SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments.
Jonine Biesman, 44, of Westlake Village, has been appointed to Area Board X of the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities. Biesman has been a board certified pediatric neuropsychologist in private practice since 2001. She was a consultant for the Exceptional Children’s Foundation from 2002 to 2009 and staff psychologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center from 2002 to 2004. Biesman is a member of the American Board of Pediatric Neuropsychology, the National Academy of Neuropsychology and the Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders. She earned a doctorate degree in clinical psychology from United States International University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Biesman is a Democrat.
Jeana Ericksen, 43, of Santa Rosa, has been appointed to Area Board IV of the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities, where she has served since 2010. Ericksen has been a member of the City of Santa Rosa Paratransit Users Group since 2004. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Ericksen is a Democrat.
Verdine Mertens, 82, of Red Bluff, has been appointed to Area Board II of the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities, where she has served since 2010. Mertens has been a private professional conservator, guardian and trustee since 1995. She served in various positions for Tehama County from 1967 to 1995, including public guardian and conservator. Mertens is a member of the Tehama County Coordinating Council on Developmental Disabilities and co-founder of the National Guardianship Association Inc. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Mertens is a Republican.
Rosanna Ryan, 62, of Redding, has been appointed to Area Board II of the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities, where she has served since 2010. Ryan is a peer instructor at We Care A Lot Foundation, where she has been a self-advocate at the Consumer Abuse Awareness Team since 2001. She was a self-advocate at We Care A Lot Foundation’s Feeling Safe, Being Safe from 2008 to 2010 and its Abuse Prevention Team from 2001 to 2008. Ryan was president of People First of California in 1994 and is sergeant-at-arms for People First of Shasta County. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Ryan is a Democrat.
Robert Taylor, 52, of Clearlake, has been appointed to Area Board I of the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities. Taylor has been an advisor for the Board Resource Center Inc. since 2009. He served on the Regional Community Advisory Committee of L.A. Care from 2000 to 2011. Taylor worked as a telemarketer for Zoya Telecommunications Inc. from 1998 to 2001. He serves on the California Health and Human Services Agency Olmstead Advisory Committee, the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities Employment First Committee and the California Department of Developmental Services Consumer Advisory Committee. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Taylor is a Democrat.