CalChamber Recognizes Outstanding Local Chambers, Small Businesses

For Immediate Release [email protected]

(June 15, 2026) Sacramento, CA - The California Chamber of Commerce has acknowledged outstanding advocacy of local chambers of commerce and presented grants to two innovative small businesses.

The award winners were recognized during CalChamber's California Business Outlook and Dinner on June 10.

Top 20 Chambers in Advocacy: President's Circle Award

CalChamber named 20 local chambers of commerce as recipients of the 2026 President's Circle Award.

The award recognizes local chambers that have demonstrated excellence in engaging on a variety of issues important to the business community, working alongside the CalChamber advocacy team to ensure a diverse set of voices is heard inside the state Capitol and the halls of California government. Those chambers are:

• Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce: Bret Schanzebach, president/CEO;
• Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce: Zeb Welborn, executive director;
• Corona Chamber of Commerce: Tim Gramling, president/CEO;
• Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce: Danielle Borja, president/CEO;
• Greater High Desert Chamber of Commerce: Mark Creffield, president/CEO;
• Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce: Nancy Hoffman, president/CEO.
• Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber of Commerce: Kimberley Davidson, president/CEO;
• Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce: Jeremy Harris, president/CEO;
• Murrieta/Wildomar Chamber of Commerce: Patrick Ellis, president/CEO;
• Norwalk Chamber of Commerce: Caren Spilsbury, executive director;
• Rancho Cordova Area Chamber of Commerce: Diann Rogers, CEO/president;
• Roseville Area Chamber of Commerce: Ananda Rochita, CEO;
• San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce: Chris Cate, president/CEO;
• Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce: Ivan Volschenk, president/CEO;
• Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce: Michael Boyer, president/CEO;
• Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce: Kathi Van Etten, president/CEO;
• Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce: Donna Duperron, president/CEO;
• Tulare Chamber of Commerce: Donnette Silva, president/CEO;
• Valley Industry and Commerce Association: Stuart Waldman, president/CEO; and
• West Ventura County Business Alliance: Andy Conli, president/CEO.

Chamber of the Year Award

The San Rafael Chamber of Commerce was named Chamber of the Year in recognition of its outstanding leadership in community engagement, economic development and advocacy.

Leading the San Rafael Chamber is President and CEO Karen Strolia, who presided over a tech-forward, proactive approach geared toward ensuring long-term sustainability for the chamber and its members.

The award presentation cited the San Rafael Chamber for innovation with a digital Small Business Resource Guide, bringing stability to San Rafael's downtown Business Improvement District, and the "We Are One Marin" program that amplified the voices of underrepresented business owners, helping them share in the region's prosperity.

Small Business Grants

With judging assistance from its longtime Business Outlook partner, the Sacramento Host Committee, CalChamber presented grants to two small businesses.

The awardees demonstrated leadership in creating jobs and growing their businesses; creativity in workforce solutions and employee relations; community impact, including partnerships with community groups; and innovation in business solutions and design.

The grant recipients, who received checks for $5,000 each, plus a CalChamber online membership ($499 value), are:

• EcoPress Sacramento: Sam Mejia, founder and CEO, diverts plastic waste from landfills by upcycling it into furniture and art. EcoPress hosts community cleanups, partners with other small businesses to collect plastics, and collaborates with schools to provide students with hands-on education in sustainability and creative reuse of plastics.
• Zavicon: Rebecca Bean, founder and CEO, calls her company the "bridge to inclusion." It is based in Calabasas and works with remote staff members who match qualified job candidates who have disabilities or neurodivergent applicants with employers. Zavicon has a network of community partners to help its applicant-employer matchmaking. It plans to use the grant to expand its reach and increas job placements by supplementing people power with a custom-built AI tool.