BROOKS, Calif. – The Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians recently announced Steve Sakurai as the new chief investment officer. Sakurai brings more than 20 years of finance and sustainable development experience to the position.

Sakurai has worked in private and public sectors, and is most known for his financing and investment expertise. He has structured, facilitated and issued in excess of $3 billion of financing across various asset classes and across multiple real estate segments. He is also an adjunct faculty member at California State University – Sacramento in its public policy department, where he develops and coordinates a graduate course on sustainable development and green building, which focuses on the challenges and opportunities that the built environment plays on climate change. He holds a Bachelor of Science in business, finance and real estate and land use affairs from the university.

Sakurai worked previously with the State of California’s sustainable development team, where he developed and implemented California’s Sustainable Communities Grant and Loan Program, which helps local governments, cities and counties with healthy community growth efforts

“Maintaining a healthy community is one of our most important commitments as a sovereign nation,” said Tribal Chairman Marshall McKay. “Mr. Sakurai shares with us the vision of strong management of our financial assets and strategic investments, and will help to secure and guide us in the future.”

“I am honored to join a very talented team and look forward to getting to work and help negotiate through these dynamic global financial and real estate markets,” Sakurai said.

In this position, Sakurai will oversee all tribal investment funds and serve as a spokesperson to the investment community regarding the tribe’s financial investment performance, and will present a clear picture of the tribe’s goals and accomplishments. He will also be responsible for designing, developing and implementing programs that will help acquire new investment opportunities for the tribe.