Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "metro chamber"

New Metro Chamber CEO brings business, political experience

2011-11-04T00:25:34Z

Former Assemblyman Roger Niello will be the new CEO of the Sacramento Metro Chamber starting Jan. 1, coming back to an organization he led in the 1990s as the area struggles to come out of the recession.

“For me, it’s sort of coming full circle, and I find it very exciting that way,” Niello said. “The chamber in a way was sort of my launchpad into politics, and now I’m coming back, still with my business roots, and will be working with the leadership to expand business.”

Niello, who spent a quarter century running retail and auto dealerships with his family’s business, the Niello Auto Group, was elected to the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors in a special election in 1999, where he served until November 2004. From 2004-2010, he served as a state assemblyman.

Former CEO Matt Mahood left the Metro Chamber in June. The chamber announced in August that Pat Fong Kushida would be the new CEO, but she never started the position.

Niello said the biggest challenge facing him and the Metro Chamber over the next several years is the economy.

“I wouldn’t say it’s any one particular issue (in the economy),” he said. “We have to look at the shape of the economy and work with other groups in the region in the private sector and the public sector at both the local and state levels.”

A study is currently under way called Next Economy, a public/private revitalization project with the Metro Chamber, the Sacramento Area Regional Technology Alliance (SARTA) and Valley Vision, all nonprofit organizations focused on economic growth.

“The effort is to study the economy, but not so much the study itself as understanding the details of the shape it’s in and getting ideas to take action on growing and expanding businesses,” Niello said. “We need to keep an eye toward small businesses in particular, because that’s where the real growth of the economy comes.”

SARTA CEO Meg Arnold said Thursday that she thinks Niello was a good choice for the position.

“I am really excited and enthusiastic about it,” she said. “He brings a whole range of attributes to the position. Obviously his business experience and his connections in the region and his political experience, but he is also really geared toward partnerships, and that’s what we need – to work together.”

Arnold said she expects to see stronger collaboration between nonprofit organizations, government organizations and businesses going forward.

Martha Lofgren, interim CEO of the Metro Chamber, said Niello’s business experience was “first and foremost” in his selection.

“He’s been a business owner in the Sacramento area for about three decades,” she said. “He obviously has a lot of experience in politics at the local and state levels, and the Metro Chamber always looks at how government affects business.”

She said his history with the organization – serving as president in 1995 – is also a plus.

Niello’s salary was not disclosed, but Lofgren said it is competitive with similar positions in other like-sized nonprofit organizations in the area.

The Metro Chamber has nearly 2,200 member organizations and businesses.

“The chamber is much stronger now than it was in ’95 in all respects,” Niello said, adding that he wants to draw more job diversity to the region. “Government jobs are good, but the percentage we have here is too high, and bringing in more jobs relying on government subsidies, like some of the green industry, isn’t the answer. We need to bring those in, yes, but we also need to grow our smaller businesses, because that’s where wealth comes from.”

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Arena effort gets regional business support

2011-07-22T01:10:32Z

In what Mayor Kevin Johnson called an unprecedented event, 14 chambers of commerce from the Sacramento region announced Thursday that they support an entertainment and sports complex in downtown Sacramento.

Johnson said the backing of the regional business community, which came after a four-county bus trip for Think Big Sacramento, is a commitment to the promise he made to the National Basketball Association earlier this year in New York City that Sacramento is an NBA city and can build a new arena.

“I did not sell Sacramento, I sold our region,” he said, adding that a common commitment to a downtown sports and entertainment complex will provide a more vibrant community.

The major obstacle facing the Think Big Sacramento coalition is developing a financing plan for the $386 million arena, something that was expected from the ICON-Taylor arena development team but was not a part of the report released after a nearly four-month feasibility study.

Johnson said he is confident that a workable public/private partnership will be in place before the end of this year, in time to meet the March 1, 2012 deadline to make serious efforts to build a new arena.

“We don’t want to be in the same situation year after year, and we know that March deadline is coming up. It’ll be here before we know it,” Johnson said, adding that he is confident the self-imposed deadline of having financing options in place by mid-September will be met.

“Then, in subsequent months, the rest of September, October and November, we believe we will have a critical path of a public/private partnership ... all before the end of the year. That’s our goal,” he said.

He alluded to creative funding models and “outside-the-box” thinking on the financing, but he did not give any specifics on funding options, except to address the question of a sales tax.

“No one here wants to do a sales tax,” he said. “We didn’t take it off the table, but we knew that would not fly. We learned that in 2006.”

Martha Lofgren, interim CEO of the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce, said the Metro Chamber has supported the idea of a downtown arena since at least 2004, and she said regional funding is the only method that makes sense.

“One agency, one local agency can’t do this alone,” she said. “There has to be a regional effort to fund a regional sports and entertainment center.”

She added that a downtown arena will benefit the whole region, not just Sacramento.

“If there’s one thing I think we as a region need right now, it’s an economic catalyst,” she said. “We need to move forward, get the financial picture in place and get the momentum going.”

The independent report released late last month claims that the region will benefit from $7 billion in economic activity over 30 years and create 4,000 jobs.

Some in the community have been skeptical of those numbers and the actual economic effect from an arena, but Lofgren said she believes the numbers are accurate.

“You need to know this is a very thoughtful process that has led up to the announcement today of the support from all of the regional chambers,” she said, adding that the business community has had since the beginning of June to check out and verify the numbers.

Willie Pelote, assistant director for the Political Action Department of the California chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME International), said that as a representative of labor, he also believes the numbers are accurate.

“I think the mayor and his team have been very thorough in making sure that they do the research that’s necessary so when they say something to the public, the public can go and check it out,” he said. “That’s why I think the region’s going to buy into this concept ... we’re looking at job creation.”

He added that he is “very comfortable” with what the finance committee – headed by former Sacramento Treasurer Tom Friery – is doing to make sure it is not being built on the backs of taxpayers.

Other chambers of commerce supporting the downtown arena are the Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce, the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce, the Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce, Citrus Heights Regional Chamber of Commerce, Folsom Chamber of Commerce, Lincoln Area Chamber of Commerce, Rainbow Chamber of Commerce, Rocklin Area Chamber of Commerce, Roseville Chamber of Commerce, Slavic-American Chamber of Commerce and the Yuba-Sutter Chamber of Commerce.

Pelote said he expects a similar showing of support from labor organizations in the coming weeks.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

County laying groundwork for economic turnaround

2010-11-11T01:41:02Z

The message from officials at Wednesday’s third annual State of Sacramento County forum was that things might be tough now, but hard work today is laying the groundwork for prosperity in the future.

“We should always question our assumptions that things tomorrow will be as they are today,” said Roger Dickinson, chair of the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors and State Assemblyman-elect.

The Metro Chamber event was held at Sacramento International Airport, and 260 people attended, according to Communications Director Hal Silliman.

Dickinson said the $1.08 billion airport expansion – also known as “The Big Build” – is iconic of what is in store for the county and will “inspire us to focus on realizing an even brighter and better future.”

For context, Dickinson recalled the devastating news the county received in 1995 when it was decided that McClellan Air Force Base would be closed – a base on which 13,000 people worked, including 10,000 civilians.

Just six years later, 2,500 people were employed on the former base.

“Today, over 15,000 people report to McClellan Park each and every day, and 6.5 million square feet is under lease,” Dickinson said.

He added that the McClellan Park project was one of the best partnerships between government and the private sector he has ever seen, and the airport expansion is another way to strengthen the region.

Interim County Executive Steven Szalay laid out the steps the county has taken to weather the current recession.

He said the county closed a $181 million budget gap this year and is constantly looking at better ways to govern and increase efficiency.

To prevent similar budget crises in the future, Szalay said the county has reduced its reliance on one-time funding from $80 million to $30 million per year and is working to lower that number further.

When the economy turns around, a budgeting policy will be put into place that will save 50 cents of each dollar in revenue. Those funds will be put into reserves and will be reinvested to provide a hedge against future downturns.

To encourage departments to run more efficiently, Szalay said they will now be able to carry over money they save in their own budgets to the next fiscal year, rather than having any savings diverted to the county’s general fund.

Finally, Szalay said the county is working within the region to streamline services needed by all governing bodies, including animal control and emergency dispatching, so unnecessary parallel services are consolidated.

Metro Chamber members were given a look at what will be included in the new airport’s Terminal B by Sacramento County Airport System Director G. Hardy Acree. Details of the expansion will be provided in an upcoming Sacramento Press article.

Bill Swelbar, a research engineer for the MIT International Center for Air Transportation, then discussed the issues facing the global airline industry and metropolitan areas with airports going into the future.

Swelbar said he sees successful airports in the future as being ones around major metropolitan centers, while more-remote ones could find it difficult to stay open.

“That’s not Sacramento,” Swelbar said. “Sacramento is very well-positioned for tomorrow.”

Attending the event was Tim Youmans, who works in the public finance and real estate field.

“The county seems to be repositioning themselves well for the next 10 years,” Youmans said.

He added that he found the presentation on air travel to be interesting and was heartened by the conclusion that Sacramento will continue to be a viable option for air travel growth.

“I think they’re seizing the opportunity in this economic downturn to become more innovative and rethink their procedures and changing them to be more efficient,” said Jim Alves, who works for SMUD.

During his remarks, Dickinson voiced his vision for the future of the county.

“We have a vision of a vital and vibrant region,” he said, “of an ever-growing and attractive center of community life, commerce, entertainment, the arts ... in short, the best place to live, anywhere.”

Photo 3 is Roger Dickinson, and photo 4 is Steven Szalay.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Lesser lights shine brighter at Perspectives

2010-10-16T01:16:33Z

Despite nationally known speakers Sarah Palin and Howard Dean headlining the Sacramento Metro Chamber’s Perspectives 2010 forum, it was the lesser-known speakers who had a greater effect on the audience.

Terrence McNamara, a Sacramentan in the construction industry, said he found management consultant and author Marcus Buckingham to be the most interesting.

“I’ve been coming to this for seven years, and it’s always the speaker you’re not interested in seeing who has the biggest impact,” he said.

Buckingham offered his views on dealing with strengths and weaknesses. Traditionally, Buckingham said, people tend to think that weaknesses need to be worked on.

According to Buckingham, however, strengths should be reinforced.

“Strengths are your areas of opportunity – not your weaknesses,” he said, adding that “a weakness is an activity that consumes us, even if we’re good at it. Strength is an activity that makes you feel strong.”

In figuring out how to enhance performance in areas where people feel strong, Buckingham said they will be better at their jobs and more fulfilled in life.

The second speaker of the day was Food Network personality Chef Jeff Henderson.

Henderson told his story – how he went from being poor in Los Angeles to building a $35,000-per-month drug empire to being thrown in prison and eventually reforming and attaining the American Dream through hard work.

“I wasn’t arrested, I was rescued,” Henderson said.

After thrusting himself into the lives of the successful, Henderson found that “the only difference between the haves and the have-nots are the ones who have the knowledge and information and the ability to do something with it.”

Dean, a former Democratic Party presidential candidate, said the biggest threat to the United States is the budget deficit.

“Great countries collapse and die not because of external threats,” Dean said. “They do it because they lose the will to fight internal threats, and that makes them unable to deal with the external threats.”

Dean advocated stopping government growth and increasing taxes, as well as creating more manufacturing jobs in America.

In the upcoming midterm elections, Dean predicted that, of the contested seats, the Democrats will hang on to four seats in the House of Representatives and three to four seats in the Senate.

“Our candidates are better than the Republican candidates,” Dean said, referring to their political skills as much as his thoughts on their views.

On the subject of health care, Dean said that he views the current national health care plan not as reform, but as an extension of a system that was already in place.

“This bill was not groundbreaking. It was not reform,” Dean said.

Palin, former governor of Alaska and 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate, disagreed with Dean on how to generate wealth in the economy, calling for permanent tax cuts to spur investment and business growth.

“My kid is not your ATM,” Palin said, referring to a sign she liked at a tea party gathering. “I love that message sent to Washington, D.C.”

Where Dean had forecast the health care system evolving to a system similar to government-run ones in Canada and Europe, Palin said a free-market health care system is the only way to be successful.

The health care bill is “the mother of all unfunded mandates,” she said. “It’s gotta go. It’s gotta be replaced by true, free-market (reform).”

During her speech to the mostly full house of about 2,000 people at the Sacramento Convention Center, Palin applauded Republican Senatorial Candidate Carly Fiorina and questioned if incumbent Democratic candidate Barbara Boxer has done anything to earn votes.

“She spent 28 years in Washington to show...what for it?” Palin asked.

Palin also said California has the opportunity to lead the United States in government reforms by figuring out a way to deal with the state budget. She compared California’s budget problems to those of the federal government, and she said that Gubernatorial Candidate Meg Whitman is the woman to do it.

“We can, we should do all that we can to make America remain that shining city on a hill and know that our best days are yet to come,” Palin said.

Audience members interviewed by The Sacramento Press after the event said it was a good experience.

“I thought it was terrific,” said John Frisch, a commercial real estate manager in Sacramento who has come to Perspectives for 14 of its 16 years. “One thing I love is there’s always surprises – one to two speakers you’ve never heard of, and they turn out to be nuggets.”

For Frisch, Henderson was that nugget.

“He was terrific,” Frisch said.

DeAnna Mackensen, an interior designer from Yuba City, said she thought Buckingham’s tips on focusing on strengths were very informative, and she plans to put his tips to real-world use in her business.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Sacramento Community Dreams Big with Lilliput Children's Services

2010-09-29T19:21:56Z

As Harriet Tubman once said, “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”

On September 11th, as over 200 Sacramento community members gathered at the California Museum to celebrate the 30 years that Lilliput Children's Services has been serving the state's most vulnerable children and their families, Lilliput was humbled to remember exactly who they are helping and why. Founded in 1980, Lilliput is committed to building families and making dreams come true, and has completed over 4,500 adoptions for California foster children.

Throughout the evening, guests enjoyed food, wine and beer tastings that were donated by local restaurants, caterers, wineries and breweries. The atmosphere was fun and relaxed as they perused the beautiful artwork that was gifted by local artists for display and auction. The program was the highlight of the evening as Lilliput honored two special families, as well as a local business and nonprofit agency, for the difference they have made to our community.

The adoptive family that was honored has four children, all under the age of six, in their home. Their oldest three, now six, four and two, were all adopted from foster care with Lilliput's help. Their youngest, in their home for only 3 weeks now, is their middle child's sibling and is only 3 months old. Lilliput presented them with an "Adoptive Family Champions" recognition.

The kinship family that was honored is a family of six with five children in the home. The children were adopted by their great-aunt in 2006 and ranged in age from one year old twins to six when they first came into her home in 2002. Lilliput presented them with a "Kinship Family Champions" recognition.

The Metro Chamber's Leadership Sacramento Program was founded in 1985 and develops community-minded business and civic leaders. Lilliput makes it a priority for their executive leadership team to participate in the class and is sending their third through the program now. Lilliput was selected as the class project by the Class of 2008 and is ever so grateful for all that was done on the agency's behalf. Lilliput presented Leadership Sacramento with a "Local Business Hero" recognition, which was accepted by Shirley Smith, the Metro Chamber's Community Development Director.

KVIE Public Television continues to serve their mission of educating ,enriching, enlightening and inspiring diverse audiences and individuals with high quality television programming and related services that enhance the qualify of life for people throughout Northern California. KVIE and Lilliput began collaborating in 2008 thanks to the Leadership Sacramento Class Project. KVIE has been instrumental in helping to increase awareness about Lilliput's foster, adoption and kinship services by creating public service announcement and videos. KVIE in partnership with the Documentary Foundation facilitated the creation of the Dream Big video that was shown throughout the evening. Lilliput presented KVIE with a "Local Nonprofit Hero" recognition, which was accepted by Mike Sanford, KVIE's Vice President for Content Creation.

Dream Big was led by an event committee, Lilliput staff and the board of directors. Thanks to the time that these individuals volunteered as well as the numerous food, beverage, artwork and other in-kind donations, Lilliput was able to net over $22,000. All ticket sales, silent auction proceeds and the majority of event sponsorship dollars will go directly to Lilliput's services and did not host the event.

The support that was offered by the following, as well as those who attended, helps Lilliput to fulfill their mission - that every child deserves the opportunity for permanence in a safe and nurturing family - and to sustain services during these challenging economic times. By working together with those in the community, Lilliput can give children the chance to reach for the stars and make their own dreams come true. For more information about Lilliput, please visit www.Lilliput.org.

Dream Big Event Donors

SPONSORS - Visionary: Wells Fargo Bank Hero: Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento, Union Bank Friend: Teichert / Stonebridge Properties, Kaiser Permanente, SMUD, Bank of the West, Laurellen Mattos of Vitek Mortgage

Food - California Pizza Kitchen, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Crawdad’s River Cantina, Giovanni’s Old World New York Pizzeria, Hoppy Brewing Company, Jack’s Urban Eats, Paesano’s Pronto, Raley’s Bel-Air—AFC Sushi, River City Cake Company, Sugar & Spice Specialty Desserts, Taylor’s Kitchen

Wine - Bogle Winery, Crew Wines, Middleton Family Wines, Scribner Bend Vineyards, Sean Minor Winery

Beer - Hoppy Brewing Company, Sudwerk Restaurant & Brewery

Beverage - La Bou, Norcal Beverages

Monetary ($500 & up) - C.C. Myers, Kasey & Sean Cotulla, Greg & Erin Levi, Muller & Associates

In-Kind Services - Crisp Catering (Joe Thompson), Documentary Foundation (Mimi Wilcox & Oscar Boido), DS Pictures (Diego Salazar), Jack Nadel International (Bruce Pettinari), Kathryn Scott, Leslie Colby, Linda Johnson, KVIE Public Television (Mike Sanford), Tom’s Printing (Robert Tom)

Artists - Leslie Colby, Linda Johnson, Marla Kolb, Gregory Kondos, Alan Post, Mary Sorrels

Auction Items - Bidwell Street Bistro, A Dash of Panache Tea Parlor, Discovery Museum, Esquire IMAX, Fairytale Town, Freshberry Frozen Yogurt Café, Granite Arch Climbing Center, Maloof Sports & Entertainment, Middleton Family Wines, The Moak Family, Perry Creek Winery, P.F. Chang's China Bistro, Piatti Ristorante & Bar, Relish Burger, Roller King, The Sacramento Zoo, Sienna, Solomon Dubnick Gallery, Standing Room Only, Vintner’s Cellar Custom Winery

Metro Chamber Organizes Lobbying Trip to Washington, D.C.

2010-04-14T05:12:02Z

Mayor Kevin Johnson and regional leaders held a press conference at City Hall Tuesday afternoon to discuss a lobbying trip to Washington, D.C., to request more federal funding for Sacramento.

The trip is scheduled April 17-21 and is part of an annual event sponsored by the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce (Metro Chamber). It brings the regional priorities of California's capital to the attention of the nation's capital, called "Cap-to-Cap." Johnson was joined at the conference by West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon, Metro Chamber CEO Matt Mahood and Mike McKeever, executive director of Sacramento Area Council of Governments.

"Cap-to-Cap is one time you can lobby people in Washington, D.C., but the lobbying has to continue," Johnson said.

He said his administration received $200 million last year in stimulus funding for Sacramento.

"We saved and created 95,000 jobs in our region last year," he said. "Cap-to-Cap is a start, but we have to be cultivating relationships year-round."

This year's top priorities are jobs, business growth, flood protection, water resources, transportation and energy-efficient building systems. They will be presented to the elected leaders, the Obama administration and other agency officials.

"This is the 40th Cap-to-Cap trip, but it could be the most important one," Cabaldon said.

Mahood agreed, adding that the trip "is one of our region's competitive advantages."

The release stated that delegates will hear from Washington, D.C., Mayor Adrian Fenty, CIA Director Leon Panetta and Secretary of Energy Dr. Steven Chu. Johnson added that delegates also plan to meet with Shaun Donovan, secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

Delegates will present 91 policy papers during more than 243 meetings with members of Congress, the Obama administration and other federal officials, according to the Metro Chamber's Tuesday press release.

When asked if he predicted any challenges to the lobbying in lieu of a rough economy, Johnson said, "What we're doing here is a national model. Our region, and on behalf of our state, we don't think we're getting as much as we should."

Photos:
1) (L to R) Mahood, Cabaldon, Johnson, McKeever
2) (L to R) Mahood, Johnson, Cabaldon, McKeever
3) Johnson (L) , Mahood (R)
4) (L to R) Mahood, Cabaldon, McKeever, Johnson

Photographs by staff reporter Kathleen Haley. Agnus-Dei Farrant is an intern for The Sacramento Press.

Arena project, green initiative topics in State of the City address

2010-02-26T02:43:22Z

Mayor Kevin Johnson called for city government reform, the launching of a green initiative, increased public safety and moving forward with the arena project at his second State of the City address Thursday.

“The state of the city is in our hands,” Johnson told the members of the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. “The key is not about getting hit, it’s about getting up again.”

Johnson discussed the hits the city has recently taken, including an increase to 13 percent unemployment from about 5 percent just a couple years ago, high crime rates and lackluster business performance, but he emphasized the need to be optimistic.

“This is our time, Sacramento,” Johnson said.

He highlighted four areas of focus to bring Sacramento back to a stable economic environment and make it a world-class city.

Downtown

Johnson’s first goal is to strengthen the downtown core. Saying the success of Sacramento is in its neighborhoods, he stressed the need to make them successful.

His plans for doing that are to “put cars back on K Street” and actively bring in new retail stores to revitalize the currently pedestrian-only mall. He said he also intends to “unlock the grid,” making it easier to access the downtown area from all parts of the city by removing the current barriers that hinder the free flow of traffic. One way to do that would be connecting roads that currently do not intersect.

Another goal is to develop a viable plan for the Downtown Plaza mall over the next few months, which currently has one third of its retail space vacant.

Green Initiative

With New York being the capital of finance, Los Angeles being the capital of the entertainment industry and the Silicon Valley being the capital of the technology industry, Johnson said he wants to make Sacramento the capital of the green industry.

“I strongly believe Sacramento has the potential to be a national leader when it comes to green space,” Johnson said, adding that he wants to make Sacramento the “Emerald Valley.”

In developing jobs in the “green sector,” Johnson said Sacramento will be a host to myriad new jobs on all wage levels, which can help diversify its employment.

“Sacramento is over-dependent on government jobs,” Johnson said. “We need to diversify.”

Johnson compared the possibility of harnessing a new green industry to the Gold Rush.

“We have the opportunity to have a Green Rush,” Johnson said.

Arena Project

“We need a new entertainment and sports complex in Sacramento,” Johnson said.

His comments followed a panel discussion with members of the Sacramento First Citizens’ Task Force, which was formed in November.

During the panel discussion, member Larry Kelley gave a brief outline of the seven proposals the task force has received thus far, which range from using the current Arco Arena site in Natomas to bringing the new arena downtown to the railyards, the docks or the K Street Mall.

“This is something the voters have voted down previously,” Kelley said. “It’s something I think we need as a community. People don’t know where Sacramento is.”

Member Christopher Lehane said that a number of public hearings regarding the complex have been very helpful and provided the task force with “an enormous amount of information.”

The task force will release its report to the public March 11 and bring it to the City Council March 16.

“I do think this is a unique opportunity for this community if done right,” Lehane said.

Johnson – who was not present for much of the panel discussion – said Sacramento is in a better position than ever before when it comes to discussing the topic.

“We should, as a council, come up with a consensus with what we want to do going forward (with the arena project) within 30 days of receiving that report,” he said.

He added that that will be before the end of the Kings’ season.

There are a couple of major hang-ups with the project, however.

“I can’t tell you yet where (it will be located) and how we’re going to pay for it, but we have made a lot of progress.”

Friery said there will eventually be a “ripple effect” in money coming into the city through sales tax dollars and job opportunities if the complex is located downtown.

Johnson and task force members said the arena will not only be about basketball, but an “entertainment and sports complex.”

One of the proposals would locate the arena at the current Cal Expo site and include a theme park.

Metro Chamber CEO Matthew Mahood said the sports and entertainment complex is a necessity to Sacramento.

“A properly located entertainment and sports complex will create thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in economic benefits for the entire region.”

Mahood added that a report released Jan. 7 from the task force predicts that building and running the new complex will create 4,095 jobs.

Reforming City Hall

Johnson’s fourth main point in bringing the city back on track was his ongoing goal to reform city government.

“We’ve outgrown our current structure,” he said. “I think it’s very difficult to have nine bosses and nine separate agendas.”

Though he didn’t use the term “strong mayor,” he did call for a system with an executive mayor, term limits and an independent budget analyst.

The City Council approved the independent budget analyst Tuesday in a move Johnson said was a step in the right direction.

“I believe we can come to a compromise,” Johnson said, adding that he hopes to bring the issue before voters on the November ballot.

“We’re going to do all of this if we have a spirit of cooperation,” Johnson said. “We have to put aside personal differences.”

Johnson admitted to not being perfect in that area thus far.

“I take full responsibility for the fact that I have not done a good job in this area,” he said, “but I can only do so much on my own.”

Johnson said the recent resignation of City Manager Ray Kerridge is a sign of the “broken system.”

After commenting that Kerridge “epitomized the very best of what a public servant should be,” Johnson addressed him, and said his legacy will be “bringing us all together, so thank you very much.”

Other Points

Johnson commended Sacramentans on their volunteerism over the past year, acknowledging the 1.5 million volunteer hours that tripled his goal of 500,000. This year he is asking Sacramentans to double that and volunteer for a collective 3 million hours, which he said equals about 12 hours per resident over the year.

Public safety was another topic Johnson brought up, citing that Sacramento is the second most dangerous city in California for violent crime – behind only Oakland. He is asking the council to find the money to hire 30 police officers with a goal to increase the ratio of officers from one and a half officers per 1,000 residents to two.

But there is still the projected $35 million-$40 million budget deficit to contend with as well as the fact that FEMA is requiring Sacramento to address the levees that are currently in violation of federal requirements to prevent floods.

Despite the obstacles standing in Sacramento’s path, Johnson remained optimistic.

“We’re going to get through it,” he said. “Sacramento is not going to cower in the corner and wait this recession out.”

Audience members had mixed reactions to Johnson’s speech, but said they hoped for the best.

“I thought it was awesome,” said Jeff Pemstein, a homebuilder. “Sacramento is a great city.”

Pemstein said he is confident that the economy will turn around and Sacramento will once again head in the right direction.

Brian Seymour, who works in emergency project restoration, said he thinks Johnson is very energetic.

“He obviously wants to see this city grow,” Seymour said.

Seymour said there were no surprises in the speech, but he characterized Johnson’s remarks to Kerridge as “unceremonious.”

“Hopefully the Council will be able to play in the same sandbox," Seymour said, but when asked if he thought it was a real possibility, he replied, “Not really.”

The budget deficit was of concern to Mahood, who wrote in a press release that the “gap can’t be closed with smoke and mirrors. The mayor and Council are going to have to make some tough decisions to get a balanced budget.”

Mahood also said the Council will have to make cuts to departments where spending is out of proportion to their counterparts in comparable cities.

Picture 1: Metro Chamber CEO Matthew Mahood

Picture 2: Sacramento First Task Force members, from left, Larry Kelley, Tom Friery and Christopher Lehane and moderator Carl "Tobey" Oxholm III.

Picture 3: Mayor Kevin Johnson

Picture 4: Mayor Kevin Johnson delivers his State of the City address to the Metro Chamber.

Photos by Tia Gemmell

Riverfront Media Photography

www.phototia.com

Brandon Darnell is a copy editor for The Sacramento Press.

Arden Arcade Business Walk surveying district businesses today

2009-09-25T18:47:05Z

How’s business? What can be done to make it better?

With those questions, more than two dozen business people and Sacramento County staffers are visiting businesses Friday in the Arden Arcade district for the annual Business Walk to find out what kind of assistance can be brought to help improve the business environment.

It’s expected that more than 100 shops, offices and stores will be visited today along eight commercial corridors—including Watt Avenue, Fulton Avenue, Auburn Boulevard and Hurley Way, among others.

Business Walks help county officials make improvements in services to the districts, according to Howard Schmidt, chief of staff for Supervisor Susan Peters, District 5, where today’s event was taking place.

“Past business walks help us channel resources for things like law enforcement,” Schmidt told the participants before they hit the streets. The Sheriff’s Grinch Program to patrol the shopping malls during the holiday season is one example of the outcome of visiting businesses to find out what can be done by the county to improve the district. Last year’s holiday patrol of the malls netted more than 100 bad guys, he said.

Previous Business Walks (reports are available online) also helped the county craft flexible zoning regulations for business, curb aggressive panhandling and improve street pavement conditions.

And how is business doing right now?

Early reports from the teams show that many small businesses, such as computer firms, medical offices, real estate firms, are doing well.

Cary Warner of Aperio—an information technology administrator—said his business is doing well, improving through the use of marketing via social media outlets like Facebook.

He attends the Arden Arcade Business Council’s monthly mixers because they help him connect with people he finds via Facebook and social media. “That’s the small business pie I’m after,” he said. “The mixers are a great connector to see the people from online.”

Atlas Properities’ Elias Zumout, the onsite manger of the 2020 Hurley Ave. building, said he sees “business going up slowly.” After losing seven mortgage company businesses, he has 65% occupancy. He just signed a 3-year lease for new company moving into two suites.

To help business improve, he has dropped lease rates and is making improvements in the building. “You have to spend money to make money.” But he sees things turning around.

Zumout said the Arden Arcade district is “a very good area”—and, as a basketball fan—is hoping the Sacramento Kings will move into the CalExpo arena. “It will be fantastic for everybody.”

The Business Walk is a partnership of the Sacramento Metro Chamber Arden Arcade Business Council, the Fulton Avenue Association and Sacramento County. It is sponsored by Volt Information Services, the Fulton Avenue Association and Hampton Inn & Suites, with support from SETA/Sacramento Works.

Upcoming Business Walks are set for Rancho Cordova (Oct. 22), Power Inn (Oct. 29) and West Sacramento (Nov. 20). For more information, contact Matt Yancey at 916-321-9153.

Sacramento Metro Chamber to host Congressional Representatives Lungren, McClintock: Business, civic leaders invited to annual California Leadership Forum

2009-09-22T23:51:35Z

Business and civic leaders are invited to join the Sacramento Metro Chamber when it hosts Rep. Dan Lungren, R-Third District, and Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Fourth District, on Monday, Sept. 28, at Le Rivage Hotel, Sacramento.

“The Metro Chamber is pleased once again to provide one of the few forums where businesspeople can meet their elected officials for an open discussion on current issues affecting the region and the nation,” said Matt Mahood, president & CEO.

The breakfast will be held 8-10 a.m. at Le Rivage Hotel, 4350 Riverside Blvd., Sacramento, 95822. Register by noon Friday at http://www.metrochamber.org/events. For event information, contact Lindsay Ono at 916-319-4262 or lono@metrochamber.org.

Searching for new strategies: Region's business leaders on International Study & Trade Mission to Vancouver, B.C.

2009-08-20T19:09:20Z

Business and civic leaders are in Vancouver, B.C. through Friday, Aug. 22, to study successful strategies for eco-commercialism and regional sustainability. They are part of the Sacramento Metro Chamber's annual Study Mission. Previous cities visited include Portland, Salt Lake City, Charlotte, Austin and San Antonio, and San Diego.

Thirty participants are taking four days to interview experts on how Vancouver has become an international gateway to the Pacific-Asian market. The Vancouver region has also developed strategies for converting new ideas into business start-ups and jobs. Randy Sater, the 2010 chair of the Metro Chamber Board kicked off the Study Mission yesterday (photo).

Other study topics include:

International Trade & Commerce
Tourism Surrounding 2010 Winter Olympics
Film as a World-Class Niche Industry Cluster
High Quality of Life

How Sacramento can use its combined assets to grow business and jobs in the region will be recommended by Study Mission participants. A report will be published in the Metro Business Quarterly, released in October. More information on Metro Chamber Study Missions is at sacramentocacoc.weblinkconnect.com/cwt/external/publicpolicy/study_mission.aspx.

The Keystone Experiment

2009-01-27T00:38:46Z

I’m a new business owner. Actually, I’m not all that new. I have had a Web consulting business for nearly four years, after having “retired” from corporate life. Last year, I decided to start a second adjunct business, and one key target market area that I wanted to grow into was Sacramento. So I decided to hatch an experiment, and this article will be the first of a series of articles about my experiences. It may document a success or two, or maybe it won’t, depending upon the outcome.

Time will tell.

Background

To give you, the reader a bit of background, I’m a computer technologist coming from a twenty-one year history of working in a corporate environment with data centers, programmers, servers, and Web technology. I chucked a stable paycheck and my cube (a lá Dilbert) a few years ago for entrepreneurship, and a tiny shared office in downtown Livermore. I love it, and I’ve never looked back!

The new business is called the Bay Area Search Engine Academy, but despite the “Bay Area” name, the reality is that the business also spans into Sacramento, down to Fresno, and Santa Cruz. We teach workshops to business owners so they learn how to market themselves on Google.

This series of articles, however, isn’t about my business. It will be about how I can break out of my local neighborhood, Livermore, and hopefully build a new business and foster relationships in a city that I usually travel past, rather than to.

First Steps

As an avid member and Ambassador of the Livermore Chamber of Commerce, it seemed logical that the very first place I should go to in Sacramento is the Sacramento Metro Chamber as a keystone to my presence here. Interestingly, there’s another article that just got posted yesterday about someone else’s experience with Metro Chamber. Perhaps she’ll invite me to her mixer at some point too.

The Livermore Chamber boasts that they are the fifth largest chamber in the Bay Area, and it has, according to the San Francisco Business Times, 820 members (last year’s stats). The Chamber CEO, Dale Kaye, and I meet regularly and she’s present at a lot of functions I attend. The Livermore Chamber staff (8 people) are all friends of mine because we interact on a regular basis. I know probably 2/3 of the 50 Ambassadors too.

The Sacramento Metro Chamber, on the other hand, has at least three times the membership, it’s the second largest chamber in the state, has a whopping list of 450 volunteers and an org chart that makes it look like a small corporation. I’m not sure when the Livermore Chamber was originally formed, but Metro Chamber was formed in 1895, essentially to help with the winter flooding and build the levees around the city.

That Was Easy!

There was no question that I wanted to join Metro Chamber. Especially with its reach of nearly 3000 businesses, it’s a bargain at a few hundred dollars for the opportunity to connect with all these people! So my application and information went off, and Bob Welton from Member Services welcomed me in. Easy.

They hold a monthly orientation to the Metro Chamber which I attended a few days later. There, Matt Mahood, the CEO, gave a presentation to us about what the Metro Chamber is all about, opprtunities for us business owners, and how they help business by working to support legislative candidates who are pro-business, and even work to get pro-business legislation passed.

The orientation was standing room only, packed with forty-one business owners, employees and various chamber personnel. Being a veteran networker, of course, this was a prime opportunity to, well, network! Business cards are after all, the cheapest form of advertising available. I met some new contacts, and who knows, maybe we’ll do business at some point. (I subsequently took some time to meet the very friendly staff of your very own Sacramento Press, and hopefully built some new friendships.)

The Grand Experiment

So what’s this grand “experiment” that I’m hatching? My ultimate goal of course is to fill my workshop in March. Can the Metro Chamber help me reach my goals, and how will I track it? As this experiment unfolds, I’ll be filling you in on these details. Although, I have to admit, it feels a bit personal, because, what if I don’t reach my goals? There it will sit in Internet eternity for all of you to read.

Alas, as I said earlier, time will tell.

Next Time

The Ribbon Cutting!