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Port Commission honors President Kimberly Brandon after 28 years of service
Summary
At its April meeting, the Port of San Francisco honored President Kimberly Brandon for 28 years on the Port Commission and read a proclamation recognizing her leadership on waterfront revitalization, equity initiatives and resilience planning.
President Kimberly Brandon, who has served on the Port Commission for 28 years, received tributes and a proclamation at the Port of San Francisco’s meeting on April 22, 2025, where commissioners, staff and elected officials celebrated her retirement.
Executive Director Elaine Forbes opened the meeting with a sustained tribute, calling the day "a monumental day in the history of the port" and crediting Brandon with pioneering community advisory groups and advancing resilience planning. Forbes said Brandon "led a multi year effort to establish a partnership with the US Army Corps of Engineers" to prepare the waterfront for sea‑level rise and listed projects overseen during her tenure, including the James R. Herman Cruise Ship Terminal, Pier 70 restoration, Crane Cove Park and Bayview Gateway.
The nut graf: Commissioner statements and recorded messages emphasized Brandon’s role in centering equity and community benefits in port projects, supporting small local businesses, and steering recovery efforts during crises such as the COVID‑19 pandemic. Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, in a recorded message, praised Brandon as “a financial powerhouse, a civic leader, and a proud San Franciscan.”
Port staff and community voices recounted specific programs and initiatives Brandon championed. David Beaupre of planning and environment, Don Kavanaugh (senior property manager), Diane Oshima (recorded remarks), and others highlighted the creation of the Southern Waterfront Advisory Committee, the Bayview Rise project and work to expand contracting opportunities for local business and historically underinvested neighborhoods.
Commissioners offered personal reflections at the dais. Vice President Veil Gilman credited Brandon with mentoring commissioners and pushing the commission to address equity in contracting, and Commissioner Willie Adams described her as "meticulous" and steadfast on labor and public‑benefit issues. The executive director read a proclamation from Supervisor Shamann Walton acknowledging Brandon’s service and listing major capital projects and planning efforts under her leadership.
The meeting closed with applause, a photo opportunity and a motion to adjourn “in the awesomeness of President Kimberly Brandon.”
