GREATER SACRAMENTO ECONOMIC COUNCIL
WELCOME
Dear Readers ,
As Board Chair of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council ( GSEC ), I have the distinct honor to serve the Greater Sacramento region ’ s business community and support our economic development endeavors . The GSEC Board is committed to building a thriving economy by catalyzing growth , prosperity , equity and building tradable-sector jobs in industries of the future .
The last two years have proven to be challenging for many businesses , but the capital of California is thriving and continues to attract new prospects eager to locate their business here . GSEC ’ s approach to building a strong , resilient region is to diversify the economy , reduce dependency on government jobs and increase the presence of tradable-sector jobs . After six years , and even in the midst of a world-altering pandemic , we are proud of GSEC ’ s contribution and ongoing delivery of its mission .
Last year , GSEC and several partners executed the Digital Upskill pilot program , an initiative designed to reskill and employ workers displaced by the pandemic . As President and CEO of VSP Global , a longstanding employer within Greater Sacramento , I was especially proud of the talent that participated in the program and the opportunity to hire a number of program graduates , alongside other local companies such as Zennify and Centene . GSEC can now work with regional partners to continue to scale the Digital Upskill program and change how we address workforce training as a region . It is critical for Greater Sacramento to provide indemand skills with a focus on inclusion and the reduction of poverty by elevating opportunities and increasing access .
At GSEC , we will be operating with a three-year strategic plan , emphasizing design thinking for our economy to deepen the competitive advantages in key target sectors : mobility , life science and fintech . You will read more about our strategic initiatives in this Comstock ’ s series alongside some of the major projects we are working on to define our next decade .
Our focus remains on four pillars : growth , sustainability , equity and competitiveness . Within each pillar is at least one transformational initiative and key tactics to ensure our recovery is swift , equitable and impactful . I hope you enjoy reading about the essential work this economic development group is accomplishing . It ’ s a privilege to be a part of this organization and community as we continue to drive toward regional prosperity for everyone .
Sincerely ,
Michael J . Guyette President & CEO , VSP Global Greater Sacramento Economic Council Board Chair
“ I joined the Greater Sacramento Economic Council because UC Davis is an integral part of the regional innovation ecosystem fostered by the council . A solid example is Aggie Square , which GSEC has championed from the beginning . Together , we will transform the regional economy and make it as sustainable and inclusive as possible .”
GARY S . MAY CHANCELLOR , UC DAVIS
“ As the nation ’ s leader in creating employment for people with disabilities , PRIDE Industries is invested in GSEC ’ s mission to attract , retain and grow companies in the Greater Sacramento region . GSEC ’ s success translates into meaningful career opportunities for thousands more people every year . Its winning formula of bringing together business , education and civic leadership is driving innovation that benefits everyone .”
JEFF DERN PRESIDENT AND CEO , PRIDE INDUSTRIES
“ GSEC is a great asset to the Sacramento region focusing on opportunities for strategic business and economic growth . GSEC has provided me the ability to connect with leaders in the community to strengthen my own network and advance our business . There is a wonderful synergy with this group that I find very valuable .”
WENDY COHEN PRESIDENT , KITCHELL
10 comstocksmag . com | December 2021