Economics

National Black MBA Association Leaders of Tomorrow Awards

Published

8 years ago

November 25, 2017

Dion Williams, Mamie Williams, Deborah Watson, Anna Smith, Gwendolyn Smith, Edward Thomas, Lamont Watson at the National Black MBA Association’s Leaders of Tomorrow Awards.

Nestled in the Oakland Hillsat the Highlands Country Club, the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of the National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) hosted its 2017 Leaders of Tomorrow (LOT) Honors Night on Saturday, November 18. Guests enjoyed entertainment by Oakland’s own Kev Choice and Friends and the velvety voiced KBLX broadcaster, Armand Carr, served as master of ceremonies.

Keynote speaker, Tariq Meyers Head of Inclusion and Diversity of Lyft shared how his work at the Greenlining Institute prepared him for leadership with the ride share titan.

The NBMBAA – SF Bay Area Chapter has operated for nearly 30 years developing partnerships that create intellectual and economic wealth in the Black community.

Deborah Watson, President of the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter, was proud to announce a new collaboration with Salesforce as well generous support from Macy’s and Kaiser. Watson also discussed how two of her chapter’s students had the opportunity to compete at the annual business conference in Chicago.

“We want to expand on what we’ve begun and keep the momentum going,” said Watson. “We will continue our leadership panel discussions with LinkedIn and provide resources and programs for entrepreneurs college students and career professionals.”

Honorees included Yvette Radford Vice-President External and Community Affairs who received the Special Recognition Award. Kaiser Permanente and Nicole Mason, Director of Marketing Strategy for Macy’s received the Partner in Learning Award. The Trailblazer Award was presented to Merrill Lynch’s Director Supervision Executive Wealth Management Michelle Avan and Leyla D. Seka, Executive Vice President at Salesforce received the Community Partner of the Year Award. Jacqueline Jones, Manager of Engagement and Development Programs, at LinkedIn received the Corporate Award.

A special presentation of scholarships was provided by Marilyn Galiothe.

The NBMBAA-SF announced their undergraduate scholarship winner E’Loni Morris for her “Oakland and the World Enterprise” essay. Morris is a first generation college student at San Francisco State University. The graduate scholarship winner was Caron Gugssa-Howard for her “The San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of the National Black MBA Association” essay. Gugssa-Howard is an MBA candidate at the Lory I. Lokey School of Business and Public Policy at Mills College and currently an MBA fellow at ICA Fund Good Jobs.

The event raised funds to benefit the National Black MBA’s Leaders of Tomorrow program to mentor and coach high school students in leadership, social engagement and goal setting.

“Providing deserving students who are excelling with scholarships is our goal. This will have a major impact on their educational options,” said Watson.

At last year’s inaugural LOT Honors, with support from Hands Helping Hands, the NBMBAA-SF was also able to award $10,000 in scholarships to two Bay Area students.

“We utilize five channels of engagement, including career, education, entrepreneurship, leadership and lifestyle, said Watson. “Nationally, the organization has awarded $5 million dollars in scholarships to deserving youth and minority students and we strive to increase awareness and facilitate access to graduate and business education programs within management fields.”

For more information, visit www.nbmbaa-sanfrancisco.org

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Oakland Post: Week of February 11 = 17, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – February 11 – 17, 2026

Published

10 hours ago

February 16, 2026

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California Launches Study on Mileage Tax to Potentially Replace Gas Tax as Republicans Push Back

Under current law, California depends heavily on revenue from the gas tax to fund roads, highways, and infrastructure, but those revenues are projected to shrink as electric vehicle use grows and overall gasoline consumption drops. The mileage study would look at a “road charge” system where drivers pay based on how many miles they drive, rather than how much gas they buy.

Published

6 days ago

February 10, 2026

Oakland Post

Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City is the author of AB 1421. File photo.

By Tanu Henry, California Black Media

California lawmakers are moving forward with a study to explore a mileage-based tax as a potential replacement for the state’s traditional gas tax — a shift supporters say is driven by declining fuel tax revenues as more drivers switch to fuel-efficient and electric vehicles.

The research, tied to Assembly Bill (AB) 1421, would extend and support work by the state’s Road Usage Charge Technical Advisory Committee through 2035.

The bill does not yet enact a new tax. Instead, it extends the study and advisory work until 2035 and would have the Legislature receive findings and recommendations, with a report due by Jan. 1, 2027.

Republicans in the California Legislature have been vocal in their opposition. Assembly Republican Leader Heath Flora criticized the proposal.

“We already pay the highest gas taxes in the nation. Now Sacramento is talking about adding a new tax for every mile people drive,” Flora said. “Piling on another tax right now shows just how out of touch politicians in Sacramento are with the reality working families face.”

The plan has drawn broader GOP criticism from leaders outside the Legislature as well. California Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton called a mileage fee “absolutely outrageous” and said, if elected, he would veto the tax, adding that tracking and charging drivers for every mile is unacceptable.

Supporters say the study is a pragmatic response to long-term funding challenges.

On the Assembly Floor on Jan. 29, Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D–Suisun City), the bill’s author, said that California’s transportation funding is “becoming less stable, less equitable, and less sustainable as more drivers switch to fuel-efficient and zero-emission vehicles.”

“Drivers using the same roads often pay different amounts for that use,” Wilson continued. “Low income and rural commuters who must drive farther and less efficient vehicles can pay more while others contribute less despite roadway impacts.”

Wilson and other supporters contend that a per-mile road charge could ensure that all drivers contribute fairly to the costs of maintaining roads, regardless of the type of vehicle they drive.