Fresno BC Weekly Bulletin

January 5, 2012

2012-01-03T17:30:00.000-08:00

Reflections from the Chair Emeritus—Richard Johanson
As we welcome a New Year, it occurred to me that we don’t need to propose New Year’s Resolutions. Our goal must be to keep our focus to scale and accelerate what is already in place. While innovation and renewal are an ongoing exercise, we are fully engaged in activating the concepts developed years ago. We have overcome the siloed thinking and behavior that stifled necessary collaborative work. We have learned the language of economic, infrastructure and human development and understand their equal value and interdependence. By working together, we have discovered resources that were invisible when we looked through a narrow lens. Fresno is ready—investment ready. Whether you invest your time, financial resources or both, the onramps are all around you. In so doing we shall see the fulfillment of HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL in 2012.

Clusters—The Ecosystem Silver Bullet
When we launched the first cluster, Water Technology, in 1999, the notion of Blue Tech Valley wasn’t on the radar. However, through steadfast effort from the partners of the Regional Jobs Initiative, the cluster continues to grow and strengthen as our region becomes known as the solution shop for the world’s water challenges. Today, I received a call from a solar firm in San Francisco. The caller was enthusiastic about doing business in Fresno because “you are so organized. The Clean Energy Cluster is amazing—the broad attendance makes Fresno the place to be.” Kudos to the Economic Development Corporation that leads this cluster.

Payoffs of the Cluster Approach
As governors across the nation scramble to reignite innovation, entrepreneurship and job creation, a recent Brookings-Rockefeller report points to clusters as a low-cost way to jump start the economy. “Cluster strategies provide a direct route to economic renewal because they build on existing assets to promote growth in regions by enhancing the interactions by which firms complete transactions, share ideas, start new enterprises and create jobs.” States are encouraged to get out of the top down, industrial style of economic development and shift to a paradigm that links, aligns and leverages the resources and knowledge of many agencies behind a shared strategy. Economic, infrastructure and human development are equally essential to a strong economy. In addition, the authors emphasize the importance of initiating a new generation of cluster programs based upon regional customization. Besides coaching the states, the authors point to the federal effort to collapse siloes and “layer” federal resources behind state cluster initiatives.

What Does this Mean for Fresno?
As Dick noted above, we have built the civic infrastructure and we have identified our assets and opportunities. In 2012, through “the power of aligned decision making” we can accelerate and achieve significant impact, not just in the economy but in other critical issues. The cluster approach is transferable to social issues. You will be hearing more about hubs and platforms designed to support cross-cutting, bottom-up regional and local efforts to transform our community. We are learning how to align vertically (neighborhood, city, region, state, federal) and horizontally (programs and resources aimed at the same outcomes.) We have practiced the cluster approach to achieve specific goals. Now we are ready to apply it to the whole community. Watch for information about the Fresno Stewardship Initiative.

December 22, 2011

2011-12-22T16:48:00.000-08:00

Below is a column from the Citistates Group, the organization Neal Pierce founded years ago to advance the notion of regions as economic engines from his national platform. Doug Henton, one of our coaches, is a member. As it is so timely for our work, not just in Fresno but in our region and state, I hope you will take a look at it. The lessons learned across the country mirror ours. Economic prosperity and opportunity are a shared responsibility and no one sector can advance them alone. A way to align nontraditional allies is citizenship. When people act as citizens first, single and special interests second, extraordinary things happen.

Nearly every day this week there has been another announcement about Fresno getting a federal grant or philanthropic investment. The SC2 (Strong Cities, Strong Communities) commitment from the federal government to the City of Fresno is paying off. We demonstrated we are investment worthy. Now it’s time for us to prove it with results across all indicators. This will require unity, alignment and relentless discipline. We have one of the critical elements many communities do not have—“a visionary elected public sector leader willing to cross political divides and work with nontraditional allies for the common good”—Mayor Ashley Swearengin. But for her, SC2 would have stayed east of the Mississippi!

Studying Regionalism on a Palatial Estate

What can you learn in two days and two nights at a palatial estate in the Hudson Valley with a room full of smart, experienced regionalists? I’m sure glad I’m in a position to answer. In late October I participated in a symposium on states and regions organized by the Citistates Group. The event was generously hosted by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and supported by the Carnegie Corporation and the William Penn Foundation. Citistates founders Neal Peirce, Curtis Johnson and Farley Peters pulled together this “meeting of the regional minds” to address one central challenge: metropolitan regions are the geography of the economy but not the geography of government.

Along with a couple of chamber leaders, I was joined by representatives from MPOs, COGs, universities, foundations, think tanks, and several former big city mayors. To articulate the professional accomplishments and accolades of this distinguished group of veteran practitioners and thinkers would easily run two hours or more. And it did. Thirty minutes into the introductions my suspicions were confirmed; I was the low man on the totem pole in both credentials and class. I just hoped a few of the collected IQ points might rub off on me.

From Wednesday evening through midday Friday we discussed and debated. What is the best structure to organize regional stakeholders? Can state governments help, or do they need to just get out of the way? Can you expect regional cooperation without a galvanizing crisis? Does the “ism” in regionalism turn people off? Can the Cardinals really come back with 2 outs and 2 strikes in the bottom of the ninth?

Scattered amid the discussion were some fantastic success stories from leaders in the field: Atlanta’s regional regulatory and infrastructure action to quickly solve an acute water crisis, Seattle’s alignment of two major ports and dozens of distinct municipalities to speak with a unified voice on international trade and investment recruitment. Plus Southern California’s multimodal logistics solution to moving goods in and out of the L.A. and Long Beach ports.

At the end of the day I left with renewed confidence in some core convictions about regional cooperation:

• Business leadership is essential to regional action. Business groups are the only entities with political leverage across the multiple jurisdictions that comprise a region.
• The outcome of regional action is far more important than the structure or governance of regional organization. As the Atlanta Chamber’s Sam Williams said, “Results and outcomes equal power and influence.”
• Someone has to provide neutral turf to get suspicious stakeholders together. Whether COG, MPO or chamber, the regional convener role is vital.
The symposium also clarified some new concepts for me:
• Economic competitiveness can be the great unifier for regions. The downturn has compounded our challenges but it has also provided a rallying point for individuals with different political affiliations and groups with different agendas. We will disagree about a lot, but I think we can all agree that jobs, trade and investment are key priorities.
• We’re all the same, but we’re not. There is plenty of head-nodding and “me too” expressions when someone describes the challenges facing her region, but the context is always unique. Orlando is not Cleveland is not San Diego, but they can learn a lot from each other’s experience. That’s why I think detailed stories of success and failure are as important (if not more important) than conceptual models.
• Business can’t do it alone; it needs a strong public sector partner. I’m not talking about public/private partnerships, I mean a visionary elected or appointed public sector leader willing to cross political divides and work with non-traditional allies for the common good. Almost every success story cited mentioned dynamic individual players from the public and private sectors.

I’m not sure I picked up any IQ points from all the big brains in the room, but I did leave the Citistates symposium with a renewed conviction in the important role chambers of commerce must play as regional leaders and conveners.
________________________________________
Ian Scott is vice president for communications and networks of the American Chamber of Commerce Executives.

December 5, 2011

2011-12-07T11:46:00.000-08:00

Reflections from the Chair Emeritus—Richard Johanson
Does it ever seem weird to you that the marketing frenzy of “Black Friday” is centered around the observance of the upcoming Christian and Jewish religious holidays? Perhaps amid all of this contradictory activity it is appropriate that we take some quiet time to do some personal reflecting. What are the good things that have happened this year? How can we sustain them? Where does our focus need to be next year? Who can lead us? Can we become an Abundant Community with an opportunity for everyone to make a contribution? I see a no better return on a community based investment than renewing our membership in this Business Council and inviting others to join with us. Together with our community partners our destiny is strengthening our ability to make a significant transformation in this place not because of a temporary frenzy but out of a deep commitment to our Statement of Community Values.

A Tribute to Fresno State To Be Published in the Collegian
As we approach midyear in another demonstration of collegiate excellence at California State University, Fresno, it is fitting that we set aside a few minutes to thank all of those on campus who are contributing so much to bringing about a reevaluation in our expectations of ourselves.

Increasingly, we who are oriented to the business world understand that each segment of our society is a critical component of its whole. We must all be willing to reach out to each other. We recognize that community successes do not come from each sector traveling down a selfishly focused road. Organizations such as United Way, Council of Governments, Economic Opportunities Commission, Workforce Investment Board, Fresno State and others are interacting with each other and the private sector in an ever closer spirit of cooperation. For this we all owe a vote of thanks to their unselfish leaders.

Fresno State is a major leader in helping to unite our extended community. Administrators, faculty, staff and students are taking leadership and supportive positions to improve the quality of life for all of those who live, work, play and pray among us. Over sixty-two percent of its student body contributed a total of over one million hours of volunteer service during the schools years 2009/10 and 2010/11.

As a direct result of this spirit of cooperation between Fresno State and the community at large this region is attracting nationwide attention for the higher standards it has set for itself in public affairs on its pathway to a regional transformation. Our community’s widely endorsed Statement of Community Values is the platform on which every man, woman and child among us can stand with pride. Some of these values are: Stewardship, Boundary Crossing and Collaboration, Commitment to Outcomes, Fact Based Decision Making, and Truth Telling.

As the University approaches the second semester of this academic year, we wish to take this opportunity to simply give thanks for its ongoing contribution to the many positive things happening in our community. We thank those at all levels of service that are traveling together on the pathway to a better tomorrow.

Submitted by Bud Richter and Richard Johanson

October 31, 2011

2011-10-29T15:17:00.000-07:00

Reflections from the Chair Emeritus—Richard Johanson
The longer we refine pathways that can strengthen our relationships, the more a single concept unites us in our discussions--Stewardship. This region has become widely known for its perseverance in promoting our innovative Four Spheres Approach to addressing critical issues based upon our statement of community values. Major foundations are becoming increasingly aware of the opportunities available for a more measurable return on their investments by funding public service organizations operating under the banner of Stewardship.Two months from now will see the start of a new year.It is my hope that throughout the community individuals renew their commitment to working together as stewards of the whole—one community aimed at prosperity and wellbeing.

Abundant Communities, Indeed!
When the idea of convening over 800 people from the San Joaquin Valley to spend a day with nationally regarded authors John McKnight and Peter Block, it sounded implausible. Yet, nearly a month before the event—November 16—it was overbooked with over 80 cohorts of 10 people. Participants have agreed to read the book Abundant Communities, develop action plans and put them into action. In 2000, when the Great Valley Center issued a report assessing our challenges, lack of connection, competitiveness and capacity were the key themes. Many rose to the challenge. We developed industry clusters, new platforms for action like the Lyles Center and multiple institutes at Fresno State, two incubators, CART, and the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley. We learned how to collaborate and align resources. Our educational partners worked with employers to insure students are prepared for careers and life challenges. Using a shared set of values we have developed relationships horizontally and vertically. We have become a prepared and investment worthy community. Evidence? The White House designated the City of Fresno as a Strong City, Strong Community experiment and last week the James Irvine Foundation committed $3 million dollars to the Fresno Regional Foundation, due to its significant increase in capacity.

Flourish—We Have Found the Solution and It Is Us
When the Mental Health Cluster set out to better understand the challenges in this arena, it didn’t take long to realize many of the solutions could only be found in the community. The Fresno Flourish Initiative is based upon this premise. Research has determined that behavioral change is largely dependent upon personal commitment, role models, peer support and environmental conditions. As upwards of 75% of health conditions are lifestyle related and adherence to prescribed protocols is under 50%, the answer to the health care crisis clearly is not within the industry, it is in us. Flourish is based upon an internal Kaiser Permanente strategy to improve the health and well-being of their employees. Institutions and individuals are stepping up to take the pledge.

October 24, 2011

2011-10-22T16:20:00.000-07:00

Reflections from the Chair Emeritus—Dick Johanson
As you read what Deborah has written below, I would urge you to mentally put yourself back in a school classroom once again. To me the key word in the entire educational process is “relativity”. Nothing is more boring than staring at a text book preparing for a written test on an academic subject that will be significantly forgotten soon thereafter. However, tying in the subject matter to a future career changes the entire learning process. Then “motivation” comes into play. When a student becomes motivated to learn teachers become partners and an all too common resistance to an academic education falls away. In short, in this person’s opinion, vocational education needs to resume its rightful place with academia in the relativity of our educational structure.

The Innovative University
Clayton Christensen, author of The Innovator’s Dilemma, The Innovator’s Prescription, and Disrupting Class, has co-authored a new book, The Innovative University: Changing the DNA of Higher Education from the Inside Out. As a professor of innovation at Harvard’s Business School, his life work involves deep reflection about critical issues and the seed thoughts that give rise to existing systems and structures. Disruptive innovations are impacting every sector as the pace of change has accelerated and resilience, creativity and adaptability have become essential life skills. Is it possible to embrace change by building upon strengths and letting go of what simply doesn’t work anymore with an eye to minimizing economic dislocation? His latest book speaks to a customized future that meets the needs of a far larger population of students and the diverse communities in which they live. The authors also underscore the importance of shared values to insure a deeper context in which knowledge develops.

Shared Responsibility for Workforce Preparation
Considerable progress has been made at Fresno Unified to prepare career ready graduates. In 2008, FUSD launched a commission on Workforce Readiness and Career Technical Education to determine how to scale and accelerate toward their goal. The report is available at http://www.fresnounified.org/about/reports/workforce-readiness-and-career-technical-education-commission.pdf. Thanks to the sponsorship of Heald College, there will be two career nights in October to connect students to the pathways and educate their families about them. There are 25 Career Readiness Pathway Programs representing 14 industry sectors offered across Fresno Unified. These programs expand student understanding of the world of work and identify career pathways and specific occupations within them. By working together on economic and human development, we can align strategies to succeed in both. While knowledge workers are essential to a prosperous economy, restoring pathways for craftsman, artisans and technicians of all sorts is equally important. As explained by Michael Crawford, “Craftsmanship entails learning to do one thing really well, while the ideal of the new economy is to be able to learn new things, celebrating potential rather than achievement.”

October 15, 2001

2011-10-15T11:13:00.000-07:00

Community Values—A Contract for Behavior in the Civic Sector
At our recent board meeting, Richard Johanson shared his thoughts on one of our community values. This regular practice sets the tone and reminds us our responsibilities as citizens. The value he addressed was Commitment to Outcomes—We are willing to take responsibility for tasks and achieving specified outcomes. We are committed to staying involved until the task is completed. “The other nine values lose some of their importance apart from their connection to their ultimate purpose—a commitment to making better things happen in our own lives and that of our extended community.” As one of the eight founders of the Fresno Business Council, Dick pointed to the journey we have been on from concept to reality. While clearly we continue to face many challenges, the impact is visible. In 1993, concepts like collaboration, sustainability, asset-based approach, and power parity were foreign. We were busy addressing symptoms in siloes and blaming those who today are valued partners in community transformation.

Stewardship & Citizenship Pipelines—Sustainable Civic Infrastructure
A better future is a shared responsibility. Citizens are responsible to the whole and stewards, those with positional authority, are responsible collectively for the whole. Self-reliance and collective action are two major strands of the DNA of American citizens. In order to foster these values, we have a new partnership with Fresno Unified. Student leaders from the various high schools will attend our board meetings to learn about the community business and hear a value presented. They will present what they learned at a school board meeting and back at their site student councils. In reverse, FBC members will have an opportunity to attend student meetings to learn from them and report what they learned to the FBC board. Effective communication runs both ways.

Student Leaders From Cambridge High School Attend FBC Board Meeting
The academic and civic progress at Cambridge High School is inspiring and the sense of community pride in the students and staff palpable. The staff provide holistic services and support, recognizing that many of the students face personal and family barriers making success more challenging. The expected learning results for all students reflect the values of both the students and the staff:
• Problem Solvers (ability to identify and resolve problems)
• Responsible Citizens
• Informed Citizens
• Demonstrators (competence in all academic areas)

Inspiring News from the Fair
Deb Cohen reported that the community came together this week and bringing in 54 tons of food breaking our own national record from last year of 51.7 tons of food. 235 volunteers helped collect, sort and load the semi-trucks. It was hot but there was an amazing show of support. The Fair leadership launched a the first ever 4.0 & Above program where all Fresno County high school students with a 4.0 or better were provided free entrance to the Fair and an enter-to-win ticket for a car and assorted prizes. A junior from Sanger High won the car and her principal told Deb that it couldn’t have happened to a more deserving student. These are terrific examples of how improving academic performance and supporting students is everybody’s business and the power of collective action.

July 18, 2011

2011-07-18T11:15:00.000-07:00

Implications of SC2—Smart Cities, Smart Communities
What would it look like if local communities decided what they wanted and came up with the most effective way to make it happen? As every community is unique, a customized approach rather than one size fits all, makes sense. What if adaption to changing circumstances was built into the strategy and the opportunity to align resources of multiple agencies behind one plan became the norm? What if leaders in every sphere—economy, environment and equity (the 3 E’s) understood the priority strategies of their colleagues and worked together effectively? What if the people who work in the various sectors understood interdependence and looked for ways to share resources to achieve the goals everyone wants—prosperity, safe neighborhoods, an educated and engaged citizenry, vibrant health and a widely shared community pride. SC2 offers us these opportunities and more. The choice of engagement is ours. We can act like a spectator and point at government or we can take responsibility as citizens and realize it is merely the reflection of us—fragmented. As a stand-up commented, “Blaming government is like yelling at your computer when the problem is in the software."

Vertical Integration—Bottom Up/Top Down
If you think of the neighborhoods and the federal government as two poles far apart, what would happen if they had direct communication with one another? Rather than going through channels—layer after layer of systems—SC2 offers direct access. As many resources make a stop at the state and the county before reaching communities, it is not surprising so many programs are ineffective and necessary infrastructure is so extensive to build. Triangulation is unhealthy. Direct communication works.

Fresno Is In a Unique Situation
Because of the Obama Administration’s confidence in Mayor Swearengin and the evidence of our ten year effort to build a strong civic infrastructure, we have an opportunity to take a quantum leap forward. Success will impact our community, our region and the state because our many colleagues will learn alongside. Everyone engaged in community transformation wants this experiment to work. It’s up to all of us to learn, figure out how to help, and engage.

The Abundant Community: Awakening the Power of Families and Neighborhoods
Reading the same books has been a powerful tool for building teams and communicating. Good to Great, Civic Revolutionaries: Igniting the Passion for Change in America’s Communities, Leave No Child Behind, Reinventing Government and many more….all have influenced our experiment in self-governance. Thanks to the hard work of the Smart Valley Places team, John McKnight and Peter Block will be coming to Fresno in November. McKnight is the inspiration behind our Asset-Based Approach community value and Block has written extensively about stewardship, community and transformational change. I encourage you to read their new book—The Abundant Community: Awakening the Power of Families and Neighborhoods. It is happening in Fresno. Like Apollo 13, we turned to one another, worked with what we had, and committed ourselves to community transformation. Others are noticing.

2011-07-13T16:03:00.000-07:00

"Wicked Messes”—Shifting the Focus From Problems to Possibilities

Last week, the regional leaders who make up the California Stewardship Network met in Sacramento. We have worked together for over a decade to create new approaches to problem solving as complexity and interdependence have increased exponentially. The siloed approaches of the past are ineffective, expensive and often make matters worse. One definition of a “wicked mess is a problem whose solution requires a great number of people to change their mindsets and behavior. Another way to say this is the solution requires transformational change.

Examples:

Education—Shifting from industrial, top down, numbers driven models to life-long learning networks that support the development of creative, critical and tactical thinking skills and their application to real-time problems.
Justice—Shifting from a system primarily focused upon enforcement and punishment to restorative approaches and community based solutions.
Health—Shifting from symptom relief and high end professionals to an empowering, distributed model focused upon personal responsibility and public health approaches.
Human Services—Shifting from siloes of emergency and sustained support to a leveraged system focused upon pathways to self-sufficiency.

California Forward calls this “The Virtuous Cycle. Better education leads to better jobs, which leads to a healthier population, less poverty, less crime and, ultimately, less government. Smart Government would advance the Three Es simultaneously a prosperous economy, a quality environment and community equity.

Opportunity Favors the Prepared

Over a decade ago, Fresnans from all sectors began to look at our challenges through the Three Es. Understanding that the Three Es are interdependent and equally important is just the first step. One must step outside of them (Fourth Sphere) to discover where alignments can be made and resources can be leveraged. Most people do not take this step until they realize they cannot succeed in isolation. The level of complexity inherent in a "wicked mess" is beyond anyone's expertise or experience. This is new territory—we are off the map. Our choice is to learn new leadership skills or witness continuing deterioration. We must combine positional authority and leading without it to craft strategies complete enough to drill deeply into the roots while meeting urgent present needs. Go to www.cafwd.org for more detailed information and an opportunity to offer your comments.

New Models for Cross-Jurisdiction Collaboration

One of our partners, Joint Venture Silicon Valley Network, commissioned Accenture to do a white paper on cross-jurisdiction collaboration with examples from across the globe. The report is available at www.jointventure.org.

May 6th, 2011

2011-05-06T16:16:00.000-07:00

Blue Tech Valley Water Conference—Success!

Thank you to everyone who made this week’s Blue Tech Valley Water Conference a success. The speakers were outstanding. They touched the future and showed us how to get there. The comments below provide multiple perspectives:

“I am sitting here at my desk reflecting on what just happened. It happened so fast. What just happened was a GREAT Water Tech Conference...right here...in the Central Valley of California...thanks to you! The Conference drew people from near and far (some speakers flew in from places like India, Singapore and Denmark) to be here with us to talk Water Tech.

In addition to the presence of our local industry leaders such as: Grundfos, Lyle's Construction Group, Lakos, Jain and Netafim, we had companies like Intel, Veolia Water, IBM & Paramount Farms here too. Top Investment Firms, such as Draper, Fisher & Jurvetson, WedBush and Virgin Green Fund and thought leaders from Universities around California (CSUF, UC Berkeley, Stanford, UCLA & UC Merced) were in attendance. We highlighted innovation and entrepreneurship and showcased some of our star start-ups!”

Kirk Nagamine, CEO--Central Valley Business Incubator.

“The Blue Tech Valley Water Conference was a major event for the Central Valley. I often hear complaints that the Valley doesn’t connect with the best and brightest from around the world due to our isolation in the middle of the state. Well for those of us who attended, this was the highest level of brain power ever assembled in one room to deal with the most important issue we are challenged with to secure our economic future…. Water. I give you my highest congratulations for a job well done and recognize the global connections that are now in place to make this region the Blue Tech Valley for the world. Any support we at the EDC can lend to assist the CVBI and ICWT in accomplishing this is at your disposal.” Steve Geil, CEO--Economic Development Corporation.

“By all accounts, this was an important and very welcome event and a significant step in our ongoing efforts to become a pre-eminent center for water technology and research. Congratulations.” Dr. Bill Covino, Provost, Fresno State

“Great work! This is a watershed moment (a pun intended).” Professor Tim Stearns, Director of the Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

“Congratulations to all. I heard good things from everyone who attend on both days.” Mike Dozier, Director of the Office of Community & Economic Development, Fresno State.

Historical Framework

Given the critical role Grundfos and Claude Laval Corporation leaders played in making the conference a success (Grundfos even brought a semi from Texas), it is important to acknowledge the long time role these companies have played since the beginning. The first meeting of the water cluster was held at the old Grundfos facility in 2000. Founding stalwarts like Claude Laval and Jerry Cook were on hand. This was our beta test to determine whether or not clustering—linking, aligning and leveraging existing assets—would substantially impact our economy. Two incubators, many workforce initiatives, cross industry partnerships, joint ventures, new capital, etc., demonstrate that perseverance pays off in compounding ways if you have the courage to begin and the commitment to continue. Thank you to Collaborative Economics—our catalyst.

April 20, 2011

2011-04-20T16:32:00.000-07:00

“Thinking Our Way Out of Extinction”
Such is the tagline from Rebecca Costa’s new book, The Watchman’s Rattle. While Einstein taught us that we can’t solve problems at the level of thinking that created them, he didn’t spell out how to change the level.

Backdrop
Past civilizations (Mayan, Khmer, Roman) came to a point where complexity exceeded their cognitive capacity. Rather than drill deep, they looked for quick fixes and reacted to symptoms. This allowed underlying conditions to worsen. Gridlock and ultimately collapse occurred. The good news—Costa offers a path up and out.

The Brain
Discoveries in neuroscience are as dramatic as learning the world is not flat. People think in linear, holistic and insightful ways. When insightful breakthroughs reach critical mass, systems and economies can be completely disrupted and cultural norms reset. Given the dire circumstances we face, our choice is to cheer the insightful on or continue to watch linear vested interests battle.

Dean Kamen—Inventor Extraordinaire
When Dean Kamen spoke in Fresno, he changed attitudes. He put wind into the sails of innovators and entrepreneurs. In Costa’s book Kamen explains we know the problems and the answers. We are stuck because the culture is mired in old thinking—widely accepted beliefs that simply are not true. These are called memes. Family memes help us feel connected. Supermemes--beliefs that go viral--can contaminate a culture. While “knowing” can relieve anxiety in the moment, worsening conditions kick up stress notch after notch until a breakdown occurs.

Five Supermemes Holding Us Hostage
1.Irrational Opposition—Being against everything and for nothing.
2.The Personalization of Blame—Father should have known best & controlled all the variables. Holding individuals accountable for systemic and cultural problems.
3.Counterfeit Correlation—accepting correlation as a substitute for causation; spinning to manipulate evidence and relying on consensus to determine basic facts.
4.Silo Thinking—compartmentalized thinking and behaviors that prohibit the collaboration needed to address highly complex problems.
5.Extreme Economics—using simple business principles (profit/loss; risk/reward) as the litmus test for determining the value of people and priorities, initiatives and institutions—the legacy of the industrial revolution.

Solutions
Our community discovered an antidote like Costa details in her book—a Four Spheres Framework, Community Values, Focused Blitzkrieg (do many things simultaneously) foster innovation and entrepreneurship, listen to the quantum level thinkers, and persevere until what once sounded foreign becomes normal.

The Book
The book is riveting and instructive. The snippets above are just a taste of her thinking. I encourage you read it. Another option, check out her website at www.rebeccacosta.com.

April 12, 2011

2011-04-12T12:17:00.000-07:00

Economic Development Meets Human Development—Website for Internships
Through partnerships across our educational institutions, there is already a database to connect internship coordinators across the entire system. However:

The Problem
• San Joaquin Valley has a low-skilled worker population.
• Lack of professional development opportunities for young professionals.
The Cause
• Businesses are reluctant to develop internship programs.
• No single resource for businesses to connect with Valley colleges/universities and students for internships, career fairs, facility tours, service learning projects, etc.
The Solution
Develop a self-sustaining, integrated website with the following utility:
o Post internship positions at one location. Students may search and apply directly online.
o Connect businesses to the “right” person at education entities, specifically aligning to their internship needs.
o Internship toolkit--develop an effective internship program; paid v. unpaid internships; resume evaluation; interview questions.
o Promote career fairs.
o Wish list- students may submit what they are looking for and we can help them get connected.
The Benefits for Businesses
• Access to the up and coming “crème of the crop.”
• One source to post internship positions, connect with internship coordinators at colleges/universities.
• Understand the skills of the next generation of workers.
• Provide feedback to the colleges/universities regarding gaps in skills/training, work ethic, and other curriculum suggestions.
• Actively participate in increasing our higher education system and grow our skilled workforce.
The Request—Community Support
To launch, the project needs 10 sponsorships at $500. They are tax deductible. For more information contact Jen Paul at 559.347.3908 or jenpaul@csufresno.edu. Thank you to the FBC board members that wrote at check at this morning’s board meeting! This is a highly leveraged, highly impactful strategy to connect two groups that want to meet—they just need onramps and a platform.

March 21, 2011

2011-03-31T13:41:00.000-07:00

California’s Innovation Initiative—Innovate to Innovation (i2i)
In 2010, legislators from both parties tasked the CA Council on Science and Technology to assess our state’s innovation ecosystem. The ecosystem approach acknowledges that like other critical issues, the challenge is complex, interdependent and solutions will require steward leadership of the whole. No one alone has domain over all the essential parts nor the expertise needed to craft a successful strategy. As new funding is unlikely, the solution is “barn raising”—reallocation of existing resources, philanthropic funding and contributions of time and talent. Collaboration is “changing in place” by shifting the mindset from siloes to shared outcomes.

The action team is a “first bus” of high level talent from industry, academia and government that will develop an Innovation Roadmap and Improve Critical Innovation Infrastructure.

The Roadmap will include:

1. Rapid application of research to use through policy and system changes, multi-sector financing and cross sectoral communications networks.

2. Create communities of collaboration—co-locate federal, state, private and technology assets—idea pressure cookers—to promote innovation, entrepreneurship, knowledge transfer and job creation.

The Infrastructure Improvements will include:

1. An educator alliance to fund, develop and deploy effective K-16 digitally enhanced education enabling personal customization and preparation of a globally competitive workforce.

2. Create a science and technology-based water road map to innovate across the entire water system, link water and energy technology, ag and biotech, and climate and conservation strategies. What It Means For Fresno and the San Joaquin Valley—Opportunity! For the past decade, our community and region have been building relationships across sectors, disciplines and geographies. The Regional Jobs Initiative, Human Investment Initiative, Smart Cities and the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley are all comprehensive approaches that are led by stewards of the whole. They create the essential “CEO function” needed to link, align and leverage assets from many places to achieve major outcomes.

The Lyles Center, the WET Incubator, the Central Valley Business Incubator, CART, K-12’s increasing focus on career and technical education are all assets we can assemble. All local school districts and our universities have embraced a unified approach called Strive, a Cincinnati created approach to education that Stanford research has determined holds great promise. Rising above collaboration, the effort creates a leadership team, “white space leaders and staff” who are responsible for linking, aligning and leveraging the assets of many players to achieve specific outcomes.

#2 on infrastructure is readymade for our region—the WET Incubator, the Water Technology Cluster, agriculture as a major industry, a growing international reputation—preparation meets opportunity = success. Check out the Blue Tech Valley Water Conference at www.BlueTechVAlley.org.The theme is International Solutions to Regional Issues. Save the date—May 3 and 4th.

March 7, 2011

2011-03-14T09:51:00.000-07:00

White Space Leadership—Key to Transformational Change
As Californians and residents in other states continue to grapple with fiscal constraints, enormous challenges and faltering institutions, the importance of focusing on the opportunity side cannot be overemphasized. The postindustrial perspective, one that recognizes the importance of customization, innovation and interdependence, needs to find its way into every sector if we are to capitalize on the opportunities of the 21st century. As always, pioneers went out early, signaling the way yet the crisis wasn’t stark enough to get enough people’s attention, particularly those that succeeded in the hierarchical framework. Times have changed.

In 1997, national leaders in the movement toward regional solutions, Neil Pierce and Curtis Johnson, and their inspiration—John W. Gardner—wrote a book to capture lessons learned across the country. They titled it Boundary Crossers: Community Leadership for a Global Age. In Fresno, we have learned many of the same lessons. A book can explain a concept, but you don’t “know” it until you live it. As the rhetoric of the poles gets uglier and louder, it’s important to remember we are all citizens first—responsible to the whole. A self-absorbed, single interest’s agenda is “more for me” typically without regard to the impact on the whole. Think of a cancer cell or a suicidal personality within someone suffering from a dissociative disorder. This is why steward leadership of the whole—white space leadership-- is essential to charting the path forward. This is the level of thinking Einstein spoke of—higher than the level of thinking that created the problem.

Lesson 8 is particularly timely. In the forward to the book, John Gardner explained, “What we need, and what seems to be emerging in some of our communities, is something new—networks of responsibility drawn from all segments, coming together to create a wholeness that incorporates diversity. The participants are at home with change and exhibit a measure of shared values, a sense of mutual obligation and trust. Above all, they have a sense of responsibility for the future of the whole city and region.”

Lesson 8: Government always needs reforming, but all the reforms need government.
“Ever since Revolutionary times, we Americans have distrusted and consistently disparaged government. But our healthy skepticism has turned into dangerous cynicism that makes it difficult for our government to play an effective role in the new global economy. If we shackle government, starve it for truly needed funds, we may get just what we deserve—government mired in the management methods of 20th century. Since government is at least 15 to 20 percent of any local economy, the entire economy is then shackled and pulled down. It is a fact that no matter how much business or philanthropies or other civic forces seek to lead, at the end of the day government is needed almost invariably, as a partner at the table. Any major undertaking runs up against rules, regulations, funding priorities, land use plans or some other domain of government. Local government is needed as a funding partner in major enterprises. It is needed to provide quality services, especially in poor and struggling neighborhoods, and to start the tough task of tying social services for families to school programs in a time of serious family breakdown. It is needed to protect the air and water, and to assure environmental equity to low-income neighborhoods often the scene of landfills and toxic dumping. In addition, a community that tries to operate independently of government may easily find itself paralyzed when it tries to work collaboratively.”

February 21, 2011

2011-02-20T15:09:00.000-08:00

Devolution—the Opportunities and the Pitfalls
Governor Brown and others are discussing devolution—the pooling of powers (and hopefully resources) from central government to the regional or local level. Many believe that government closer to the people will be more efficient, effective and accountable as it will be easier to draw a line between efforts and outcomes. The less one is embodied in the community one is elected to serve, the more likely single interests and personal ambition can distract from the original mission. This leads to government spending--addressing symptoms and building bureaucracies-- rather than investing where there will be a return--infrastructure, education, etc. Today many communities are mirror images of the state and federal government—fragmented, symptom focused and competing over scarce resources and credit. Fresno’s evolution has prepared us for devolution.

We have learned a lot over the past decade about the importance of shared values, strategies and a commitment to outcomes. Overcoming the legacy of siloed thinking and funding in the government and nonprofit sectors has become more urgent with the prospect of devolution. The Four Sphere Approach, dubbed the new civic DNA of California, offers a steward’s view of the whole where opportunities to leverage resources become clear and we all share in success. To learn more about how this works, attend a workshop. Our next one is slated for next week. Let us know if you plan to attend or would like to have a presentation for your organization.

December 27, 2010

2010-12-28T16:47:00.000-08:00

Message From the Chair Emeritus—Richard Johanson
…and so we prepare to say goodbye to another year and welcome in a new one. It bodes to be a year that holds within it an opportunity for all of us to join ever closer together on an ever widening pathway leading to a better tomorrow for all among us. Our degree of success will depend upon our commitment to each other. We must continue to broaden our vision of what we can accomplish as a united community. Philosophical extremism and personality issues are being exposed as counterproductive. Soon those who employ them to keep us fragmented will be overlooked. They are being replaced by effective leadership arising from stewardship-focused individuals and organizations, locally, regionally and statewide. The New Year holds great promise for this region because of this emerging aura of creative collaboration. In that spirit, I wish everyone a harmonious and prosperous New Year.

Looking Back—Two Major Reports Issued in 2000
In 2000, the Great Valley Center released two seminal reports, The Economic Future of the San Joaquin Valley and the Survey of Current Area Needs (SCAN) that struck a chord and mighty response in Fresno. With the assistance of the James Irvine Foundation and in kind support from Fresno State and the Fresno Business Council, the Fresno Area Collaborative Regional Initiative was launched. Similar efforts were initiated across the state as part of a network of regions seeking to address critical economic, social and environmental issues comprehensively. From this platform, two more focused efforts were launched: the Regional Jobs Initiative and the Human Investment Initiative to address job creation and human development. Many specific projects and a wide range of clusters have led to an impressive list of results. In addition, we have learned through experimentation how to apply a new type of thinking (holistic) to complex challenges helping to align siloed efforts and leverage existing resources. 2011 holds the promise of scale and acceleration.

Key Messages From the Economic Strategy
The new economy is innovative, fast, global, knowledge-based, networked and technology intensive. Our challenge is a shift from competing primarily on low-cost to an economy based upon innovation, resilience and diversification. The key recommendations and our community’s response:
• Develop networks of regional leaders (California Partnership for the SJV)
• Create cluster networks (Regional Jobs Initiative)
• Develop an innovative workforce (CART, align workforce with clusters)
• Focus technology on innovation in all clusters
(Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship)
• Support entrepreneurship (Lyles Center, Central Valley Business Incubator)
Along with responses to specific recommendations, we have developed a new culture. Where once collaboration was a noun, today it is all verb and expected.

December 13, 2010

2010-12-15T16:56:00.000-08:00

Message From the Chair Emeritus—Richard Johanson
I’d like to share an experience I had last week flying home from Portland, Oregon, in late afternoon. It was raining hard when we departed. After half an hour or so I looked out the window and saw the onset of an inspiring sunset. My first reaction was: “I am back in sunny California.” Then I realized that the reason I was enjoying the beautiful gold and red horizon was because we were flying above the clouds. Transpose those thoughts into what our community is accomplishing by working together. We have raised our collective vision of how high we must set our goals and what course we must take to attain them. Together we seek to bask in the sunshine above the clouds that oftentimes obscure it. Simply expressed, we are becoming recognized as transformational meteorologists.

Spirit of Barn Raising Rising Across California—Citizens Are Leading
At a recent meeting of regional stewards from across California, it was clear that a renewed commitment to personal and community responsibility is well underway.

Los Angeles
At last year’s meeting, the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation told of us their effort to engage over 1,050 people across every sector to create their first comprehensive plan to strengthen the economy, improve the environment and invigorate communities. This year, they talked about their execution mantra—“It’s time for everyone to take responsibility for our communities and to be the change.” Their goal is to unify the entire county behind 5 goals essential for regional health. In The Guide: Los Angeles County, every city explains its plan to achieve the goals locally. The goals are:
• Preparing an educated workforce
• Creating a business-friendly environment
• Enhancing the quality of life
• Implementing smart land use
• Building a 21st century infrastructure

Butte
In Butte the community and educational sites are teaming up to insure that every child who needs one has a tutor to help achieve specific goals that are monitored monthly. “Tutoring is the back-up plan—quality parenting is the best solution.” Citizens are transforming the chaos around many schools into safe communities. Lesson Learned: Independence leads to interdependence at maturity. Dependence leads to codependence precluding maturity.

Four Spheres Approach Creating a New Culture
Similar goals with the same theme of personal responsibility are part of regional strategies across the state. All share the same civic DNA, a four spheres approach to transformational change that recognizes the interdependence of critical issues and the post partisan nature of durable solutions. As politics follow culture, it is up to communities to be the change they wish to see in politics and elected officials. A unified strategy provides an antidote to fragmented and aggressive single interests.

December 6, 2010

2010-12-05T15:25:00.000-08:00

Message From the Chair Emeritus—Richard Johanson
Does it seem to you that December is a month of introspection in our lives? It does to me. More and more a great portion of that inward analysis is centered on this Council’s wise decision to base our actions upon the Statement of Community Values of the Fresno Region. Such a position demands introspection in determining how those values contribute to the personal and organizational conduct of our affairs. One of the strongest of these values is “Boundary Crossing and Collaboration – we are willing to cross political, social, ethnic and economic boundaries and partner with others to achieve community outcomes.” The old “I’m right, therefore you’re wrong” attitude has been relegated to the trash can. Supporting this code of conduct is The Fourth Sphere helps us think as stewards of the whole—a prerequisite to the ability cross boundaries. We are learning to think and act as a people-centered collaborative community. That’s a thought worth thinking about at this time of the year.

Looking Back; Looking Forward—Deborah Nankivell
Some of you know that Dick (Richard Johanson) has written two books, A Passion for Stewardship: The Legacy of a Generation and Just a Thought: Reflections on Civic Transformation. As the president during our formative years and chair emeritus ever since, his messages carried in our bulletin and shared with those who have the privilege of working as his colleagues, are like the rudder on a sailboat. He remembers “why” and has the courage to remind others. We have learned much about what it takes to achieve community transformation over the past 17 years. The most important lesson is insuring that stewards are leading—those that remember why. Sustainable effort requires passion and a commitment to something greater than oneself. Many have said the WWII generation remembered something those following have forgotten—the price of freedom, the importance of community and that adversity builds character.

Infrastructure Sphere
At our upcoming board meeting the Infrastructure, Land Use and Transportation Task Force, chaired by Dick Johanson, will be offering their report and recommendations. In April of 1998, the Growth Alternatives Alliance issued A Landscape of Choice: Strategies for Improving Patterns of Community Growth. At this time, collaboration was considered bold. The Alliance included unexpected partners—Fresno County Farm Bureau, Fresno Chamber of Commerce, American Farmland Trust, the Building Industry Association and the Fresno Business Council. At the time, the leaders of these organizations recognized that working together was in both their self and collective self-interest. This sphere, largely the province of government, requires a broadly supported community agenda and steward leaders in order to deliver projects that can take over a decade to complete, well past the terms of most elected officials.

August 23, 2010

2010-08-28T17:58:00.000-07:00

Message From the Chair Emeritus—Richard Johanson
One of the rewards of living in the middle of the most productive agricultural climate in the nation is the expectation of having a bountiful harvest each fall. While the springtime blossoms may determine the volume of the harvest, it is the cultural practices during the maturation period that determine the quality of the end product. So, too, it seems to me, is the progression of our political processes. Our March primary is when we plant the seeds which we expect to harvest in November. The time in between is when it is up to us to till the political soil and determine which seeds hold the most promise for a quality crop. In only a few weeks, our eyes and ears will once again be filled with arguments for a particular variety. It is up to us to make our selections wisely. In agriculture it’s called horticultural practices. In the political arena it’s called Democracy In Action.

Four Spheres Workshops—New Operating System
As we set out in 2000 to address the structural issues of the economy that prevented greater prosperity and allowed concentrated poverty, we learned many things. Central to our education was the recognition of interdependence--that without an equally strong focus on infrastructure, both built and natural, and the development of our human potential we would at best be addressing symptoms. Transformational change requires a new thought framework coupled with changed behavior—a new culture. At our most recent workshop, a number of our institutional leaders offered their insights. As the “bones of the community” our institutional leaders, together with thought leaders, create the foundation and the framework upon which we all build. In a world of interdependence, collaboration at the level of action is not enough. We must begin our thinking together, act behind a shared strategy and become a learning community.

Some of the key thoughts:
•The first filter is citizen. Through this lens we all have a responsibility to the whole.
• Know your assignment and get into alignment.
• Maintain focus on what you can achieve with excellence.
• We must lead from a place of understanding how the pieces fit together.
• We must invite people into partnership—government alone is not the solution.
• Our social fabric has remarkably improved. Act with the expectation of cultural change.

Results Shared:
• Grundfos decided to build a research facility in Fresno. Key reason—The Water and Energy Technology Incubator at Fresno State.
• 32% increase in college going rate at FUSD. Key reason—partnership between Fresno State and Fresno Unified.
• Signs of gang activity dropping—Key reason—leveraging law enforcement, social networks and faith-based groups.

August 16, 2010

2010-08-22T10:59:00.000-07:00

Message From the Chair Emeritus—Richard Johanson
Our members and partners have already heard about the network of regional leaders that emerged from the Collaborative Regional Initiative (CRI) work that began over a decade ago. This movement championed the notion of three interdependent development spheres (economic, infrastructure and human) that must be advanced together to build prosperous and quality communities. While the work of the network has been described in our bulletin, the voices of our partners and information about their local initiatives have not. In today’s bulletin you will hear about the Economic Development Corporation of L.A. County and Valley Vision in Sacramento. Be inspired. Be hopeful. Get engaged. While on the surface CA is clearly struggling, underneath a new approach is well underway. Old ideas created institutions and systems that simply do not work in today’s reality. Sometimes the answer is to simply let go and begin again.

From the LA County Economic Development Corporation
“We are really pushing hard on the implementation of L.A. County’s consensus Strategic Plan for Economic Development. We recently secured the unanimous endorsements of four of our county’s six regional COGs, representing 79 of L.A. County’s 88 cities, and are expecting all five to come on as implementation champions shortly. On July 14th, the City of Los Angeles unanimously voted to support the plan and directed the City’s Chief Administrative Office to see how the plan’s recommendations can be integrated into the activities of (and supported by) the relevant City departments/agencies.

Most important, we continue to leverage and expand the consensus developed during the planning phase by reaching out to the broader public speaking at events, forums, town hall meetings, etc. not just here in Los Angeles, but up-and-down the state. We continue to “pound the table” on the same overarching message that it is time for us to take responsibility for the health and vibrancy of our communities; we cannot rely only on our public officials/electeds to effectuate the transformational change that is required.
It’s been very exciting b/c what started as just a “plan” really has become a developing grassroots movement to serve and transform our communities. (To check out the plan go to http://www.lacountystrategicplan.com)

Valley Vision—“Action Tank” for the Capital Region
Another partner in the regional network is Valley Vision--a vast network of people and organizations dedicated to securing the social, environmental and economic health of the Sacramento Region. The organization serves as a platform to research, plan and problem solve when community challenges require collaborative solutions. As we explore the restoration of the local food system, a continuing focus on agriculture, water and energy, and expand focus into rural communities, Valley Vision’s successful work offers us tools and insights we can build upon. Check out www.valleyvision.org.

August 10, 2010

2010-08-10T18:01:00.000-07:00

Message From the Chair Emeritus—Richard Johanson
What better time than the dog days of summer to step away from the hectic pace of our lives and take a look at the larger picture. Recently, I learned about a memorial installed on the New Jersey shoreline across from Manhattan honoring those who lost their lives in the Twin Towers tragedy of 9/11, a gift from the Russian people to Americans. I would urge that you check it out. Search for Tear Drop Memorial and read the story. You’ll come away impressed once again that despite all of the hate and violence in our world, there does exist a compassionate core of humanity. You will also come away feeling that in our local efforts, we are an integral part of universal efforts to make our world a better place. May we all be inspired to continue our quest by the aura of the Tear Drop Monument.

Lessons Learned—Collected by the Leadership of Duncan Ceramics

• When we focus on the things that unite us, we can resolve the things that divide us. When we focus on the things that divide us, we destroy those things that can unite us. Thomas Jefferson
• If you can get all the people in an organization rowing in the same direction, you can dominate any industry, in any market, against any competition, at any time.
• It’s not what you are that holds you back; it’s what you think you are not. Dennis Waitley
• INNOVATION is the foundation to a company’s competitive advantage.
• Imagination is more important than knowledge. Albert Einstein
• The opposite of excellence is the acceptance of mediocrity.
• Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome. Samuel Johnson
• Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently. Henry Ford
• You may be thinking great thoughts, but if you don’t get them across you have failed.
• A smooth sea never made a skilled mariner. English Proverb
• Don’t find fault, find the remedy. Henry Ford
• Be a thermostat, not a thermometer; made it happen, don’t just measure it.
• The way to develop self-confidence is to do the thing you fear. William Jennings Bryan
• Optimism is essential to achievement and it is also the foundation of courage and true progress. Nicholas Murray Butler
• Tough times never last, tough people do. Robert Schuller
• A positive attitude is a magnet for positive results. Author Unknown
• Not failure, but a low aim is a crime. James Russell Lowell
• Change must be accepted as the rule rather than the exception. John Welch, Jr.
• We must first risk going too far if we are ever to know how far we can go.
• Falling isn’t failing unless you fail to get up. Mary Pickford
• Our greatest accomplishments are realized through the help of others. Althea Gibson
• You’ve got to believe it before you see it. Robert Schuller
• Never give up, never give up, never give up. Winston Churchill

July 6, 2010

2010-07-08T14:40:00.000-07:00

Message From the Chair Emeritus—Richard Johanson
Recently I had the opportunity to study a white paper explaining where our region and country could be within the next couple of years if we came together and to maximize the human resources available to us. High among the stated priorities is the need to put aside dogmatic political posturing and agreeing upon common solutions to major problems. One way the paper proposes to do this is through the creation of private sector “Solutions Councils” to work with all levels of civic administration. Clearly, some regions have already taken bold and enduring steps in this direction. The Fresno Business Council, founded in 1993, was launched with this approach in mind. The California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley is another example. Our partners in the network of regional stewards across California offer additional models. Each sector and discipline has strengths and weaknesses. By aligning our assets (the Asset-Based Approach) and maintaining a Commitment to Outcomes and the Resolution of Conflicts, our future is rich with promise. The choice is ours.

A Job, A Better Job, A Career—Personal and Workforce Development
In many meetings, Assemblymember Juan Arambula has talked about an individual’s path to prosperity—a job, a better job and a career. While some are satisfied with the first step, others are motivated to rise to the highest level of development they can achieve. As a community, our prosperity is tied to the same trajectory. How do we create environments where individuals discover their unique talents and have the tools and opportunities they need to develop to their highest potential?

Recently, many of us involved in the Regional Jobs Initiative had an opportunity to meet with representatives of the Ford Motor Company Fund. They have launched a partnership with educators, employers and community leaders “to develop a generation of young people who will graduate from high school both college and career ready—an emerging workforce prepared to compete successfully in the 21st century economy.” While clearly, high level technical skills are needed, their approach blends many disciplines in order to prepare students to think critically, solve problems, communicate effectively, work well on teams, innovate and look through a global lens. Woven together, this package of abilities will yield a productive and innovative workforce and engaged citizens and effective parents. For more info: www.fordpas.org or www.fordnglc.com. This is the shift from industrial view of education to a customized and sustaining one.

The work focuses on three learning initiatives:
1. Transform Teaching and Learning (project based and applied learning)
2. Redesign High Schools (collaborate across sectors and disciplines)
3. Sustain Change Through Business and Civic Leadership (Political will requires a shared agenda and strategies)

June 14, 2010

2010-06-17T09:10:00.000-07:00

Message From the Chair Emeritus—Richard Johanson
Has it occurred to you that one of the greatest frustrations we face as we try to transform this place from Good to Great is being among those who cannot disagree without being disagreeable? Many of the just concluded election campaigns are a case in point. For those of you who are members of the FBC or interested in becoming one, I encourage you to attend our membership meeting this Wednesday morning in the Alice Peters Auditorium at the CSUF Craig School of Business. Be sure to park in the space marked by UBC flags. I predict you will depart inspired by all that is happening. Transformation surrounds us. Be there and get a first-hand report. If you have not already, please let Deb know you are coming at Deborah.Nankivell@fresnobc.org.

The Future of Leadership—John Chambers, CEO of Cisco Systems
As every sector and organization has struggled to adapt to rapid, multi-dimensional change, the pressure on leaders is intense. The training most received is dated and the culture where they once thrived is gone. Now what? In a recent column in Newsweek, John Chambers, the CEO of Cisco Systems offered his thoughts. His insights clearly apply to our work as we partner with others to build a great community.

From top down to collaboration:
When asked how he has changed since he assumed the CEO spot in 1995, Chambers explained that when he started he thought his job was about vision, strategy, team building and communication. Within 5 years he understood the critical role of culture and his responsibility to drive and reinforce a great one. He spoke to the dramatic shift underway…. “from command and control to collaboration and teamwork. It sounds easy to do, but it’s hard, because you are trained the old way in business and law school. Today, 80 to 90% of the job is how we work together toward common goals, which requires a different skill set.”

From siloes to multi-disciplinary teams:“..there’s a fundamental change that may be really important to the future of business in this country and the world…we are moving to collaborative teams and training leaders to think across siloes. We’re going to train a generalist group of leaders who know how to learn and operate in collaboration teamwork. I think that is the future of leadership.”

Implications For Our Community and Region
Since the planning began for the Collaborative Regional Initiative in 1999, an increasing number of people have become committed to operating in accordance with a set of ten community values. Many have become literate in three areas of work—economic, infrastructure and human development. They understand how the pieces fit together and that they are interdependent and equally important. Stewardship of the whole and collaboration across boundaries are at the heart of the work. We have rediscovered the fine art of barn raising and one by one major issues have been added to the “to do” list as champions have emerged to tackle them. These champions know how to think across disciplines and leverage the knowledge and resources that are already in play. Life-long learning is a must no matter what position one holds.

Monday, May 17, 2010

2010-05-17T11:29:00.000-07:00

Message From the Chair Emeritus—Richard Johanson
One of my greatest privileges is being able to attend meetings of folks committed to the future of our kids. The first was an inspiring meeting of Street Saints, a faith-based peer to peer group making a positive and expanding impact on young people primarily focused in west Fresno. The second was the San Joaquin Valley Business Leader Summit on Early Care and Education. There is a growing community awareness that the K-12 system cannot successfully educate students if they have not received appropriate pre-school training either at home or in a more formal setting. A Chinese proverb sums it up this way: “The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is today.” Let us all be tree planters.

Economist and Nobel Prize Winner Explains ROI and Kids
Many have made the case for investing in young children. What we haven’t done is get strategic about how to do it to scale recognizing that the people most responsible for doing so are the parents. However, if they cannot or will not, communities must decide whether or not they will step up. An economics professor at the University of Chicago, James Heckman, decided to study the impacts of school readiness programs for children growing up in disadvantaged homes. He learned that our major economic and social problems—crime, teenage pregnancy, drop outs and poor health—are largely the result of low levels of social ability. Attentiveness, persistence and impulse control are essential skills that must be developed intentionally when role models who have mastered them are lacking. Neuroscience underscores this finding and emphasizes the importance of brain development ages 0 to 5. We have a lot of assets and committed people interested in filling this gap by changing the underlying conditions and meeting the needs of children today. We must align the tactics behind a shared strategy to succeed. “I’d rather pay now to open the door of opportunity for our kids than pay later to shut a jail door behind them.” Chief Jerry Dyer.

Often Overlooked Community Asset—Air National Guard (ANG) Fresno
You may have seen the planes fly overhead but not have given a thought to the implications. The National Guard is the oldest armed service in America, originally formed as a militia to protect the colonies. Since then the Guard has played a major role in every war. The base in Fresno uses local infrastructure, including the airport runways, and is one of the most cost effective bases in the US. Its mission is to provide air defense for California using the F-16 Fighting Falcon. They protect ports, nuclear plants, and airports from Mexico to Ukiah. The Guard also responds to state emergencies when called up by the Governor. During 911, the Fresno base responded 3 hours faster than any other base. The ANG provides nearly half of the Air Force’s tactical airlift support, combat communications, aero-medical evacuations and aerial refueling. It bears full responsibility for the air defense of the entire United States. Most of the members of live and work in Fresno. They participate in local philanthropic efforts, provide outstanding job opportunities and help build the local economy. To find out more, go to www.144fw.ang.af.mil. Thank you to Mike Budd, both for your service in the ANG and for providing the opportunity for us to tour the base and learn about the essential role the Guard plays locally, nationally and internationally.

Full Membership Meeting Scheduled for Wednesday, June 16 from 7:30 to 9:00 AM
Please Save the Date

April 26, 2010

2010-04-26T08:26:00.000-07:00

Message From the Chair Emeritus—Richard Johanson
The longer I attend Board meetings of the Fresno Business Council, the more convinced I become that we face no challenge larger than creating awareness among our membership and broader community of the scope of our collective successes and opportunities. Unless one is exposed to the diversity and the depth of the work going on, it is difficult to understand the impact of these efforts and the reasons for optimism. Leaders of institutions and organizations are learning the skills of collaborative stewardship as we work together to address challenges so complex and multi-dimensional that no one working alone could fully understand or resolve them.

What Have We Learned
As a number of us are putting “lessons learned” to paper, one of them is the value of exploring best practices from other communities. The reality of the global economy, decentralization of power and shifting demographics was anticipated decades ago. Cities and regions across the country have been experimenting with new ways of doing the community’s business for years. In some communities, pioneers went out early to map new approaches while in others the status quo futilely tried to deny change, seeking to patch rather innovate and are lagging far behind.

The FBC is committed to active learning across many disciplines. Along with other communities, we are on the hunt for a new civic DNA. A number of my longtime mentors wrote a book entitled: Boundary Crossers: Community Leadership for a Global Age in 1997. They distilled ten lessons from civic efforts across the country. Knowledge becomes wisdom when you experience it as true and begin to live it. As many of us are experiencing these lessons, I thought you would find them useful:

1. The table gets larger……and rounder.
2. The only thing more challenging then a crisis may be its absence.
3. The agenda gets tougher.
4. There is no magical leadership structure—just people and relationships.
5. No one’s excused.
6. Sometimes the old ways still work.
7. Collaboration is messy, frustrating and indispensable.
8. Government always needs reforming, but all reforms need government.
9. Place matters.
10. It’s never over.

To Sum It Up—John W. Gardner
“What we need, and what seems to be emerging in some of our communities, is something new—networks of responsibility drawn from all segments, coming together to create a wholeness that incorporates diversity. The participants are at home with change and exhibit a measure of shared values, a sense of mutual obligation and trust. Above all, they have a sense of responsibility for the future of the whole city and region.” In Fresno, the Four Spheres and the Community Values provide a framework and operating system reflective of the lessons we have learned through doing.

April 19, 2010

2010-04-19T09:03:00.000-07:00

Message From the Chair Emeritus—Richard Johanson
Recently I heard a marvelous presentation on conflict resolution and mediation. The focus was on the way we espouse our position on public policies and personas. How do we overcome the temptation of distortion and alienation in promoting our desires on sensitive ballot issues and candidates for public office? What was most interesting is that research has now established that some people have a generic deviation in their frontal lobe which contributes to their vocal combativeness. My conclusion, therefore, is that as we go through our bi-annual election year process with all of its oftentimes abrasive rhetoric, we each place a greater emphasis on what we believe is deeply rooted in the proponent’s conscience rather than what we read, see or hear as part of the overt campaign process. That compassionate distinction, it seems to me, defines Democracy.

RJI Annual Meeting—May 26: Staying Ahead of the Curve—Save the Date
Kudos to RJI cluster leaders and participants who are making steady progress in learning how to leverage public and private resources to strengthen companies and industries. There are currently 11 clusters—Construction, Clean Energy, Manufacturing, Logistics & Distribution, Tourism, Food Processing, Public Sector, Arts & Culture, Software and Water. On May 26 from 7:30 to 9:30 AM, you will have an opportunity to learn about specific accomplishments and future initiatives. In addition, there will be a financial panel to explain how to access capital through various programs. Our keynote will be Dr. Serve Pierre Besanger. He is an economist and strategist with 26 years of experience in 20 countries. He has chaired numbers boards and served as an advisor to over 50 leading companies and institutions on three continents.

Smart Valley Places
Issue by issue we are learning how interdependent solutions to critical problems are. The foundation for a strong economy and healthy neighborhoods is infrastructure—how it is designed and developed. As many issues have regional impacts, the notion of Smart Valley Places has emerged. Smart Valley Places is being developed as a regional sustainable communities network in the Central Valley. By using smart tools, plans, polices, and practices the intention is to integrate economic growth, social equity, environmental quality and resource stewardship in planning and acting. Through a deeper understanding of long term ramifications, we can be more intentional about the community’s business and achieve greater success in all spheres of work.

Fact-Based Decision Making
At the beginning of each board meeting, we discuss one of the ten community values to keep them top of mind. As science continues to reduce facts to myths and assumptions, the importance of humility has grown. While often unconscious, how we think and our motivational biases can prevent us from seeing the obvious or being open to equally valid, yet different perceptions. Like the blind men describing an elephant, what you believe may have more to do with where you are standing than what is true.

April 12, 2010

2010-04-19T09:01:00.000-07:00

Message From the Chair Emeritus—Richard Johanson
After being present for over thirty thousand sunrises over our beautiful Sierras, I remain convinced that one of the highest rewards of a long life is being inspired by people and events that surround us. Among the highest of people inspirers in my life are those dedicated men and women who are unselfishly giving of their time and talents in developing programs designed to improve the quality of life for all among us. It is to the credit of so many community-minded members of the Fresno Business Council that they are high among these inspiration creators. Because of those who care so deeply, each day we grow closer to the dawn when we shall celebrate the attainment of our long sought civic transformation. That’ll be an inspirational sunrise worth working for. Let’s bring it on!

UC Merced Offering Class on Energy for Sustainability in Fresno, May 14 & 15
Government policies will have a large impact on which technologies are developed and which communities prosper as we shift away from fossil fuels to sustainable energy sources. UC Merced is offering a class on energy for sustainability in Fresno. The course is being offered on May 14 and 15 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the UC Merced Center—550 E. Shaw Avenue. For more detailed course information and to enroll: www.unex.berkeley.edu/merced . For more information call 559.241.7512.

The course was designed for professionals in private (utility, renewable energy, clean tech, building design/construction) and public sectors, who wish to advance, switch or begin careers in sustainable energy related functions across commercial, industrial, residential, corporate and government sectors. City/community planners, facility managers, energy officers, architects, engineers, project managers, developers, builders, contractors, urban planners, municipal agencies, policy makers, energy consultants, environmental services, sustainability managers, business managers, non-profit agencies who are interested in a broader, deeper understanding of sustainability, energy efficiency, renewable energy, or green building; decision-makers and individuals who recognize the importance of planning renewable energy communities and their global impacts will also find this course of interest.

One Option—Nuclear
Many of you may have attended the EDC’s special event to hear Anne Lauvergeon, CEO of the French nuclear energy company, Areva. The Fresno Nuclear Energy Group formed three years ago to explore the possibility of an energy park in western Fresno County. The park would feature solar and wind technology in addition to nuclear. The package would decrease energy costs, create jobs, build the economy and improve air quality. Clearly, the more people who are well informed about opportunities, possibilities, and long term implications the wiser our collective community will become and the better decisions we will make. To learn more about the EDC Clean Energy Cluster call 476-2500 x 115.

March 22, 2010

2010-04-19T08:57:00.000-07:00

Message From the Chair Emeritus—Richard Johanson
I’d like to share a tribute with you this week. This is the time of the year when we all enjoy the visual delight of our orchards in full blossom. Later in the year we shall relish the fruits and nuts harvested from them. What we all too often forget is that the harvest cannot come without pollination of the blossoms by busy worker bees. So too, it seems to me, it is in our world of community transformation. It all begins with the euphoria of developing plans and programs for our social and economic betterment. However, unless we find the problem solvers, the stewards and those with the dignity and discipline to move them forward, these noble plans will fall to the ground like unpollinated tree blossoms. Therefore, in this time of enjoying nature’s beauty all about us, let’s take some time to also recognize the vital contributions of all of those who are working quietly and effectively to make our upcoming transformational harvest a memorable one. They are our worker bees. Why not become one if you are not one already?

Four Spheres and Community Values—Bookends of Transformational Change

Economic Development
In 2000, when the Collaborative Regional Initiative (CRI) first launched, Fresno was a very different place. Most believed our economy would remain one dimensional and low cost and that poverty was inevitable. Ten years later, the Regional Jobs Initiative has changed the way we do economic development. Core leadership includes the Economic Development Corporation, the Workforce Investment Board, Fresno State, the Lyles Center, County of Fresno, and the Fresno Business Council. The implementation team includes many more organizations. The change—we link, align and leverage resources of multiple disciplines behind a shared strategy. With dramatic changes in the economy, work is underway to adapt and expand into rural areas.

Infrastructure Development
This sphere of work has many projects and initiatives underway from TreeTOPS to arts and culture; from affordable housing to Smart Valley Places. Organizations are supporting one another to improve both our natural and built environment. All are essential to improving our economic development prospects and overall quality of life. What’s different?—communication and points of leverage. As a community we have learned about critical issues within each sphere and are finding solutions by crossing boundaries.

Human Development
Building upon what we have learned about collaboration in the other spheres, a number of experiments are underway to remediate poverty and improve key systems. The City’s effort to empower residents and improve the environment in Lowell has all hands on deck. Many departments at Fresno State have stepped up along with other organizations and City departments are working together in new ways. The Mental Health Cluster envisions a new approach to this critical issue with the theme, “We have met the solution and it is us.” (Siegfried, Pogo’s asset-based twin brother) Watch for details of a major public event on April 27.

Fourth Sphere—The Whole
While some due to position or natural talent are responsible for the whole, we are all responsible to the whole. Our choices impact others. Let us be conscious and intentional.

March 1, 2010

2010-02-27T16:17:00.000-08:00

Important and Uplifting Event Coming Up
Be sure to save May 20 on your calendar for the NFTE regional business plan competition banquet. NFTE (Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship), offered through the Lyles Center at Fresno State, is student by student changing the culture of our region. The primary aim—helping young people from low-income communities build life-long skills and unlock their entrepreneurial creativity—is relevant for everyone. Critical thinking, problem solving, a belief in possibilities, the passion that develops discipline—all are essential to thrive in this century. Nearly 600 students have gone through the program this year and only the top 5 will present their plans at the event. The 4th annual banquet will be held at International Catering beginning at 5:30 AM. To register or more information go to www.lylescenter.com. If you are interesting in sponsorship, contact ajohnston@csufresno.edu. If you are curious about the path to becoming an entrepreneur, send an email request and you will receive a PowerPoint slide.

Governing Magazine Showcases Solutions From Other States
As California remains locked in polarized finger pointing and strangled by self and single interests, Indiana and Detroit found solutions—go after transformational change and create a separate, independent and empowered team focused on one thing—instituting big changes. Mayor Bing convened a crisis turnaround team that is recommending a total revamp of city operations. Stay tuned on execution. In 2005, Governor Daniels and the Government Efficiency and Financial Planning Department reordered the 73 agencies and more than 300 boards and commissions that made India unmanageable, unaccountable and inefficient. The state also embraced innovations and spent less money than they took in as revenues. As a result, Indiana has been able to fund infrastructure without raising taxes and has a health fiscal outlook. When the problem is structural, there cannot be enough small fixes to add up to solution. As Sun Tzu taught--the solution is both a comprehensive strategy and the relentless execution of tactics:

“Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory.
Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.”

February 15, 2010

2010-02-18T16:42:00.000-08:00

Message From the Chair Emeritus—Richard Johanson
One of the most interesting agenda items at our Board of Directors meetings has been a member report on one of this region’s “Community Values”. Last week Peter Weber made an excellent presentation on “Commitment to Outcomes”. He went to the core of the ongoing civic transformation efforts in our community. He stressed that while concepts are preliminary to progress, they are ineffective unless they are brought into reality. “Commitment to Outcomes” arrives when individuals have traversed the hanging bridge that spans “talking the talk” and “walking the walk”. We are deeply indebted to those who have made the trek.

The Importance of First Principles In Times of Rapid Change
Where you begin your thinking about a problem has everything to do with what you come up with as a solution. As our organization is committed to finding solutions to the critical challenges we face economically, environmentally and socially, the Community Values have provided a useful lens through which to craft strategies and guide behaviors. The verbs associated with a Commitment to Outcomes are: “We are willing to take responsibility for tasks and achieving specified outcomes. We are committed to staying involved until the tasks are completed.” When the values were first written down in 2000 as a proposed new operating system, this value had more to do with getting past the “someone oughta do something”, plans sitting on shelves phenomenon that had replaced the traditional barn raising, all hands on deck culture of our past. In Fresno, we know it is about both being strategic and relentless action. Thus, at the meeting the focus of the discussion was about the difference between results and outcomes and the critical importance of both.

Results and Outcomes—Tactical Actions Aligned Behind A Shared Strategy
Global outcomes like prosperity, an educated and healthy populace and a quality environment are the responsibility of everyone. No sector or organization has enough authority, resources or talent to achieve these goals, but everyone has a piece of the puzzle. Unlike outcomes, results are more easily measurable, often within the control of a specific entity and typically follow a linear pathway. A focus exclusively on results often leads to bureaucracies and competition, while a shared focus on outcomes inspires innovation and collaboration. The big challenges we face as a community, state and nation will require us to think globally and take personal responsibility for our part in the solutions. Both the RJI and HII were designed to be adaptive frameworks and aimed at outcomes. Our community assets are plentiful and when we decide to more fully align them, we will scale and accelerate both results and outcomes.

Find Your Passion and Take Action
The following quotes honor both the importance of inspiration and taking action.

In the realm of ideas everything depends on enthusiasm… in the real world all rests on perseverance.” Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe 1749-1832

“The three great essentials to achieve anything worthwhile are, first, hard work; second, stick-to-itiveness; third, common sense.” Thomas Edison 1847-1937

“The kind of commitment I find among the best performers across virtually every field is a single-minded passion for what they do and an unwavering desire for excellence in the way they think and the way they work.” Jim Collins, Good to Great 1958

February 8, 2010

2010-02-09T11:15:00.000-08:00

Message From the Chair Emeritus—Richard Johanson
One of the qualities that makes this nation great is our ability to come together in times of crisis. Whether it was the Twin Tower destruction in New York City, nature’s rampage in New Orleans and environs or the recent devastation in Haiti, our people set aside their often strident differences and unites in focusing on their inherent compassion for those who were hurting. Have you noticed that we are seeing some of that same concern in the emerging conduct of our national, state and local affairs? As we struggle to extricate ourselves from this nation’s most serious economic depression in seventy years, we are witnessing this same spirit of an ultimate oneness in maximizing the effectiveness of our democratic processes. Solutions do not come from an inflexible polarization of issues. We are beginning to understand that by bringing differing opinions to a common table for a collaborative solution, we enhance the opportunity to hasten the return to national economic normalcy for all among us. That, in brief, is the ongoing mission of the Fresno Business Council.

“Compete”—From the Latin—To Strive Together
In many arenas, we are learning that we must collaborate to be able to compete. Human development—our ability to better ourselves and our culture—has been a central focus for decades. One region, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, has crafted a framework that has gained the attention of major foundations, government and other communities. Their website is www.strivetogether.org. Some of you may remember Stan Oken’s efforts to promote Whole Child. Dr. James Comer put an entire system together to be integrated into schools to develop the whole child and many have done so with strong results. How do we scale and accelerate what have been outlier performances in individual cells to permeate and transform the whole system? Strive Together may well have pulled together the intellectual, financial and social capital to make it happen and like Roger Bannister, may have broken through a barrier that releases many others to do so. Collaboration and values are central to their efforts:

Strive Together includes:
• the educators who teach;
• the nonprofits who support teaching and well-being;
• the philanthropies that provide financial support to both;
• the elected officials who create policy change;
• and the corporations who need a local, skilled workforce.

Participants believe that education:
• must be holistic, because what happens outside of school is just important as what happens inside of school;
• providers must be accountable and make decisions based on data;
• is a cradle to career endeavor, and that working together is key to eliminating the “cracks” that children might fall through;
• must be fair so that every child, regardless of circumstance, can find the support they need to achieve their dreams.

January 25, 2010

2010-01-24T14:25:00.000-08:00

Message From the Chair Emeritus—Richard Johanson
One of the greatest uppers of living in a democratic society is the opportunity to freely elect those whom we wish to serve us at various governmental levels. One of the downers is that for the next ten months we shall be bombarded with political pleas of support from various candidates for office. I offer the following as a litmus test in determining our selections as we progress through the many upcoming campaigns. Does the person seeking our vote subscribe to our Community Values? Is that individual a “my way or no way” moat surrounded castle dweller or a “together we can” community builder? Would that person be a welcome member of this Business Council? Just curious!

Downtown Is Everybody’s Neighborhood
Downtown revitalization has been a priority for many organizations for years. Success requires leadership, clarity of purpose, broad community support, talent, relentless perseverance, and resources. Are we ready?

The following is a message from our downtown revitalization manager, Elliot Balch: “On Thursday, January 28, at 9:15 am, the City Council will consider approving a contract to create new laws for development in the Downtown core and surrounding neighborhoods. Why are these new laws, known as the Fulton Corridor Specific Plan and the Downtown Neighborhoods Community Plan, necessary? Because the current laws are confusing, unclear, contradictory, out of date, and often counterproductive. It's the current laws that have caused frustration among Downtown developers, and allowed poorly designed development to harm some of our best older neighborhoods. It's the current laws that are costing builders thousands of extra dollars and months of extra time for every project. By discouraging investment and driving down property values, outdated planning laws today are costing the City millions of dollars in property tax revenue each year, not to mention preventing the revitalization of our downtown and perpetuating the concentration of poverty in surrounding neighborhoods.

Dozens of cities across the country have made their downtowns the easiest places to develop by adopting Specific Plans that provide more appropriate land use laws. More and more cities are adopting new zoning codes that set clear standards to protect older neighborhoods. The best Plans involve the community heavily so that the new laws reflect their vision for the future. And it will all happen in Fresno -- if the Council votes on January 28 to get the process of creating the new Downtown Plans going. There are several ways to get involved:

• Come to the City Council hearing on Thursday, January 28, 2009, at around
9:15 a.m. You can just watch, or speak up during the public comment period.

• Tell us if you support the Downtown Plans at www.surveymonkey.com/s/downtownplans. By giving us your email address, you'll also be signed up to receive updates as the Plans are developed, plus other news from the City of Fresno Downtown and Community Revitalization Department.

• Tell your City Council representative how you feel. Call (559) 621-8000 to speak to staff for your Council Member about the contract for the Downtown Plans.

• After contract approval, look for updates at www.fresno.gov/downtown.
We'll be posting news of upcoming Plan-related meetings and events, especially those where the community is invited to come help make important decisions. We will also post images and documents for public review.”

For more information go to www.fresno.gov/downtownplans.pdf, www.fresno.gov/CouncilDocs/agenda1.28.2010/915.pdf or call 559.621.8350

Monday, January 18

2010-01-18T16:08:00.000-08:00

Message From the Chair Emeritus—Richard Johanson
Welcome to the first issue of our Weekly Bulletin in this new decade. As a background note, the gap in distribution of the bulletin was due to an extended leave of our CEO—a trip to Machu Picchu in Peru. I also greet you with a thankful heart for the major accomplishments of our community during the past decade. We have traveled a transformational journey in creating the awareness that by coming together as an extended collaborative community we can attain our mutually defined goals. May those of you who carry the torch through this decade see the fulfillment of this Council’s Vision Statement adopted almost seventeen years ago.

A New Location for the Fresno Business Council—February 1
As of February 1, 2010, the CEO’s office of Fresno Business Council will be inside the Fresno Regional Foundation. The new address is 5250 North Palm, Suite 424, Fresno, CA 93704. (The same building). The new phone number will be 559.226.5600 extension 106 and the fax is 559.230.2078. It is impossible to measure the value of Deloitte’s 16 year hosting of our CEO. Productivity and job satisfaction have much to do with the people around you and the space you fill. On behalf of the Fresno Business Council and the community it serves, thank you to our long standing partner in transformational change—Deloitte!

Meeting of the California Stewardship Project at Stanford University
For over a decade, regional leaders in California have been working together to find effective ways to address complex issues and lead communities in this time of global and rapid change. “Developing innovative regional solutions for California’s most pressing economic, environmental and community challenges” has been the driving thought. In Fresno, the model we developed is a Four Sphere approach based upon a ten value operating system. At the Stanford meeting, Dr. John Welty, Dr. Alan Pierrot, Pete Weber, Ken Newby and Deborah Nankivell shared their perspectives on both the process and the yield from their long term engagement. If you are interested in the PowerPoint with narrative that tells the story or the background document focused on outcomes, simply make the request via email. As a leader from one of the newer regions noted, “your work has saved our community five years.”

“The Biggest Threat to California is State Government”
While every state and community is struggling to find a path out of the fiscal crisis and discover models for governance that match the realities of the 21st century, California’s size and complexity has made the challenge greater. We are a state of regional economies with dissimilar assets and problems with a one size fits all government disconnected from the realities of communities. What emerged from the meeting at Stanford is a willingness to work together as united regions to support transformational change recognizing that we are all Californians. We will keep you updated via the bulletin on current developments. Thank you to the Morgan Family Foundation for sustaining the network through the California Stewardship Project.

November 30, 2009

2009-12-05T15:32:00.000-08:00

Message From the Chair Emeritus—Richard Johanson
One of nature’s greatest visual gifts to us is the beauty of Fall. Our trees and vines are covered with gold, yellow and red leaves as they prepare for their winter dormancy. The leaves fall gently to the ground with an assurance that next Spring they will reappear wearing a coat of bright green and inspire us once again. The thought occurred to me that while we are conscious of this annual process, we often forget that it is not the leaves that make our trees what they are, it is the root system. We are making progress around here not because of bright colors. Rather our momentum has grown because of our unseen but critically important community-based root stock. A critical component of our root stock is this Business Council. It is my hope that all who read this weekly Bulletin will commit to some type of Council membership support in the upcoming year. For more information visit our website www.fresnobc.org. Our leaves are depending upon us.

One Employer’s Solution to Healthcare—Safeway
In order to learn more about national and state private sector thinking on healthcare, Dr. Alan Pierrot and I attended a meeting convened by the Committee for Economic Development, a national business think tank, and the Bay Area Council. One speaker offered Safeway’s approach based upon research and partnership:

Research
• 70% of healthcare costs are driven by behavior.
• Four chronic conditions create 74% of costs.(Obesity, diabetes, cancer, heart disease)
• Obesity is a driving factor in all 4 chronic conditions.
• Noncompliance with recommended care reaches 67% for obesity.
• Transparency is critical to control costs.
• Obesity rates: Japan 3%, Switzerland 8%, Canada 15%, USA 34%.

Solution to Rising Costs
• Insure everyone.
• Create more personal responsibility.
• Encourage prevention and wellness by linking healthy behaviors to financial incentives.
• Provide cost and quality transparency.
• Pay more for results and less for services rendered.

Safeway’s Program• Open to all employees.
• Focus on 4 issues—weigh, tobacco, blood pressure, cholesterol.
• Earn lower premiums through changed behavior.
• Distribute information on procedural costs and quality. For comparable services cost ranges go from 10:1 to 4:1. Hard costs $887 to $8,650; $3,538 to $16,779.

Results
Since the program began in 2005, Safeway and its employee’s annual savings have gone from $19 million in 2006 to $5

November 23, 2009

2009-11-23T17:46:00.000-08:00

Message From the Chair Emeritus—Richard Johanson
Thanks to all who accepted my invitation to share their “Thoughts of Thanksgiving” with us. This has been a difficult year and I believe it is critical that we don’t let the negatives overwhelm our blessings. Here are a few responses, some of which I have abbreviated. I am hopeful that you will add your own.

“We are thankful for the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man--nature, music, great books and the opportunity to serve others.”
Lee Ayres

“Family and good friends. The “things” in my life pale in comparison to the people I care about. People are eternal and everything else is not.”
Kurt Madden

“I am thankful that we live in a place that allows us the opportunity to think, learn, create and contribute.”
Alice Saviez

“The Marjorie Mason Center is grateful for the incredible numbers of compassionate, generous and energetic individuals who make this such a wonderful place to live, work and thrive.” Pam Kallsen

“For me it can be the little things, looking at the sun shining through the three leaves or our fourth grandson’s birth.”
Kathy Bray

“I am thankful for life, love of family and friends, health and well-being and that we live under the protection of a free and peaceful nation each day.”
Kay Garabedian

“I am thankful for learning so much from God – relationships, caring, intimacy, and connectedness.”
Doug Davidian

“I am thankful to have an opportunity to make a difference, work with extraordinary people, and for my wonderful daughter, Noelle.
Deb Nankivell

November 16, 2009

2009-11-16T09:58:00.000-08:00

Message From the Chair Emeritus—Richard Johanson
I would like to try something I’ve never done before in the fifteen plus years I have been privileged to contribute to our Bulletin. Next week we shall celebrate Thanksgiving Day. For what will you be most thankful this year? Please send your thought(s) to me (rajoho@comcast.net) so I can pass your feelings on to others. We will share as many of thoughts as possible in next week’s bulletin. As for me, I shall once again be thankful for family, friends and all of those who understand that in exchange for living in an imperfect democracy we owe it to ourselves and others to try to leave this a better place than we found it. Such is the mission of the Fresno Business Council. Such is the Spirit of Thanksgiving.

California Forward’s Budget Reforms and Local Control Measures
The current structure of California government is based upon another era and patches that didn’t fix the underlying problems—structural, systemic and power dysfunctions. Our board has endorsed the 2010 Reform plan aimed at two primary goals—serving community before single interests and restoring power to local government. The reforms include:

Best Practices Budget Accountability Act
• Planning Ahead—two-year spending plans with 5 year fiscal forecasts.
• Results & Accountability—goals for every program linked to budget decisions.
• Performance Review—Oversight of major expenditures; ten year review cycles for programs.
• Reduce Debt When Revenues Spike—Use one time revenues to pay down debt.
• Pay-As-You-Go—No new programs without funding source.
• Majority vote budget/deadline—forfeit pay and per diem if not on time. Retains 2/3 vote for tax increases.

Community Funding Protection and Accountability Act
• Protect local taxes—state prohibited from taking local taxes or fees.
• Collaborative Problem Solving—encourages local institutional alignments to solve problems and eliminate duplication.
• New Resources for Community Services—If county-wide plan adopted, county can ask for sales increase up to 1 cent to be distributed to local government.
• Accountability for Outcomes—discretion coupled with reporting on progress and support of voters to continue.

For more in depth information, go to the website, www.caforward.org

November 9, 2009

2009-11-09T13:38:00.000-08:00

Message From the Chair Emeritus—Richard Johanson
A year has gone by since the voters of this nation used the privilege granted them in our constitution to elect by majority vote those candidates for public office they prefer to serve them during the ensuing political cycle. Whenever we become disenchanted with the performance of the party in power, we make a change. The underlying strength of this country resides in having a strong two party system with the primary responsibility of the “out” party being to serve as the watchdog over the actions of the other. Our history tells us that rancor, diatribes pitting one party against the other and forecasts of impending doom have always been a part of this process. What has never changed has been that cadre of citizens who quietly and efficiently continue their quest of transformation amid the ongoing political turmoil. Such has been the role of the members of the Fresno Business Council and our extended family of those dedicated to making our tomorrow better than our yesterday.

“It’s Different This Time”—A Community Steps Up Together
Barn raising is an American tradition where everyone came together when someone needed a barn. Most were volunteers, a handful of those with special skills were paid and everyone benefitted, not just the family with a new barn. Early Americans understood interdependence and that there are challenges we can only meet as a united whole. Community transformation is one of them. As the RJI continues to accelerate driven by the EDC, Office of Community and Economic Development at Fresno State, Lyles Center, WIB, State Center and others, the City of Fresno is sparking increasing engagement from many institutions and organizations to revitalize the Lowell Neighborhood. Here is an excerpt from a recent blog from Craig Scharton, the head of the Downtown and Community Revitalization Department:

What an unbelievably great meeting! Fresno State is on it. They have departments lined up with classes and internships all focused on Lowell. Off the top of my head: construction management, recreation, education, the library (for research and database), political science, psychology, business, engineering, arts (lighting)...and others that I'm forgetting. They have a matrix of every department's involvement. They have specific classes that will be involved. They are organizing an event to link nonprofits in Lowell to students. This is so incredibly gigantic. They are hosting a national conference for Urban Universities next year and will bring schools from around the country to Fresno to see how an engaged city and university can work together. Somebody pinch me...I never, in my wildest dreams, thought that this would all be happening so quickly. Dr. Welty, the Provost and Assistant Provost are all actively engaged to pull this focus and follow-through together. I do not believe that there is anything quite like what is happening, anywhere in the country. As Mayor Swearengin says, "it is different this time." Folks, it is different, I've been doing this stuff off and on for 25 years. I have never seen things happening like this before.

October 26, 2009

2009-10-30T14:18:00.000-07:00

Message From the Chair Emeritus—Richard Johanson
Last Tuesday a number of partners convened a Community Conversation Forum. Approximately forty private and public sector leaders came together to attempt to gain a “level set” understanding of the many issues we face and a framework we can use to align resources behind shared goals. The session was ably moderated by Kurt Madden, a community leader who serves in all three spheres (economic, infrastructure and human development) and is a steward of the whole. While differences in thinking and approaches to solving problems were rightfully expressed, there was an underlying unity of purpose and intention to create a better tomorrow for all. One of the major conclusions reached is that we can’t hire others to cure our civic illnesses. We are our own doctors. As an example, we learned that in a decade FUSD students have gone from 58% living in poverty to 81%. This is unacceptable and affects everyone in our community. Changing this circumstance will require a commitment from people in every sphere to work together. Tomorrow’s generation is depending upon our wisdom and commitment to improvement. The session-ending conclusion was recognizing if we think we can achieve our goals alone, our vision is too small.

Shared Themes—Community Forum, San Joaquin Partnership Summit
A common theme emerged at two meetings last week—the importance of steward leadership. Einstein told us we cannot solve a problem at the level of thinking that created it. Whether its water, safety, education, or economic development, if we only come together as self and single interests, we spend precious resources fighting to get more, rather than focused on long term solutions to serve the whole. Interdependence means problems do not confine themselves to one jurisdiction or interest any more than smoke paid attention to nonsmoking sections on an airplane. Our region is demonstrating through the Partnership that together we can accomplish much more. One of the gubernatorial candidates emphasized, “We are all Californians.” A key question is how do we create governance models that reflect this belief? Fragmented thinking and acting got us here. What would a “CEO function” that served the whole look like locally, at the regional level, at the state level and at the national level?

Key Thoughts on Water From the Partnership Meeting
...The amount of water available is static—97% comes from precipitation.
...Every region has different water needs and resources.
...The amount of water permits issued far exceeds the amount of water available.
...Regional antagonism drives the water wars.
...The solution must be based upon co-equal values—water supply reliability and improved and protected Delta eco-system.
...The state is close to a solution largely due to the ability of the San Joaquin Valley to remain united rather than fragmenting along single interests. (The Partnership is a platform to unite, lead, and change the way the public’s business is done.)
...We are in this mess because of all of us. Rather than clarity of purpose, we have 200 state and federal agencies engaged in water issues. When everyone is involved; nobody is in charge and nobody is accountable.
...There is no piecemeal solution—there must be a complete solution.

October 19, 2009

2009-10-19T08:58:00.000-07:00

Message From the Chair Emeritus—Richard Johanson
Is there anything more American than October and the excitement of all of the festivities surrounding the World Series? While baseball may be our national pastime, I would submit that for many of us it does not overshadow our year around determination to win our own pennant by leaving this a better place than we found it. Most of us can only superficially try to comprehend all of the good work taking place in our community as we have learned the skills of collaboration and the power of shared visions. To attempt to do so is to begin to understand the depth of the commitment of all of those who care enough to give so much. As we watch the progression over the next couple of weeks to see which team shall emerge as our baseball champions, let’s not overlook our own champions among us who work unendingly without public acknowledgement in creating a brighter tomorrow for all who are among us and will come after. They are our real heroes.

Embodying the Community Values Through Insight and Practice
As a way to deepen our understanding of Community Values and strengthen our resolve to act in accordance with them, at each board meeting we discuss one of them. At last week’s meeting, Hal Bolen offered some thoughts about the value “Commitment to Resolving Conflict.” The value’s description notes that conflict is inevitable as we have differing world views and life experiences. It also acknowledges that conflict is often required to achieve the best outcome. The challenge is learning the skills to use conflict as an asset to help clarify a strategy or build motivation. As part of his presentation, Hal offered 8 steps to resolve conflict: 1) Know thyself and take care of self, 2) Clarify personal needs threatened by the dispute, 3) Identify a safe place for negotiation, 4) Take a listening stance into the interaction, 5) Assert your needs clearly and specifically, 6) Approach problem-solving with flexibility, 7) Manage impasse with calm, patience and respect, 8) Build an agreement that works. Imagine how quickly positive changes would happen if we all mastered the art of conflict resolution. By doing so, we would “be the change” and help spread this skill throughout the community.

FBC Board Endorses CA Forward 2010 Reform Plan
So often when we blame people, the real problem is context and structure. The CA Forward reforms are intended to insure that community interests are placed ahead of single interests, protect local funding and deliver better outcomes. Other states and successful businesses have already shifted to results based budgets and a focus on long term, collaborative strategies. This thinking has also moved to the local level in some cities, regions and counties. The shift will allow cities, counties, school districts and others to work together to solve community problems and overcome the industrialized, silo model of thinking, funding and acting that has prevented innovation and collaboration for so long. “If you can achieve your goal alone; your vision is too small.” For more information, the CA Forward website is www.caforward.com

October 12, 2009

2009-10-12T14:02:00.000-07:00

Message From the Chair Emeritus—Richard Johanson
As we celebrate Columbus Day it is worth dwelling upon the similarity between the reality of Christopher Columbus traversing a vast ocean in a few frail boats to reach his destination and our ongoing journey to cross our extended community’s lake as a broad-based coalition dedicated to arriving at our vision for this region. While “Uncle Chris” used sails and oars to propel his tiny fleet, our armada is akin to a large contingent of ducks. From above we may appear to be gliding calmly across the water when in reality underneath the surface we are paddling feverishly. We shall reach our destination not because we made short lived waves and splashes upon the surface but because we mastered the art of propelling ourselves forward by paddling in the same direction together. The next time you see one of your fellow ducks, give each other a quack.

From Ruben Navarrette to John W. Gardner—The Same Message
The mission of the FBC is to transform our community from good to great, inspired by the book Good to Great by Jim Collins. Implicit in this idea is whether it is a company or a community, greatness requires a commitment to excellence. “Excellence implies more than competence. It implies a striving for the highest standards in every phase of life…in every endeavor and sector…in short, universally.” In a recent column, Navarette contrasted the work ethic of his immigrant grandfather with himself and came up short. He challenged all of us to let go of playing the victim or thinking you are entitled. As Gardner noted in his book, Excellence: Can We Be Equal and Excellent, Too?, The best kept secret in America today is that people would rather work hard for something they believe in than live a life of aimless diversion. The growing number of volunteers and philanthropists in Fresno are a testament to the truth of this statement made in 1961.

School/Business Partnerships Reception—A Win/Win/Win Proposition
We are looking for businesses that want to have a substantial positive impact on their community. Today in our schools we are preparing the next generation of community and business leaders. We need businesses to consider adopting a school in a partnering relationship. Any size business can participate in a school partnership and the rewards to the school and the business are substantial. It is a chance to positively affect the lives of the youth of Fresno. You are invited to a reception at The Shops at River Park, (west end of the Plaza opposite Edwards Theater near REI) to provide you with an opportunity to learn more about these partnerships. The reception is being hosted by the Joint Task for School Business Partnerships, of which the Fresno Business Council is a member. There will be good food and information provided to you in equal measure. You do not have to make any commitment beyond giving us an hour or so of your time. The reception is on Thursday October 22, 2009 at 4:00 PM. If you plan to attend or would like additional information please RSVP to Mike Wilhelm at 490-0950 or mwilhelm@w2lg.com.

October 5, 2009

2009-10-05T10:44:00.000-07:00

Message From the Chair Emeritus—Richard Johanson
Some day I hope that future generations will be able to look back upon our era and find recorded how we were able to transform this region from the “Appalachia of the West” into a vigorous center of prosperous economic activity. Therein they will find that the key to our transformation was capitalizing and leveraging the opportunity to live within a multicultural environment and accepting that those things that united us were far more important than those things that divided us. While this transformation is still a work in progress, it is the shared commitment of many individuals to abide by the standard of behavior called for by the community values that has made change possible. May it be our legacy that silo based philosophies and crude accusations against those with differing opinions will one day be only footnotes in the history books of those who will come behind us.

Workforce Investment Board (WIB)—Steward Leadership in Action
The first issue of the New Valley Times was issued in 2002 with a dateline of 2015. This newspaper, delivered alongside The Fresno Bee, was filled with stories of success across every sector. Embedded in every one was the notion of compound interest, a commitment to the long-term, not just short-term results. Years ago WIB was a reactive, human services program that “prepared people for jobs that didn’t exist.” Today, thanks to the early commitment of Chamber leaders and the strong staff leadership of Blake Konczal and Pam Lasseter, the Fresno WIB is considered exemplary. Their adopted WorkKeys System, measures skills across a wide workplace spectrum, guides participants in matching their skills to specific careers and provides certificates that can be used in the hiring process. This win/win, matchmaking approach led to the creation of the Central California Career Readiness Certificate which is supported by nine WIB’s across 14 counties, community colleges and Fresno State. The work was done through a grant from the San Joaquin Partnership. Today’s WIB mirrors similar long term results of stewardship and collaboration in other organizations.

Results—Quantitative and Qualitative
To prepare for a December opportunity to share stories about Fresno with regional leaders from across the state, we are assembling a list of accomplishments that have resulted from our shift to steward leadership. The list is impressive and humbling. The WIB story helps to explain why numbers alone are an inadequate measure of success and are easy targets for cynics, single interests and spectators. While unemployment remains too high and many are ill equipped for the workforce, changing the underpinnings of the economy and education are long term endeavors. The fact that our region is aligning resources, interventions have occurred in major institutions, we continue to gain expertise in collaboration, and more people are engaging is strong evidence of the qualitative changes happening in our community. We are changing the way we think and act in terms of issues, solutions and one another. Cultural change—how we do the community’s business--is sustainable change. We are collectively developing the skills of innovation, resilience, adaptability and collaboration stemming from a one page contract—the community values.

September 28, 2009

2009-09-29T11:48:00.000-07:00

Message From the Chair Emeritus—Richard Johanson
The more I learn about this region’s collaborative efforts, its interactive programs and its commitment to higher community values, the more my mind goes in circles. It was not that many years ago that the Fresno Business Council dropped its first pebble into our civic environment lake and created a noticeable ripple on its smooth surface. Today that same surface is covered with ever expanding and deeper penetrating concentric circles created by the impact of larger and larger pebbles being dropped upon it. For this we owe appreciation to the dedication of all of those who are involved in creating a measurable improvement in our social and economic wellbeing throughout ever expanding parameters. As you read this Bulletin and other sources to which it refers, see if you, too, don’t agree. The chances are you’ve helped create one or more ripples yourself.

Structures for the 21st Century
There have been a variety of books describing at will organizations based upon partnership, personal responsibility and empowerment. Many believe that in the rapidly changing, global economy of the 21st century, we must master this form of organization in both the corporate and community domains to thrive. Dee Hock, founder of VISA, wrote a book entitled One From Many: VISA and the Rise of Chaordic Organization. His book provides some answers to questions about aligning diverse organizations and individuals behind a shared purpose that is in their collective self interest. He also explains how to create a culture that empowers individuals to make good decisions in real time in the field. Central to making such an organization work is the character of the people. “An organization, no matter how well designed, is only as good as the people who live and work in it.” In other words form, control, bureaucracy and hierarchy are no match for individual motivation and mutual trust. The execution of the RHI and HII are terrific teachers of this art.

Human Investment Initiative Moving to Neighborhood Level
When the HII action plan was printed, the words “preliminary version” were included on every page. John Dewey’s insight, "We learn by doing after we have reflected on what we have done," captures the courage to try new approaches coupled with the humility to learn to fail fast. As many heroic attempts to address poverty fill history books, who would dare to try yet again. What have we learned so far? A couple of key lessons:
• Hope and trust must precede accountability. The HII is about relationships built over time based upon respect and truth telling.
• The field of neuroscience offers tools historically unavailable. Understanding how trauma affects brain structure and function underscores the importance of preventable trauma and offers a path to healing.
• No one sector can effectively address poverty; nor are solutions linear or easily measured. This challenge requires simultaneous economic, social, infrastructural, systemic, and individual changes.
• We cannot talk our way out of a problem we behaved ourselves into individually and collectively. Success is about long term commitment and relentless action.

September 21, 2009

2009-09-21T13:13:00.000-07:00

Message From the Chair Emeritus—Richard Johanson
Does it seem to anyone else that we are in danger of redefining the definition of democracy? This Business Council was founded on the premise that a better way needed to be developed to bring people with divergent views to a common table. Recently we have seen examples of the emergence of another definition of democracy which I choose to call despotic democracy. Philosophical extremes from all across the political spectrum proclaim themselves to be passionate believers of democracy so long as everyone agrees with their position. It is the ongoing challenge of this Council and its allies to ensure that all viewpoints on major issues have an opportunity to be evaluated through a non-partisan democratic, not dictatorial process. God Bless Democracy.

California Dreamers (Excerpts from an article by Benjamin Schwartz)
Kevin Starr, thought to be California’s best historian, has written eight books about the Golden State collectively titled Americans and the California Dream. With great detail his series covers the events, influences and people that made California an international symbol of the “good life”, not just for the outliers, but for a large and growing middle class. Why did the dream end for so many? Starr notes that today, the good life is available but only to those who are “fiercely competitive”, the most gifted and ambitious regardless of their background. As Schwartz concedes, “…most of us are merely ordinary.” The question many are trying to answer is how do we rebuild access to the tools and opportunities that yielded a strong middle class? Starr pointed out that historically comprehensive high schools had commercial, vocational, and college prep tracks and a sense of common experience and mutual respect among young people heading in different directions. As we execute the Human Investment Initiative, the honoring of unique talents and abilities is a central tenet along with restoring multiple pathways to achieving economic self reliance.

Oregon Business Plan—A Comprehensive to Create More Quality Jobs
Last week, regional stewards from across the state met with Jim Meyer, CEO of Fresno Forward, to discuss structural, systemic and programmatic renewal in California. One topic was a potential emulation of the Oregon approach—craft a community agenda and execution strategy to strengthen traded-sector industries, those that sell their goods and services primarily out of state thus creating jobs and resources to benefit local communities. The plan focuses on the 4 P’s—people, place, productivity and pioneering innovation. They added a 5th P—public finance—to underscore the importance of strategic investments in the infrastructures that grow jobs, educate people and create a high quality of place. Political platforms are often long on vision and goals and short on execution strategies and alignment of the people needed to deliver results. Imagine a gubernatorial platform that named names, specific strategies and demonstrated the philosophy of stewardship—partnerships and empowerment. For more information go to www.oregonbusinessplan.org.

Upcoming Meetings & Events
Thursday, September 24 at 7:30 AM—Executive Committee at Deloitte
Tuesday, October 13 at 7:30 AM—Board of Directors at Fresno Pacific North

September 14, 2009

2009-09-14T14:15:00.000-07:00

Message From the Chair Emeritus—Richard Johanson
As Dick is out of town, I decided to share his principles for living that he included in his first book, A Passion for Stewardship: The Legacy of a Generation. Dick has served as the FBC torchbearer since its founding in 1993. He has inspired many to grow beyond narrow concerns into stewards of the whole. He listed the following thirteen principles at the end of his book: 1) Trust and be trusted; 2) Have some heroes; 3) Acknowledge Your Frailties; 4) Accept some challenges; 5) Set the bar carefully; 6) Create a sense of urgency; 7) Don’t just care—act! 8) Adopt a code of conduct; 9) Have a confidant; 10) Find a mentor; 11) Never stop learning; 12) Love kids; 13) Be inspired--be inspiring.

Connecting and Leveraging Resources Locally, Regionally and Statewide
Understanding how a community works, how to measure and achieve success and developing the skills and abilities necessary to serve is a humbling challenge. For more than a decade, we have sought to do just that in partnership with other regions across the state of California. At the outset, there was a general understanding that the “three E’s” were essential building blocks for a strong community—economy, environment and equity. However, most leaders understood one, sometimes two of these domains. Few had working relationships across them. Over time, many of the regions have built networks of relationships within each sphere and across them. In Fresno, we added a fourth circle to encompass the whole and a new operating system, the Community Values, to build trust. Stewards look through this larger lens to discover ways to link, align and leverage resources so that all might thrive. If you serve on a board that might have an interest in learning more, let us know.

Firing Up and Stoking the Engine—Why A Strong Private Sector Matters
A successful life and community requires many kinds of literacy. An absence of financial and entrepreneurial literacy often lies at the center of failure. Blame and quick fixes are distractions. The Kauffman Foundation is devoted to personal and economic entrepreneurship. One of their recent articles offers a path forward both in terms of rationale and specific policies to shift resources and alignments across fundamental arenas. The key areas include education, workforce, infrastructure, intellectual property, taxes, and commercialization of university innovations. If you are interested in the full policy dialogue, it is available upon request.

Neighborhood Based Transformation
There are many ways people have tried to address poverty and its many symptoms. There is a growing emphasis on a Four Sphere approach recognizing the importance of a concurrent focus on the economy, the quality of place, leadership development and removal personal barriers. Many participants are seeking an effective balance between personal and community responsibility—empowering individuals while changing the context. A special thank you to Doug Davidian, Lee Ayres, Kris Walter, Kurt Madden and Ken Newby who are applying their entrepreneurial skills and diverse experiences to this difficult and long standing challenge.

September 7, 2009

2009-09-05T15:43:00.000-07:00

Message From the Chair Emeritus—Richard Johanson
As an organization whose vision is raising the level of the lake for all who float upon it, nothing is more critical to our success than strengthening the bond of our professional public servants with those who willingly give of their discretionary time in this noble effort. Therefore, I think it is fitting that as we celebrate Labor Day this year we give recognition to that special cadre of men and women who continue to be so generous with their discretionary time and talent in contributing to the aura of civic transformation existing all about us. People such as Ken Newby, Doug Davidian, Alan Pierrot, Lee Ayes, Pete Weber, Cathy Frost and so many more are personifications of volunteer community service “laborers” walking among us. To all of those who volunteer their services in community betterment let’s dedicate Labor Day, 2009.

Commitment to Renewal—Remembering the Mission
As inventor Dean Kamen taught us years ago, sometimes the solution is not to patch what is broken; it is to start over. One of John Gardner’s last books was entitled, Self-Renewal: The Individual and the Innovative Society. Whether an object, a person, a thought or a society; decay is inevitable. So the choices are basically hold fast to the status quo, a comfort zone or whatever we believe we are entitled to or embrace change and build renewal into the game plan. As we live in a time of rapid change, the opportunity to reform, literally create new forms, is now. Sustainability, a current buzzword, has more to do with a commitment to regular self-renewal, than stasis. Life is change.

Most of our major systems were based upon thought forms that emerged during the industrial age. In this era efficiency, commodities, precision, conformity, compliance, speed, replication and more is better were common themes. Today, customization, adaptability, nimbleness, project based learning and partnerships, boundary crossing, quality and an awareness of environmental limitations are disruptive thought forms. Pioneers and early adaptors are well down the road in applying new strategies. Government, by its very nature, does not move quickly. But the time has come to ask, if we were to start today, what would we do? What does renewal look like?

California Forward—A Proposed Path Forward
The FBC board will be evaluating the California Forward Reform Plan at its meeting on Tuesday. You can find it and background documents at www.caforward.org There are three key themes: 1) Responsible Budgets on Time; 2) Government That’s Closer to the People; 3) Constituent Access and Accountability.

In the details, you will find many of the thought forms we have been using for the past decade--stewardship of the whole, leveraging resources across sectors to achieve major goals, and investing in outcomes rather than spending on symptoms. When something is big or longstanding, it is easy is assume it will last forever or that it is right. However, if it was built on an old thought form, collapse is inevitable. By embracing a pattern of renewal, we will create an adaptive, resilient and sustainable culture.

August 31, 2009

2009-08-29T14:12:00.000-07:00

Message From The Chair Emeritus--Richard Johanson

There is something about the beginning of Fall that fills most of us with an energetic call to action that replaces our more relaxed pace of summer. So it is with the Fresno Business Council. In keeping with this stepped up level of activity, Executive Committee agreed we need to revive our Weekly Bulletin in order to keep our members and friends up to date on what is going on related to our actions and aspirations. Watch for it on Mondays.

I was asked to resume creating an opening paragraph hopefully worthy of your readership which I am honored to try to do. The rest of the Bulletin will be designed to bring to our attention those broad-based and substantial affairs in which the Fresno Business Council plays a major role.

As before, my focus will be in trying to share with each reader a thought or two pertaining to the efforts of so many Council members and their co-horts working so hard to transform this place which we call home from Good to Great. We welcome your comments or suggestions.

A Broad View

Our community has come a long way in the past decade. Initially, working together across sectors and organizations to achieve shared goals was very difficult. Today, there is a lot more alignment within the economic, infrastructure and human development spheres. Comprehensive strategies like the Regional Jobs Initiative, Human Investment Initiative and the Metro Rural Loop offer opportunities to link, align and leverage within their respective focus areas. The next step, is a better understanding of the interdependence across the three spheres and alignment behind the overriding goal of transformational change. Those who have developed a sense of responsiblity for the whole are populating a Circle of Stewards and providing overall leadership and support. The goals have always been simple--prosperity, a quality built and natural environment and healthy, well educated and productive citizens. It's discovering the most effective paths to achieve them that requires stewards, entrepreneurs, experts and a diverse interests working together relentlessly.

Horizons on Land Use--A Landscape by Intention
Decisions regarding how we use land have a lasting impact on every issue. Without clear values, a many generation vision and political discipline, we stand the risk of continuing old patterns that have destroyed valuable farmland, increased air and water pollution, and created neighborhoods with concentrated poverty, obesity and crime. As land use decisions cross jurisdictions, how do we insure sustainable decisions? On Friday, a cross section of individuals have been invited to explore how we might create a sustainable community agenda that is specific, has designated champions and and is broadly supported. In addition, the group will discuss the new realities we face as economic, environmental and social givens of the past have evaporated. Times of transition and crisis require deep reflection if we are to make sound decisions leading to a better future.

July 11, 2009

2009-07-11T15:00:00.000-07:00

Common Themes Underlie Solutions
The headlines call our attention to so many issues that seem overwhelming. $41 billion dollars spent on obesity in California. Water is at a crisis point with solutions blocked by single interest groups. The budget is held hostage by ideology and single interest groups. The status quo is blocking innovations in health care, the justice system and education.

The Mental Health Cluster of the HII, led by Dr. Alan Pierrot, begins with a paraphrase of Pogo, "We have met the solution and it is us." There are three aspects to this statement--the aggregate impact of individual choices, steward leadership of the whole and restoration of an American tradition--barn raising. Applied to obesity, this suggests we all have a personal responsibility for our health. Unless individuals choose healthy lifestyles, our medical system will collapse and the costs will continue to hamper every sector. At the leadership level this could mean a farm bill that supports farmers who grow specialty crops rather than commodities. It could mean that food processors who use toxic, addictive and metabolism slowing chemicals would pay an added cost in recognition of the health implications. It could mean that communities insure that every neighborhood is safe, has access to healthy food, and schools embed knowledge about healthy lifestyles and opportunities to practice healthy habits into curriculum. It could mean that teachers, administrators and staff all commit to being role models for healthy lifestyles as what we do is often the most potent teacher.

The themes of personal responsibility, steward leadership and barn raising can be applied to other issues. While many of our founders were formally educated, others educated themselves. A commitment to life long learning was common. Yet, many seem to believe the schools are responsible for education rather than individuals. Of course there is a both/and aspect. However, as a friend mentioned to me, "In Brazil our kids go to school under trees and they are passionate about learning. In America, you worry about whether or not the buildings violate codes." Rather than steward leaders aimed at transforming education to meet the realities of this century, single interest stakeholders block needed reforms and argue over details.
Rather than barn raising, where everyone steps up to accomplish the essential task of educating our children, too often parents and the community expect the schools to not just educate, but raise children, too.

Blame is easy, especially when the challenges seem so overwhelming. However, the first step out of blame is personal responsibility. Unless you are stepping up to do your part as an individual, steward and barn raiser, you are the problem. Being a citizen is a verb, not a spectator sport. Typically, those with the harshest criticisms are the ones who think someone ought to do something but don't take action themselves.

June 15, 2009

2009-06-13T15:29:00.000-07:00

Educating California--Choices for the Future
The Public Policy Institute of California recently released a short, compelling monograph about why the growing skill gap in our state matters and possible solutions. The report can be found at www.ca2025.org.

Key facts:
...By 2025, 41% of jobs will require a BA
...Only 35% will earn a BA if changes are not made
...HS grads are unemployed at twice the level of college grads
...HS grads earn half as much as college grads
...HS grads pay fewer taxes, use more resources
...35% of retiring boomers are college grads
...Only 25% of 25 to 29 year old graduated from college
...1 in 4 CA students graduate from HS
...Historic influx of high skilled workers from other states has stopped
...Projected shortfall by 2025 = 1 million college graduates

Three Potential solutions
1. Increase college going rates by lowering drop out rates, improving preparation, early interventions, align resources, increase career technical education and early college commitment programs, inform and coach parents, and address costs.

2. Increase community college transfers--70 % of students attend at community college and only 12% transfer to four year schools. Need better alignment and stronger focus on effective remedial programs.

3. Increase completion rates, particularly in CSU system where about half graduate.

4. Increase two year degree and certificate programs.

Every aspect of economic development is impacted by educational attainment. A highly skilled workforce impacts our ability to attract, keep, grow and start companies, particularly high quality ones. As we have learned through both the Regional Jobs Initiative and the Human Investment Initiative, a vibrant economy is built upon a high quality community both in terms of people and place. We all have a stake in insuring our children are motivated, skilled and reach their potential. A commitment to life long learning must become pervasive.

June 1, 2009

2009-05-30T17:58:00.000-07:00

Barn Raising Solutions For Vibrant Health
Last week the California Health Care Coalition and a number of local sponsors held a health care forum in Fresno to share information and discuss ways to improve health, care and availability. The first speakers, Dr. Ed Moreno, Fresno County's Public Health Director, and Dr. John Capitman, head of the Central Valley Health Policy Institute, spoke to environmental and social factors that affect the health of the population. So often we focus on individual symptoms and behaviors, when external conditions and cultural norms are the most potent causative factors.

According to Dr. Robert Mendelsohn, medical director of the Head Start Program, the great preponderance of scientific evidence indicates that the four primary determinants of health are individual behavior, social relationships, physical environment and economic status. While improving access to health care and improving quality are high priorities, we all have an important role in the solution to the health care crisis starting with personal lifestyle choices and taking responsibility for our impact on others. The principal tools for improving the quality of life, health, safety and economic well-being in neighborhoods rest in citizens and their collective relationships. We create the culture and set priorities, not the government.

In practical, next step terms these concepts add up to the work of Craig Scharton and Elaine Robles-McGraw in the City of Fresno as they work with a widening assortment of partners to improve the quality of neighborhoods, support resident led efforts to address issues, and build pathways to the tools and services that will enable residents to qualify for quality jobs.

May 25, 2009

2009-05-23T14:14:00.000-07:00

Citizens Creating The World We Want
It is appropriate to talk about the responsibilities of citizenship on Memorial Day. Since our founding, citizens have found a wide range of ways to give back out of a sense of gratitude and duty to those who have gone before. Last week, leaders from California Forward (www.caforward.org)came to town to meet with a cross section of our community to answer the question--Can local innovations underway in Fresno be replicated in other regions and at the state level? These innovations include the Regional Jobs Initiative, the Human Investment Initiative, the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley and the Metro-Rural Loop Project.(Case studies available upon request)These efforts are examples of citizens taking responsiblity for the quality of life in their community.

What these efforts have in common is their roots in an earlier project, the Fresno Area Collaborative Regional Initiative (CRI). The(CRI)was launched in 2000 along with similar regional efforts across the state. The Fresno effort was unique in that it was not housed within a single organization, nor did it simply enhance work already underway. The CRI was a joint venture between Fresno State and the Business Council operating in the space in between--the civic sector--to serve the whole aimed at transformational change. In addition, a set of ten community values were developed as a contract for behavior in this new civic space to build trust, the essential social capital that makes the effective use of ideas, talent and money possible.

With every new initiative and project, this civic space has grown larger, the level of talent has increased, social barriers have fallen and results have become visible. Scale, acceleration and replication are the next steps. In essence, we have recreated an American tradition--barn raising--and applied it to challenges that no one sector, organization or individual can meet alone. Whether it's growing a vibrant economy, raising and educating our children, taking responsiblity for our health, or creating peace and safey in our neighborhoods, success requires everyone to step up to do their part--no excuses. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance, not just in terms of external threats, but the internal threats of self absorption, addiction and lack of purpose. While single interests have an important role to play in hashing out priorities and strategies, everyone must also have an active allegiance to the well being of the whole for a community to thrive.

May 15, 2009

2009-05-15T13:17:00.000-07:00

Celebrate Entrepreneurship-Impact of the Lyles Center
Last night the Lyles Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Fresno State held its year end dinner event. Year by year the spirit of entrepreneurship has been building in the San Joaquin Valley as representatives from the Lyles Center have developed incubators and programs in community colleges, entrepreneurship classes in high schools and spread Kids Invent Toys, Food, Games, etc. through summer camps.

Graduates and students still working on their degrees are starting businesses, developing products and services and learning skills that will serve them for a life time as they adapt, create and inspire there way through life's challenges.

While clearly driven by high standards for excellence and a sense of competition, the Lyles Center is also creating a culture of collaboration, mutual support and and fun. As each student and graduate spoke of their experiences, everyone expressed their deep appreciation for their teachers, their mentors (many business people have stepped up) and their colleagues. Any time we doubt that one person can make a difference, think about the impact Professor Tim Stearns has had on our community. In addition to inspiring generations of entrepreneurs, Tim has played a central role in community collaboratives including the RJI and the Central Valley Business Incubator. Standing with Tim at the root of all this change is Dr. John Welty. He has provided a steadfast platform for a host of initiatives that are transforming the social and economic conditions of the Central Valley and demonstrating what an engaged university can accomplish.

May 9, 2009

2009-05-09T16:28:00.000-07:00

The World of Social Entrepreneurship in Fresno
What a priviledge to listen to the students of Lee Ayre's social entrepreneurship class share their ideas to transform neighborhoods with concentrated poverty. Social entrepreneurship, one of 11 courses offered through the Lyles Center at Fresno State, joins Craig Scharton's class on urban entrepreneurship and Tom Jones' class on civic entrepreneurship as a hat-trick for developing change agents.

As defined by Paul Light, social entrepreneurship is "audacious social change." Social entrepreneurs seek to change "Unfortunate, but stable equilibriums that cause the neglect, marginalization, or suffering of a segment of humanity." (Martin & Osberg) Examples: demoralizing graffiti, low graduation rates, high child mortality rates, low family incomes, high crime rates, distrust of neighbors, and chronic homelessness.

What characterizes social entrepreneurs? They are inspired, creative, action oriented, courageous and have fortitude (Strength of mind that allows one to endure pain or adversity). Social entrepreneurship combines the passion of a social mission with the business-like discipline, innovation and determination commonly associated with pioneers of new industries--think high-tech or green.

Recommended Resource
If you are interested in learning more about social entrepreneurship, pick up Forces For Good: The Six Practices of High-Impact Nonprofits by Leslie R. Crutchfield and Heather McLeod Grand. This highly regarded book--The Economist hailed it as a top ten book of the year in in 2007--shifts the thinking away from building an organization to building a movement. Thanks to John Brelsford, Dan DeSantis and I recently had an opportunity to hear Heather McLeod speak at a conference in Santa Barbara. Her theme of blending the savvy of best business practicies with a passion for strategic philanthropy is potent. Her points: 1) Advocate and serve, 2) Make markets work, 3) Inspire evangelists, 4) Nurture nonprofit networks, 5) Master the art of adaptation and 6) Share Leadership.

Thank you, Lee! As a civic, social and urban entrepreneur all rolled up together, your impact on our community has been extraordinary. Not only have you tackled tough infrastructure issues, the role you have played in the Human Investment Initiative has had immeasurable impact. Plus, you are building a pipeline for the future.

Bulletin 4.22.09

2009-04-22T18:01:00.000-07:00

Planting the See for a New Economy & the RJI Transition

What a difference five years make. When the Regional Jobs Initiative launched in 2003 to fundamentally change they way we think, act and invest in economic development, we were just beginning to develop our collaborative skills. Today, with the launch of the next version, a joint venture between Fresno State and the Economic Development Corporation, collaboration is normal operating procedure. The RJI also added two other key commitments--a passion for excellence and an ongoing focus on innovation. This new culture has spilled over into other sectors along with the ten Community Values and has become what Fresno is known for across the state.

Kudos to all the presenters at today's Fifth Annual Meeting of the RJI and those that helped pull the event together behind the scenes. A large crowd at Tornino's heard Mike Dozier, the new director of the Office of Community and Economic Development discuss the the transition of the RJI and the critical role of the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley. Following Mike, a panel discussed "Leveraging RJI Resources For Your Business' Success". This team was kicked off by Professor Timothy Stearns, executive director of the Lyles Center. He focused on three areas for wealth creation--innovation, entrepreneurship and captial. The Lyles Center is spreading this message to young people reaching into high schools, grade schools and community colleges across our region.

Travis Sheridan, director of member services at the Central Valley Business, Incubator explained how existing businesses are thinking about themselves as start-ups as they change course and add new lines to make it through the changing economy. The first goal is profitability. This leads to wealth creation and jobs. He also talked about our world leadership in water technology and the huge opportunities the water technology cluster holds for our region.

Blake Konczal, CEO of the Workforce Investment Board, detailed new and restored programs for businesses. Funds are available to employers who could retain employees if they were retrained. The youth employment program has been restored with funds for 3,000 youth for six weeks. All salary and benefits will be picked up via government funds.

Steve Geil finished up with an overview of the new EDC--"our staff is your staff." The BEAR Network, winner of a statewide award, turns one staff person into six by tapping resources of other agencies. He talked about wealth being about more than money; it is first class healthcare, first class arts and culture and first class education.

Financial Advice for Today's Economy
A second panel kicked off with Riley Walter who discussed what he is seeing as a bankruptcy attorney across the region. While much of the report was grim, he noted that angel capital is on the increase. People are demonstrating that the economy is beginning to turn around and those who have charted an effective course can capitalize. Dan Doyle, president of Central Valley Community Bank, offered his insights as a seasoned banker who has experienced a number of downturns. He talked about the importance of communicating with all partners, employees and customers. He also said banks are lending, it's a matter of sector. He talked about the importance of morale and the basics of self care. He said one thing local governments can do to help is keep their money in local banks. Brad Triebsch, a partner in Central Valley Fund talked about the difficulty of finding capital, the growth of angel networks and the importance of setting clear priorities in terms of customers.

Focus on the Future
Mayor Ashley Swearengin completed the program by telling the transformation journey beginning with the Collaborative Regional Initiative and the release of the Community Values. She emphasized that the reason we collaborate is to achieve better outcomes for the community at lower cost. Self interest and limited thinking had held us back for too long. She urged everyone to stay focused on their unique part, be extremely honest with one another and aim for excellence across the board. If you are charged to lead...do it. If not, be an excellent follower. Bottom lines--be honest, be excellent, be connected and be ready. As a community, we will achieve the extraordinary.

FBC Bulletin--April 13, 2009

2009-04-12T10:44:00.000-07:00

April 13, 2009

Welcome to the Next Iteration of the FBC Weekly Bulletin

The Past
Since the early 90’s, we have sent a weekly message to our members, originally by fax and then by email. We sought to deepen our understanding of issues, keep people informed about progress, and encourage engagement in projects and events. Once the Collaborative Regional Initiative launched in 2000, we included our partners on the distribution list. With the launch of Regional Jobs Initiative in 2003 and the Human Investment Initiative in 2007, the depth and breadth of activities and participants has multiplied exponentially.

New Approach
Our plan is to provide regular updates in three interdependent spheres of work:
Economic Development
Infrastructure Development
Human Development

Each sphere has strong leaders and a growing network of people working on specific projects. The leaders are “tri-lingual” in that they understand that all spheres are equally important, have a working understanding of the primary strategies in each one and are in regular communication with their counterparts in order to maximize opportunities to support one another.

Collaboration is Crucial
Gaining a sense of urgency due to economic upheaval, communities across the country are working hard to develop collaborative skills in order to align resources behind priorities. Fortunately, in Fresno we have had a lot of practice and thanks to the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley, http://www.sjvpartnership.org/ , our region has also developed collaborative skills.

New Website
While we have the same web address, thanks to Cynthia Downing at Professional Exchange Services, we have a new website that is interactive and will enable us to distribute real time information to those interested in more timely updates in areas of interest. The website is http://www.fresnobc.org/. Also, on the site, you will find links to our partners, action plans and other documents. Anyone interested in receiving the bulletin can simply sign up on the site.

Communication Goals
While sharing information is central the purpose of the bulletin, our goal is to provide an added value—an attempt to help answer an ongoing question, so what does it all mean? While only a perception, our most active members and partners are in a position to see how the pieces fit together and where progress is happening in key strategies. In addition, we hope that you will be inspired by a project, issue or initiative and get engaged where you can have the greatest impact.

Welcome to the Relaunch of the FBC Weekly Bulletin

2009-03-09T15:46:00.000-07:00

March 9, 2009

Welcome to the Relaunch of the FBC Weekly Bulletin

The Past

Since the early 90's, we have sent a weekly message to our members, originally by fax and then by email. We sought to deepen our understanding of issues, keep people informed about progress, and encourage engagement in projects and events. Once the Collaborative Regional Initiative launched in 2000, we included our partners on the distribution list. With the start of Regional Jobs Initiative in 2003 and the Human Investment Initiative in 2007, the depth and breadth of activities and participants has multiplied exponentially.

New Approach

Our plan is to provide regular updates in three interdependent spheres of work:

Economic Development
Infrastructure Development
Human Development

Each sphere has strong leaders and a growing network of people working on specific projects. The leaders are "tri-lingual" in that they understand that all spheres are equally important, have a working understanding of the primary strategies in each one and are in regular communication with their counterparts in order to maximize opportunities to support one another.

Collaboration is Crucial

Gaining a sense of urgency due to economic upheaval, communities across the country are working hard to develop collaborative skills in order to align resources behind priorities. Fortunately, in Fresno we have had a lot of practice and thanks to the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley, www.sjvpartnership.org, our region has also developed collaborative skills and a platform to perform critical work.

New Website

While we have the same web address, thanks to Cynthia Downing at Professional Exchange Services, we have a new website that is interactive and will enable us to distribute real time information to those interested in more timely updates in areas of interest. The site will also provide an opportunity for people to weigh in with comments and suggestions. The website is www.fresnobc.org. Also, on the site, you will find links to our partners, action plans and other documents. Anyone interested in receiving the bulletin can simply sign up on the site.

Communication Goals

While sharing information is the central the purpose of the bulletin, another goal is to provide an added value-an attempt to help answer an ongoing question, so what does it all mean? While only a perception, our most active members are in a position to see how the pieces fit together and where progress is happening in key strategies. In addition, we hope that you will be inspired by a project, issue or initiative and get engaged where you can have the greatest impact.