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Chamber of Commerce

OUR MISSION
To promote business and enhance the economic and cultural well being of Fresno County residents.

OUR ORGANIZATION
With a membership of more than 1,400 businesses and organizations, the Fresno Chamber of Commerce is one of the largest chambers in the state of California in addition to being the largest business organization in the region. While our membership’s diverse body is comprised of small businesses, corporations, associations and professionals, small businesses represent roughly 80 percent of our membership, leading our team to establish advocacy on their behalf as a central goal.

CORE OBJECTIVES
We work hard to strengthen our community, to encourage growth and to identify needs and opportunities. Our objectives as your Chamber are to:

• Promote a strong local economy
• Provide opportunities to network and build relationships
• Deliver programs to help business grow
• Represent and advocate on behalf of the business community
• Enhance commerce through community stewardship

CHAMBER EVENTS AND MEMBERSHIP – BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND NETWORK
The Fresno Chamber offers a plethora of events and development programs that range from seminars and trainings to executive-level support and networking opportunities. Annual breakfasts and luncheons, monthly mixers as well as our semi-annual trade show, BizFest, are just some of the events and programs designed to help you get the most value out of your membership. Listed below is a comprehensive list of these annual events:

Ag Awards Luncheon The Chamber is delighted to present the annual Ag Awards Luncheon, a long-standing fall Chamber tradition where we honor a person from the agricultural community. The Ag Awards Luncheon also features the presentation of the Baker, Peterson and Franklin Ag Business Award, which is given to an agricultural or farming business. The program hosts an array of industry experts who address important agricultural concerns and provide relevant information, including The Fresno County Farm Bureau’s “State of Agriculture.”

Annual Membership & Installation Dinner Every January, we ask the community to come join us for an evening of elegance and recognition as the Fresno Chamber hosts the Annual Membership & Installation Dinner. This event offers a unique opportunity for our members to celebrate the business accomplishments from the past year and preview the Chamber’s vision for the upcoming year.

Business After Hours Present Bizfest Bizfest serves as a prime opportunity to peruse local businesses’ products and services and is also the perfect time to boast about your own. With numerous booths and hundreds of attendees, this event is an invaluable resource for network development and making those all-important contacts. There are also terrific give-a-ways with business card drawings, providing a little something for everyone! We regularly have a great turnout from Fresno residents, making this possibly the best opportunity to market your business all year!

State of the City Luncheon Every year, the Fresno Chamber of Commerce presents the annual State of the City Luncheon with Fresno’s Mayor. This spring event provides a forum for the Mayor to share accomplishments, opportunities and plans for the future with the community.

State of the County Breakfast The annual State of the County Breakfast serves as a forum for the Board of Supervisors to highlight the county’s accomplishments and outline a foundation for the future. This late summer event is an excellent networking and marketing opportunity.

Valley Business Conference Fresno County’s premier business conference, known in the office as the VBC, celebrates the backbone of any community - business leaders and entrepreneurs. This half-day event showcases local businesses and provides a discussion forum to keep members and non-members abreast of current events affecting our community.

This event culminates in a celebratory luncheon in honor of the Leon S. Peters award winner for excellence in business and community stewardship, named after one of Fresno’s most generous and benevolent community leaders. The VBC also serves as the venue to celebrate the Zinkin Awards in Entrepreneurship, which include the Harold Zinkin award, the Rising Star award and both the College and High school entrepreneur awards.

Eggs and Issues Breakfast These events are held at various times during the year to give attendees an intimate look at politics from local legislators. It also is an ideal forum for Chamber members to interact and share their views on the legislative needs of the business community. Sponsorship opportunities are available; contact our office for more information.

Membership Mixers Chamber Mixers, held the third Thursday of every month, provide a fun and favorable venue for network development. These popular get-togethers allow current and potential members to meet, exchange information and talk business in a relaxed, informal atmosphere. Bring your business cards, get ready to talk about your company or organization, and prepare to make at least a few new friends! Members and potential members may attend at no cost. Visit the Chamber website to find out upcoming dates and locations.

DELIVERING PROGRAMS TO HELP BUSINESS GROW!
As a Chamber, we depend upon volunteers and staff to identify community needs, issues and opportunities in order to improve Fresno. We then work closely to produce programs capable of solving these issues. As a business-centered organization, we also strive to deliver programs to help businesses flourish, such as the following:

• Business start-up support and assistance
• Small Business University
• Leadership Fresno
• San Joaquin Political Academy
• Workshops, information exchange and special events for business development
• Grand openings and ribbon cuttings
• Recognition of outstanding leadership with through industry specific awards
• The Chamber also develops business resource publications to promote our members and to help continue the growth of our local economy.
• Guide to Fresno
• Relocation Packets
• Membership Directory and Buyer’s Guide

FRESNO CHAMBER ADVOCATES ON BEHALF OF BUSINESS
One of the main goals of the Fresno Chamber is to be active on local, state and federal issues which impact local business. Our goal is to present your interests to relevant representatives before they vote on key issues. We believe that government must operate as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible to ensure the overall well being of the economy.

As your advocate, the Fresno Chamber has done the following:

• Supported meal period reform, which gives employers more flexibility when providing meal breaks to their employees

• Supported secret-ballot elections so employees can retain their right to vote for unionization in private rather than publicly signing cards

• Supported local enterprise zones and associated tax breaks qualifying businesses receive

• Opposed increases to workers’ compensation insurance rates

• Supported efforts to reform the state budgeting process

• Opposed federal healthcare reform that includes a public plan and puts costly mandates on employers to provide coverage to employees

• Supported flexible workweeks so employees and employers can work together to decide work schedules

• Supported efforts to reform the state prison system so prisoners aren’t released early due to overcrowding

• Supported a comprehensive solution to the water crisis in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta that includes a bond for additional water storage

• Supported efforts to get the Fresno Yosemite International Airport designated as a non-reimbursable Port of Entry to help lower costs to the city of Fresno

• Supported efforts to integrate public safety services between the city of Fresno and Fresno County

• Opposed federal Cap and Trade legislation, which would increase costs to businesses

• Supported forming a Property-based Improvement District in downtown Fresno to further revitalize the area

• Supported the creation of an Independent Police Auditor in the city of Fresno

• Supported the city of Fresno’s small business preference ordinance

• Supported the Better Business Act and the Redevelopment Improvement Act to ensure more accountability when projects receive money from the city of Fresno

• Supported the city of Fresno in their efforts to draft a downtown-specific plan

ENHANCE COMMERCE THROUGH COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP
The Chamber is the front door of community stewardship and we work in collaboration with many other community organizations to enhance local businesses, including:

• Building Industry Association
• California State University, Fresno (CSUF)
• Center for Advanced Research and Technology
• Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Economic Development Corporation Serving Fresno County
• Fresno Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Fresno Business Council
• Fresno Compact
• Fresno Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Fresno County Farm Bureau
• Fresno County Office of Education
• Fresno County Women’s Chamber of Commerce
• Fresno Leading Young Professionals
• Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce
• Hmong Business Association
• Regional Jobs Initiative
• San Joaquin Valley Black Chamber of Commerce
• State Center Community College District
• State Center Consortium
• The Maddy Institute, CSUF
• Tree Fresno
• Workforce Investment Corporation
• Valley CAN

GET INVOLVED!
Members help us achieve our core objectives when they get involved. If you are a member and would like to get involved with the Chamber, please contact us at (559) 495-4800 or info@fresnochamber.com and let us know what committee you are interested in:

• Ambassadors
• E.A.R.T.H. Committee
• Governmental Affairs Council
• Business/Education Committee

MEMBER INCENTIVES
• Referrals for business inquiries
• Business representation for government advocacy and the community
• Monthly Chamber Connect Magazine
• Weekly Chamber eNews
• Access to Office Depot Chamber Program
• Tax deduction on Chamber membership dues
• Opportunity to host Membership Mixers
• Workshops/Seminars, such as Small Business University, on business issues
• Business development opportunities through any of our Chamber committees
• Approximately 15 events held annually
• Regular Membership orientations
• Legislative e-Alerts
• Fax blasts on urgent topics affecting your business

FEATURES AND BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP
• Chamber of Commerce membership plaque
• Ribbon cutting/Grand opening ceremony, picture displayed in Chamber Connect and event announced on the Chamber’s events calendar/website
• Listing as a new member in Chamber Connect Magazine
• “New” member listing on Chamber website online membership directory for the first 30 days
• Three (3) month Business Journal subscription for new subscribers
• Four (4) 600 Club tickets to a Fresno Grizzlies game, Grizzlies souvenir and name recognition on scoreboard (during baseball season)
• Four (4) Loge Level Tickets at Selland Arena to a Fresno Monster’s Hockey Game

MEMBER DISCOUNTS ON…
• Rental of the Chamber rooms, facilities and technology
• Wonder Valley Ranch Resort and Conference Center
• Membership in Fresno County Federal Credit Union
• Employment Law Compliance Materials
• Chamber Connect Advertising

MARKETING AND PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
The Chamber is proud to offer its members many opportunities to market and promote their businesses, including:

• Sponsorship opportunities at Chamber events
• Display of your company’s brochure/information in our lobby
• Free coverage of your events and promotions through Chamber eNewsletter
• Your company’s name on the Chamber’s website with a direct link to your site
• Your events posted on the Chamber website’s online calendar
• Your exciting news, upcoming events and more can be shared with more than 2,500 others through Chamber social media sites
• Discounted advertising in the Membership Directory and Community Guide or Map
• Discounted advertising in the Chamber Connect Magazine

THE CHAMBER IS YOUR MEETING PLACE
The Chamber offers the following meeting facilities for rent to its members:

Gottschalks/Lyles Board Room
• Seating for 72
• Full-size kitchen
• Lectern
• Projector and laptop
• Internet access
• TV and VCR
• Local phone service
• Conference call

Caglia Room
• Seating for 8 to 10
• Internet access
• Dry erase board
• Chalk board
• Local phone service
• Conference call

Call us today to reserve your date or to find out pricing and additional information:

(559) 495-4800
info@fresnochamber.com
www.fresnochamber.com

BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Sieg Fischer, Chair of the Board
Matt Rosenfeld, Chair-Elect
Debbie Hunsaker, Vice Chair Business Vitality
Al Solis, Vice Chair E.A.R.T.H. Committee
Ruth Evans, Vice Chair Government Affairs
Rick Whitsell, Vice Chair Membership & Marketing
Scott Miller, Immediate Past Chair

DIRECTORS
Darius Assemi
Hal Bolen
Sally Caglia
Jeff Collins
Larry Fortune
Patty Hixson
Julia Jauregui
Eric Johnson
Tracy Kashian
Caren Myers
Carolyn Pierce
Walt Plachta
Matt Rosenfeld
Susan Ryan
Lorraine Salazar
Michael Schuh
Michael Strle


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