The 2024 California Economic Summit took place in Sacramento, CA on October 8-10. Along with the California Stewardship Network, we convened with partners from industry, community, and the private, public, and nonprofit sectors—all of whom are committed to building an inclusive and sustainable economy where all Californians can prosper.
The Summit’s network is unique in championing solutions that balance equity, environmental sustainability and economic growth. We were thrilled to bring this year’s Summit to our state capital, home of precision manufacturing, agtech, biomedical innovation, and more!
The 2025 Summit will be in Stockton—to stay up-to-date on Summit news, subscribe to our newsletter!
2024 REGIONAL HOST COMMITTEE
Alberto Ayala, Air Pollution Control Officer and Executive Director, Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District
Robert Bendorf, CEO, Enterprise Rancheria
Monique Brown, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Growth Factory
Oscar Chavez, President & CEO, Community Foundation Sonoma County (California Stewardship Network member & California Economic Summit 2018 co-host)
James Corless, Executive Director, Sacramento Area Council of Governments
Dawnte Early, CEO, United Way California Capital Region
Pat Fong Kushida, President & CEO, CalAsian Chamber of Commerce
Zach Freels, Principal Consultant, ZF Public Affairs
Steve Frisch, President, Sierra Business Council (California Stewardship Network member)
Bob Gutierrez, Interim President & CEO, San Joaquin Partnership (California Economic Summit 2025 co-host)
Chet Hewitt, President & CEO, Sierra Health Foundation (CA FWD Leadership Council Member & California Economic Summit 2024 co-host)
Heidi Hill Drum, CEO, Tahoe Prosperity Center (California Stewardship Network member)
Navreet Hundal, Project Coordinator, Valley Vision (Young Leaders Advisory Council member)
Michael Jasso, Assistant City Manager, City of Sacramento
Paul Lau, CEO & General Manager, Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Lenny Mendonca (CA FWD Leadership Council Member)
Mabel Salon, Chief Government and Community Relations Officer, Office of the Chancellor, UC Davis
Evan Schmidt, CEO, Valley Vision (California Stewardship Network member & California Economic Summit 2024 co-host)
David Spaur, Vice President, S2 Consulting
Mike Testa, President & CEO, Visit Sacramento
Orville Thomas, CEO, California Mobility Center
Gabby Trejo, Executive Director, Sacramento ACT
Gabe Youtsey, Chief Innovation Officer, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Learn more about our Summit sponsors here!
We’d love to partner, learn here how your organization can contribute to this vital effort.
THE EVENT
Produced by California Forward in partnership with the California Stewardship Network, the Summit influences CA FWD’s ongoing movement to make the government and economy work for everyone. The three-day Summit is designed to create a shared economic agenda known as the Roadmap to Shared Prosperity and strengthen the Summit network, setting the stage for collective action in the coming year.
Pre-Summit Activities
Exciting regional tours and welcome reception
Summit Day One
Interactive in-person plenary and work group sessions to advance Summit goals — along with the first-day reception and artistic performances
Summit Day Two
Dynamic plenary sessions featuring keynote speakers, state policy leaders, regional business and civic leaders on critical issues facing California
WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN US
There is no more critical moment to recommit to collaboration and to find different ways to address our most pressing challenges. Shaping California’s future to ensure families, communities and future generations have the opportunity to achieve the California Dream is what we’re all about.
Watch our recap video from the 2023 California Economic Summit:
ABOUT THE SUMMIT
The California Economic Summit, produced by California Forward (CA FWD) and members of its California Stewardship Network, is built upon the principle that regional approaches to economic problem solving are critical to ensuring all Californians, regardless of zip code, have the opportunity to claim their California Dream.
The Summit’s priorities are directly responsive to and scaled to meet the challenges of today. Focusing on a set of specific proposals and positions where collaboratively we can make the biggest impact, the Summit develops triple-bottom-line solutions that balance racial and geographic equity, environmental sustainability and economic growth. From expanding homeownership and empowering resilient and productive landscapes, to bridging the digital divide and providing meaningful career pathways, the Summit is the only event of its kind where leaders across all sectors, industries and regions can come together to propel solution-oriented bipartisan collaboration to move the state forward.
The Summit influences CA FWD’s ongoing movement to improve government and create inclusive, sustainable growth. The event has been held in cities across the state with the goal of representing the diversity and assets of California’s regions.
You can read stories from the 2023 Summit here.
