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(Left to Right) Doris Fischer, Assemblymember
Mike Villines and Sieg Fischer at a brief ceremony in the Chamber's
board room last week.
May 27, 2009
Chamber Board Member Receives Business
of the Year Award
After co-founding the Valley Yellow Pages more than 20 years
ago, President and CEO Sieg Fischer was recognized for his
service with the 2009 Small Business of the Year award for the
29th Assembly District.
Assemblymember Mike Villines honored Fischer and his wife, Doris, at
a brief ceremony in the Chamber's board room last week.
"Thanks to the efforts
of Sieg and his employees, the Valley Yellow Pages has become an
indispensable source of information for our region," Villines said.
"The active involvement of Sieg and his company in our community has
made the Valley stronger, making them an ideal choice to earn this
year's honor."
Fischer co-founded the
Valley Yellow Pages to provide an alternative in northern
California's phone book industry, which was then controlled by a
huge monopoly. The Valley Yellow Pages quickly grew from a staff of
just 15 employees based in Fresno to the more than 700 employees it
now has scattered throughout California. Fischer's company publishes
more than 7.7 million directories in 46 markets in the central and
northern parts of the state.
At the ceremony,
Villines presented Fischer with a framed resolution honoring him and
his company. Fischer said he was so grateful for everyone who
supported him over the years, especially his wife and the company's
700 employees.
"Without their
patronage, this award would not have been possible," he said.
"I just want to thank them again for helping make our company a true
Valley success story."
May 25, 2009
Fresno Chamber Member Wins Statewide
Award
 Victoria
Salisch was recently honored by the California Chamber of Commerce
for her outstanding advocacy work in 2008. Victoria, an attorney and
owner of Lang, Richert & Patch law firm in Fresno, was recognized
for her role in the Chamber’s on-going effort to consolidate public
safety services.
“Victoria has proven to
be a valuable asset for the Chamber and a strong representative for
the business community. She has always taken an active role in
leading on issues that are important to the business community, our
region and the state,” stated Al Smith, president and chief
executive officer of the Fresno Chamber.
Salisch has served on the chamber’s board of directors, the
government affairs council, the government outreach committee and
the downtown revitalization committee. In 2008, Salisch served as
chair of the chamber’s political action committee. She helped the
PAC make endorsements in several key races: mayor, city council,
school board and state Assembly. Salisch also has taken a lead role
in the chamber’s effort to convince the city and county to
consolidate public safety services.
Since 2005, Salisch has
served on committees that have examined how the city and county can
keep public safety costs under control merging some functions. She
serves on the Joint Powers Authority — a governance model selected
by city and county officials to help move the consolidation forward.
She also has spent time in Sacramento helping the Greater Fresno
Chamber take an active role in legislation by testifying before
policy committees, writing letters to the editor and sending letters
to legislators.
May 30, 2008
Fresno
Chamber’s Government Affairs Program Recognized as the
Best In California for the Second Year in a Row
Fresno
Chamber Government Affairs Committee Chair
Ruth
Evans Wins CalChamber Small Business Award
Last week,
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. |
