Business
Richmond Chamber Celebrates 100th Installation of Board of Directors
On Wednesday, Feb. 7, the Richmond Chamber of Commerce celebrated a major milestone with the 100th installation of its board of directors. The installation ceremony occurred during a gala banquet at Lara’s Fine Dining in Richmond’s Marina Bay neighborhood.

By Mike Kinney
The Richmond Standard
On Wednesday, Feb. 7, the Richmond Chamber of Commerce celebrated a major milestone with the 100th installation of its board of directors.
The installation ceremony occurred during a gala banquet at Lara’s Fine Dining in Richmond’s Marina Bay neighborhood.
Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton swore in the new directors.
The first Richmond Chamber of Commerce installation of the board of directors took place in 1924. The organization has since worked to provide services, resources, and advocacy to foster growth in the local business community.
“The Richmond Chamber of Commerce helps to create a stronger and more vibrant city,” Chamber Board Member John Ziesenhenne of M.A. Hays Insurance Company said.
Richmond Mayor Eduardo Martinez, County Supervisor John Gioia, Congressmember John Garamendi’s representative, Eric Cortes, along with Richmond City Councilmembers Soheila Bana and Cesar Zepeda, made welcoming remarks to the board of directors that were well received by the Board.
The current board of directors consists of the following individuals:
Executive Committee:
Chair, Hakim Johnson (Chevron)
Vice-Chair Sarah Wally (PLANN-A Development, LLC)
Chair-Elect: Rich Doellstedt (Richmond Wholesale Meat)
Operations: John Ziesenhenne (M.A. Hays Insurance Co.)
Past Chair: Jill Rodby (Sims Metal)
Also on Board:
Ahmad Anderson
Kevin Brown (Riggers Loft Wine Company-R&B Cellars)
Y’Anad Burrell (EBMUD)
Tiffany Harris (Bay Area Girls Club)
Ryan Lau (AC Transit)
Melissa Macho (Prologis)
Guillermo Saballos (Mechanics Bank)
Tamara Shiloh (Multicultural Books)
Vernon Whitmore (Whitmore & Majors)
Bay Area
Gov. Newsom Looks Back at 2024 Milestones; Presents Vision for 2025
Newsom opened by recounting his announcement atop the Golden Gate Bridge of $150.4 billion in record-breaking visitor spending. He reflected on signing a bill with singer Demi Lovato to protect young content creators from financial exploitation. He celebrated the Olympic flag transfer ceremony, signifying California’s preparation for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.

By Joe W. Bowers, California Black Media
In a recent video address, Gov. Gavin Newsom shared key moments that shaped California in 2024. He emphasized achievements in tourism, technology, public safety, and environmental resilience while underscoring the state’s ability to tackle challenges head-on.
Newsom opened by recounting his announcement atop the Golden Gate Bridge of $150.4 billion in record-breaking visitor spending. He reflected on signing a bill with singer Demi Lovato to protect young content creators from financial exploitation. He celebrated the Olympic flag transfer ceremony, signifying California’s preparation for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.
Focusing on innovation, Newsom praised NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang for his leadership in advancing generative AI. He showcased the transformation of an abandoned mall into a quantum computing center in L.A. that addresses global challenges.
He also highlighted the ARCHES coalition’s work on green hydrogen, aiming to decarbonize California’s industries.
Newsom emphasized California’s leadership on clean transportation with over 2 million electric vehicles sold and a statewide network of 150,000 public chargers. He spoke about joining Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi to celebrate the long-awaited electrification of Caltrain, linking San Francisco to San Jose.
In climate resilience, Newsom spotlighted removing the Klamath Dam, the largest project in U.S. history, restoring salmon migration and tribal lands. He discussed agreements with Italy and Pope Francis to address greenhouse gas emissions and praised the legislature’s action to increase transparency and hold oil companies accountable for gas price spikes.
Turning to health, housing, and education, Newsom outlined progress on Proposition 1 to improve mental health care, legislative efforts to increase housing construction, and the expansion of universal free school meals for all public school students.
Public safety highlights included combating fentanyl trafficking, expanding the California Highway Patrol, and addressing organized retail theft through new legislation.
Newsom also celebrated the state’s balanced budget for the current and upcoming fiscal years. He joked about his detailed budget presentations as his “yearly Super Bowl,” highlighting the importance he places on fiscal responsibility.
The Governor closed by reflecting on 2024 as a year defined by resilience and optimism, crediting California’s ability to navigate polarization and overcome challenges. He emphasized the importance of preserving California’s values of innovation and inclusiveness while continuing to invest in communities, infrastructure, and equity as the state looks ahead to 2025.
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