California Stewardship Network

The California Stewardship Network (CSN) is an alliance of regional civic leaders committed to developing innovative solutions to the state’s most pressing economic, environmental, and social challenges. These solutions require breakthrough innovation driven by civic entrepreneurs—diverse regional teams composed of both established and emerging leaders.

CSN was founded in 2008 by the Morgan Family Foundation as a civic venture. In 2019, CSN joined CA FWD, who is a member of and backbone for the CSN.

With more than 25 organizations throughout the state—and growing—CSN represents the state’s diverse regions. From top to bottom, east to west, coastal and inland, urban and rural—CSN is built upon a foundation of collaboration to move triple-bottom-line solutions that balance equity, the environment, and the economy. While each of California’s regions are distinct, there are also many things that bind us together. It is through sharing resources, ideas, innovations and best practices that CSN lifts up solutions that can be implemented throughout the state.

To ensure stewards continue to be identified and trained to lead in each region, CSN leaders serve as mentors to emerging stewards through its Becky Morgan Steward Leadership Program.  

OUR SHARED VISION
An aspirational thought or concept in which a group of people commit to being forward-looking and envisioning possibilities in a shared view of the future.

Who We Are

CSN Executive Committee

Alysia Bell

Co-Chair
President, UNITE-LA

Oscar Chavez

Co-Chair
President & CEO, Community Foundation Sonoma County

Tahra Goraya

Vice Chair
President & CEO, Monterey Bay Economic Partnership

Estevan Lopez

Vice Chair
Research Analyst, Bay Area Council

Tim Kelley

At-Large Member
President & CEO, Imperial Valley Economic Development Corporation

Steve Frisch
Steve Frisch

At-Large Member
President, Sierra Business Council

Kate Gordon

Ex-Officio Member
CEO, CA FWD

CSN Partners

Jeffrey Ball

President and CEO, Orange County Business Council

Ethan Brown

Interim Executive Director, Sonoma County Economic Development Board

Stephen Cheung

President & CEO, LAEDC
President, WTCLA

Michelle Decker

President & CEO, Inland Empire Community Foundation

Rosanne Foust

President & CEO, San Mateo County Economic Development Association

Paul Granillo
Paul C. Granillo

President & CEO, Inland Empire Economic Partnership

Glenda Humiston
Glenda Humiston

Vice President, University of California – Agriculture and Natural Resources

Melissa James
Melissa James

Vice-Chair
President & CEO, REACH

Luis Moreno

Assistant Director, 3CORE

Kathy Moxon
Kathy Moxon

Director, Redwood Coast Rural Action

Lauree Sahba

Chief Operating Officer, San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp

Evan Schmidt
Evan Schmidt

At-Large Member
CEO, Valley Vision

Sarah Schmidt

Executive Director, Tahoe Prosperity Center

Jason Schwenkler

Executive Director, CSU Chico – North State Planning and Development Collective

Bruce Stenslie

President & CEO, Economic Development Collaborative
Former CSN Co-Chair

Ashley Swearengin

President & CEO, Central Valley Community Foundation

Genelle Taylor Kumpe

COO, Fresno Business Council

Ahmad Thomas

President & CEO, Silicon Valley Leadership Group

Joanne Webster

CEO, North Bay Leadership Council

Ish Herrera

Executive Director, CSN

Where We Are

Explore our interactive map to learn more about the organizations that make up the California Stewardship Newtork.

Jim and Becky Morgan

“What keeps me going is the expressions of enthusiasm from stewards in the regions caring for their place. No one else is doing it in this way.”

– Becky Morgan

Interested in joining CSN? 

If your organization is interested in learning more about how to join the California Stewardship Network, please reach out to Ismael (Ish) Herrera at ish@cafwd.org.

California Stewardship Network logo

CSN News

A Ripe Moment for Regionalism: 8 Opportunities to Strengthen an Enduring Regions-Up System in California
1024 683 CA FWD

Supporting greater regional capacity to achieve economic goals and creating a more durable, sustainable, and inclusive system for regional economic development and planning across California.

California Stewardship Network Gathers for Annual Leadership Development and Peer Exchange Convening
1024 768 CA FWD

The California Stewardship Network convened to discuss disaster response and resilience, the socioeconomic impacts of mass deportations on California’s economy, and more.

CA FWD’s Regions-Up Agenda
1024 448 CA FWD

CA FWD is building an agenda toward policy advocacy that supports regional economic action.