SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:
Elena Chávez Quezada, 43, of San Francisco, has been appointed Senior Advisor on Social Innovation for the Office of the Governor. Chávez Quezada has been Chief Impact Officer of End Poverty in California (EPIC) since 2021. She was Vice President of Programs for the San Francisco Foundation from 2020 to 2021, where she was Senior Director for People Pathway from 2018 to 2020. She was Senior Program Officer for Economic Security at the Walter & Elise Haas Fund from 2015 to 2018, Senior Program Officer of Tipping Point Community from 2011 to 2015 and Program Director of Single Stop USA from 2008 to 2011. Chávez Quezada was Senior Associate for Financial Security Program at the Aspen Institute from 2005 to 2008, Program Assistant for Public Policy and Training at Community Development Venture Capital Alliance from 2004 to 2005 and a Legislative Correspondent for U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman from 2001 to 2002. She is a member of the Centro Legal de la Raza Board, Tech Equity Collaborative Action Network Board, Legal Link Advisory Board and Immigrants Rising Leadership Council, as well as Head of Investments for the Chávez Family Foundation. Chávez Quezada earned a Master of Public Policy degree from Harvard University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $175,008. Chávez Quezada is a Democrat.
Kayla Ungar, 29, of Sacramento, has been appointed Special Advisor for Climate, Water and Drought at the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Ungar has served as an Assistant Cabinet Deputy in the Office of the Governor since 2019. She worked at SGR Consulting from 2014 to 2019 and served as Chief of Staff there from 2016 to 2019. She served as part of the consulting team on the Global Climate Action Summit in 2018. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100,008. Ungar is a Democrat.
Jorge Aguilar, 48, of Concord, has been appointed Chief Counsel at the Delta Stewardship Council. Aguilar has been a Deputy Attorney General at the California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General since 2015. He was a Senior Associate at The Saqui Law Group from 2013 to 2015, General Counsel at Powerlane Corporation in 2013 and an Associate at Sundeen Salinas & Pyle from 2008 to 2013. He was a Staff Attorney at the Eviction Defense Center from 2004 to 2007. Aguilar earned a Juris Doctor degree from Washington and Lee University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $181,008. Aguilar is registered without party preference.
Brandon Chapin, 33, of Woodland, has been appointed Legislative and Policy Advisor at the Delta Stewardship Council. Chapin has been Public Participation Manager at the Delta Stewardship Council since 2018. He was an Associate Governmental Program Analyst at the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy from 2016 to 2018, Legislative Analyst at the California Department of Toxic Substances Control from 2012 to 2016 and a Graduate Assistant at the California Energy Commission from 2010 to 2012. Chapin earned a Master of Public Policy and Administration degree from California State University, Sacramento. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $121,284. Chapin is a Democrat.
Jennifer Torres, 47, of Red Bluff, has been appointed to the 30th District Agricultural Association (Tehama Fair Board). Torres has served as Enrollment and Recruitment Manager at Northern California Child Development Inc. since 2005. She is a member of Head Start California, Every Child California, Tehama County Community Action Agency’s Tripartite Board, Latino Outreach of Tehama County, and Red Bluff Parks & Recreation Commission. Torres earned a Master of Science degree in Human Services from Capella University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Torres is a Republican.
Clark S. Stone, 65, of Paicines, has been appointed to the 33rd District Agricultural Association (San Benito Fair Board). Stone has been an Attorney at Law Offices of Clark Stone since 2017. He was an Attorney at Bergeson LLP from 2015 to 2017. Stone was a Partner at Hogan Lovells LLP from 2012 to 2015. He was a Partner at Hayne and Boone LLP from 2009 to 2012 and at MacPherson, Kwok, Chen & Heid LLP from 2004 to 2009. Stone was an Associate at Sidley Austin LLP from 2003 to 2004. He was an Associate at Skjerven Morrill LLP from 1999 to 2003. Stone was a Judicial Extern and Law Clerk for the Honorable James Ware at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California from 1998 to 1999. He was Process Support Manager at Novellus Systems Inc. from 1989 to 1997. Stone was Process Support Supervisor at Applied Material Inc. from 1985 to 1989. He was a Sales and Service engineer at Drytek Corporation from 1981 to 1989. Stone was a Field Service Engineer and Technical Specialist at LFE Corporation from 1979 to 1981. He served as a Fire Control Technician in the U.S. Navy from 1975 to 1979. Stone is a member of the Santa Clara County Bar Association, San Benito County Amateur Radio Association, San Benito County Democratic Central Committee. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Santa Clara University School of Law. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Stone is a Democrat.
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