SACRAMENTO, CA – The California Chamber of Commerce has announced the election of its new board officers, including Frederick R. Ruiz as 2009 chair of the CalChamber Board of Directors.

Fred Ruiz is the co-founder of Ruiz Foods along with his father, Louis F. Ruiz.

“I am honored to serve as chair of the 2009 CalChamber Board of Directors,” said Ruiz. ”As the leading voice for California employers, we will focus on restoring our state’s fiscal health and promoting a strong economy. I look forward to working closely with my colleagues on the CalChamber Board of Directors to pursue sound fiscal policy that encourage a swift and strong rebound from the current recession. Ultimately, the solution to our economic situation must be robust growth and job creation.”

Serving with Ruiz as 2009 officers of the CalChamber Board are:

• First Vice Chair, Larree Renda, Executive Vice President, Chief Strategist and Administrative Officer, Safeway, Inc.;

• Second Vice Chair S. Shariq Yosufzai, President, Global Marketing, Chevron Corp.;

• Third Vice Chair Timothy S. Dubois, President, The Edward Thomas Cos.

Ruiz is the co-chair and co-CEO of Ruiz Foods, Inc., a family-owned and operated frozen Mexican food company headquartered in Dinuba, California. Ruiz Foods employs 2,700 people with three manufacturing facilities and two distribution centers. Their signature brand is El Monterey, the number one frozen Mexican food brand in the United States.

Ruiz has more than 45 years experience in the food processing industry. He is a graduate of Tulare Union High School and attended the College of the Sequoias as a business major. It was while still in college that Fred and his father, Louis Ruiz, began to pursue their American Dream and founded Ruiz Foods, Inc., in 1964.

During the past 45 years, Ruiz Foods has received multiple local, regional and national awards and recognitions. In 1983, Ruiz Foods received the United States Small Business Persons of the Year Award. The Award was presented by President Ronald Reagan in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, D. C. In 2003, Ruiz Foods was inducted into the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Hall of Fame along with just 22 other U. S. businesses. During the fall of 2003, Ruiz Foods hosted a visit by President George W. Bush.

In 2004, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger tapped Ruiz to fill a vacancy on University of California Board of Regents. Appointed in July, his term will continue through March 2016. In addition to serving as a Board Member of several nonprofit organizations, Fred Ruiz currently serves as a Board member of two public companies and is an Advisor and Founding Member of the Institute for Family Business, California State University, Fresno and a Founding Member of the Tulare Kings Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

The California Chamber of Commerce (CalChamber) is the largest broad-based business advocate to government in California.

Membership represents one-quarter of the private sector jobs in California and includes firms of all sizes and companies from every industry within the state. Leveraging our front-line knowledge of laws and regulations, we provide products and services to help businesses comply with both federal and state law.

CalChamber, a not-for-profit organization with roots dating to 1890, promotes international trade and investment in order to stimulate California's economy and create jobs. Visit their Web site at www.calchamber.com.

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