SACRAMENTO—Former president & CEO of River City Bank, Jeanne Reaves—the first woman to head a locally owned bank—has been named the 2008 Sacramentan of the Year by the Sacramento Metro Chamber.

Reaves, who stepped down recently from River City Bank where she had been CEO since 1998, will receive the award Friday, Jan. 30, at the Metro Chamber’s 114th Annual Dinner & Business Awards at the Hyatt Regency Sacramento.

Beginning as a secretary at Wells Fargo Bank, Reaves rose to the top of the region’s banking industry over a career that spanned more than 40 years. During her tenure as CEO for River City Bank, the business grew in both size and performance, with assets doubling to more than $780 million and full-time employees increasing by 23 percent. Meanwhile, Reaves created and cultivated an industry-respected business culture that focused on family and civic engagement.

The Metro Chamber will also honor McClellan Park President Larry D. Kelley as Businessman of the Year for his work to convert the old air force base into a successful business park and former SMUD General Manager Jan Schori as Businesswoman of the Year for her tenure in making the utility one of the most respected and best performing in the nation.

The Metro Chamber annual awards recognize business people for their civic, industry and entrepreneurial contributions to the region. Awards will be given over nine categories at the 2009 event. They also include:

AL GEIGER MEMORIAL AWARD
—Derrell Roberts, Co-Founder & CEO, Roberts Family Development Center

PETER McCUEN AWARD FOR CIVIC ENTREPRENEURS
—John E. Frisch, Managing Partner, Cornish & Carey Commercial

SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
—Griselda’s Ventures

BUSINESS HALL OF FAME
—Centennial Inductee: University of California, Davis
—Hall of Fame Inductees: Frank Fat’s and VSP

METRO CHAMBER VOLUNTEERS OF THE YEAR
—Cheryl Marcell, Sacramento County Airport System
—Tim Murphy, GenCorp

METRO CHAMBER AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR
—Burnie Lenau, Lawnman, Inc.

The Annual Dinner will also pay tribute to the leadership of outgoing chair of the board, Michael Jacobson of Intel Corporation, and welcome the 2009 Board Chair, Linda Cutler of GenCorp.

Tickets are $155 for Metro Chamber members and $225 for nonmembers and can be purchased online at metrochamber.org or by calling Chantal LeFevre at 916-319-4260. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. To secure your sponsorship, please contact Susan Harris at sharris@metrochamber.org or 916-321-9144.

The Sacramento Metro Chamber is the largest, oldest and most prominent voice of business in the greater Sacramento area. Representing nearly 2,500 member businesses and business organizations in the six-county Sacramento region, the Metro Chamber serves as the region’s leading proponent of regional cooperation and primary advocate on issues affecting business, economic development and quality of life.