May 28, 2024
Orange County Business Council Vice President of Government Affairs Amanda Walsh, pictured center, accepts CalChamber’s 2024 Advocacy Champion Award on behalf of OCBC.
Connections between the California Chamber of Commerce and local chambers of commerce were highlighted at the CalChamber Capitol Summit. The Summit brings together local chamber staff and volunteer leaders, CalChamber Board members, policy makers and advocates for an invaluable exchange of insights and strategies.
At the Summit, the CalChamber named 12 local chambers of commerce as recipients of the 2024 President’s Circle Award, 13 as Advocacy Champions and nine as HR Champions.
The President’s Circle Award celebrates top Local Chamber Partners from across California. Established in 2009, this accolade highlights chambers’ exceptional efforts in business advocacy and helping their members comply with complex California employment laws. Three of the chambers have received the President’s Circle Award all 16 years it has been presented. The 2024 recipients of the President’s Circle Award are as follows. An * marks the chambers that have received the award all 16 years:
Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce: Janelle Capra, president/CEO;
Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce: Bret Schanzenbach, president/CEO;
Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce*: Danielle Borja, president/CEO;
Corona Chamber of Commerce: Bobby Spiegel, president/CEO;
Greater High Desert Chamber of Commerce: Mark Creffield, president/CEO;
Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber of Commerce: Kim Cousins, president/CEO;
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce*: Jeremy Harris, president/CEO;
Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce*: Nick Adcock, president/CEO;
Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce: Glenn Morris, president/CEO (award accepted by Molly Schiff, director of advocacy and initiatives);
Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce: Kathi Van Etten, president/CEO;
Tulare Chamber of Commerce: Donnette Silva Carter, president/CEO (award accepted by Tiffany Brown, membership engagement coordinator); and
West Ventura County Business Alliance: Nancy Lindholm, president/CEO (award accepted by Andy Conli, business development manager).
President’s Circle Award recipients published vote records of their state legislators on key business issues, joined coalition efforts to let state elected officials know about community sentiment on issues of interest to members, voiced the local chamber’s position at legislative policy committee hearings, and participated in the CalChamber compliance product resale program at an exemplary level.
This is the second year the Advocacy Champion Award has been given to recognize chambers for excellence in business advocacy. The 2024 awardees are incredible advocates for business-friendly policies and are leaders in driving impactful change in their regions. Recipients of the 2024 award are as follows:
Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce;
Fremont Chamber of Commerce;
Laguna Niguel Chamber of Commerce;
Lodi District Chamber of Commerce;
Murrieta/Wildomar Chamber of Commerce;
Orange County Business Council;
Roseville Area Chamber of Commerce;
San Jose Chamber of Commerce;
San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce;
Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce;
Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce;
Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce & Visitors’ Center; and
Valley Industry & Commerce Association.
Advocacy Champions published vote records of their state legislators on key business issues, joined coalition efforts to let state elected officials know about community sentiment on issues of interest to members, voiced the local chamber’s position at legislative policy committee hearings and met with state elected officials on important policy issues.
The HR Champion Award was created in 2023 to recognize chambers that excel in helping their members comply with California employment laws. The 2024 recipients of the award are as follows:
Fresno Chamber of Commerce;
Gilroy Chamber of Commerce;
Imperial Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce;
Oakdale Chamber of Commerce;
Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce;
Porterville Chamber of Commerce;
Rohnert Park Chamber of Commerce;
Santa Fe Springs Chamber of Commerce; and
Whittier Area Chamber of Commerce.
