SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments.
Laura Alarcon, 57, of Sacramento, has been appointed chief of the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services at the California Department of Consumer Affairs. Alarcon has served in multiple positions at the California Department of Insurance since 2008, including deputy legislative director and legislative manager. She served as government claims manager at the California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board from 2007 to 2008 and was a policy unit manager at the California Department of Social Services, Fraud Bureau from 2004 to 2007. Alarcon held multiple positions at the California Department of Consumer Affairs from 1997 to 2003, including associate management auditor at the Internal Audits Office and headquarters manager in the Division of Investigation. She was an accounting technician at the California Department of Justice, Accounting Office from 1996 to 1997 and a legislative secretary for California State Senator Daniel Boatwright from 1993 to 1996. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $99,996. Alarcon is a Democrat.
Jemahl Ämen, 42, of Oakland, has been appointed deputy director of legislation at the California Department of General Services. Ämen has been California director of outreach at the Center for Responsible Lending since 2008. He was Northern California program director at American Sunrise Communities from 2007 to 2008, a consultant for California State Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez from 2004 to 2007 and special assistant to California State Assembly Speaker Herb J. Wesson Jr. from 2001 to 2004. Ämen was an associate consultant for the California Assembly Committee on Government Organization from 2000 to 2001 and a legislative assistant for California State Assemblymember Herb J. Wesson Jr. from 1998 to 2000. He earned a Master of Science degree in urban planning from the University of California, Los Angeles. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $99,756. Ämen is a Democrat.
Joanna Gin, 28, of Woodland, has been appointed legislative coordinator at the California Department of General Services. Gin has been an associate consultant for the California State Assembly Business, Professions and Consumer Protection Committee since 2009. She was a legislative advocate for the Service Employees International Union Local 1000 from 2007 to 2008 and a legislative aide for Senator Leland Yee from 2006 to 2007. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $65,004. Gin is a Democrat.
Diane Hamwi, 47, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists. Hamwi has been principal and owner at DCH Advisors Inc. since 2008. She was director of development and marketing at EMILY’s List from 2010 to 2011, western states finance director at Hillary Clinton for President from 2007 to 2008 and national finance director at Jon Tester for Senate in 2006. Hamwi was an independent political consultant from 2003 to 2008, Southern California finance director for the Governor Gray Davis Reelection Campaign from 2001 to 2002 and interim director at the Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism in 2000. She served as a policy analyst at the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research from 1999 to 2000 and was a fundraiser at Jane Harman for Governor in 1998. Hamwi was an account executive at Rogers and Associates from 1997 to 1998 and special assistant to the state director of the Clinton-Gore Coordinated Campaign in California from 1995 to 1996. Hamwi earned a Master of Public Administration degree from George Washington University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Hamwi is a Democrat.
Coby King, 52, of West Hills, has been appointed to the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists. King has been a public affairs executive at Ek and Ek since 2012. He was senior vice president for California corporate and public affairs at the MWW Group from 2008 to 2012, president and chief executive officer at Coby King Communications from 1999 to 2008 and vice president, public affairs at Rogers and Associates from 1997 to 1999. King was an attorney at Manatt Phelps and Phillips LLP from 1995 to 1997, legal counsel at the California State Board of Equalization from 1993 to 1995 and an attorney at Skadden Arps Slate Meagher and Flom LLP from 1991 to 1993. King earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Georgetown University Law Center. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. King is a Democrat.
Katarina Eleby, 24, of Carson, has been appointed to the California Physical Therapy Board. Eleby has been manager of operations at the African American Board Leadership Institute since 2012. She was a volunteer for Karen Bass for Congress in 2012 and executive co-chair for the International Studies Student Association at California State University, Long Beach in 2011. Eleby served as an intern in the Office of California State Assembly Speaker Karen Bass in 2010 and was a sales assistant at Salt and Pepper Sales from 2006 to 2012. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100. Eleby is a Democrat.