Mark Francis – 2018 Small Business Advocate of the Year

Mark Francis, president and CEO, Golden Valley Bank, was among business executives honored by the California Chamber of Commerce as a 2018 Small Business Advocate of the Year, for outstanding advocacy on behalf of small businesses.

Lando was chairman of the board of directors for the Chico Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center in 2011 and currently chairs the chamber’s Legislative Action Committee. Francis was chairman in 2015 and spearheaded the chamber’s Community Vision, which not only guides local policy decisions, but has become a sought-after model for chamber advocacy throughout the nation.

At the direction of the Chico Chamber Board in early 2017, Francis and Lando spearheaded the effort to better understand how business priorities like a safer community and improved roads are indelibly linked to changing city finances.

The CalChamber announced the awards in Sacramento at the CalChamber Capitol Summit on May 23, 2018.