FRESNO COUNTY – One of the Valley’s largest business resources is celebrating a landmark anniversary of service and economic development.
As of 2025, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has now served the Central California area for 75 years. In that time, BBB has worked to foster a market of integrity and accountability, and looks forward to continuing that mission for another 75 years.
“It is our intention to be the leader in advancing marketplace trust, because we believe in a marketplace where buyers and sellers can trust each other,” said Nathan Gilbert, Central California regional director for BBB.
Reflecting on this 75-year legacy, Gilbert expressed pride in the various services BBB has provided to local businesses in the past year. One of the standout offerings is the Fresno office’s new podcast studio, which has allowed local businesses to expand marketing through podcasts and recorded commercials.
Accredited businesses are allotted six free hours in the studio per month, and nonprofit organizations that remain in good standing with BBB can take advantage of four free hours per month. The organization boasts state-of-the-art equipment in the studio, which is available for booking during the Fresno office’s normal business hours.
Gilbert also shared the success of the Industrious Women’s Summit, which took place on Aug. 22. The all-day summit was focused on celebrating women-driven change in previously male-dominated industries, while hosting workshops and guest speakers to strengthen collaboration amongst women in the region.
“(It was) just a packed event; tremendous energy. People are asking, ‘When’s the next one?’ so that was fantastic,” Gilbert said.
Most recently, BBB hosted the Growth Surge Bootcamp on Nov. 14-15 in Clovis. The event offered two full days of presentations and seminars hosted by industry experts. The bootcamp was open to businesses from across the region, and those who attended both days had the opportunity to receive $1,000 in grant money to support their business.
Though Gilbert has only been with BBB for about a year, the work that he has seen from the team has instilled him with confidence that the organization will only continue to foster that marketplace built on trust. With roughly 1,100 accredited businesses and counting, it’s clear that the organization is here to stay.
“I see the energy that goes into these functions of the BBB, and I go ‘Gosh, real people are working real hard to do the right thing,’ and to honor that mission and vision…that kind of stuff is thrilling to me,” Gilbert said.
