Apply by 2/13/23 for our Specialty Crop Ag Workforce Development Program RFP. Learn more and apply.

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Show Search Search
  • Login
  • Donate
  • Scholarships
  • Contact
Central Valley Community Foundation Home

Central Valley Community Foundation

  • Home
  • About
    • Our Story
    • Our Valley
    • Staff
    • Board
    • Career Opportunities
    • Reports
    • News
  • Community Impact
    • Community Impact
    • Fresno DRIVE
    • F3
    • Valley CERF
    • Central Valley Opportunity Fund
    • The Big Tell
    • PRO Neighborhoods
    • Measure P
    • Central Valley Legislative Roundtable
  • Nonprofits
    • Partner With Us
    • Registration Form
    • Open Grants & Contracts
  • Donors
    • Community Foundation Advantages
    • Giving Opportunities
      • Friends of the Foundation
      • Council of Business Sponsors
      • Give to a Fund
    • Open a Fund
      • Fund Types
      • Gift Types
      • Fund Management
    • Create a Legacy
    • Forms & Policies
  • Advisors
    • Foundation Services
    • Fund & Asset Types
    • Open a Client Fund
    • Forms & Policies
Hide Search

Council of Business Sponsors

In 2017, the Foundation formed its Council of Business Sponsors, a cohort of corporate philanthropic partners and thought leaders tasked with providing insight, strategic connections, and solutions to help advance our work on inclusive economic development in the region.

Working together with our board and staff, Council members activate their networks, meet with community partners to learn about the challenges they face, and advise the Foundation on how to establish equitable, long-term solutions to lift up our community, particularly in the areas of job creation, small business development, education, workforce development, and increasing affordable housing in the Central Valley.

The Council of Business Sponsors is an important connection point between the Central Valley and other economic regions in California who are committed to inclusive economic development. Quarterly meetings frequently include representatives from state government and civic business leaders from Northern and Southern California. 

Members

  • Bank of America
  • Chevron
  • Central Valley Community Bank
  • Educational Employees Credit Union
  • Google
  • JP Morgan Chase
  • Wells Fargo
  • Wonderful Company
  • Valley Children’s Healthcare

Ad Hoc Members

Statewide

  • Tara Lynn Gray, Director
    Office of the Small Business Advocate, State of California
  • Micah Weinberg, CEO
    California Forward
  • Laura Seaman
    League of California Community Foundations
  • Lenny Mendonca, Chair
    California Entrepreneurship & Economic Mobility Task Force

Regional

  • Ian LeMay
    California Fresh Fruit Association
  • Michael McGeary
    UC Merced
  • Dr. Ram Nunna, Dean
    Lyles College of Engineering, Fresno State University

Local

  • Dr. Cassandra Little, CEO
    Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce
  • John Ellis
    City of Fresno / Office of Mayor Jerry Dyer
  • William Oliver
    Fresno County Economic Development Corporation
  • Sonja Dosti
    County of Fresno
A man holding a microphone, talking.
A group of people, at a conference, sitting at a big square table.
A man giving a woman a T-shirt, everyone is happy and the people in the background are clapping.

Past Speakers for the Council of Business Sponsors:

  • Dilawar Syed – U.S. Department of State Special Representative for Economic & Business Affairs
  • Dee Dee Myers – Director of Governor’s office of Business & Economic Development (GO-Biz)
  • Sam Assefa – Director of Governor’s Office of Planning & Research (OPR)
  • Tara Lynn Gray – Director of Governor’s Office of the Small Business Advocate (OSBA)
  • Karen Ross – Secretary of California Department of Food & Agriculture
  • Stewart Knox – Undersecretary of California Department of Labor & Workforce Development
  • Micah Weinberg – CEO of CA FWD
  • Lenny Mendonca – Governor Newsom’s Former Chief Economic & Business Advisor
  • The Brookings Institution
  • The Urban Institute
  • Bay Area Council Economic Institute

For more information

Sarah Moffat
Director of External Affairs
sarah@centralvalleycf.org

Central Valley Community Foundation

Footer

Quick links

  • Home
  • About
  • Community Impact
  • Nonprofits
  • Donors
  • Advisors
  • Contact
  • Scholarships
  • Login
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessbility Statement

Contact

1260 Fulton Street
Suite 200
Fresno, CA 93721

(559) 226-5600

info@centralvalleycf.org

Tax ID 77-0478025

Get email updates

Show Search
Hide Search

Connect with us on social media

© 2023 Central Valley Community Foundation