Former SF Mayor Brown appointed to Fairfield's MV Transportation Inc board

Article Last Updated: Wednesday, Aug 31, 2005 - 10:59:25 pm PDT

Former SF Mayor Brown appointed to MV board

By Jeff Mitchell

FAIRFIELD - A Fairfield-based transportation company had a little political stardust sprinkled onto its board of directors with the recent appointment of former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown Jr.

The flamboyant former mayor and speaker of the California Assembly will join the board of MV Transportation Inc., a national provider of school busing services.

"I am absolutely thrilled and excited that MV has attracted such talented business professionals to assist in steering the company to the next level," Alex Lodde, chairman of the board and company co-founder said in a statement.

Brown was first elected to the California Assembly in 1964 as one of only four African-American members. In 1974, he was elected speaker. In 1995, he was elected as mayor of San Francisco serving two terms.

The company's chief executive officer, Jon Monson, hailed Brown's addition to the board.



"Mayor Brown is one of the brightest and most astute politicians ever elected in California. In addition, he understands business issues especially as they relate to government," Monson said Wednesday. "As all of our customers are government agencies, he will bring a unique perspective to our boardroom. As a lifelong advocate of civil rights, he will continue to lead our firm from a moral perspective."

Joining Brown on the board will be William Blair & Co. analyst Jeff Germonatta, and Fastenal Chief Operating Officer Nicholas Lundquist, company spokeswoman Nikki Frenney said.

Prior to the new appointments, the company was led by a four-member board comprised of Alex and Feysan Lodde, Monson and David Sams, former president of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. and principal of financial services firm Otter Cove Associates.

MV Transportation at a glance

-- Founded in 1976 by husband-and-wife team Alex and Feysan Lodde, MV is based in Fairfield and is the leading private firm specializing in public transportation contracting.

-- The Loddes began MV with a single van operating paratransit service in San Francisco. The company now has more than 8,500 employees and operates buses for 140 clients in 23 states.

-- MV Transportation, Inc., is the nation's largest African American and woman-owned private provider of public transportation services.

-- In early 2005, MV was recognized as the 15th largest African-American company in the country by Black Enterprise Magazine. In 2004, the company made its second debut on Inc. magazine's list of Fastest-Growing Private Companies.

Source: MV Transportation, Inc.