Chamber Advocacy | Shaun Lumachi | Chamber of Commerce Consulting

May 2008

Fresno Chamber Recognized Again as Best Government Affairs Program in California

At the annual Business Legislative Summit hosted by the California Chamber of Commerce the Fresno Chamber was awarded the Advocacy Partner of the Year for its outstanding leadership efforts in being an avid advocate for the business community for the second year in a row.

Every year a local Chamber is recognized by the California Chamber for its ability to lead an effective advocacy program by serving as the voice of business within their local community; and this year the Fresno Chamber rose to the top.

Under the leadership of Ruth Evans, the Chamber’s Government Affairs Program has been consistently advocating in Fresno, Sacramento and Washington on behalf of small businesses. The Chamber utilizes this web site; policy platforms and legislative issues are listed, along with legislative report cards, and sample letters that can be used to communicate with our elected officials. In addition, Chamber leaders regularly meet with city and state government officials, while also participating in the “One Voice” delegation to Washington, D.C.

The Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce continues to look for new ways to advocate on behalf of business. This year the Chamber co-sponsored its first piece of legislation in the State Assembly, hosted a forum on Propositions 98 & 99, endorsed a very competitive slate of local, pro-business candidates for City and County Offices, lead a review of the City of Fresno’s Master Fee’s Schedule and is preparing to lead a task force to review the County of Fresno’s annual budget as well.

Ruth Evans Wins CalChamber Small Business Award

The California Chamber of Commerce also honored four small business executives with its “2008 Small Business Advocate of the Year” award, recognizing recipients for their advocacy efforts on behalf of small businesses.

The CalChamber presented the awards at a luncheon before more than 600 attendees at the CalChamber Business Legislative Summit in Sacramento.

The awards presentation is sponsored by the CalChamber. Honorees are nominated by local chambers and selected by a task force comprised of members of the CalChamber Small Business Committee. Those selected have taken on leadership roles with federal, state or local ballot measures, have testified before the state Legislature or represented a chamber of commerce before local government.

Al Smith, president and CEO of the Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce and Amy Huerta, Government Affairs Manager for the chamber, co-nominated Ruth saying, “Ruth has an established record of operating and advocating on behalf of small businesses. Furthermore, her personal character, ambition, passion and persistence embody the best of small business in California. She does not rest until the day’s work is done and will not let an issue facing her business or any businesses go unaddressed.”

Evans has served as the chair for the governmental affairs committee with the Greater Fresno Area Chamber since 2005. Under Evans’ direction, the chamber completely revamped their government affairs program making the chamber a more effective voice for the local business community both in the Fresno region and throughout the state. In 2007, Evans was instrumental in creating the city and county budget task forces. Each task force is responsible for meeting with department heads, labor negotiators and top city and county administrators to analyze how local tax dollars are being spent. The task forces are also responsible for crafting recommendations to the city and county of Fresno. In addition, Ruth has represented small business in Sacramento, testifying before the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee on the CalChamber-sponsored flexible workweek bills in 2007 and 2008.