Black Chamber of Commerce
holds awards ceremony
By Clifford L. Williams
Four African-American
leaders got top awards from the San Francisco African-American
Chamber of Commerce (SFAACC) at their annual Juneteenth
business and awards luncheon.
Honorees are:
• Timothy Alan Simon,
Esq., Commissioner with the California Public Utilities
Commission, received the 2007 Visionary Award;
• Linda
S. Crayton, Sr. Director of Government Affairs for
Comcast, received the 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award;
• James
McGhee, President of JLM Management Group, was acknowledged
as City Purchaser, PUC, UCSF, SFCC Chamber Micro-Business
Set-aside Program; and
• Alfred Williams, President
of the San Francisco African American Historical Society,
was recognized for his historical interpretation of
the “Implementation of San Francisco’s
Slavery Ordinance.”
The theme of this year’s
luncheon, held at the San Francisco Marriott, was to
promote the economic agenda of the black community
by advocating government and corporate contracts, developing
strategic corporate partnerships and providing a single
voice to shape economic and public policy.
Keynote
speaker was Maya Harris, Executive Director of the
American Civil Liberties Union – Northern California.
As head of the 72-year-old organization, Harris, who
was appointed to her post in October 2006, oversees
the work of 50 staff member, including nine attorneys
and three lobbyists in Sacramento. With 55,000 members,
the ACLU-NC is the largest affiliate in the nation.
Reverend Amos Brown, pastor of the Third Baptist Church,
gave a rousing oratorical welcome.
Lynette Sweet, President
of BART’s Board of Directors, served as mistress
of ceremonies. officially began the program citing
this year’s theme of “Building Stronger
Partnerships, Resources and Collaborations.”
The
SFAACC is one of California’s most influential
minority business organizations, representing and promoting
African- American contactors and business owners in
San Francisco.
