Secretary Stewart Knox receives Golden Bear Award for advancing California’s workforce and economic development systems

Blog post: April 24, 2026

Secretary Stewart Knox was recently honored by the California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED) with its Golden Bear Award. The award recognizes sustained leadership in strengthening California’s economy.

Secretary Knox’s career has centered on a consistent throughline: making workforce and economic development systems work together in a way that delivers for communities. His perspective comes from decades of experience across the state, including roles in community colleges, local workforce efforts, and state leadership, where the focus has been on building practical pathways into jobs tied to real industry demand.

The Golden Bear Award reflects that long-term, systems-level impact – not a single program or initiative, but a body of work focused on improving how California prepares people for work and supports regional economies.

Congratulations, Secretary Knox!