SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments.
Alex Arredondo, 51, of Brea, has been appointed to the California State Board of Optometry, where he has served since 2007. Arredondo has worked in private practice since 1992. He worked for Dr. John Hernandez, O.D. from 1989 to 1992 and Dr. Darlene Fujimoto, O.D. from 1988 to 1989. Arredondo was an optometrist intern for the Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic and the Optometric Center of Los Angeles from 1987 to 1988. He served as an optometrist intern at the Silas B. Hayes Army Community Hospital Optometry Clinic from 1986 to 1987. Arredondo earned a Doctor of Optometry degree from the Southern California College of Optometry. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Arredondo is a Republican.
Madhu Chawla, 41, of Sherman Oaks, has been appointed to the California State Board of Optometry. Chawla has been an optometrist at Kaiser Permanente since 2008. She was a managing optometrist at Eye Exam of California from 2005 to 2008 and an optometrist at South Bay Eye Institute from 2004 to 2005. Chawla worked as an optometrist at the Office of Glenn P. Kimball from 2000 to 2004, Pearl Vision Center from 2001 to 2004, the Office of Lisa Travies from 1999 to 2000, the Office of Frederick Rose from 1999 to 2000 and the Dimock Community Health Center from 1997 to 1999. Chawla earned a Doctor of Optometry degree from the New England College of Optometry. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Chawla is registered decline-to-state.
Todd D’Braunstein, 44, of Upland, has been appointed to the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians, where he has served since 2010. D’Braunstein has worked in multiple positions at Patton State Hospital since 2009, including program assistant and unit supervisor. D’Braunstein worked at Patton State Hospital from 1997 to 2005 in multiple positions, including unit supervisor, psychiatric technician instructor and senior psychiatric technician. He was a crisis team member at Tri-City Mental Health Center from 1995 to 1996 and a psychiatric technician at Lanterman Developmental Center from 1993 to 1995. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. D’Braunstein is a Republican.
John Vertido, 51, of Roseville, has been appointed to the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians, where he was served since 2010. Vertido has been a nursing instructor at the Curam College of Nursing since 2012. He was a strategic planner at Engineering Systems Consultants Inc. from 2007 to 2011. Vertido was a nursing instructor at Western Career College from 1996 to 2008 and at Sierra College from 1998 to 2000. He served in the United States Army Reserve from 1980 to 2000. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Vertido is a Republican.
Stephen Casagrande, 62, of Carmichael, has been appointed to the Dental Board of California, where he has served since 2006. Casagrande has been a dentist in private practice since 1974. He has served in multiple positions on the Dental Board of California since 1980, including member of the Examining Committee, expert examiner, case reviewer and in-house dental consultant. Casagrande has served as a member at the Sacramento District Dental Society and a member of a peer-review committee and advisor to the Sacramento City College Dental Hygiene Program. He earned a Doctor of Dentistry degree from the University of Southern California, Ostrow School of Dentistry. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Casagrande is a Democrat