Media, business, conservationist and government representatives from across the state gathered at the Sacramento Metro Chamber on Wednesday, Feb. 16, to launch reform of the state’s regulatory system and permitting process. Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and Metro Chamber President & CEO Matthew Mahood detailed the proposed legislation, SB 366, and how the Metro Chamber helped initiate political action that will provide a business perspective on overhauling regulations and streamlining the processes people must follow to start and run their businesses. And to make the point why overhaul is needed, all 28,000 pages of the state’s code of regulations where wheeled in on a dolly

Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg will announce on Wednesday, Feb. 16, the introduction of legislation reforming California’s duplicative and burdensome business regulations. Sen. Steinberg will be joined by authors of the proposed bill, Sen. Ron Calderon, D-Montebello, and Sen. Fran Pavley, D-Santa Monica. The news conference will be held 10:30 a.m. at the Sacramento Metro Chamber offices, One Capitol Mall Suite 300, Sacramento. The announcement comes after three weeks of meetings that Metro Chamber members held with Sen. Steinberg at his invitation to discover how state offices and departments can reduce duplicative regulations and streamline the regulatory process. Further me

Lately, Sacramento County Supervisor Phil Serna has been working behind the scenes to find shelter for people living out-of-doors along the American River Parkway during the winter. Working with the Salvation Army and Volunteers of America, Supervisor Serna raised more than $41,000 for keeping the winter shelters open until the end of March. But the funding was shy of the goal, and that’s when he turned to the business community, asking on Tuesday Sacramento Metro Chamber members to contribute. In less than 24 hours Metro Chamber member businesses opened up their pocketbooks. A shortfall of $8,500 was made up alone by the Bank of America, but many other donations came in quickly as well.

Coming off one of the most active membership years in the last decade, two Sacramento Metro Chamber staff members and three programs were recognized for professional excellence by fellow chamber executives from 14 western states. The 720-member Western Association of Chamber Executives recognized Metro Chamber President & CEO Matthew Mahood as Executive of the Year, Senior Vice President for Public Policy and Economic Development Michael Faust as the Hathaway Staff Person of the Year, the annual Business Walks for helping support the local economy, the Power Lunches for excellence in business-to-business networking and the Metro Business Quarterly publication for communications excellence

Greg Eldridge, vice president and area manager for CH2MHILL of Sacramento, will lead the Sacramento Metro Chamber as its 2011 Chairman of the Board. Eldridge will be inducted Friday, Feb. 4, during the Metro Chamber’s 116th Annual Dinner & Business Awards at the Hyatt Regency Sacramento. John Frisch, regional manger for the Sacramento real estate firm Cornish & Carey Newmark Knight Frank, will serve as the First Vice Chair. Martha Clark Lofgren, partner with the Sacramento law firm Brewer Lofgren LLP, will be the 2011 Second Vice Chair. The three will lead a 79-member (voting) board of directors of the Metro Chamber and a 19-member Executive Committee. Matthew Mahood begins his 10th ye

Four local nonprofit members of the Sacramento Metro Chamber are finalists for the first Inspire Giving award—a $10,000 grant—to be given during the 116th Annual Dinner & Business Awards on Friday, Feb. 4, at the Hyatt Regency Sacramento. The Inspire Giving program is part of the Metro Chamber’s recently launched Project Inspire that promotes leadership, volunteerism and philanthropy in the community. Finalists are the Outbound program of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Sacramento, the Kinnections Initiative of Lilliput Children’s Services, the Transitioned Aged Youth Program of Lutheran Social Services and the Rebuild initiative of River City Food Bank. “This first award represents a

Accomplished Los Rios Community College District Chancellor Brice Harris is the 2010 Sacramentan of the Year, with the recognition set for the Sacramento Metro Chamber’s 116th Annual Dinner & Business Awards on Friday, Feb. 4. The Metro Chamber will also announce that Western Health Advantage President & CEO Garry Maisel is Businessman of the Year and UC Davis Health Center CEO and UC Davis School of Medicine Dean Claire Pomeroy, M.D., M.B.A., is Businesswoman of the Year. “It’s notable that our top three honorees are in charge of the region’s top-tier nonprofit organizations,” said Matt Mahood, president & CEO. “Our regional economy is fortunate to be undergirded by a nonprofit sector t

The Sacramento Metro Chamber opposes the adoption and implementation of accident/emergency response fees, otherwise known as the “crash tax” currently under consideration by the Sacramento City Council. "The crash tax would assess nonresidents and residents differently, exceed the cost-based recovery of the actual services delivered or duplicate recovery already levied in taxes for those specific services," said Matthew Mahood, president & CEO. There are many significant issues with these fees, not the least of which include: • Insurance policies may not cover what a municipality charges • Increased claim costs could lead to higher premiums • The uninsured are given a free ride • They c

How the Greenwise Sacramento initiative will further advance our leadership in the green economy; as well as Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson's vision for how the city will overcome its many challenges while creating jobs and revitalizing the central core: That's what's on board at the Sacramento Metro Chamber's 19th Annual State of the City Address, Thursday, Jan. 20 at the Sacramento Convention Center. “The City of Sacramento is focusing on creating momentum within the Green Economy,” said Matt Mahood, Metro Chamber president & CEO. “In many ways our region can showcase success in this industry as we continue to lead the way for other cities statewide. It’s the entrepreneurial spirit of b

Sacramento is one of the nation’s leaders in green technology innovation, clean technology application and sustainable community strategies. Where these sectors converge in our region will be explored at a new Sacramento Metro Chamber forum, Innovate 2010, set for Friday, Nov. 19 at the Hyatt Regency. Innovate is designed to “connect the dots” between previously separate industries—from energy and telecom to home construction and consumer products. With new technologies emerging, the Sacramento region is uniquely positioned to leverage this convergence of industries to create jobs, advance sustainability and create an economic competitive advantage. “We can no longer look to the public s

Businesses expressed cautious optimism in the South Shore Lake Tahoe economy during a sampling conducted Nov. 4, in conjunction with various local organizations and jurisdictions More than 130 businesses were visited by 41 participants during the South Shore Business Walk. The event was produced by the Sacramento Metro Chamber, El Dorado County Office of Economic Development, City of South Lake Tahoe and TahoeChamber.org, “Overall, businesspeople reported business was holding strong, and the community is committed to capitalizing on future growth opportunities,” said Eugene Palazzo, Director of Redevelopment and Housing, city of South Lake Tahoe. Three questions were asked: How’s busine

Changes are coming to the commercial airline industry that will affect the region’s businesses. One of the nation’s leading commercial airline industry economic analysts, Bill Swelbar, is the featured speaker at the State of the Sacramento County event, hosted by the Sacramento Metro Chamber on Wednesday, Nov. 10. Swelbar, a research engineer who advised Congress on the recent merger of Continental and United Airlines, will talk about the global airline industry and its impact on businesses and the Sacramento region. Also speaking will be Chair of the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors Roger Dickinson, Interim Sacramento County Executive Steven Szalay and Sacramento County Airport Sy

As the City and County of Sacramento continue to struggle to balance their budgets, and at the same time look for creative solutions to continue providing essential services, the Sacramento Metro Chamber remains supportive of the concept of functional consolidation of many services currently provided by both entities. In 2007, on the Sacramento Metro Chamber’s Study Mission to Charlotte, N.C., attendees saw firsthand how the City of Charlotte and the County of Mecklenburg successfully consolidated services 20 years ago. They were able to effectively do this without eliminating either city council or county commissioners. Their services were divided between the two sets of political leade

It’s all about different points of view—different perspectives. When Sacramento Metro Chamber leaders created Perspectives 15 years ago, it was to bring world-renown speakers to Sacramento so the region’s business and civic leaders could hear firsthand about vital issues of the day. This year’s Perspectives on Friday, Oct. 15, features two former state governors who have carved out a role as vocal leaders of their respective parties: former Democrat Presidential candidate Howard Dean and former GOP Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin. The theme is “What’s Your Vision?” “We hear a lot of chatter about their visit to Sacramento, and we take it as a compliment that people have expectat

Metro PAC, the Sacramento Metro Chamber  political action committee, was joined by Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson on Oct . 13 to announce the PAC’s support for candidates in the November 2 General Election for Sacramento City Unified School District Board seats. Metro PAC is endorsing Paige Powell (Area 1), Andie Curso (Area 2) and Shalend Singh (Area 6). “The Sacramento Metro Chamber has long held an interest in reforming SCUSD schools,” said Metro PAC Vice Chair Frank Washington of Crossings KBTV - Comcast Channel 238. “Our local businesses need qualified, skilled employees for the many jobs available to students after graduation from high school. And we need to send more of our local

Billed as the largest Business Walk in the nation, nearly 300 business people along with representatives of local chambers of commerce and public agencies, Sept. 30, swarmed out across 105 commercial corridors to ask a simple question: How’s business? The answers given were upbeat and positive about the future. In heat that felt like summer, more than 1,200 businesses had been visited, according to Matt Yancey, director of development for the Sacramento Metro Chamber. An official tally will be made soon, along with a report of the Business Walk findings, but several officials called it “the largest in the nation.” Of course, how business is depends on the business doing the talking. Bar

Businesses in Arden Arcade will be surveyed Friday, Sept. 24, during the annual Arden Arcade Business Walk to check on local economic conditions. The Business Walks are part of a regional “best practices” strategy for business retention and expansion. Since 2007, this international award-winning strategy—called Metro Pulse—has logged face-to-face contacts of nearly 5,000 businesses. In 2009, the Metro Chamber assisted its partners on five Business Walks, and currently the 2010 schedule will double that figure. More than 40 participants are scheduled to visit more than 100 businesses along nine commercial corridors in the Arden Arcade district. Joining together to conduct the walk are the

South Placer County leaders are inviting businesspeople and others to attempt an amazing feat: In one day, help visit more than 1,000 businesses during a massive Business Walk on Thursday, Sept. 30, to check on local business conditions. The Business Walks are part of a regional “best practices” strategy for business retention and expansion. Since 2007, this international award-winning strategy—called Metro Pulse—has logged face-to-face contacts of more than 5,000 businesses. In 2009, the Sacramento Metro Chamber assisted its partners on five Business Walks, and currently the 2010 schedule will double that figure. More than 200 participants will visit five different locales, joining othe

Sixty business and civic leaders are looking to Seattle for ideas from how to fix up the waterfront, more readily turn academic research into new local businesses and become a greener city, during the annual Sacramento Metro Chamber Study Mission, Sept. 15-17. This is the second Study Mission to Seattle. The Metro Chamber’s first Study Mission 12 years ago visited the Pacific Northwest city, looking for ideas on downtown core renaissance, transportation and art and cultural amenities. Over the last dozen years, Study Missions have visited other cities like Atlanta, Ga; Austin, Texas; Charlotte, N.C.; Denver, Colo; Cincinnati, Ohio; Portland, Ore.; Salt Lake City, Utah; San Antonio, Texas;

A survey of Sacramento Metro Chamber members for the first half of 2010 shows that the region’s businesspeople are sustaining themselves and believe that economic conditions will improve next year. Two-thirds of the survey respondents cited the perception of a weak business climate and the state’s ongoing budget crisis as the key issues impacting the economy right now. “The uncertain business climate created by negative headlines and the lack of a state budget make it hard for businesses to plan for the future,” said Matt Mahood, president & CEO. With more than 10 percent of members responding, the Metro Chamber’s survey on the economy found that businesses seem to be sustaining themsel