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CEO of the Year Featuring The Book of Lists
2025 CEO of the Year Featuring The Book of Lists
More than 250 people were in attendance Tuesday, February 25th at Pardini’s in Fresno to celebrate the second-annual CEO of the Year awards, which also featured the launch of our 2025 Book of Lists.
The evening was hosted by The Business Journal, with help from Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer in handing out awards and offering words for the winners.
For this year’s CEO of the Year program, we chose to honor seven outstanding business leaders who shine within their organizations and the community. You may recall, for our inaugural year in 2024, James J. Kim with Community West Bank (formerly Central Valley Community Bank) was the sole winner.
This year’s CEO of the Year honorees were on hand in February to accept their award:
William “Michael” Betts IV – Betts Company
Genelle Taylor Kumpe – Fresno Business Council and the San Joaquin Valley Manufacturing Alliance
Nicole Linder – Marjaree Mason Center
Eric Gerald Rawn – Xobee Networks
J.P. Shamshoian – Realty Concepts
Bettye Smith – Payroll People Inc.
Dora Westerlund – Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation
These CEOs were selected by a panel of The Business Journal’s executive leaders with input from the newsroom. The field of CEOs considered for this award come from companies that report information for our weekly ranked lists, which are compiled each year into the Book of Lists.
This year’s Book of Lists cover was designed by Graphic Designer Cecilia Lopez, featuring lists compiled by Alex Light, editorial researcher.
If your company’s CEO would like to be considered for CEO of the Year, please contact our researcher Alex Light, alex@thebusinessjournal.com, to be sure you are receiving our surveys.
The Business Journal’s 2025 Editorial Calendar is on page 94 of the Book of Lists, and it includes the 52-plus lists we do each year and when they are published.
We have a list for every business — if you make the cut based on our ranking criteria.
Submit photos of your party or networking event for After Hours, along with caption information, to editor@thebusinessjournal.com.
2025 CEO of the Year Event Photos
The 2024 CEO of the Year
For more information, contact Ashley Webster Rudolph at (559) 490-3481 or email: ashley@thebusinessjournal.com
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