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You are viewing: News and Events: Press Releases:
Good Vibrations Celebrates President & CEO Sparks’ Election as Head of SF Police Commission

For Immediate Release

May 18, 2007

For more information:
Dr. Betty Sullivan
Good Vibrations Press Contact
(415) 503-1375
bettys@goodvibes.com


Good Vibrations Celebrates President & CEO Sparks’
Election as Head of SF Police Commission

Click to download a high res image. Images courtesy Good Vibrations.

SAN FRANCISCO - (May 18, 2007): The phones have not stopped ringing at Good Vibrations headquarters on Howard Street since the election last week of the company’s President & CEO Theresa Sparks as President of the San Francisco Police Commission.

“We are pleased as punch and we’re planning a celebration,” said Good Vibrations spokeswoman Dr. Betty L. Sullivan. “I’ve watched the leadership positions held by Theresa Sparks evolve since 2000, and her talents were evident from early on. Theresa’s election as Police Commission President is a logical progression. All of us at Good Vibrations are proud and supportive of her work as a civic leader and as the business leader of our company.”

Margaret Cho, the popular entertainment industry star who hails originally from the Bay Area, serves as a member of the Good Vibrations Board of Directors. Speaking from her home near Hollywood, Cho said, “With Theresa as President of the San Francisco Police Commission, I actually feel safe in the City! I wish she would come down to Los Angeles and help us out with our cops!”

Historic Election of Commissioner Sparks
Sparks made history on May 9th as the first transgender woman elected to head a major metropolitan city’s police commission in the United States. She becomes the highest ranking openly transgender city official ever in San Francisco.

California Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), who selected Sparks as Woman of the Year in 2003 from legislative District 13 which he represents, said, “Theresa’s election holds great meaning for a community which has endured widespread discrimination and violence. But her achievement is broader than that as the entire City will benefit from her leadership, professionalism and sound judgment.”

Of her election to head the Commission Sparks said, “While I think it is important to recognize the historic step my colleagues on the Commission have taken to make San Francisco a city in which everyone, regardless of our race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity, can meaningfully contribute, I am most excited about this opportunity to represent all of the people of San Francisco.”

Sparks has identified police transparency, violent crime and narcotics as major issues police should address, and she seeks greater community involvement during her tenure. “We have some serious violent crime issues in San Francisco, as do all major urban areas in the United States, and it is time for serious people to come together and address these issues,” said Sparks.

Sparks has served on the Police Commission since 2004, having been appointed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, one of that body’s first ever appointees to the powerful Commission. She has been an advocate for the transgender community and helped develop in 2003 the transgender-specific policy reforms adopted by the Police Commission.

Sparks Career and Leadership of Good Vibrations
Sparks career has included diverse roles from heading multinational corporations in the US and Europe to driving a cab in San Francisco and serving as office manager for a political campaign. Her first job at Good Vibrations was in shipping and packing during a holiday season. She was subsequently appointed as Chief Financial Officer and became President and CEO in 2006.

Under her leadership, Good Vibrations has expanded from a Bay Area-based business to a national brand with the addition of its fourth store in Boston and the development of its e-commerce and retail divisions.

Having recently completed a major redesign of its web site to improve imagery and functionality, Good Vibrations is set to launch in June a major new public education campaign, “Women Like Me,” providing new resources, accurate information and helpful products for women. The campaign, which will unfold over a series of months, will address issues and concerns related to sexuality and sexual expression that are faced by women during the course of a lifetime. Included will be menopause, body image, breast health, rediscovering intimacy and more.

To launch the new education campaign, Good Vibrations will co-sponsor a benefit performance of “Menopause The Musical®” at Theater 39 on Wednesday, June 13th. The event will support women’s health for under insured and uninsured women.

About Good Vibrations
Good Vibrations is the San Francisco-based retailer trusted for three decades to provide a comfortable, safe environment for finding sex-positive products and educational materials to enhance one’s sex life. Good Vibrations offers its products through its retail stores, mail order catalog and its ecommerce website at www.goodvibes.com.

PRESS REQUESTS:
Theresa Sparks, Good Vibrations president and CEO, is available for interview upon request. Please contact Betty Sullivan: 415-503-3175.

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