How the Silicon Valley Organization's new leader plans to rebuild
by Carly Wipf
Bob Linschied, Silicon Valley Organization's new interim CEO, works from his home office in Danville. Linschied has been making calls over the past week to community members who have been affected by the actions of SVO's now dissolved political action committee. Photo courtesy of Bob Linschied.
It's been more than a week since Bob Linscheid was named the Silicon Valley Organization's interim CEO and he's not wasting any time repairing the business organization's stained reputation.
"I've been pretty much 100% SVO. In fact, my hours are insane. My wife wonders if I'm ever gonna come out of this room," Linscheid told San José Spotlight. "I'm not going to work Christmas Eve or Christmas, but I'll work every other day this year."
The former president and CEO of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce was tapped Dec. 9 to succeed former SVO CEO Matt Mahood who resigned following public outrage over a racist attack ad posted on The SVO's website by its political action committee during the November election cycle.
On his way out the door, Mahood apologized for the racist ad and insisted he knew nothing about it.
Now it is Linscheid who is apologizing — for a withered raspy voice.
Linscheid said he spent the week in "outreach mode," making dozens of calls from his home office in Danville, getting to know The SVO staff, small businesses and community members dismayed by the organization's campaign tactics. The SVO lost longtime members, such as Kaiser Permanente, PG&E and Comcast, nonprofits and loyal board members following the scandal.
The racist ad was not the first time the business group got into hot water for its campaign tactics.
Linscheid's first action for helping the SVO rebuild itself is simply to listen.
"Universally, folks say we need a strong business advocacy organization," he said. "Folks that have reached out to me want to help us build a path to reconciliation and so far, so good."
The SVO's attempts to repair the damage included dissolving its PAC, discontinuing work with its political consultant Storefront Media, hosting diversity trainings and forming a diversity panel.
But will it be enough to reconcile the damage and loss of trust caused by The SVO's years of questionable campaign ads?
The headquarters of The Silicon Valley Organization is seen on Nov. 10, 2020. Photo by Carly Wipf.
Rick Callender, CEO of Valley Water and president of the California NAACP, hopes so.
Callender has known Linscheid for almost three decades and has seen him in action as both the chair of the California State University Board of Trustees and as CEO of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce.
"He's had to work with me as a business guy — in the water area — he's had to work with me when I was leading portions of the NAACP, and when I hammered on the trustees for educational equity," Callender said. "Bob has always been someone that I could call and know that I would have an ear and sometimes he would have solutions and would move toward the solution."
Linscheid wants to get The SVO to return to helping businesses weather the pandemic by strengthening its committees on small businesses, education, housing and health care. The health care committee is brainstorming how businesses and hospitals can help with storing and distributing the COVID-19 vaccine, Linscheid said.
Linscheid said his experience in working for other chambers makes him equipped to serve as an interim CEO for a minimum of 90 days, until The SVO hires a permanent CEO. He has not applied for that job.
Callender is confident in Linscheid's ability to bolster the business side of The SVO, but shared concerns about whether he can "clean house" given potential limitations from the board.
The SVO's now-dissolved PAC has been denounced previously for inappropriately targeting local candidates. This November, the PAC spent more than half a million dollars to oppose campaigns of candidates running against their endorsed candidates.
The group's most recent scandal stems from an image posted on The SVO's website opposing San Jose City Council candidate Jake Tonkel. The post— meant to criticize Tonkel's stance on police reform— read "Do you really want to sign on to this?" and featured a picture of Black people in the streets surrounded by tear gas.
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The SVO PAC was also criticized for darkening photos of Latino Councilmembers Sylvia Arenas and Sergio Jimenez in political mailers in March.
Linscheid said there are no plans to revive the PAC anytime soon.
The SVO formed a new diversity committee following the latest controversy, but how it will operate is still being fleshed out, according to Linscheid.
Critics of the organization, including local NAACP president Rev. Jeff Moore, questioned the decision to put a white man at the helm after the organization came under fire for its lack of diversity and inclusivity.
But Linscheid said he helped make the San Francisco chamber more inclusive.
During Linscheid's tenure there, he formed a diversity and equity task force in response to businesses demanding a more diverse and inclusive business community. The chamber used its new platform to advocate for equal pay, homeless youth, formerly incarcerated individuals and working mothers.
The experience, Linscheid said, helped him understand how to "not just sprinkle but bake" equity into the fabric of an organization— something he hopes to do at The SVO.
Aside from tackling The SVO's diversity, Callender said The SVO needs a leader who is capable of restoring the organization's role as a business advocacy group.
"We need the Chamber of Commerce to go back to being a successful Chamber of Commerce, rather than a divisive, race baiting, divisional entity in our community," Callender said. "Bob can get (The SVO) back in the business of being a chamber and representing all aspects of our community."
Contact Carly Wipf at [email protected] or follow @CarlyChristineW on Twitter.
Editor's Note: Rick Callender serves on San José Spotlight's Board of Directors.
SJ Kulak Dec 21, 2020 at 12:08PM
How about this:
Debase yourself by prostration on the city hall public restrooms for about 20 years.
And you will have moved things about one inch.
They don't want this solved, they want compliance, control, and your humiliation.
Solving this destroys their source of power.
This will never get solved.
Danny Garza Dec 22, 2020 at 9:30AM
Talking with existing Insiders at SVO to get there perspective has lead to what advanced improvements?
He is asking the Foxes how to fix the Hen House!!!
That is a hilarious statement. What did he expect the answers to be – Derail the Money Train?
I did not see any where that Officials with Titles have been "sacked"!!!
Maybe I should be looking at this differently – But, no change in leadership means exactly that -NO CHANGE WHAT SO EVER.
Give the guy a chance – sure thing 'pal', I can do that.
The [proof will be in the pudding].
If he is that good then there will be a change AT THE TOP!
If his heart is in his work and He really wants to see this Racist Organization change then by all means, take the helm.
But to come here and spew what you have done in a "Long Haul" with Organizations means little if in the "Short Hall" he is here NOTHING CHANGES.
Time is the great story teller.
Time will be the Story Teller in this case as well.
Does Santa Clara Valley have the strength to move forward without this Racist Organization that has ZERO Substantial changes.
I worked for a guy named Mr. Canassa at Santa Clara County Juvenile Court Schools, . He always said, "Watch and see who is always shucken and jivin" and move on accordingly.
I do not feel he has the capability to change the mindset of those "money changers"
Let's just wait for his temporary stay to terminate and see what happens.
I know where I am putting my money though.
I'm putting my money on – BUSINESS AS USUAL.
Joseph Weinstein Dec 22, 2020 at 9:52AM
SVO is needed by the business community, especially small businesses. Over the years they have been supportive of many minority owned small businesses and the contacts established within the SVO have been beneficial. The Leadership change facing up to the lack of oversight of the PAC is a good start. I think SVO should focus upon a local leader who has demonstrated the ability to not only work with cross sections of the community, but has proven success in multiple areas. The one person who has access to multiple leaders on all sides of the different factions and has proven ability to run an organization is Madison Nguyen. She bring a diverse set of skills to the table, understands the local business and political environment and is a proven leader. SVO needs a capable local leader, not an outsider who will have to learn the dynamics of this community.
Grace Carr Lee Dec 22, 2020 at 3:14PM
Thank you for your ongoing coverage on this issue. I am curious as to what "potential limitations" by the board are anticipated?
Also, I think some people forget that before it was the SVO, the organization was called the Chamber of Commerce – a more apt moniker, in my view. As far as I know, the mission of The SVO did not change with the rebranding. Its primary purpose is to advocate for the business community (big business, small business, all business). In so doing, other community issues come into play (fair pay, housing, inclusivity, education, for example). But this is first and foremost a business organization, not a social services organization.
Quaere Verum Dec 23, 2020 at 1:12AM
The difference between the SVO PAC and the South Bay Labor Council's tactics? Organized labor doesn't apologize, disband, or pull its endorsements when it runs racist adds. The SVO was wrong to use the photo it did – and it was especially dumb given that this was the first post-George Floyd election where the discussion around racism has been particularly robust, and given that they could have used photos that weren't racially charged (plenty were available from the recent riots here and elsewhere). That said, there is a double standard at work when it comes to the SBLC and the community leaders who have failed to hold labor to the same standards they do The SVO.