Main
About FCWCC
Membership
Newsletters
Speakers
Scholarships
Contact Us

.

 

Vision with an Edge Seminar Series mark you calendars to attend. All workshops are FREE for more information contact Sandy Cha at 559-437-3068 or sandy.cha@wellsfargo.com.

Please click here to download Seminar Schedule in PDF

March 2008

FCWCC

Ashley N. Swearengin - ED - RJI - Regional Job Initiative
ashleys@csufresno.edu  ­  559.294.6021

Summary
Ashley Swearengin is committed to growing jobs and the economy in the Fresno Region.  For the last 10 years, she has led economic development efforts in Fresno and the San Joaquin Valley, including Fresno Regional Jobs Initiative, California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley, and Central Valley Business Incubator. Prior to her leadership in economic development, Ashley ran marketing departments for three different businesses in Fresno.

Highlights

  1. Co-founder and chief operations officer for Fresno Regional Jobs Initiative (RJI), a public-private partnership aimed at creating 25,000 to 30,000 net new jobs in the Fresno Region by 2008.  To date, more than 22,000 non-farm, non-government jobs have been added.
  2. Lead for Governor Schwarzenegger’s California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley (Partnership). The Partnership has helped bring significant resources to the Valley, including $1 billion dedicated to upgrades for Highway 99, $3.5 million for workforce development, $5 million for UC Merced’s medical school, $5 million for implementation of the Partnership’s 10-year plan, and $1 million for an e-health network. 
  3. Raised more than $11 million in 10 years from private and public sources for community and economic development projects in Fresno and the San Joaquin Valley.

Appointments, Professional Organizations and Honors

  1. California Commission on Economic Development – Governor Schwarzenegger Appointee, 2007
  2. Leadership Fresno – 2007 Alumnus of the Year, Steering Committee 2001-2004, Member of Class XV
  3. Marjaree Mason Center – 2006 Top Ten Business and Professional Women of the Year
  4. Fresno Utility Commission – Mayor Autry Appointee, 2006
  5. British-American Project, Johns Hopkins University – 2004 Delegate
  6. Fresno Citizens for Good Government – Board of Directors
  7. Fresno West Coalition for Economic Development, a community development corporation – Board of Directors
  8. Fresno Business Council – Ex Officio, Board of Directors

Education
Masters in Business Administration, summa cum laude, California State University, Fresno
Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, magna cum laude, Rodman Scholar, California State University, Fresno

Employment History

    • Director, Office of Community and Economic Development, California State University, Fresno – September 2000 to present. The Office of Community and Economic Development is the lead agency for the Fresno Regional Jobs Initiative and California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley.
    • Director, Central Valley Business Incubator – October 1998 to August 2000.  Responsible for all aspects of the not-for-profit business, including marketing, operations, fundraising and capital campaign; increased revenues by 400% and filled the incubator to capacity within six months.
    • Development Coordinator, Baker Manock & Jensen Attorneys at Law – September 1995 to September 1998.
    • Client Services Representative, Jackson Emerich Pedreira & Nahigian Attorneys at Law – September 1994 to August 1995.
    • Marketing Director, Casa Metropolitan Rehabilitation Facility – December 1993 to August 1994.

     

 

September 2007

John Amodei presents a $15,000 check from CitiFinancial to Aquarius Aquarium Institute for eductional programs. Member- Aletha Lang and her hushand Tom Lang warmly accept the generous grant. Along with AAI board member Vicki Crow.

"Get ready for another great speaker"

Here what others say about FCWCC:

I would like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak at your recent meeting.  The FCWCC audience is very knowledgeable and responsive.  From a speaker’s perspective, it is highly enjoyable presenting at your meetings.

John Savrnoch - Assistant District Attorney County of Fresno

Thank you so much for your hard work in organizing the How to Write a Business Plan Seminar last week. Please pass along my thanks to Sharon as well for her wonderful work in facilitating the meeting and directing the discussion. I thought the class size was just right because we were able to dialogue and learn from one another as well as from Sharon. There was a lot of conversation and input from around the table which really added to my understanding. The handouts were perfect. I am able to really go through them for assistance in putting my own plan in place. I feel empowered to do this now. It doesn’t seem like a daunting thing at all – but a very wise, and savvy way to keep track of our current and future growth plans. Thank you again. These seminars put on by the Women’s Chamber are now at the top of my list of things to make sure to put in my calendar. I appreciated the time of this one too – a lunchtime meeting works very well for my schedule! And we started on time and ended on time!!

Way to go, Sandy and Sharon!

 Liesl Garner - GARNER TREE Services