Zeydi Gutierrez named chair of Oakland Chamber board

The Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce has elected Zeydi Gutierrez of McGuire and Hester as board chair, making her the first Hispanic chair in the organization’s 120-plus-year history. The Chamber also said its 2026 Pulse of Oakland poll will go into the field next week, with results set for an Oct. 21 event.

Why it matters: - Gutierrez’s election marks a milestone for Chamber leadership and reflects the organization’s push to connect Oakland employers, workers and city leaders around economic growth. - The Chamber is also preparing to collect new public input on safety, jobs and quality of life through its long-running Pulse of Oakland survey.

What happened: - The Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce elected Zeydi Gutierrez, director of human resources at McGuire and Hester, as chair of its board of directors. - Gutierrez becomes the first person of Hispanic heritage to serve as chair in the Chamber’s 120-plus-year history. - The Chamber said the 2026 Pulse of Oakland survey will go into the field next week. - Results will be presented at the Pulse of Oakland breakfast on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. - Registration opens at 8 a.m. and the program runs from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. - Event details and registration are available on the Chamber website.

The details: - Gutierrez has worked in human resources leadership for decades and has deep ties to Oakland’s industrial economy. - Before McGuire and Hester, she held human resources and public affairs roles at AB&I Foundry and Mother’s Cookies in East Oakland. - Her career has centered on workforce development, connecting Oakland residents to jobs and building programs that bring people from different backgrounds together. - Gutierrez said she is honored to help lead the Chamber and build on partnerships with city leaders that give members a voice in Oakland’s future. - At McGuire and Hester, Gutierrez leads training, coaching and development programs for employees. - She serves on the boards of the East Oakland Youth Development Center and Urban National League. - Gutierrez holds a bachelor’s degree in organization management and an MBA in operations and supply chain management from Golden Gate University. - Gutierrez is SHRM certified. - McGuire and Hester is marking its 100th year serving Oakland. - The company grew from a two-man drainage operation into a 100% employee-owned heavy civil construction firm. - Through the McGuire and Hester Foundation, the company invests in community programs and workforce development. - Kenneth E. Maxey II, president and CEO of the Urban League of the Greater San Francisco Bay Area, will serve as first vice president. - Maxey previously served as chair. - Tosan O. Boyo will continue as board treasurer. - Boyo is founder and CEO of Olusan Platforms, an AI-powered health technology company focused on protecting Medicaid coverage.

Between the lines: - Gutierrez’s background in workforce development and East Oakland industry gives the Chamber a chair with close ties to both employers and the local labor pipeline. - The leadership changes suggest the Chamber is keeping a focus on business retention, civic partnerships and public-facing policy work. - The Pulse of Oakland survey remains a key tool for the Chamber to frame local concerns around public safety, economic confidence and quality of life. - The Chamber framed stronger coordination among public safety, city government and economic growth as central to helping businesses and the regional economy thrive.

What's next: - The Chamber will launch the 2026 Pulse of Oakland survey next week. - Chamber members and civic leaders will receive the survey results at the Oct. 21 breakfast. - The new board leadership team will work alongside city officials on issues affecting Oakland employers and the regional economy.

The bottom line: - Oakland’s business community is getting a new board chair with deep local roots, while the Chamber heads into another round of polling to gauge what residents think matters most for the city’s future.