Suzanne Shank, co-founder of Siebert Cisneros Shank & Co., was honored at the Black Girls Rock! 2017 award show, the BET television network’s annual celebration of top African-American women in the fields of finance, entertainment and politics.
Shank, who is the CEO of one of the nation’s top minority- and woman-owned investment firms, was presented with the 2017 Shot Caller Award at the Aug. 5 ceremony. She was recognized for being an accomplished pioneer in the world of finance and a role model for African-American women and girls throughout the country.
The show will air on Tuesday, Aug. 22, on BET.
Shank was presented the award by actor Wood Harris, who appeared in the films “Remember the Titans” and “Creed,” as well as in the TV show “the Wire,” at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, N.J. The event was hosted by “Empire” star Taraji P. Henson and featured performances by SZA, Anthony Hamilton and Ledisi.
Other award winners included U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters; singer Roberta Flack; actress Yara Shahidi from the hit show “Black-ish;” Isaa Rae, the writer, actress, producer and creator of “Insecure;” pop star Solange Knowles; and community organizers Derrica Wilson and Natalie Wilson of the Black & Missing Children Foundation.
“I am humbled to share the stage with these talented and dynamic black women,” Shank said. “I came from modest beginnings but had encouragement from my parents and mentors that allowed me to achieve a level of success I never imagined. I hope my path serves as an example and provides encouragement to girls and young women to dream big and to pursue their dreams fully. Investment bankers don’t often get to walk the red carpet, rub elbows with Hollywood A-listers and hold up statues. It was a thrill and an honor to be recognized by Beverly Bond, the show’s creator, and BET.”
Last year, the firm celebrated its 20th anniversary. Shank is majority owner of the firm while Henry Cisneros, former U.S. Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development and former Mayor of San Antonio, is the second largest equity partner.
Other partners include former New York City Comptroller William Thompson, who is the firm's Chief Administrative Officer and a Managing Director; Sean Duffy, Managing Director of Institutional Sales; equity partner Victor Miramontes, previously CEO of the North American Development Bank; and Gary Hall, national head of investment banking and based in California.
Dually headquartered in New York and Oakland, Calif., SCSCO has 17 offices nationwide. It has transacted more than $1.4 trillion of municipal bonds and $1.1 trillion of corporate bond and equity transactions since its founding. In 2010, it became the first minority-owned firm in America to rank among the top 10 senior managers of municipal bonds and has ranked as the No. 1 minority- and woman-owned municipal finance firm for 18 straight years.
