OBSERVER STAFF REPORT

Some of the state’s most influential leaders were saluted recently at a special reception in Sacramento by members of California’s Black Press.

CSU Trustee Margaret Fortune (center) was saluted by California Black Media director Dr. Paulette Brown-Hinds (left) and OBSERVER General Manager Larry Lee (right). Photo (c) The Observer / Larry V. Dalton

Finance veteran Napoleon Brandford III, CSU Trustee Margaret Fortune and California Public Utilities Commissioner Tim Simon were honored as “Newsmakers of the Year” by California Black Media (CBM), a coalition of Black newspapers and radio stations.

The three honorees were recognized for their very successful years and for their commitment to working with Black media throughout the state.

Brandford is a founding partner for Siebert Brandford Shank & Co, LLC, the top-ranked minority-owned investment firm in the nation. The company was selected last year to senior manage a $1.75 billion GO Bond for the State of California.

Fortune, a native of Sacramento, was recently appointed to the California State University Board of Trustees after spending three years as a senior adviser to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Commissioner Simon won Senate confirmation to the California Public Utilities Commission this year after becoming the first African American appointments secretary in the Office of the Governor.

The event, which was attended by many of Sacramento’s political and business leaders as well, was sponsored by the Agua Cliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Southern California Edison and the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.