December 16, 2014
Metro EDGE honors business leaders promoting leadership development
(Sacramento, CA) – Metro EDGE, the young professional program of the Metro Chamber, today announced James Beckwith of Five Star Bank and Gordon Fowler of 3fold Communications were recipients of the first-ever Bridge Awards. Established in 2014 by program chair Emilie Cameron to recognize the contributions of business and civic leaders to develop young professionals locally, the Bridge Awards distinguish the bridge to leadership they have forged.
“Bridging leadership to the next generation is a crucial component to establishing a competitive region,” said Emilie Cameron, chair of Metro EDGE and Sr. Public Relations Manager of 3fold Communications. “I’m honored to award the shared vision, foresight and dedication of James and Gordon that has created boundless opportunities for young leaders to grow and thrive.”
Presented during the Metro EDGE annual end of year celebration at the Citizen Hotel on Dec. 16, the Bridge Awards close a successful year for the young program. In 2014, Metro EDGE spearheaded the EMERGE Summit, the state’s first-of-its-kind young professional summit; convened nearly three-dozen networking and career development programs; invested $20,000 in “love notes” to local cultural amenities TBD Fest and Bright Underbelly; raised funds and awareness for youth programs; and most importantly, provided a platform for leadership development to more than 500 young professional members of the program.
Continued Cameron, “It’s an exciting time to be a young professional in Sacramento!” About the honorees:
James Beckwith, Five Star Bank, President and CEO
Selected for his unwavering support of Metro EDGE initiatives designed to cultivate young professional leadership, Beckwith has been a tremendous cheerleader for Metro EDGE. As chair of the Metro Chamber board, Beckwith created unprecedented opportunities for Metro EDGE leadership to gain access to new leadership experience, implement new programs and expand funders.
Experienced as a young leader himself, Beckwith’s commitment to providing Metro EDGE members with opportunities for professional and personal growth has laid the foundation for a new generation of incredible civic leaders who stand ready to contribute to the Capital Region in meaningful ways.
According to Beckwith, “Supporting the next generation of leaders in our community is, quite simply, smart business. We must invest in cultivating talent in order to compete. Without a healthy pipeline of driven people with good ideas and a passion for success, this region will stagnate on multiple levels.”
Gordon Fowler, 3fold Communications, President and CEO
mail One Capitol Mall, Suite 300, Sacramento, California 95814 • phone 916.552.6800 • fax 916.443.2672 web metro-edge.org • email metroedge@metrochamber.org
Selected for his ever-present dedication to cultivating young leaders, Fowler has been a guiding force for Metro EDGE since its inception in 2009. As the program’s liaison to the Metro Chamber board, Fowler supported the creation and maintenance of a structured leadership development program to provide area young professionals opportunities to build their networks, develop critical business skills and give back to their communities while empowering themselves to be leaders in their own right.
Lovingly referred to as the program’s “yearbook advisor” during the past five years, Fowler has personally mentored every Metro EDGE chair during its five year history, along with hundreds of young professionals locally and nationally, while also passionately advocating for opportunities where members of Metro EDGE could demonstrate their desire – and ability to – ensure the Capital Region is a viable destination for business, innovation and growth well into the future.
Fowler continued, “The energy and enthusiasm young professionals bring our community is making it a more dynamic place to do business and, quite frankly, a more enjoyable place to live. I’m always energized by the passion and expertise that Sacramento’s young professionals bring to any project they tackle.”
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Metro EDGE is the 40-and-under program of the Sacramento Metro Chamber providing opportunities for Sacramento’s premiere young professionals to engage with a diverse network, develop critical business skills, give back by serving the local community, and empower themselves through education on issues affecting the Sacramento region. For further information visit: https://www.metro-edge.org.
