Tara Lynn Gray
President & CEO
Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce
The new Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce (FMBCC) Chief Executive Officer Tara Lynn Gray comes to FMBCC with a strong background in chamber service, small business development, and training. Dedicated to self-empowerment and entrepreneurship programs, Ms. Gray is certified to teach the ICE House Entrepreneurship Program, a revolutionary blended online and classroom delivery learning program designed to inspire and engage participants in the fundamental aspects of an entrepreneurial mindset as well as Kauffman FastTrac Entrepreneurs Curriculum designed to help learners create a feasibility plan for their business and get operational quickly.
Gray has been an Advisor for Solano and Alameda County Small Business Development Centers, served as a non-profit Program Manager and Director of Operations and as well as run her own Information Technology consulting business for 13 years. She maintains a deep and wide community network that provides insights and access to leadership fighting some of the complex socio-economic problems facing communities today. Gray cut her chamber teeth as a member of the CA Black Chamber of Commerce (CBCC) Board of Directors, where she has served for more than a decade. Gray created the CBCC Black Initiative for Self-Sustainability (BLISS), a social enterprise project funded in part by AT&T Foundation and JP Morgan Chase and implemented in the San Joaquin Valley.
Other community involvement includes State of CA Employment Development Department Small Business Employer Advisory Committee (EDD SBEAC), Board Member of Child Haven Child Inc., Board Member of Sickle Cell Network, Board Member of Solano Center for Business Innovation, member of Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP), member of US Women’s Chamber of Commerce, board member of the Oakland Women’s Chamber of Commerce, Member of Solano County Democratic Central Committee and 2015-2017 Assembly District 11 State Delegate, member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, and Ordained at Abundant Life Worship Center.
Ms. Gray has been recognized for several achievements including 2015 State Agency Recognition Awards (SARA) Small Business Award, 2012 Recipient of CA Black Chamber of Commerce Leadership Award, 2009 Recipient of CA Black Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year Award, 2004 Recipient Of Allstate Insurance Company “From Whence We Came” National Pioneer in Technology Award.
Gray’s education includes a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from St. Mary’s College, Moraga, CA; a Master of Arts in Christian Studies from Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, AZ; UCLA Anderson School of Business, Management Development for Entrepreneurs Certificate; Intel Business Academy Certificate; and a host of technical certifications .