SAN JOSE, Calif (September 30, 2025) – The Silicon Valley Leadership Group (SVLG) – the leading business association representing the innovation economy and its ecosystem – today announced the hire of Ashonte Smith as Director of State Policy, expanding the organization’s strategic advocacy efforts in Sacramento.
In this role, Smith will work closely with lawmakers, state agency leaders, and industry partners to drive forward SVLG’s Sacramento policy agenda and shape key legislation critical to the California innovation economy.
“Ashonte’s proven track record in the California Legislature will be a tremendous asset as SVLG advocates on behalf of the innovation ecosystem,” SVLG CEO Ahmad Thomas said. “His leadership will strengthen SVLG’s impact in Sacramento and ensure the Golden State remains at the forefront of global competitiveness.”
Smith previously served as legislative aide to State Senator Dave Cortese, where he led initiatives to expand education equity, strengthen workforce development, and bolster California’s data center capacity to harness the power of AI. He holds a B.A. in Economics from Sacramento State University.
“California has long been the global innovation leader, but maintaining that leadership requires smart policies that allow our innovators to thrive,” Smith said. “I look forward to working with changemakers across Sacramento to accelerate solutions that reflect the dynamism of Silicon Valley and the entire state.”
Smith’s hire follows the organization’s historic $1.4 million investment from the San Francisco 49ers – the largest in SVLG’s five-decade history – underscoring a shared vision for shaping the Bay Area’s future, accelerating innovation and the AI-driven economy, and strengthening community impact.
As part of its Future Forward agenda, SVLG is rapidly scaling and bringing on key talent to enhance member value and impact. Several additional hires are poised to be announced in the coming weeks, further expanding the organization’s significant capacity to deliver for members.
For more information about career opportunities at SVLG, please visit svlg.org/careers.
About the Silicon Valley Leadership Group:
The Silicon Valley Leadership Group (SVLG) is the leading business association representing the innovation economy and its ecosystem. Founded by David Packard of Hewlett-Packard, SVLG has worked for nearly five decades to address issues that affect the region’s economic dynamism and quality of life. Today, SVLG is focused on accelerating the next era of Silicon Valley leadership, activated by our Institute for California AI Policy (ICAP) and three new Centers of Expertise (COE): Technology & Innovation, Business Competitiveness, and Civic Impact. SVLG members collectively provide nearly one of every three private sector jobs in Silicon Valley and contribute more than $3 trillion to the worldwide economy. For more information, visit svlg.org.
###
