Fresno, CA (January 6, 2022) – Today, the Fresno Chamber of Commerce announced the winners of the Entrepreneur Awards for the Chamber’s Annual Valley Business Awards Broadcast, airing on February 24, 2022, on KSEE 24 at 7:00 p.m.  In addition to the 2022 Leon S. Peters Awards, which will be given to Thomas G. Richards of the Penstar Group, the four award winners will be recognized during the broadcast.

“Fresno would not be the incredible commercial center it is without the audacious appetite and innovative mentality of our local entrepreneurs,” said Scott Miller, President & CEO of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce. “Putting a spotlight on individuals and businesses of this caliber is a valuable reminder of what our community is capable of, and the talent and hard-work that exists in our region.”

The Harold Zinkin Entrepreneur of the Year award goes to an established Fresno Area business that exhibits exceptional vision, innovation and leadership while contributing significantly to local commerce. This year’s winner is Darden Architects, a locally owned Architectural, Planning and Interior Design firm, has been engaging in major statewide projects while maintaining a significant presence in Fresno for the past 60 years. In addition to their wide-reaching developmental undertakings, this company has quietly made altruistic contributions of time, talent, and treasure to deserving organizations and causes to ensure local economic vitality.

The Community Champion of the Year goes to a business that exhibits an exceptional dedication to making the community better and going beyond average civic duty. This award will be presented to Kotman Technology, a locally owned technology company with a 98% retention rate that provides fully managed IT services, security solutions, and strategic technology consulting, playing a pivotal role in the success of many regional enterprises while also supporting local nonprofits through donations and technical services.

The Rising Star of the Year award goes to a growing local business that exhibits notable innovation with the ability to market their product and/or services beyond the valley, in turn helping to develop our region’s local economy, and a demonstrated commitment to community stewardship and involvement.  The 2022 winner is Windsong Productions, a full-service creative video production firm, who in 2019 was named one of the Inc. 5000, a list of the fastest growing private companies in the nation. With a client list that includes national customers like Burts Bees, NYX Professional Make-Up, and Michael’s, Windsong Productions is taking the Fresno name well beyond our city limits.

The winner of the Student Entrepreneur of the Year Award is the year is Melvin Velasquez of Get Served Transportation. Mr. Velasquez is a student at Fresno State who was inspired to develop a business designed to encourage physically challenged individuals to hire Personal Care Assistants (PCAs) either on the spot or in advance for support. Being a physically challenged individual himself, who is completely confined to a wheelchair, he initiated this business concept during his Junior Year in High School out of his desire to socialize and enjoy life like an able-bodied individual.

The awards will be presented to the recipients during the Valley Business Awards broadcast which will air on February 24, 2022, on KSEE 24 at 7:00 p.m. For questions about the event, please call Rebecca Johnson, Director of Development for the Fresno Chamber of commerce at (559) 495-4807.

The Fresno Chamber of Commerce is one of the largest business organizations in the Central Valley, with approximately 1,200 member businesses representing over 78,000 employees. The Chamber’s mission is to “promote and support the success of the regional business community thorough effective advocacy, education and relationship building.”

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Fresno, CA (December 21, 2021) – Thomas G. Richards has been announced as the 2022 recipient of the Leon S. Peters Award by the Fresno Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Richards was chosen for the award based on outstanding leadership through devotion of his philanthropic efforts to better the community. The selection of this prestigious honor is based upon the recipient’s professional accomplishments, commitment to public service, and entrepreneurial spirit.

“We could not be more excited to honor Tom Richards with this prestigious award,” said Scott Miller, President & CEO of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce. “Tom is a servant leader who has consistently dedicated his time and resources to the betterment of Fresno. He is an incredible asset in our community and his name belongs on the list of our most esteemed members.”

Thomas G. Richards has lived in Fresno, California since 1976, coming to the city after graduating from University of California, Santa Barbara and serving in the U.S. Army as an officer. Tom worked on developing projects with others and built single family subdivisions before forming The Penstar Group in 1981. Its real estate activities continue today and have included the development and construction of single-family subdivisions, condominiums, multi-family rental housing, senior rental housing, general and medical office complexes, skilled nursing facilities, industrial warehouse and manufacturing buildings and retail shopping centers.  Penstar’s geographic operations have extended from the Inland Empire east of Los Angeles through Sacramento and in the Seattle, Washington area. Tom has been active in many civic activities, among which have been the Chancellor’s Advisory Council at the University of California at Santa Barbra, the Business Advisory Council for Fresno’s Public Television, the Building Industry Association and the Chambers of Commerce in Fresno and Clovis.  He is a past Director of the 21st District Agricultural Association (a.k.a. The Big Fresno Fair) and past Chair of Fresno Unified School District’s Measure K Oversight Committee, Chair of the Fresno County Workforce Investment Board, Vice Chair of the Fresno Chaffee Zoo Corporation Board, Chair of the City and County of Fresno’s 10 Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness, Chair of Fresno First Steps Home, Director of Fresno’s Property-based Business Improvement District “PBID” and was a Member of the Valley Coalition for U.C. Merced Medical School. Tom currently serves as Chair of the Board for Premier Valley Bank, as well as Chair of CA High-Speed Rail Authority. One notable contribution Tom has made to the central valley is his participation in the creation and ongoing support of Terry’s House, which was named for his late brother.

The Leon S. Peters Award honors those who share the characteristics of its namesake, a man who overcame great hardship to become one of the Valley’s top business leaders. From a simple beginning, Mr. Peters worked to become a great success while also using his creativity and vision to give back to our community through service on numerous boards and donations totaling millions of dollars in the name of a variety of causes. He was revered as a businessman, a civic leader, and a philanthropist who devoted his life to the community while living and working according to the highest ethical standards.

The award will be presented to the recipient during the Valley Business Awards broadcast which will air on February 24, 2022, on KSEE 24 at 7:00 p.m. Additional award recipients for the 2022 Valley Business Awards include the Student Entrepreneur Award, the Community Champion Award, the Rising Star Award and the Harold Zinkin Award.

Past recipients of the Leon S. Peters award include: Vinci Ricchiuti, Karen Musson, Matty Matoian, Jim Pardini, Bill Smittcamp, Stan Oken, Ray Steele Jr., Richard “Dick” Caglia, John E. Horstmann, Dr. Peter Mehas, Dr. Peter P. Peters, Joe Williams, Lou Herwaldt, Bill Jones, Sid Cox, Bud Richter, O. James Woodward III, Samuel Reeves, Octavia Diener, Robert Oliver, Frederick Ruiz, Anne Speake, Larry A. Shehadey, Claude Laval III, Robert Carter, Richard Johanson, James Hallowell, Lou Gentile, Earl Smittcamp, Helen Smades, William Lyles, Martin Nelson, Joe Levy, Frank Caglia, B. Franklin Knapp, James B. Mayer, Robert Duncan, and Lewis B. Eaton.

The Fresno Chamber of Commerce is one of the largest business organizations in the Central Valley, with approximately 1,200 member businesses representing over 78,000 employees. The Chamber’s mission is to “promote and support the success of the regional business community thorough effective advocacy, education and relationship building.”

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Tickets on Sale Now for the 2021 State of the City Event

Fresno, CA (May 18, 2021) – The Fresno Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Mayor Jerry Dyer and the City of Fresno, will be hosting the 2021 State of the City on Friday, June 25^th at Chukchansi Park. Sponsorship packages and individual tickets for this year’s event are now on sale at www.fresnochamber.com.

The 2021 State of the City will have a fresh take on an annual tradition with a new venue, a famous Fresno backdrop, and a renewed energy for the City of Fresno. “I am passionate about Fresno and have focused my first few months in office on what it means to be One Fresno, and this year’s event will feature the vibrant communities that make Fresno a unique place to live and do business,” Mayor Jerry Dyer said.

In addition to the venue change, this year’s address will be a morning event, and will include multicultural entertainment, local breakfast item, and coffee, as well as new elements central to the Mayor’s One Fresno vision.

“This past year has come with unprecedented challenges, but amid those challenges, we have learned to embrace change and seize new opportunities,” stated Scott Miller, President & CEO of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce.  “By rethinking how we have traditionally done things, we are excited to host a new and vibrant platform for this Fresno tradition and are excited to see the flavor the Mayor’s office is bringing to this event.”

This new approach is expected to attract community members from across the City, including many first-time attendees ranging from Beautify Fresno volunteers to small business owners to industry leaders. This year’s venue can accommodate more than twice as many attendees than past event – which typically drew crowds from 800-1,000. The Mayor’s Office is offering a new way to support the One Fresno platform, called “Friends of One Fresno” a sponsorship opportunity for individuals or businesses to sponsor tickets for community groups to attend this event. For more information about the sponsorship opportunities and individual ticket sales please visit www.fresnochamber.com.

The Fresno Chamber of Commerce is one of the largest business organizations in the Central Valley, with approximately 1,200 member businesses representing over 78,000 employees. The Chamber’s mission is to “promote and support the success of the regional business community through effective advocacy, education and relationship building.”

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