12/31/2008 GAAS:852:08 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Print Version |
Governor Schwarzenegger Announces Appointments
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the following appointments.
Daniel Adler, 45, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to the California Film Commission. He is a longtime entertainment and new media executive and consultant and has served as founder and principal of media consultancy Media Eagles since 2005. Additionally, Adler founded and has served as chief executive officer of Fanista.com since 2006. He was the chief strategic officer of the Convex Group from 2003 to 2005 and served as the head of the new media department at Creative Artists Agency (CAA) from 1999 to 2003. From 1996 to 1999, Adler worked as the vice president of creative development for Walt Disney Imagineering and, from 1995 to 1996, he was the vice president of talent and business development for Disney Interactive. Adler previously worked at CAA as a new media agent from 1991 to 1995, a motion picture agent from 1989 to 1991 and an agent-trainee from 1986 to 1989. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Adler is a Democrat.
Sharon Aungst, 51, of New York, NY, has been appointed chief deputy secretary of the division of correctional health care services for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Since March 2008, she has served as associate director of the evidence-based practices technical assistance center in the division of mental health services and policy research for the New York State Psychiatric Institute. From 2007 to January 2008, Aungst served as an assistant commissioner for policy and planning for the division of mental hygiene at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and, from 2005 to 2007, she was an account manager and director of children’s services for Comprehensive NueroScience. Aungst served as assistant deputy director for the Ohio Department of mental health from 2000 to 2005 and was chief executive officer at the United Methodist Children’s Home from 1998 to 2000. From 1995 to 1998, she worked for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC) and was a key leader in the successful resolution of Dunn v. Voinovich, a federal class action suit related to inadequate mental health services. Aungst also served DRC as chief of forensic and psychiatric services from 1990 to 1994 and program director for the Office of Psychiatric Services from 1987 to 1990. In 1981 to 1987, she served as the facility director at Associated Patient Services This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $170,004. Aungst is a Democrat.
Sylvia Cates, 58, of Sacramento, has been appointed chief counsel for the State Lottery Commission. She has served as a deputy legal affairs secretary for the Office of Governor Schwarzenegger since 2007. Cates has been a practicing attorney for 25 years. Before joining the Office of the Governor, she served as staff counsel for the Department of Water Resources in 2006 and as an attorney in private practice from 1993 to 2005, specializing in regulatory, environmental, natural resources and Indian law and policy. Cates also has served as an attorney and advisor to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, as an associate at the law firms of Piper & Marbury and Ware & Freidenrich and as assistant tribal attorney for the White Mountain Apache Tribe in Arizona. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $126,588. Cates is a Democrat.
Mary Evert, 63, of San Diego, has been reappointed to the Board of Occupational Therapy. She has served on the board since 2005. Evert has served as a strategic change management consultant, advising corporations and associations since 1998. Additionally, she serves as a part-time faculty member at Webster University and taught a graduate course on health care policy from 1999 to 2006. Previously, Evert worked as an adjunct assistant professor at the Washington University School of Medicine where she worked with the program in occupational therapy from 1992 to 2000. She worked for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services where she served as director of the Office of Community Services for the family support administration unit from 1987 to 1989, executive assistant to the assistant secretary of health resources and services administration in 1987 and deputy assistant secretary of health from 1986 to 1987. Evert was an occupational therapy supervisor at the Children’s Hospital and Health Center from 1970 to 1973. She is the U.S. Delegate and member of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Evert is a Republican.
Paul Feist, 48, of Stockton, has been appointed chief deputy cabinet secretary in the Office of the Governor. From 2007 to 2008, he served as assistant secretary for communications at the Labor and Workforce Development Agency. From 1999 to 2007, Feist worked for The San Francisco Chronicle as the California statehouse editor from 2001 to 2007 and Contra Costa bureau chief from 1999 to 2001. He worked for The Stockton Record from 1986 to 1999, where he served as the metro editor form 1994 to 1999, enterprise editor from 1993 to 1994 and a reporter from 1986 to 1993. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $116,004. Feist is registered decline-to-state.
Bonnie Garcia, 46, of Cathedral City, has been appointed to the Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board. From 2002 to 2008, she represented the 80th district in the California State Assembly. During her term, Garcia was vice-chair of the Committee on Jobs and Economic Development and the Committee on Housing. She also served as a member of the Select Committee on California-Latin American Affairs and Committees on Governmental Organization, Community Colleges, Workforce Investment, Mobile Homes and Children’s Physical and Mental Well-Being. Garcia earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education and workforce development from Southern Illinois University. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $128,109. Garcia is a Republican.
Lisa Grod, 53, of West Hills, has been appointed administrator for the William J. “Pete” Knight Veterans Home - Lancaster. From 2007 to May 2008, she served as administrator for Tarzana Health and Rehabilitation Center, Tarzana and, from 2005 to 2007, Grod was the executive director for Buena Vista Care Center. She was the physical therapy assistant for Preferred Healthcare Registry from 2001 to 2005 and the academic coordinator of clinical education and instruction for Mount Saint Mary’s College from 1996 to 2001. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $98,844. Grod is a Republican.
Miriam Barcelona Ingenito, 37, of Elk Grove, has been appointed deputy director of legislation for the Department of Finance. Since 2001, she has served as a principal consultant for the Senate Committee on Appropriations. Prior to that, Ingenito served as an assistant to the secretary for policy and program analysis at the California Resources Agency from 1999 to 2001 and was a fiscal and policy analyst at the Legislative Analyst’s Office from 1997 to 1999. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $103,824. Ingenito is a Democrat.
Brent Jamison, 34, of Sacramento, has been appointed assistant deputy director for the Office of Policy and Legislative Review for the Department of Consumer Affairs. He has worked for the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research as deputy director of legislation since 2006 and previously served as senior legislative analyst from 2004 to 2005. Jamison served as a law clerk for the Law Offices of Dan Brace in 2003 and for the U.S. Department of Justice in the environmental enforcement section from 2001 to 2002. This appointment does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $90,480. Jamison is a Republican.
Janet Knutsen, 55, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to the California Film Commission. Since 2004, she has worked as a producer for the television show “Boston Legal.” From 1997 to 2004, Knutsen worked as a production manager and producer for the television show “The Practice” and, from 1987 to 1997, she worked as a first assistant director on several feature films and syndicated television shows including “NYPD Blue.” Knutsen worked as the director of several episodes of the syndicated television show “Sisters” from 1994 to 1995 and worked on contract as a second assistant director on feature films, including “Rocky IV” from 1980 to 1987. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Knutsen is a Democrat.
Brenda Manke, 50, of Northridge, has been appointed administrator for the Ventura Veterans Home. She served as administrator for the West Hills Health and Rehabilitation Center from 2007 to July 2008, The Center at ParkWest from 2002 to 2007 and the Jewish Home for the Aging from 2000 to 2002. Manke also served as the administrator for Valley Palms Care Center from 1985 to 2000. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $98,844. Manke is a Republican.
George Plescia, 43, of La Jolla, has been appointed to the Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board. From 2002 to 2008, he represented the 75th district in the California State Assembly. During his tenure in the Assembly, Plescia served as vice chair of the Committee on Governmental Organization and as a member on the Committee on Budget, the Committee on Health and the Committee on Revenue & Taxation. He was also appointed to the Select Committee on Biotechnology and the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. Prior to that, Plescia served as regional director for California State Senator Bill Morrow from 1997 to 2002 and was a legislative aide for California State Assemblyman Bill Morrow from 1994 to 1997. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $128,109. Plescia is a Republican.
Jennifer Rockwell, 38, of Sacramento, has been appointed chief counsel for the Department of Finance. Since 1999, she has served as a deputy attorney general for the California Attorney General’s Office. Prior to that, Rockwell worked for the State Treasurer’s Office, where she served as staff counsel from 1996 to 1999 and was an executive fellow from 1995 to 1996. She earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Davis. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $119,424. Rockwell is registered decline-to-state.
Bobbi Jean Tanberg, 39, of Downey, has been reappointed to the Board of Occupational Therapy. She has served on the board since 2007. Since 1997, Tanberg has served as a certified occupational therapy assistant for the Center for Applied Rehabilitation Technology at the Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center. She also co-founded the Know Barriers Program at the Los Amigos Research and Education Institute. Tanberg is a member of the Occupational Therapy Association of California, American Occupational Therapy Association, Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America and serves as vice president for the Los Angeles County Commission for Women. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Tanberg is registered decline-to-state.
Robert Tse, 54, of Elk Grove, has been appointed deputy secretary for trade development for the Department of Food and Agriculture. He has served as director of trade for the Department of Food and Agriculture since 2005 and was senior policy advisor and western states domestic liaison for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service from 1992 to 2005. Tse served as vice president of Franklin Park Builders from 1982 to 1989. He earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Boston College Law School, a Master of Science degree in agricultural economics from Purdue University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in American history from Brown University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100,428. Tse is registered decline-to-state.
C.C. Yin, 72, of Vacaville, has been appointed to the State Lottery Commission. Since 1984, he has owned and operated McDonald’s franchises in Solano and Yolo Counties. Prior to that, Yin worked as a structural engineer at Flour Corporation from 1971 to 1984, Bechtel Corporation from 1969 to 1971 and Austin Company from 1966 to 1969. He is a member of the Vacaville Chamber of Commerce, Napa-Solano Chamber of Commerce, Vacaville Rotary Club and Vacaville Police Activities League. Additionally, Yin is a founding member and has served as chairman of the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Yin is a Republican.
