Cecil Russell

Cecil Russell is a retired Corporate Vice President of SaveMart Supermarkets, where he oversaw several major divisions including, but not limited to, Merchandising, Marketing, Manufacturing, and Pharmacy. Throughout his 24-year career with SaveMart, he also represented the company on numerous national, state, and local boards, including serving as Chairman of the Board for the Modesto Chamber of Commerce. After retiring, Cecil founded Sylvan Financial and Advisor Group, though his time away from executive leadership was brief. Just two months later, he was asked to serve as President and CEO of the Modesto Chamber of Commerce—a role he held for eight years.

During his tenure at the Chamber, Cecil worked alongside Chairman David Gianelli to address the lack of youth-focused organizations in the area, ultimately helping to establish the Boys & Girls Clubs of Stanislaus County. His dedication to community continues through his current service as a Planning Commissioner for the City of Modesto, and as a member of several other boards including, but not limited to, the Stanislaus County Workforce Development Board, Stanislaus Partners in Education, the Citizen’s Housing & Development Committee, the Stanislaus County Economic Advisory Committee, and the Graffiti USA Classic Car Museum, where he is a founding board member and currently serves as Executive Director and General Manager. Cecil is deeply committed to giving back and believes strongly in the importance of creating positive, empowering environments for youth to grow and thrive.