Pleasanton Man Nominated for Bay Area CFO of the Year

Patrick O'Brien, Chief Financial Officer of Leisure Sports, Inc. and President of the Alameda County Fair Association board has been nominated for Bay Area CFO of the Year, according to a press release.

He will be recognized at an awards ceremony from 6-9 p.m. June 1 at the Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco.

"Patrick has deep roots in community service and he is a driving force in the success of the Alameda County Fair Association," said Rick Pickering, CEO of the Alameda County Fairgrounds, in a statement.

"His leadership as a fair board officer has assisted us in being recognized as one of the top 50 fairs in North America."

O'Brien said in the release that he is honored to be nominated.

"Just to be considered with the caliber of the other nominees is an honor itself," he said.

Larkin Street Youth Services, in partnership with the San Francisco Business Times, present the awards — now in their sixth year. The event recognizes unsung heroes who have played a critical role in the success of their companies, according to the release. It also is meant to honor those who improve the quality of life in their communities.

Last year's event attracted nearly 500 Bay Area financial and business leaders and this event has raised a total of nearly $2 million over the past five years to benefit Larkin Street Youth Services. For more than 26 years, that organization has provided services for thousands of youth who find themselves living on the street through no fault of their own, according to the release.

For more information about the awards, click here.

The fair association is a non-profit organization that works to maintain and enhance the facilities at the fairgrounds, which are in Pleasanton.

The association bought the 268-acre fairgrounds in the 1930s and deeded the property to Alameda County in the 1940s.

With the oldest one-mile race track in America, the association hopes to continually enhance its horse training and racing program in Pleasanton, according to the release.

This year's fair runs from June 22 - July 10, and will be celebrating 99 years.