Region Business Hosts Over 800 Business, Civic Leaders at Annual BBQ in the Vineyards

August 23, 2016 |

What started eight years ago as a small backyard BBQ meeting of liked-minded business owners has developed into one of the region's largest gatherings of elected officials and business leaders was held last Friday night in Clarksburg.

That meeting, the eight annual BBQ in the Vineyards took place at Clarksburg's Old Sugar Mill and was organized by Region Business. This year's event attracted a record audience of 800-plus Sacramento-area business and civic leaders. 

Region Business, formerly known as Region Builders, holds the function as one of its major fundraising efforts. The business advocacy group has evolved in the last eight years to become a major business advocacy group and was instrumental in keeping the NBA Kings in Sacramento.

Among the 800-plus guest at the event were Rancho Cordova
Vice Mayor Donald Terry, Tony Cincotta, General Manager at
Republic Services, and Sacramento County Supervisor Patrick
Kennedy.

In recent years, the group has, among other things, pursued a permit simplicity program to streamline building projects. Following the City of Elk Grove's 2015 initiation of the program, five cities and counties have followed their lead and have adopted the process.

Among the numerous Elk Grove elected officials on hand were City Councilmen Steve Detrick, Pat Hume, and Darren Suen. Elk Grove Planning Commissioner and Mayoral candidate Kevin Spease also attended the festivities.

Other elected officials enjoying the networking and BBQ included SMUD Director Nancy Bui-Thompson, Sacramento County Board of Supervisors Roberta MacGlasham and Patrick Kennedy, and Rancho Cordova Vice Mayor Donald Terry.

Also attending the event was Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones. As the county's top law enforcement official who is half way through his second four-year term, Jones is challenging incumbent Dr. Ami Bera (D - Elk Grove) for California's Seventh Congressional District in what is expected to be one of the tightest and most expensive races this election cycle in the country.  

"BBQ in the Vineyards is Region Builders signature event to gather over 800 local design and construction industry leaders with elected officials to celebrate the policy successes of our region," Joshua Woods, Executive Director of Region Builders said.   

Photos courtesy Tia Gemmel, all rights reserved, phototia.com/