The Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce announced that Cassandra D. Little, Ph.D. has been appointed as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer by the Board of Directors, following her role as Interim CEO. Dr. Little will succeed Tara Lynn Gray, who was recently appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom as the Director of the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) within the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development.
Dr. Little brings a long history of entrepreneurship and commitment to economic equity to FMBCC. She owns and operates CARE Consulting and Coaching Group, where she provides life, career, sports and executive coaching services to small businesses in Northern California, Southern California and Nevada. She has her doctorate in counseling educational psychology and a master’s in social work. Dr. Little spent 27 years working in child welfare as an LCSW and a CEO of her own business. As an entrepreneur, her goal was to Educate-Encourage-Empower her clients.
“You never replace a general with a private. This is a quote I heard several years ago, and it aptly applies to this new era of leadership for the Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce,” said James Archie, president of the Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce and Chamber Foundation. “Dr. Cassandra Little had great shoes to fill coming behind Tara Lynn Gray’s awesome tenure at the helm of the FMBCC. Not only does Dr. Little exercise great leadership qualities and professionalism, but she also possesses a great vision and purpose to lead the FMBCC foundation and chamber to new and exciting heights.”
Before her new role as the Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Little served as the Secretary on the Board of Directors for the Fresno Metro Black Chamber Commerce. She is also a certified ELI Mindset Entrepreneur trainer for the Who Owns the Ice House training program and the program manager for the FRIENDS program.
“The board’s choice of Dr. Little reflects their continued commitment to growth and sustainability for the chamber and our community. I am excited and looking forward to the journey ahead,” said Kaya Herron, Deputy Director.
Dr. Little is a true believer in the importance of utilizing education and entrepreneurship as a means to access economic mobility. Dr. Little is currently an adjunct professor at Fresno Pacific University School of Social Work and California State University, Fresno, Criminology Department. She also provides consultation services to the Fresno City College Student Equity Department.
She has dedicated her career to empowering others and encouraging them to embrace their limitless possibilities to identify their purpose, harness their passion, use their energy to persevere through barriers and, formulate a plan to act. She is committed to the Fresno Metro Black Chamber Commerce’s mission to always engage, educate and empower Black small businesses in the Central Valley.