Siebert CEO Named to List of America's African-American Leaders

Suzanne Shank, president and chief executive officer of Siebert Brandford Shank & Company LLC, has been named to "The Grio's 100" list for 2013.

Created by The Grio, an online news and opinion platform devoted to the African-American audience, the 100 List identifies what the publication believes to be the next generation of African-American leaders making a difference in the lives of all Americans.

According to The Grio, Shank was included in the list because her company was the first minority-owned and female-owned company to make the list as one of the top municipal finance firms in revenue in 2010. The Grio also noted that Shank was placed on the monthly magazine Black Enterprise's list of the 75 Most Powerful Blacks on Wall Street in 2011, and she was also recognized as one of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania's 125 Influential People and Ideas.

In 2009, Shank was included in American Banker's list of the Top 25 Nonbank Women in Finance.

"I am honored to be identified in such distinguished company and as someone who has made a difference to both the African-American community and our nation," Shank said in a statement. "I am especially proud that our firm is so instrumental in helping secure funding for the next generation of important public infrastructure projects including schools, housing, hospitals, roads, bridges, airports transportation, utilities and so much more."

Others on the Grio's 100 list include actor Kerry Washington, syndicated talk show host and former NFL star Michael Strahan, television personality Wendy Williams, New York Knicks star Amare Stoudemire and Washington Redskins quarter back Robert "RG3" Griffin III.

Shank earned her bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and worked as an engineer with General Dynamics working on submarines. She then earned her MBA in finance from Wharton, and began her career in municipal finance in 1986.

Ten years later, Shank co-founded Siebert Brandford & Shank along with Napoleon Brandford, a 25-year veteran of the business, and Muriel Siebert, the first woman to ever hold a seat on the New York Stock Exchange.

Since the firm was created, it has managed over $800 billion in principal amount of funds. In 2011 alone, the municipal bond underwriter managed transactions exceeding $54 billion.