Under Beverage Director David Kolvek, Sons & Daughters Will Emphasize Alpine Wines and Expand the Wine List to Complement the New-Nordic Inspired Menu

San Francisco, CA | October 24, 2023 – Sons & Daughters, the beloved Michelin-starred restaurant in San Francisco’s Nob Hill neighborhood, is pleased to introduce David Kolvek as its new Beverage Director. Opened in 2010, Sons & Daughters recently introduced Harrison Cheney as Executive Chef, who became the 2023 Michelin Guide California “Young Chef “ and the team is looking forward to welcoming Kolvek’s influence on the beverage program.

With a new focus on wines from mountainous regions, both the Alps and here on the West Coast, David Kolvek’s wine list pays homage to the winemakers toiling in those challenging alpine conditions. In addition to recalibrating the focus of wine regions, the format of the wine list is changing. “I wanted to create a wine list that reads like an atlas. Grouping wine regions not primarily by the country they’re in, but by the mountains, rivers, and coasts that influence them,” says David Kolvek. 

“We’re excited about David’s vision for our beverage program at Sons & Daughters. Like myself, he has a unique upbringing with international travels and experiences that will contribute to the evolution of our restaurant,” says Chef Cheney. “He has an acute understanding of how the Alpine regions of Switzerland, France, Italy, and others influenced winemaking in the U.S. and we’re looking forward to what he will bring to our table.” Kolvek and Cheney are working to challenge each other’s palates and expand the connection between food and drink. 

Kolvek’s passion for hospitality, food, and wine brought him to San Francisco and ultimately into his role as Beverage Director at Sons & Daughters. His gravitation towards creative thinking and educating guests about wine is what drives him. 

“I find joy in learning about wine: its history, place in culture, and the people that make it. It’s up to us to relay that knowledge in a way that our guests can connect with,” says Kolvek. “Wine has taught me a lot about the world. It’s like a liquid liberal arts education, and that’s what I want to share.” 

Kolvek grew up primarily in the Sea-to-Sky Corridor in British Columbia, after a short time living in Slovakia where his parents immigrated from. The Coast Mountains of the Pacific Northwest have been influential to his perspective. His family owned and operated a pizzeria and later a café outside of Vancouver, B.C. where Kolvek learned first-hand the importance of work. Later, Kolvek studied Computer Science & Business at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. Since moving to San Francisco over five years ago, he has held managerial positions at West Coast Wine Cheese and Birba Wine Bar before joining the Sons & Daughters team in October 2022. In 2023, Kolvek became a Certified Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers and received his WSET-3 Certification. He was named 2019 “Top 10 Sommelier in the Bay Area” in the Bordeaux Supérieur Wine Competition and is a California Wine Appellation Specialist.

At Sons & Daughters, Kolvek is looking forward to creating an Alpine driven wine list that pairs well with Chef Cheney’s cuisine. The new focus dovetails with the updates to the restaurant’s beverage program, which now features a new non-alcoholic beverage pairing that utilizes sustainable practices and techniques like lactic fermentation. With Kolvek’s influence, the wine list will expand its bottle selections, and feature labels that shine light on this often-overlooked wine category. Kolvek is confident that these unique Alpine wines pair perfectly with Chef Cheney’s acid-driven, New Nordic cuisine which highlights Northern California’s seasonality.

Sons & Daughters is located at 708 Bush St. San Francisco, CA 94108, and is open Tuesday through Saturday for dinner starting at 5:30 p.m. The tasting menu is priced at $229 per person served over the course of two and a half hours with an optional beverage pairing for $165 per person and the Non-Alcohol beverage pairing is $115 per person. Reservations can be made on Tock. 

SONS & DAUGHTERS (San Francisco, CA) — Sons & Daughters is an elevated, intimate 16-seat Michelin-starred restaurant in Nob Hill within walking distance of downtown San Francisco. Sons & Daughters, which earned 3.5 stars from the San Francisco Chronicle, offers a 18-serving tasting menu inspired by new Nordic flavors and is anchored in classic techniques and the seasonality of Northern California. Chef Teague Moriarty opened Sons & Daughters in 2010 and has since stepped away from the kitchen completely as the owner paving the way for Harrison Cheney, who joined the team in October 2022 and was appointed Executive Chef in January 2023, in the interim spending time taking the reigns and creating a new menu that reflects the restaurant’s ethos and his own culinary background. Chef Cheney is a force to be reckoned with having spent a moon quarter of his culinary career at two Michelin-starred Gastrologik in Stockholm. His pedigree also includes working with acclaimed Michelin-starred chefs Phil Howard at The Square in London and Michael Tusk at Quince, and at The Ledbury at Notting Hill. Cheney’s elevated and thoughtfully composed menu showcases modern, progressive dishes that imbue Nordic influence through acidity and balance, and highlight the abundance of locally sourced ingredients. Most recently, Harrison received the prestigious 2023 MICHELIN Guide California “Young Chef Award” and is honored to be in a position to inspire future generations within the restaurant industry. The wine program showcases an extensive, boutique selection of both classic and New World wines. Sons & Daughters is focused on sustainability by working directly with local growers, farmers and purveyors, minimizing food waste by using every part of the product and composting, and implementing mixed recycling – all with the goal of reducing the restaurant’s environmental footprint. Diners can anticipate a warm, welcoming atmosphere and high attention to detail when dining at Sons & Daughters. For more information, please visit www.sonsanddaughterssf.com, follow @sonsanddaughterssf on Instagram, and like on Facebook. 

The post Michelin-Starred Restaurant Sons & Daughters in San Francisco Appoints David Kolvek as New Beverage Director appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco is pleased to announce the appointment of Aimee King as Director of Sales and Marketing. King brings extensive knowledge in the San Francisco Bay Area’s hospitality sector and a proven track record of spearheading impactful marketing campaigns with her hands-on leadership, which will play a pivotal role at this landmark hotel.

As an experienced Director of Sales and Marketing, King has established an impressive background across a variety of esteemed San Francisco Bay Area hotels, including the Omni Hotel, Hotel Adagio, St. Regis and more. Most recently, she was the Director of Sales and Marketing for San Francisco’s Palace Hotel where she oversaw the revival and repositioning of the hotel post-pandemic. Her achievements extended to the creation and execution of a strategic partnership with AC Brands by Ayesha Curry, resulting in the hotel’s buzzy Afternoon Tea and Pop-Up shop programming.

Growing up in Yosemite National Park, Aimee enjoys spending her free time outdoors hiking the San Francisco Bay Area trails, and skiing Lake Tahoe with her husband and two sons.

Sales & Marketing San FranciscoCaliforniaUnited States

The post Aimee King has been appointed Director of Gross sales and Advertising and marketing at The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–President and Chief Executive Officer of Cathay General Bancorp and Cathay Bank, Chang M. Liu, has been appointed by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco to serve as a member on its Los Angeles Branch Board of Directors. Moreover, Mr. Liu has been elected as a California member director by the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco to serve a four-year term between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2026.

The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco represents the Twelfth District of the Federal Reserve System—the central bank of the United States. The Twelfth District comprises nine western states—Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington—plus the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and Guam.

The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco is a cooperatively owned wholesale bank helping local lenders in Arizona, California, and Nevada build strong communities, create opportunities, and improve lives.

“I am incredibly honored and excited to take on both of these new roles. I look forward to working with the San Francisco Fed and FHLBank San Francisco to help create new opportunities in the region and build strong communities,” said Mr. Liu

In addition to serving as a board member on the Board of Directors of Cathay Bank and its holding company Cathay General Bancorp, Mr. Liu’s directorship extends to serving on the board of directors of the Western Bankers Association, the Board of Advisors for the UCLA Anderson Forecast, the American Cancer Society’s CEOs Against Cancer group, and the Foothill Family Service.

About Cathay Bank

Cathay Bank, a subsidiary of Cathay General Bancorp (Nasdaq: CATY), opened its doors in 1962 in Los Angeles to serve the growing immigrant community. Today, we operate over 60 branches across the US, with a branch in Hong Kong, and representative offices in Beijing, Shanghai, and Taipei. While much has changed over six decades, our pursuit and dedication has only grown stronger. Then, now, and always, we go above and beyond, so you can, too. Learn more at cathaybank.com. FDIC insurance coverage is limited to deposit accounts at Cathay Bank’s US domestic branch locations.

The post Chang M. Liu Appointed to the Los Angeles Department Board of Federal Reserve Financial institution of San Francisco and Elected as California Member Director of the Federal Residence Mortgage Financial institution of San Francisco appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Ex-San Francisco DPW Director Sentenced to Seven Years in Corruption Case | Engineering News Record

This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.

This Website Uses Cookies
By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. LearnMore
This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.

The post Ex-San Francisco DPW Director Sentenced to Seven Years in Corruption Case appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Two weeks ago, I reported on the decision of the San Francisco Election Commission to not renew the term of John Arntz, by a 4-2 vote, who is completing his fourth 5-year stint as Director of the San Francisco Department of Elections. The one and only reason given by the Commissioners for not renewing his contract was that Arntz did not meet the diversity goals set forth in Mayor London Breed’s racial equity plan, and the Commission wanted to open the process to other candidates in order to fulfill those goals . John Arntz is a straight white male.

The outcry from San Francisco and across the nation was diluvian in nature. Conservative media had a field day poking fun at the Liberal bastion that is San Francisco, as the city by the bay seemed to be plumbing new depths of Woke identity politics. More telling though was the criticism emanating from Left-leaning circles in San Francisco and beyond.

Mayor London Breed herself, whose racial equity plan was cited as rationale for not reappointing the Director said that Arntz:

“Has served San Francisco with integrity, professionalism and has stayed completely independent. He’s remained impartial and has avoided getting caught up in the web of city politics, which is what we are seeing now as a result of this unnecessary vote. Rather than working on key issues to recover and rebuild our city, this is a good example of unfair politicization of a key part of our government that is working well for the voters of this city.”

California Liberal icon State Senator Scott Weiner (D-San Francisco) tweeted:

“When John Arntz took over as Director of Elections, the Department was a mess — remember ballot box tops floating in the bay? Arntz turned it around. It’s now one of our best run departments. Why on earth is the Elections Commission moving to dump this strong elections leader?”

The position of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors—the elected body responsible for funding the San Francisco Election Commission—was also critical of the racially motivated decision to sack Mr. Arntz.

District 3 Supervisor Aaron Peskin called the move to sack Arntz “Bananas.” More pointedly, Peskin went on to proclaim, “The remarks from Commissioners are ripe for a discrimination lawsuit.”

Yet, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors did not just offer critical commentary, they took it one step further. The San Francisco Elections Commission simply does not have a set budget. Chris Jerdonek, the President of the Commission was informed that the Mayor’s office and the Board of Supervisors would just not provide the estimated $50,000 necessary for the Election Commission to hire a firm to conduct a search for a new Elections Director. The Board of Supervisors was unanimous in their decision. This maneuver in and of itself did not sit well in some circles. Several government advocacy groups confronted the Board of Supervisors with accusations that withholding funds from the Commission was tantamount to interfering in their autonomy which was set in their charter when the Commission was created in 2002.

Jerdonek wrote in an email that not providing funding for a Director’s search would be “undermining” the Commission’s oversight mandate and prevent the Commission from hiring an Elections Director—a responsibility specifically enumerated in that charter.

Election Commissioner Cynthia Dai said:

“Having to beg for the money every five years — it certainly undermines our independence.”

The last time the Commission was funded for and employed a search firm for the Director’s position was in fact twenty years ago when John Arntz was first appointed.

Commissioners said the fact they don’t have funding “highlights a weakness” in the charter. Perhaps so, but arguably the fact that the Commission would relieve a highly qualified and respected public servant of his job simply because he does not check any of the diversity boxes would highlight that the body ought not have any autonomy in the first place.

There are those who have speculated that the real motivation behind the decision to not renew Arntz was based on his apparent recalcitrance to seek out and employ an open-source voting system for San Francisco elections. Open-source voting allows any member of the public to view the code used to ultimately tabulate ballots. And even if Arntz had been slow to embrace this technology for San Francisco, this appears as nothing more than a red herring in order to refocus the public’s view away from the Commission’s blatant race-based motivations.

In a meeting of the Commission on Monday, it became apparent that a combination of the public outcry backing reappointment of Arntz, the risk of a time consuming and costly discrimination lawsuit, and a lack of funding to conduct a search for a new director, has saved John Arntz from the chopping block. The Commission passed a resolution to consider in January renewing Arntz to a new 5-year term as Elections Director, effectively backtracking on an effort to replace him. Language coming from both the Election Commission meeting on Monday and then the Supervisors’ meeting on Tuesday reflected a need and desire to work together to satisfy funding needs of the Commission when they should arise in the future.

Election Commissioner Lucy Bernholz perhaps had the most insightful and meaningful comment at their meeting when she said at Monday’s meeting:

“It is incumbent upon this commission to rectify the damage done by the previous decision as quickly as possible. Not only have we inflicted damage on the department, we’ve made ourselves an unreliable, untrustworthy body, and until we fix that, all of the work we’ve done on other issues is out the window.”

John Arntz has indicated that he will accept a new five-year term as elections director when it is officially offered to him.

In reporting the actions and motivations behind the Election Commission’s shockingly embarrassing announcement recently, I had related my love for the literary tool known as alliteration. I then ascribed to the Commission and those of their ilk the alliterative moniker Loony Left—a term reserved for the most radical of Progressives. In spite of their apparently coerced policy reversal, the San Francisco Election Commission can without a doubt still be considered loony. Yet, their recognition of a looming legal liability and lack of largesse from the Board of Supervisors, has led to a brief encounter with logic and level-headedness. Time will tell just how long that lasts.

The post San Francisco Elections Fee Backtracks on Sacking Director John Arntz appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 16, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco today announced the results of its 2022 director elections.

FHLBank San Francisco’s members elected Gary L. Trujillo to a nonmember independent director position. Mr. Trujillo is the founder and serves as president and CEO of Southwest Harvard Group, LLC, at an investment firm and family office in Phoenix, Arizona. He is also executive chairman of the Standard Printing Company, Inc.

Mr. Trujillo has been a serial entrepreneur for over 30 years with significant experience as a CEO, financier, founder, operator, and independent corporate board member, including serving on three publicly traded company boards and multiple privately owned company boards in the technology, healthcare , auto, real estate, and financial services industries. Mr. Trujillo is also recognized nationally as a dedicated community leader, having co-founded the Be A Leader Foundation in 2002, an education-focused nonprofit serving more than 14,000 students per year.

The Bank’s California members elected Chang M. Liu as a California member director. Mr. Liu is president and CEO of Cathay Bank and its holding company Cathay General Bancorp, where he serves on both entities’ board of directors. Mr. Liu has over 31 years of experience in the financial services industry. Mr. Liu joined Cathay Bank in 2014 as senior vice president and assistant chief lending officer. He has held various leadership positions of increasing responsibilities, including executive vice president and chief lending officer in 2016 and chief operating officer in 2018.

Before being named president, Mr. Liu was responsible for managing and overseeing all commercial and real estate lending, business development, and various operations. Mr. Liu also serves as a member of the Western Bankers Association board of directors and the American Cancer Society’s CEOs Against Cancer group, on the board of advisors for the UCLA Anderson Forecast, and serves on the board of directors of Foothill Family Service.

The Bank’s Arizona members re-elected Brian M. Riley as an Arizona member director. Mr. Riley is a director for the Oxford Life Insurance Company in Phoenix, Arizona.

Each of these three positions has a four-year term beginning January 1, 2023, and ending December 31, 2026.

Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco

The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco is a member-driven cooperative helping local lenders in Arizona, California, and Nevada build strong communities, create opportunity, and change lives for the better. The tools and resources we provide to our member financial institutions-commercial banks, credit unions, industrial loan companies, savings institutions, insurance companies, and community development financial institutions-foster homeownership, expand access to quality housing, seed or sustain small businesses, and revitalize whole neighborhoods. Together with our members and other partners, we are making the communities we serve more vibrant, equitable, and resilient.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8e480285-232a-4910-b4a7-15ee401363ce

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b74b0418-d09e-4709-b4a4-b013aa936112

Contact: Mary Long, (415) 572-6717 longm@fhlbsf.com

Copyright 2022 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

The post Federal House Mortgage Financial institution of San Francisco Declares 2022 Director Election Outcomes | Information appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

SAN FRANCISCO – Former San Francisco City Hall public official Mohammed Nuru agreed in a plea agreement filed today to plead guilty to honest services wire fraud, announced Acting United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Craig D. Fair, and Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Mark H. Pearson.  

Today’s development follows the January 15, 2020, 79-page federal complaint filed against then San Francisco Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Mohammed Nuru charging him with public corruption and describing a long-running scheme involving multiple bribes and kickbacks during his tenure as DPW’s Director.  Nuru, 59, of San Francisco, served as DPW’s Director from 2011 until charges were brought against him in 2020.  Nuru was also charged in a second federal complaint filed on January 28, 2020, with lying to a federal agent in the course of the San Francisco City Hall corruption investigation.  Today, in anticipation of entering his plea agreement resolving his cases, Nuru was arraigned today on an information – a charging document – that charges him with his sweeping scheme to defraud the San Francisco public of its right to his honest services in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343 and 1346.

“Mohammed Nuru admits to a staggering amount of public corruption in his plea agreement,” said Acting United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds.  “For years, Nuru held a powerful and well-paid public leadership position at San Francisco City Hall, but instead of serving the public, Nuru served himself.  He took continuous bribes from the contractors, developers, and entities he regulated.  He now faces a prison sentence for enriching himself at the expense of the public as he sat in high office.  Federal authorities will investigate public corruption wherever it leads in San Francisco and throughout the district.”  

“Today’s announcement, while significant, is by no means the end of the FBI’s investigation into the corrupt conduct we have uncovered in San Francisco city government,”  said FBI Special Agent in Charge D. Fair.  “We will continue to hold accountable those who seek to personally benefit by corrupting the fair administration of public business and we will persist in our commitment to protect the integrity of the institutions that serve the people of San Francisco.”

“Our communities place great trust and responsibility in our public figures.  Mohammed Nuru ultimately betrayed this trust when he abused his power to defraud the City and County of San Francisco and its people,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Mark H. Pearson.  “We will not tolerate public corruption and will hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.  Today’s guilty plea is a direct result of the hard work and dedication of IRS Criminal Investigation and our law enforcement partners towards obtaining justice.”

Nuru signed today’s plea agreement and the agreement has been filed with the United States District Court in preparation for Nuru’s upcoming appearance to enter his guilty plea orally.  As the plea agreement outlines, before Nuru was appointed Director of DPW in 2011 he became DPW’s Deputy Director of Operations in 2000.  The Deputy Director of Operations is DPW’s second most senior position, behind only the Director.  In 2014, Nuru was also appointed to the Board of the Transbay Joint Powers Authority (TJPA) and eventually served as its Chair.  As Deputy Director and eventually Director of DPW, and as Chair of the TJPA, Nuru exercised great influence over San Francisco (the City) business and policy, including public contracts, permits, and construction projects.  His power and influence extended beyond DPW’s jurisdiction to numerous other City departments and agencies, making him one of the most powerful public officials in the City.

Nuru admits in his plea agreement to a spectrum of public corruption involving bribery and kickbacks he received while in DPW leadership.  His admissions are summarized below:

Walter Wong:

In his plea agreement, Nuru admits he received a stream of bribes from Walter Wong.  Wong did business in the City through Walter Wong Construction, among other businesses. In exchange for Wong’s bribes, Nuru helped Wong secure City contracts.  Sometimes Nuru provided Wong with confidential insider City information on competitors’ bids or specifications.  At other times Nuru allowed Wong to structure the requirements for the City’s Request for Proposals (RFP) for projects ahead of time, to tailor their requirements to ensure that Wong’s company would be the most-qualified bidder.  Nuru also helped Wong expedite permit approvals.

Nuru admits in his plea agreement that his “corrupt relationship” with Wong began in approximately 2008 when Nuru was the Deputy Director for Operations at DPW.  Wong installed a gate for free at Nuru’s San Francisco home in exchange for future business with DPW and the City. Wong continued to perform construction services for free, or nearly free, at Nuru’s San Francisco home and later primarily at Nuru’s vacation ranch property in Colusa County. 

Nuru admits that, in exchange for Wong providing construction and other things of value, he exercised his official influence and took actions to benefit Wong.  In one example outlined in the plea agreement, Nuru used DPW’s emergency contract process, which did not require a public bidding process, to direct construction work to Walter Wong Construction on a navigation center located at 1515 South Van Ness Street and on the Jelani House (a housing shelter), resulting in City payments to Wong’s company during fiscal years 2017-2018 and 2019-2020.  In another example, Nuru used his position and official influence to direct DPW, the Market Street Association, and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission to purchase Christmas lights from one of Wong’s businesses, regularly leading to tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of purchases.

Nuru further admits in his plea agreement that:

 o between approximately 2008 and January 2020, Wong provided in excess of $260,000 in labor and materials for work on Nuru’s San Francisco home and Colusa County ranch.
 o Wong paid for home furnishings for Nuru, including a chandelier, kitchen appliances, and furniture.
 o Wong paid for Nuru to travel to China multiple times and to South America on one occasion, which included reimbursing Nuru in cash for the cost of international flights.  Wong paid for Nuru and Sandra Zuniga, his girlfriend at the time, to accompany Nuru to South America and paid for their stay at the Ritz-Carlton in Santiago, Chile. 
 o On multiple occasions, Wong handed Nuru envelopes of cash, often as much as $5,000 at a time. 

Walter Wong was charged in June 2020 with conspiracy to defraud the public of its right to honest services and with conspiracy to engage in money laundering, both involving Nuru.  Wong entered a guilty plea and agreed to cooperate with the government’s San Francisco City Hall corruption investigation.

Multimillion-Dollar Mixed-Use Development:

Nuru admits he received free travel, gifts, and benefits, for working with Walter Wong to use Nuru’s official position to benefit a billionaire developer from China, referred to as DEVELOPER 1 in the plea agreement, who was developing a large multimillion-dollar mixed use project in San Francisco.  Wong, who worked as a consultant for DEVELOPER 1 on several of his large developments in the City, introduced Nuru to DEVELOPER 1.  Nuru met with Wong, another Department of Building Inspection official, DEVELOPER 1, and others over dinner on multiple occasions and discussed DEVELOPER 1’s projects.  Nuru never paid for the dinners.  Nuru admits that he also met with DEVELOPER 1 multiple times in China.  According to Nuru, DEVELOPER 1 owned multiple hotels in China, including five-star hotels.  Nuru received gifts from him, including free hotel stays. 

Nuru admits that, in exchange, he used his official position and influence to help DEVELOPER 1 obtain necessary approvals for his large, multimillion-dollar mixed-use project.  Nuru admits, among other things, that he told Sandra Zuniga that DEVELOPER 1 was upset because he had spent large amounts of money and had provided “a whole list of things” that Nuru said “we need to get done[.]”  Nuru admits that whenever DEVELOPER 1 or one of his employees notified him of an issue, Nuru directed one of his DPW managers to solve the problem and expedite the process.  Nuru also used his official influence with other City officials to solve problems encountered by DEVELOPER 1 that fell within the other City officials’ area of responsibility.

Recology:

Recology Inc. is a waste management company headquartered in San Francisco and the parent company of Sunset Scavenger Company, Golden Gate Disposal & Recycling Company, and Recology San Francisco (referred to as the “SF Recology Group” and, collectively with Recology Inc., as “Recology”).  Recology Inc. provided refuse collection and disposal services for residential and commercial customers in the City, as well as for the City itself, through the SF Recology Group.

As Director of DPW, Nuru presided over the process governing the rates Recology could charge in San Francisco.  Nuru recommended to the Rate Board whether to approve any rate increase for Recology.  Nuru also influenced “tipping fee” rates that Recology charged DPW when DPW dumped materials at a Recology facility, Sustainable Crushing.  Nuru could approve, deny, or affect operational changes that Recology wanted to make in San Francisco which, Nuru admits in his plea agreement, gave him the ability in his official capacity to affect Recology’s business. 

Nuru admits he accepted numerous valuable items from Recology and used his official position to help Recology’s business.  Among other things, Recology paid for soil to be delivered to Nuru’s ranch property in Colusa County, for expensive meals for Nuru, and for a two-night trip to New York on the City’s business in December 2017. 

Nuru admits that he also requested Recology to pay, and Recology did pay, hundreds of thousands of dollars to a San Francisco non-profit (Non-Profit A) in the form of donations for a cleaning program known as Giant Sweep.  Non-Profit A would then donate the payments to another non-profit that administered funds for the Giant Sweep program.  Nuru admitted he could then access the funds for a variety of other uses—including procuring goods and services for staff meals and appreciation events, volunteer programs, merchandise, community support, and events from specific vendors—in addition to their originally designated purpose for Giant Sweep.  From 2014 through the end of 2019, Recology donated approximately $150,000 per year for Giant Sweep, in $30,000 installments—for a total of approximately $750,000.

Nuru also admits he requested Recology hire his son.  Recology hired him and paid him, between 2015 and 2017, approximately $17,000.  Recology also funded a paid internship for Nuru’s son at a different non-profit organization and, between 2017 and 2018, paid approximately $23,600 to fund the paid internship.

Nuru admits he requested that Recology fund his DPW holiday parties.  Between 2016 and 2019, Recology paid approximately $60,000 for that purpose.  Recology made the payments through the Lefty O’Doul’s Foundation, a non-profit organization run by Nick Bovis. 

Two former Recology executives, Paul F. Giusti and John F. Porter, have been charged in this investigation.  Giusti was charged in November 2020, and Porter was charged in April 2021.  Both men were charged with bribery of Nuru and money laundering involving Nuru.  Giusti pleaded guilty in August 2021 to engaging in a conspiracy to bribe Nuru and is cooperating with the government’s San Francisco City Hall corruption investigation.  Porter’s charges remain pending.

The three subsidiaries of Recology, Inc. now have new leadership and have implemented enhanced corporate compliance programs to end any corrupt practices.  Recology resolved corporate charges brought against them through a deferred prosecution agreement with the government.  Pursuant to the agreement, the companies paid a $36 million fine, agreed to implement enhanced corporate compliance programs, and agreed to fully cooperate in the government’s San Francisco City Hall corruption investigation.

Nick Bovis:

Nuru admits in his plea agreement that he received multiple bribes from restaurateur Nick Bovis.  The bribes were in exchange for Nuru using his official acts and influence to assist, or to promise to assist, in public business opportunities with the City.  The bribes included free meals and entertainment for Nuru, his family, and associates at restaurants owned by Bovis and thousands of dollars in free appliances for Nuru’s ranch property.  Nuru also anticipated and expected tens of thousands of dollars in kickbacks from proceeds that Bovis would earn from the City concessions or contracts awarded due to Nuru’s official acts or influence to assist Bovis.

In one plea agreement example, Nuru admits he helped Bovis in a plan to win a bid for a restaurant lease at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).  Bovis expected to make money from the SFO concession, and Nuru expected Bovis would continue to provide bribes in exchange for Nuru’s help with the airport concession process and other public contracts.

In another example, Nuru admits he gave Bovis a price list of appliances that Nuru wanted for his ranch in or about 2018, a time when Bovis was seeking Nuru’s assistance with the SFO concession and other City business opportunities.  Bovis purchased the appliances and brought them to Nuru’s ranch.  Nuru accepted them as an exchange for his continued official acts and influence to help Bovis, and he did not pay for them.  The appliances were worth approximately $22,000.

Nick Bovis pleaded guilty in May 2020 to wire fraud and honest services wire fraud involving Nuru and agreed to cooperate in the government’s San Francisco City Hall corruption investigation. 

Florence Kong:

Nuru admits in his plea agreement that he accepted a gold Rolex watch from Bay Area businesswoman Florence Kong.  The watch was valued at approximately $36,550.  Nuru admits he used his official position to benefit Kong’s businesses and did so in exchange for the Rolex and for cash, free meals, and other items of value provided by Kong, including an iron fence that Kong installed at Nuru’s ranch.  In one example, Nuru states that he used his official position to direct business to SFR Recovery Inc., a recycling business that Kong owned. 

Florence Kong was charged and pleaded guilty to bribery of Nuru and to making false statements to FBI agents during the investigation.  She was sentenced in February 2021 to one year and one day in prison and ordered to pay a $95,000 fine.

Balmore Hernandez, William Gilmartin, & Alan Varela:

Nuru admits in his plea agreement that between 2013 and January 2020 he accepted a series of bribes and kickbacks from Balmore Hernandez, William Gilmartin, and Alan Varela in exchange for past and future official actions benefitting their City business ventures.  Nuru received free meals and entertainment, cash, and free labor and materials for his ranch – including a brand new tractor.  Nuru also expected to receive a portion of the proceeds  from anticipated City contracts awarded to them or their associates as a result of Nuru’s official acts or influence on their behalf.

In one example, Nuru admitted he helped Varela and Gilmartin’s joint venture win a DPW supply contract and a related lease with the Port of San Francisco (the “Port”) to operate an asphalt recycling plant and a concrete plant on the Port’s land.  In the early stages, Nuru helped the group prepare their proposal by providing them inside non-public information on the project.  The non-public information was delivered to Hernandez through emails or phone calls or through regular dinning meetings in San Mateo with Gilmartin and Hernandez.  Gilmartin paid approximately $20,000 for the dinners, with the parties agreeing that Nuru’s dinners were worth approximately $7,000.

Nuru admits that Gilmartin promised him $100,000 for his official assistance to pressure a large developer to select one of Gilmartin and Varela’s joint-venture partners for a large project in San Francisco.  The large developer complied with Nuru’s request because, as Nuru admits, the large developer needed DPW approvals for the project and for other large developments in the City.

Nuru admits that he received approximately $25,000 in cash from Hernandez and received approximately $250,000 in free labor and materials from Hernandez at Nuru’s ranch. 

Nuru also requested the group give him a tractor.  In February 2019, Alan Varela delivered a new tractor to the Nuru’s ranch, a benefit valued at approximately $20,000.

Balmore Hernandez was also charged in connection with this investigation.  He pleaded guilty to honest services wire fraud in October 2020 and agreed to cooperate in the government’s San Francisco City Hall corruption investigation. 

William Gilmartin was charged in connection with this investigation.  He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud in May 2021 and agreed to cooperate in the government’s San Francisco City Hall corruption investigation.
Alan Varela was charged in connection with this investigation.  He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and was sentenced in September 2021 to two years in prison and ordered to pay a $127,000 fine. 

Sandra Zuniga Money Laundering:

Nuru admits that in or about 2010 he bought a 10-acre lot in Colusa County and developed it into his vacation ranch with free labor and materials provided by City contractors seeking favors from him. Nuru admits he also used the proceeds of his crimes to pay the mortgage.  To conceal and launder the source of the proceeds, Nuru states he funneled the money through Sandra Zuniga who made the monthly $1,000 mortgage payments out of her checking account. Nuru admits that from 2014 through August 2017, he typically gave Zuniga approximately $1,000 per month, generally in cash, and she deposited the money into her bank account.  She then made the $1,000 payment towards the mortgage.  In this way, Zuniga paid at least $42,000 of the mortgage.

Zuniga was charged and pleaded guilty in March 2021 to engaging in a conspiracy to launder money with Nuru.  She agreed to cooperate in the government’s San Francisco City Hall corruption investigation.

Other Bribes:

Nuru admits in his plea agreement that around 2018 he accepted a bribe of $20,000 in cash from a former government employee in exchange for Nuru using his position to help a particular person obtain an engineering job with the City. Nuru received the cash in three installments of $10,000, $5,000, and $5,000.  Ultimately, the individual failed to maintain employment with the City.

Nuru also admits he accepted cash bribes from a prominent developer in San Francisco.  The cash bribes usually consisted of a few thousand dollars.  The developer would later call Nuru when he had any problems with DPW-related approvals or other matters that Nuru could help resolve. 

In his plea agreement, Nuru admits guilt and agrees to plead guilty to one count of honest services wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343 and 1346.  If convicted of the count, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or not more than the greater of twice the gross gain or twice the gross loss of the crime. 

The government indicates in the plea agreement its intent to ask for up to a 108 month (9 year) sentence for Nuru.  However, any sentence imposed by the court will follow only after the court’s consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

Today, in a procedural step towards orally entering his guilty plea, Nuru was arraigned and pleaded not guilty before United States Chief Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Spero to an information charging him with a count of honest services wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343 and 1346. 

Nuru’s next appearance is currently set before United States District Judge Susan Illston on January 14, 2022, at which he is currently scheduled to formally enter his guilty plea pursuant to his plea agreement.  Nuru remains out of custody on bond.
.
This case is part of a larger federal investigation targeting public corruption in the City and County of San Francisco.  To date, 12 individuals and three corporate entities have been charged, including two high-ranking San Francisco public officials, Nuru and Harlan Kelly.  Multiple city contractors and facilitators have been charged.  Allegations in the complaint filed against Harlan Kelly assert that he received thousands of dollars in airfare, meals, jewelry, and travel expenses, along with repair work on his house.   

The case is being prosecuted by the Corporate and Securities Fraud Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.  The case is being investigated by the FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation. 

The post Former San Francisco Public Works Director Admits To String Of Briberies And Corruption Throughout Years In Workplace | USAO-NDCA appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

SAN FRANCISCO – Former San Francisco City Hall public official Mohammed Colin Nuru was sentenced today to 84 months (7 years) in federal prison for honest services wire fraud, announced United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan, and Internal Revenue Service—Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Mark H. Pearson. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge William H. Orrick.

Nuru, 59, was first arrested on January 17, 2020, following the filing of a 79-page federal criminal complaint against him. Nuru was then the Director of the San Francisco Department of Public Works (DPW) and had held that position since 2011, when he was elevated from the DPW Deputy Director of Operations position that he had held since 2000. The complaint charged Nuru with honest services Fraud in public office, alleging a long-running scheme of bribes and kickbacks during his DPW tenure. A second federal complaint filed January 28, 2020, charged Nuru for lying to a federal agent following his arrest.

On January 6, 2022, Nuru pleaded guilty to the charge of defrauding the public of its right to his honest services, in violation of 18 USC §§ 1343 and 1346.

“Mohammed Nuru’s prison sentence is punishment for more than a decade of public corruption,” said United States Attorney Stephanie Hinds. “As San Francisco’s Department of Public Works Deputy Director and then its Director, Nuru owed the people of San Francisco a duty of faithful, honest services. Instead, he betrayed that duty. For at least twelve years, Nuru shook down contractors eager for city business, trading his authority and influence for millions of dollars in cash, construction work, travel, meals, and gifts. His abhorrent conduct erodes the public’s trust in its government, and this case demonstrates the justice system can and will punish corrupt public officials.”

“Mohammed Nuru’s long-running scheme of bribes and kickbacks ultimately earned him seven years in prison. Today’s sentence sends a clear message that public officials who abuse their power for personal gain will be punished,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan. “The FBI’s investigation into this case is not over. We will continue to unravel and disrupt corruption within the city of San Francisco.”

“Corruption happens in the shadows, often with the help of professional enablers who perpetuate fraudulent schemes and the corrupt who launder and hide their illicit wealth. The Oakland Field Office of IRS Criminal Investigation has dedicated resources to unraveling the truth behind the extensive web of corruption, which Mohammed Nuru presided over, during his tenure leading the San Francisco Department of Public Works,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Mark H Pearson. “Today’s sentencing is a true reflection of the collaborative commitment between IRS-CI, the FBI, and the USAO-NDCA to protect public welfare, the people in our communities, and bring justice to light.”

In his plea agreement, Nuru admits to a pervasive corruption scheme involving bribery, kickbacks and fraud that spanned at least his last 12 years in office. During that time, Nuru sat not only as Deputy Director of Operations and then Director at DPW but also as a member of the Board of the Transbay Joint Powers Authority (TJPA). Appointed to the TJPA board in 2014, Nuru eventually became his Chair. From these positions, Nuru exercised substantial power and influence over San Francisco (the City) business and policy, including its public contracts, permits, and construction projects. Nuru’s authority made him a powerful public official in the city.

Nuru’s admissions detail his broad array of graft in office, and a sample of them are below:

Walter Wong: Nuru’s corrupt relationship with San Francisco-based contractor Walter Wong began in 2008. Nuru accepted envelopes of cash containing as much as $5,000 at a time from Wong, and Wong bribed Nuru with more than $260,000 in construction labor and materials provided to Nuru’s San Francisco home and his vacation ranch property located in Stonyford in Colusa County. Wong also paid for Nuru to travel to China multiple times and to South America, footing the bill for international flights and a stay at the Ritz-Carlton in Santiago, Chile, for Nuru and his then-girlfriend Sandra Zuniga, another city official. In exchange, Nuru helped Wong secure City contracts by structuring the City’s Request for Proposals (RFPs) to ensure Wong’s company secured the contract, by providing Wong with confidential information on competitors’ bids, and by helping Wong expedite permit approvals.

Recology: Recology Inc. is a waste management company headquartered in San Francisco and the parent company of Sunset Scavenger Company, Golden Gate Disposal & Recycling Company, and Recology San Francisco (collectively referred to as Recology) that provided collection and disposal services for residential and commercial customers located in the city and for the city itself. In his DPW Director’s position, Nuru presided over the process governing the rates that Recology could charge, including “tipping fee” rates that Recology charged DPW when DPW dumped materials at a Recology facility. In exchange for favorable treatment from Nuru, Nuru describes that Recology bribed him with soil delivered to his Colusa County ranch, expensive meals, and a two-night trip to New York in December 2017. At Nuru’s request, Recology also donated hundreds of thousands of Dollars to a San Francisco non-profit for a cleaning program that Nuru could access and use for other purposes, and Recology further funded DPW holiday parties with $60,000 in donations. Recology also arranged and funded the hiring of a Nuru family member.

Nick Bovis: Nuru received multiple bribes from restaurateur Nick Bovis, including free meals and entertainment for Nuru, his family, and associates at restaurants owned by Bovis and thousands of dollars in free appliances for Nuru’s ranch property. Nuru also expected tens of thousands of dollars in kickbacks from proceeds that Bovis would earn from City concessions or contracts awarded to Bovis. In exchange, Nuru used his official acts and influence to assist Bovis in obtaining public business and contracts with the City.

Florence Kong: Nuru accepted a gold Rolex watch valued at $36,550, cash, and an iron fence installed at Nuru’s ranch from businesswoman Florence Kong. In exchange, Nuru used his official position to benefit Kong’s businesses, including a recycling business owned by Kong.

Balmore Hernandez, William Gilmartin, & Alan Varela: In a series of bribes and kickbacks from Balmore Hernandez, William Gilmartin, and Alan Varela, Nuru received a brand new tractor for his vacation ranch, free meals, and cash. Nuru also expected to receive a portion of the proceeds from anticipated City contracts awarded to them. In exchange, Nuru exercised his official authority and influence to benefit their City business ventures.

These are just examples of some of the bribes Nuru admitted in his plea agreement. Multiple other individuals paid Nuru in exchange for favorable official acts from him.

In addition to the sentence of imprisonment, United States District Judge William H. Orrick ordered a three year term of supervision of Nuru upon his release from prison. He also ordered the forfeiture to the United States of Nuru’s vacation ranch property in Stonyford, California. Nuru will surrender to begin serving his sentence on January 6, 2023.

This case is part of a larger federal investigation targeting public corruption in the City and County of San Francisco. To date, twelve individuals and multiple corporate entities have been charged, including another high-ranking San Francisco public official, the former San Francisco Public Utilities Commission General Manager Harlan Kelly. Charges against Harlan Kelly remain pending. Multiple city contractors and facilitators have also been charged.

The case is being prosecuted by the Corporate and Securities Fraud Section of the US Attorney’s Office. The case was investigated by the FBI and IRS-CI.

The post Former San Francisco Public Works Director Sentenced To Seven Years In Federal Jail | USAO-NDCA appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

SAN FRANCISCO – Former San Francisco City Hall public official Mohammed Colin Nuru was sentenced today to 84 months (7 years) in federal prison for honest services wire fraud, announced United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan, and Internal Revenue Service—Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Mark H. Pearson. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge William H. Orrick.

Nuru, 59, was first arrested on January 17, 2020, following the filing of a 79-page federal criminal complaint against him. Nuru was then the Director of the San Francisco Department of Public Works (DPW) and had held that position since 2011, when he was elevated from the DPW Deputy Director of Operations position that he had held since 2000. The complaint charged Nuru with honest services Fraud in public office, alleging a long-running scheme of bribes and kickbacks during his DPW tenure. A second federal complaint filed January 28, 2020, charged Nuru for lying to a federal agent following his arrest.

On January 6, 2022, Nuru pleaded guilty to the charge of defrauding the public of its right to his honest services, in violation of 18 USC §§ 1343 and 1346.

“Mohammed Nuru’s prison sentence is punishment for more than a decade of public corruption,” said United States Attorney Stephanie Hinds. “As San Francisco’s Department of Public Works Deputy Director and then its Director, Nuru owed the people of San Francisco a duty of faithful, honest services. Instead, he betrayed that duty. For at least twelve years, Nuru shook down contractors eager for city business, trading his authority and influence for millions of dollars in cash, construction work, travel, meals, and gifts. His abhorrent conduct erodes the public’s trust in its government, and this case demonstrates the justice system can and will punish corrupt public officials.”

“Mohammed Nuru’s long-running scheme of bribes and kickbacks ultimately earned him seven years in prison. Today’s sentence sends a clear message that public officials who abuse their power for personal gain will be punished,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan. “The FBI’s investigation into this case is not over. We will continue to unravel and disrupt corruption within the city of San Francisco.”

“Corruption happens in the shadows, often with the help of professional enablers who perpetuate fraudulent schemes and the corrupt who launder and hide their illicit wealth. The Oakland Field Office of IRS Criminal Investigation has dedicated resources to unraveling the truth behind the extensive web of corruption, which Mohammed Nuru presided over, during his tenure leading the San Francisco Department of Public Works,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Mark H Pearson. “Today’s sentencing is a true reflection of the collaborative commitment between IRS-CI, the FBI, and the USAO-NDCA to protect public welfare, the people in our communities, and bring justice to light.”

In his plea agreement, Nuru admits to a pervasive corruption scheme involving bribery, kickbacks and fraud that spanned at least his last 12 years in office. During that time, Nuru sat not only as Deputy Director of Operations and then Director at DPW but also as a member of the Board of the Transbay Joint Powers Authority (TJPA). Appointed to the TJPA board in 2014, Nuru eventually became his Chair. From these positions, Nuru exercised substantial power and influence over San Francisco (the City) business and policy, including its public contracts, permits, and construction projects. Nuru’s authority made him a powerful public official in the city.

Nuru’s admissions detail his broad array of graft in office, and a sample of them are below:

Walter Wong: Nuru’s corrupt relationship with San Francisco-based contractor Walter Wong began in 2008. Nuru accepted envelopes of cash containing as much as $5,000 at a time from Wong, and Wong bribed Nuru with more than $260,000 in construction labor and materials provided to Nuru’s San Francisco home and his vacation ranch property located in Stonyford in Colusa County. Wong also paid for Nuru to travel to China multiple times and to South America, footing the bill for international flights and a stay at the Ritz-Carlton in Santiago, Chile, for Nuru and his then-girlfriend Sandra Zuniga, another city official. In exchange, Nuru helped Wong secure City contracts by structuring the City’s Request for Proposals (RFPs) to ensure Wong’s company secured the contract, by providing Wong with confidential information on competitors’ bids, and by helping Wong expedite permit approvals.

Recology: Recology Inc. is a waste management company headquartered in San Francisco and the parent company of Sunset Scavenger Company, Golden Gate Disposal & Recycling Company, and Recology San Francisco (collectively referred to as Recology) that provided collection and disposal services for residential and commercial customers located in the city and for the city itself. In his DPW Director’s position, Nuru presided over the process governing the rates that Recology could charge, including “tipping fee” rates that Recology charged DPW when DPW dumped materials at a Recology facility. In exchange for favorable treatment from Nuru, Nuru describes that Recology bribed him with soil delivered to his Colusa County ranch, expensive meals, and a two-night trip to New York in December 2017. At Nuru’s request, Recology also donated hundreds of thousands of Dollars to a San Francisco non-profit for a cleaning program that Nuru could access and use for other purposes, and Recology further funded DPW holiday parties with $60,000 in donations. Recology also arranged and funded the hiring of a Nuru family member.

Nick Bovis: Nuru received multiple bribes from restaurateur Nick Bovis, including free meals and entertainment for Nuru, his family, and associates at restaurants owned by Bovis and thousands of dollars in free appliances for Nuru’s ranch property. Nuru also expected tens of thousands of dollars in kickbacks from proceeds that Bovis would earn from City concessions or contracts awarded to Bovis. In exchange, Nuru used his official acts and influence to assist Bovis in obtaining public business and contracts with the City.

Florence Kong: Nuru accepted a gold Rolex watch valued at $36,550, cash, and an iron fence installed at Nuru’s ranch from businesswoman Florence Kong. In exchange, Nuru used his official position to benefit Kong’s businesses, including a recycling business owned by Kong.

Balmore Hernandez, William Gilmartin, & Alan Varela: In a series of bribes and kickbacks from Balmore Hernandez, William Gilmartin, and Alan Varela, Nuru received a brand new tractor for his vacation ranch, free meals, and cash. Nuru also expected to receive a portion of the proceeds from anticipated City contracts awarded to them. In exchange, Nuru exercised his official authority and influence to benefit their City business ventures.

These are just examples of some of the bribes Nuru admitted in his plea agreement. Multiple other individuals paid Nuru in exchange for favorable official acts from him.

In addition to the sentence of imprisonment, United States District Judge William H. Orrick ordered a three year term of supervision of Nuru upon his release from prison. He also ordered the forfeiture to the United States of Nuru’s vacation ranch property in Stonyford, California. Nuru will surrender to begin serving his sentence on January 6, 2023.

This case is part of a larger federal investigation targeting public corruption in the City and County of San Francisco. To date, twelve individuals and multiple corporate entities have been charged, including another high-ranking San Francisco public official, the former San Francisco Public Utilities Commission General Manager Harlan Kelly. Charges against Harlan Kelly remain pending. Multiple city contractors and facilitators have also been charged.

The case is being prosecuted by the Corporate and Securities Fraud Section of the US Attorney’s Office. The case was investigated by the FBI and IRS-CI.

The post Former San Francisco Public Works Director Sentenced To Seven Years In Federal Jail | USAO-NDCA appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Suzanne Ford

Since the end of February 2022, Suzanne Ford has served as the Interim Executive Director of San Francisco Pride. Her leadership, along with that of President Carolyn Wysinger, has made the organization woman-strong during an important year when the 52-year-old organization is preparing for its first in-person Pride Parade and Celebration since 2019. Ford, who previously served on the boards of Trans Heartline and the Spahr Center, is more than up for the daunting tasks ahead.

An advocate for the transgender and gender nonconforming communities, Ford has plenty of nonprofit as well as small business savvy. The Owensboro, Kentucky, native owned a coffee house in Louisville before moving to the Bay Area about 14 years ago.

GGBA: Tell us about San Francisco Pride and its business structure.

Suzanne Ford: San Francisco Pride is an LGBTQ+ nonprofit organization. The mission of SF Pride’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Transgender Committee is to educate the world, commemorate our heritage, celebrate our culture, and liberate our people. Before the pandemic, SF Pride welcomed over a million attendees to San Francisco for the parade and festival on the last weekend of June. While we’ve continued to celebrate Pride during the last two years, we cannot wait to take back Market Street and San Francisco’s Civic Center!

SF Pride crowd at Main Stage

GGBA: In a nutshell, how did SF Pride start, and what drew you to it?

Suzanne Ford: Crazy queer people came together 52 years ago to protest for our rights while showing our fabulous community to the world here in San Francisco. I grew up knowing that if I came here, I would find my people. I want SF Pride to be here for generations to come in order to provide a beacon of hope.

GGBA: Who are some of your role models, and especially those who helped to influence your work here for the LGBTQ community?

Suzanne Ford: Theresa Sparks, current Executive Director of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, is my role model. She used her experience in private business to work tirelessly for the trans community. I hope to do the same. Additionally, social activist Nikki Calma, also known as Tita Aida, has paved the way for trans people at SF Pride. I can always count on her support and she has been a tremendous help through my own work at SF Pride.

GGBA: Why did you decide to join the GGBA, and how long have you been a member?

Suzanne Ford: We are new members! I was excited to join so that SF Pride could become even more integrated into the LGBTQ+ business community of San Francisco. I look forward to connecting with the queer entrepreneurs of the city for important discussions.

GGBA: How has being a member of GGBA helped your work so far?


Suzanne Ford: Being a member of GGBA enabled us to connect with members regarding SF Pride’s return to an in-person celebration this year. We look forward to finding more allies in the group for our work, building and strengthening our partnership with GGBA members.

https://sfpride.org/

GGBA Calendar

Thursday, May 5
Boost Your Business Growth Through Brand Building
9am-10am
Virtual/Webinar

Fire. When you hear the word, what do you think of? Is it just a compelling logo or tagline? How does your brand impact your business bottom line? In this Partner Digital Series workshop hosted by Google and Canva during National Small Business Week, we’ll be exploring what makes a strong brand, why it’s important for your business, and how to create a style guide and brand kit to build better brand consistency and attract more customers. https://tinyurl.com/3nrpuztc

Thursday, May 5
Preparing to pop up
2pm – 3:30pm

Join the Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center and the GGBA for a virtual workshop that will teach you how to identify the tools and resources you need to Pop-Up while helping you navigate the necessary permits you must obtain. https://tinyurl.com/3ackanjw

Friday, May 20th
GGBA Ambassador Club
5:30pm – 6:30pm
LocationTBD

The GGBA Ambassador Club helps celebrate and support LGBTQ+ and allied businesses in the Bay Area and is open to all GGBA members.
https://tinyurl.com/nhpeenp3

Friday, June 17
GGBA’s Annual Event: Power Connect 2022
9am-4pm
SOMArts
934 Brannan Street, SF

Everything is different in 2022, it seems, so we’ll be tackling big issues under the theme “The New World of Business,” with highly curated experiences centering on the interests and needs of our member businesses and corporate partners.
Some of the new elements we are introducing are:

• strategic networking with business-to-business and business-to-corporation matchmaking;
• food and drink options hosted by our local members;
• keynotes and workshops focused on supplier diversity, the challenges and opportunities of the future, and tools for success in the new world of business.

Tickets: $95 for Members ($70 Early Bird Ends on May 17!); $125 for Non-Members https://tinyurl.com/bddwzwj6

Published on May 5, 2022

The post GGBA Member Highlight: Suzanne Ford, Interim Government Director of SF Satisfaction – San Francisco Bay Occasions appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.