Azizza Davis Goines to retire after 20 years leading Sacramento’s Black Chamber.

Azizza Davis Goines, who has led the Capital Black Chamber of Commerce for many years, is getting ready to bring to a close a two-decade chapter of leadership that helped create more opportunities for Black entrepreneurs and small businesses throughout Sacramento. Davis Goines will retire on Dec. 31, ending her tenure as the organization’s president and CEO, a role she has held since 2006.

Her departure represents a major leadership change for the business advocacy group, which has spent decades working to strengthen the economic standing of Black-owned businesses. So far, the chamber has not publicly named a successor or shared any details about its transition plans. In an Oct.

21 interview with The Sacramento Observer, Davis Goines confirmed her retirement and said she had told the organization’s board two years ago that she planned to step down at the end of 2026. “It’s time,” Davis Goines told the newspaper. She took the helm during a difficult period for small businesses.

At the time, the organization was based in a modest office in West Sacramento. Her early years as leader also overlapped with the Great Recession, when the chamber focused on strengthening its board, rebuilding community ties, and expanding support for small businesses. During her leadership, the organization also rebranded from the Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce to the Capital Black Chamber of Commerce.

It broadened its business development efforts and partnerships aimed at connecting Black entrepreneurs to wider economic opportunities. One of the most important parts of her leadership was building relationships between Black-owned businesses and major corporations. The Sacramento Business Journal’s 2025 Most Admired CEOs profile noted her efforts to link Black entrepreneurs with large technology companies, including Nvidia, while also developing partnerships with other ethnic chambers of commerce.

Those efforts highlight the important role chambers of commerce can play in helping smaller businesses gain access to corporate networks, partnership opportunities, and resources that support growth. The organization marked its 40th anniversary in 2025, reflecting its long-standing role in Sacramento’s business community. Davis Goines’ connection to the chamber goes back well before she became CEO.

She served on its board from 1997 to 2000 while working for the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau. In 2006, she became the chamber’s first female president and CEO. Her retirement comes after a temporary leadership change last winter.

On Dec. 5, Davis Goines took a leave of absence, and board chair Melanie Okoro stepped in as interim president and CEO. Davis Goines returned on Jan.

5. As the chamber looks ahead to its next chapter, questions remain about who will guide its business development efforts, preserve its corporate partnerships, and continue advocating for Black-owned businesses. RELATED CONTENT: You’re Not Ready For Retirement If These Financial Elements Exist