Late on Friday, the Davis Chamber of Commerce sent out a press release that Matt Yancey, CEO for the Davis Chamber of Commerce, has announced that he will be moving on at the end of September. Mr. Yancey, according to the release, has accepted a post with the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), in their Economic Development Department. In this new role, the release says that he will be working on regional innovation and economic development public policy, as well as entrepreneurship support programs.
“If my short time with the Davis Chamber has accomplished anything, I hope that it will be to dispel any misconceptions that Davis does not have a vibrant business community and a commitment to a strong local economy,” he said in the release.
“The warmth and enthusiasm with which I was welcomed by the community, my amazing staff, and the Chamber’s dedicated Board of Directors is a testament to Davis’ commitment to excellence. As exciting as it would be to continue on with the Davis Chamber, this new position aligns with a number of my longer term personal and professional goals. This is not a decision I’ve come to lightly,” said Mr. Yancey.
It was August 10, 2014, that the Chamber was excited to hire Matt Yancey as CEO to place outgoing CEO Kemble Pope. Mr. Yancey arrived with an extensive background in community and economic development, at both local and regional levels. For the past seven years, he had served as the Director of Business and Economic Development for the Sacramento Metro Chamber.
In the past year, according to the press release, “the Davis Chamber has opened the Yolo Hub Office of the Capital Region Small Business Development Center and established a partnership with MANEX to improve services available to local manufacturing companies.”
According to the release, the Chamber has also “ratified a teaming agreement with the regional partnership behind the Next Economy Capital Region Prosperity Plan. And, with funding from Sutter Health Sacramento Sierra Region, the Davis Chamber has supported local groups in developing relationships with national angel investment networks that have contributed to ongoing discussions of establishing a Davis-based angel investment network.”
“It has been my honor and privilege to work side by side with Matt Yancey on a number of strategic initiatives during the past year, and I would like to express the Board of Directors’ gratitude for his visionary and impactful contributions as CEO of the Davis Chamber of Commerce. His stalwart commitment to increasing the Davis Chamber’s membership value, while tirelessly working to achieve both local and regional economic development objectives, made his tenure as CEO an unparalleled success. We recognize that the trail Matt has blazed provides a clear path forward for the incoming CEO to take to even greater success and achievement on behalf of our Chamber members. It is with great appreciation that we wish him all the best in his future endeavors,” said Tamiko Gaines, 2016 Davis Chamber Board Chair and Director of Institutional Relations and Development at HM.CLAUSE.
The release continues: “A search committee comprised of present and past Chamber leadership is opening recruitment for Yancey’s replacement effective immediately. A copy of the job description, along with instructions for those interested in applying for the position are available now on the Davis Chamber’s website. Submissions will be accepted through September 8. The Search Committee aims to have Matt Yancey’s replacement selected prior to his departure at the end of September.”
“In the year that Matt Yancey has served as CEO of the Davis Chamber of Commerce, he has continued to elevate our organization and bring on board many new relevant programs that provide benefit to our members as well as the Davis community as a whole,” said Jennifer Nitzkowski, 2014 Davis Chamber Board Chair and Partner in Carbahal & Company.
She added, “He has kept our organization positioned at the center of a renewed local and regional focus on economic development and ensured that we have the necessary resources to capture future opportunities that will benefit our entire community. I look forward to working with the next CEO to continue carrying on the very important mission of the Chamber. Matt will be greatly missed by the entire Board of Directors and we wish him success in all of his future endeavors.”
—David M. Greenwald reporting
I looked out of curiosity, but couldn’t find it. Anyone have a solid link?
Davis Chamber website under “Latest News.”
http://www.davischamber.com/uploads/2/4/6/9/24698775/2015_dcoc_ceo_job_description.pdf
It’s very prominent on the page now. When I looked this morning it wasn’t there. I swear!
Me too, Jim. Same results.
Matt sent it to me – so I believe you’re correct.
“Matt Yancey, CEO for the Davis Chamber of Commerce, has announced that he will be moving on at the end of September. Mr. Yancey, according to the release, has accepted a post with the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), in their Economic Development Department. In this new role, the release says that he will be working on regional innovation and economic development public policy, as well as entrepreneurship support programs.”
Translation (IMO): “I can get a lot more accomplished towards innovation and economic development at SMUD without having to put up with Davis obstruction politics.”
And/or, “I can have better pay, better compensation (including PERS?), more job security, and a better career path with the new gig”. Good for him! He’d have to be a martyr or a fool not to take advantage of the opportunity.
Looking at his resume, I would not have hired him from Sacramento. He was used to a much bigger pot of stew over there, and Davis was several steps down … except it gave him the CEO to put on his resume. Now he has a year with that box check, time to go back to the big city. Pretty obvious outcome, unfortunately. But it was refreshing that for the past year the communications coming out of the Davis Chamber have been more more professional, courteous, and effective.