(May 23, 2008) The California Chamber of Commerce honored four small business executives this week with its “2008 Small Business Advocate of the Year” award, recognizing recipients for their advocacy efforts on behalf of small businesses.

The CalChamber presented the awards at a luncheon before more than 600 attendees at the CalChamber Business Legislative Summit in Sacramento on May 20.

2008 Small Business Advocate of the Year winners are:

• Ruth Evans, Owner, Evans HR, Fresno
• Lori Lofstrom, Partner, Holmes and Lofstrom, LLP, Long Beach 
• Sharon Tyrrell, Co-Owner, Capree Escrow, Inc, Riverside 
• Frank DeSmidt, Retired, Milpitas

The awards presentation is sponsored by the CalChamber. Honorees are nominated by local chambers and selected by a task force comprised of members of the CalChamber Small Business Committee. Those selected have taken on leadership roles with federal, state or local ballot measures, have testified before the state Legislature or represented a chamber of commerce before local government.

From left to righ, Sharon Tyrrell, Lori Lofstrom, Ruth Evans.

RUTH EVANS, OWNER, EVANS HR, FRESNO

Al Smith, president and CEO of the Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce and Amy Huerta, Director of Government Affairs for the chamber, co-nominated Ruth saying, “Ruth has an established record of operating and advocating on behalf of small businesses. Furthermore, her personal character, ambition, passion and persistence embody the best of small business in California. She does not rest until the day’s work is done and will not let an issue facing her business or any businesses go unaddressed.”

Evans has served as the chair for the governmental affairs committee with the Greater Fresno Area Chamber since 2005. Under Evans’ direction, the chamber completely revamped their government affairs program making the chamber a more effective voice for the local business community both in the Fresno region and throughout the state. In 2007, Evans was instrumental in creating the first city and county budget task forces. Each task force is responsible for meeting with department heads, labor negotiators and top city and county administrators to analyze how local tax dollars are being spent. The task forces are also responsible for crafting recommendations to the city and county of Fresno. In addition, Ruth has represented small business in Sacramento, testifying before the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee on the CalChamber-sponsored flexible workweek bills in 2007 and 2008.

LORI LOFSTROM, PARTNER, HOLMES and LOFSTROM, LLP, LONG BEACH

Lori Lofstrom was nominated by Randy Gordon, President and CEO of the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce. Gordon said of Lofstrom, “she is deserving of this award because she is a tireless advocate for our business community at the local and state levels. Lori implemented a more aggressive approach to our local and statewide policy and political efforts. The result has been a more effective Chamber in representing the interests of business with government.”

Under Lofstrom’s leadership, the Long Beach Chamber spearheaded more issues and accomplished more results in 2007 than in the past three years combined. Lofstrom has been involved with the chamber for more than five years and in that time she has served in many capacities. She currently serves as the chair of the government affairs committee, which as a direct result has doubled in size because of the overwhelming interest by business people in Long Beach to be a part of Lofstrom’s committee and her work. Lofstrom implemented a more aggressive approach to the chamber’s local and statewide policy and political efforts. In 2007, Lofstrom tracked more than 41 bills and 20 issues impacting the Long Beach business community and actively engaged the community through numerous letter writing campaigns to bring attention to important issues.

FRANK DeSMIDT, RETIRED, MILPITAS

Gaye Morando, executive director of the Milpitas Chamber of Commerce nominated Frank DeSmidt saying, “people are simply amazed when they meet Frank and see the passion he has for public policy and learn about his ongoing dedication to be a watchdog for the chamber and business community. If you want to know what is going on in the City of Milpitas, state of California, or the federal level, ask Frank -- he’s a walking dictionary! You couldn’t find a more dedicated leader in the community.”

DeSmidt is the current government affairs chairman for the Milpitas Chamber of Commerce and has been a successful businessman and a well-know advocate for the chamber for more than 30 years. He has been an active author for the local chamber newsletter, contributing an article every month since the 1970s. He attends all city council meetings, planning commission meetings, transportation meetings and makes a monthly report to the Milpitas Chamber Board. Frank has served as the chamber’s representative on the Milpitas Economic Development commission for five years and is currently serving as the commission’s vice chair. Under DeSmidt’s leadership the chamber has taken a like position on every bill the CalChamber has published in either the Alert or Inside the Capitol throughout 2007, which has resulted in the generation of more than 11,255 letters of concern to state legislators.

SHARON TYRRELL, CO-OWNER, CAPREE ESCROW, INC, RIVERSIDE

Sharon Tyrrell was nominated by Cindy Roth, president and CEO of the Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce who commended Tyrrell for her, “unyielding commitment to small business and her community. It is individuals such as Ms. Tyrrell who maintain countless hours of services, tireless work ethic and unyielding commitment to our chamber mission and its members which keep our businesses thriving.”

Tyrrell serves on a number of boards including the chamber’s executive committee for the past five years as well as the governmental affairs council, where she serves as vice-chair. She has also been a member of the chamber’s political action committee since its establishment and has significantly contributed to it increasing credibility by helping to elect business-friendly candidates. In addition to being a small business owner, Tyrrell is vitally interested in maintaining the business community’s presence in legislative affairs and never misses an opportunity to participate in community and state issues through discussions with various educators, elected officials, business owners and other community groups and organizations whether at city hall or the state Capitol. In April, Tyrrell went to Sacramento to testify before the Assembly Labor and Employment on the CalChamber-sponsored flexible workweek bill, AB 2127 (Benoit).