Mel Dinkel, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer for the Conservancy, was among 10 finalists for CFO of the Year, a recognition forum focused on the Los Angeles business community and sponsored for the first time this year by the Los Angeles Business Journal. Yearly, that publication recognizes top CEOs in a similar forum.

A weekly publication reaching the business community throughout the Los Angeles metropolitan area, the Journal enjoys a circulation of 16,222. Publisher Matthew A. Toldeo in his remarks at a banquet held in honor of finalists commented that "a good CFO is the fiscal architect of a successful business, applying rare skills and expertise to keep a company's cash flow black instead of red."

In a special supplement built around the prestigious award, listed among accomplishments that won Dinkel finalist status was development of sustainable business models for the Conservancy. The models aim at ensuring the organization has the necessary funding to protect and restore Catalina's wildlands and make them available for public enjoyment in perpetuity.

Dinkel commented that he was "honored by the recognition," but more importantly, was "grateful to the LA Business Journal for recognizing the exceptional work that the Conservancy does protecting and restoring the wildlands of Catalina Island."

Dinkel has served at his post for the Conservancy and has lived and worked on Catalina for the past four years. He previously served as Vice President of Operations with Marconi Communications for seven years, and prior to that, was with General Electric for 20 years.

For more information visit www.CatalinaConservancy.org