Bobby McDonald, president and executive director of the Black Chamber of Commerce of Orange County has been appointed to the California Community College Board of Governors.

McDonald, 60, lives in Anaheim Hills. After a stint in the Navy, he played basketball at California State University, Fullerton, where he graduated in 1975. He was an assistant basketball coach there for two years.

McDonald is one of the most familiar business leaders around the county, having worked consistently with other business associations, chambers and educational institutions to help small businesses. He is one of the founders of the Orange County Presidents Council, which combines many of the minority business and cultural groups.

At the black chamber, he is credited with expanding the membership, due to what members say is his creativity and innovation. The group’s annual awards banquet has become known for its entertaining programs celebrating African American contributions to American history from the Buffalo Soldiers to jazz. 

McDonald also developed the chamber’s educational outreach programs, including the Bricks and Bridges program and the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Program with Christ Our Redeemer AME Church in Irvine.

Before joining the Black Chamber in 1998, McDonald was a partner of W. Davis and Associates, a manufacturers’ representative. Before that he worked for Keds Corp, United Stationers/Micro United and Adidas.

The California Community Colleges is the largest higher educational system in the nation comprising 72 districts and 109 colleges with more than 2.5 million students a year. McDonald’s appointment by Gov. Scharzenegger requires Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. McDonald is a Republican.

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