​​​

San Francisco

A. Robert “Bob” Linscheid has been serving California businesses and communities for more than two decades, providing extraordinary leadership to public, private and non-profit organizations on public policy, economic development and other issues critical to California’s continued economic success.

Through boundless energy combined with innovative and entrepreneurial vision, Linscheid is widely recognized as a powerhouse of Northern California economic development. As past President and Chief Executive Officer of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, the largest and most inclusive business membership organization in San Francisco, he has supported and promoted the success of large and small businesses in the Bay Area. 

An alumnus of California State University, Chico, Linscheid’s commitment to the CSU has included service as CSU Chico student body president, membership on the CSU Alumni Council with two terms as council president, and as a member of the CSU Board of Trustees from 2005 until 2014, serving as both vice-chair and chair.

As President and Chief Executive Officer of The Linscheid Company, Linscheid provided leadership to economic development organizations, trade associations, small businesses, and professional sports teams in California through a range of services including public relations, advocacy and business consulting.

Prior to his work in San Francisco, Linscheid was the co-founder and Managing Director of Innovate North State, the leading regional innovation catalyst organization in Northern California whose vision is to make the North State the most economically competitive rural region in the United States by focusing on innovative growth companies within the key targeted industry clusters.

Honors and awards bestowed on Linscheid include, among many others, the CSU Chico College of Business Person of the Year; the Western Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives’ Executive of the Year; 2003 Humanitarian of the Year for Rotary District 5160; and three-time Paul Harris Fellow Recipient in Rotary International.

Linscheid has dedicated his career in service to improving business growth, employment and earnings opportunities, and partnerships across California, thereby fueling a stronger economy.
Linscheid’s success serves as an example of the kind of impact the CSU has on its communities when dedicated alumni like Linscheid combine a CSU education and civic engagement to apply knowledge and talent to make “the real world” a better place to live.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the CSU and to the business, non-profit and local communities he has served, the Board of Trustees of the California State University and San Francisco State University are proud to confer upon A.Robert Linscheid the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters.