Center, an affiliate of the Sacramento Metro Chamber. “If we think big and act boldly, the

By Linda Cutler, Chair, Sacramento Metro Chamber Board of Directors The discussion about the new Nestle Waters bottling facility is actually about Sacramento’s commitment to job creation and the process and rules by which businesses come to our city. The Sacramento City Council will consider, Tuesday, Oct. 27, a measure related to this plant that will have a serious and far-reaching impact on the jobs and business climate in Sacramento. We have a set of rules that govern how companies coming to our community must conduct business. These rules come in the form of zoning, building permits, utility fees, water use and the like. These are rules that are determined through a very open and pu

Nearly three dozen business people, chamber and city officials are on the streets of Rancho Cordova today, Thursday, Oct. 22, finding out how business is doing and collecting comments on how things can be improved. The Rancho Cordova Business Walk is part of the Sacramento Metro Chamber’s year-long series in partnership with local chambers and cities and counties to improve the local economy. Business Walk participants ask three basic questions: How’s business, what do you like about doing business here and how can things be improved. Says Rancho Cordova Chamber Chair Brandon Ivie: “The Business Walk lets the local business community know we care.” This is the second Rancho Cordova Busi

It was a day of speeches, but it was anything but dull. At the Sacramento Metro Chamber’s Perspectives 2009 event, no topic was too controversial. Really. One of the speakers even quoted Chairman Mao Tse-Tung. Five heavy-hitters in a variety of fields, including Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, took the stage at the Sacramento Convention Center Friday and delivered speeches that were decidedly energetic and provocative. The high-profile speakers spoke to about 2,000 people during the chamber’s event, which was titled “An American Experience.” Rice shared the spotlight with entrepreneur Guy Kawasaki, finance expert Jane Bryant Quinn, author James Bradley and creativity expert S

The Sacramento Metro Chamber office has been buzzing this week as Chief Executive Officer Matt Mahood and the rest of the staff finished last-minute details for their big annual event. One of the most important things they've done to prepare for Friday's "Perspectives 2009: An American Experience" is to work closely with each of the nationally recognized guest speakers. Surrounded by signed and framed programs from past Perspectives, Mahood talked earlier this week by phone with speakers preparing for their presentations. The work continued Thursday when speakers started flying in from around the country and Metro Chamber staff became chaperones for the VIPs. Such behind-the-scenes work

Metro EDGE kicks off with a Wednesday night launch party. Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, developer Mike Heller Jr. and KCRA anchor Adrienne Bankert will speak at the event, which will be held from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at L Wine Lounge, 1801 L St. The Sacramento Metro Chamber formed the group to promote Sacramento's vitality and growth by stemming an exodus of talented people leaving for major cities. The goal is to hold onto young energy and ideas that help build cultural, social and business opportunities rivaling other major cities, said Metro EDGE's chairwoman, Autumn Heacox of Sierra View General Contractor. Metro EDGE and the chamber intend to develop business and civic leaders amon

Local small businesses may be able to gain an advantage when bidding for contracts with the city of Sacramento if a new proposal by City Councilwoman Lauren Hammond is eventually approved by the City Council. Hammond is proposing a program in which local small businesses would be eligible for a 5 percent bid preference with the city. The purpose of the 5 percent discount would be to give local businesses a boost in the city's bidding process. Hammond told The Sacramento Press she would like to create the program because "there aren't enough companies getting contracts with the city of Sacramento." The city's other efforts to bring in more local companies have not worked because city staf

SACRAMENTO–Perspectives 2009: An American Experience brings to Sacramento author and entrepreneur Guy Kawasaki—international technology guru, among America’s best business speakers and by Forbes’ calculation, the most influential Twitterer in the world. Known as one of the top 50 bloggers with the web column: How to Change the World, Kawasaki’s expertise is grounded in the early days of the PC revolution in Silicon Valley, where as an Apple employee, he helped market the Macintosh in 1984 by creating passionate user-advocates for the brand. “Business people attending Perspectives will enjoy not only a dynamic, out-spoken commentator but one who possesses keen insight into current day busi

SACRAMENTO—No American Experience has been more photographically reproduced than the raising of the American flag over Iwo Jima in 1945. Perspectives 2009: An American Experience brings to Sacramento James Bradley, author of Flags of Our Fathers, whose father is one of the figures in the photograph. Bradley’s book recounts the story of the boys’ lives, beginning as his quest to discover why his father remained silent about the wartime experience. In telling the story behind the Greatest Generation’s iconic photo, Bradley relates basic fundamentals of the American Experience: teamwork and digging in to do what’s called for. The figures in the photo, he said, were boys of common virtue doin