SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments.
Reggie Fair, 55, of Sacramento, has been appointed deputy secretary of legislation at the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency. Fair served as deputy secretary of legislation at the California State and Consumer Services Agency in 2013 and has served in multiple positions at the Office of California State Senator Curren D. Price since 2008, including deputy chief of staff and legislative director. He was chief executive officer and president at R. Fair and Associates from 1999 to 2008 and consultant for the Yes on Proposition 223 campaign in 1998. Fair served as managing partner at Dymally Earnest and Fair Inc. from 1992 to 1999, consultant for the No on Proposition 174 campaign in 1993 and campaign manager for Teresa Hughes for State Senate in 1992. He was principal consultant for the California State Assembly Education Committee from 1987 to 1992. Fair was an advance coordinator for Tom Bradley for Governor in 1985, management analyst at the City of Los Angeles Department of Aging from 1984 to 1987 and Southern California coordinator for the John Glenn Presidential Committee from 1983 to 1984. Fair earned a Master of Arts degree in political science from the University of California, Santa Barbara. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $126,708. Fair is a Democrat.
Melissa Figueroa, 32, of West Sacramento, has been appointed deputy secretary of communications at the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency. Figueroa served as deputy secretary of communications of the California State and Consumer Services Agency from 2011 to 2013 and was press secretary for California State Senator Joe Simitian from 2009 to 2011. She was a consumer producer at KCRA 3 Television from 2006 to 2009 and a newscast producer at KSBY 6 Television from 2002 to 2006. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $110,004. Figueroa is a Democrat.
James N. Goldstene, 50, of Gold River, has been appointed undersecretary at the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency. Goldstene served as undersecretary at the California State and Consumer Services Agency in 2013 and was executive officer at the California Air Resources Board from 2007 to 2013. Goldstene was deputy chief at the California Bureau of Automotive Repair from 2003 to 2006 and bureau chief at the California Bureau of Barbering and Cosmetology from 2000 to 2003. Goldstene served as interim registrar at the California Contractors State License Board in 2000, director of policy research at the California Debt and Investment Advisory Commission from 1999 to 2000 and part-time faculty in California State University, Sacramento, Government Department from 1996 to 2007. He was program manager at the California Pollution Control Financing Authority from 1992 to 1999, senior policy advisor to Lieutenant Governor Leo McCarthy from 1991 to 1992 and legislative assistant to California State Assemblymember Lloyd Connelly from 1989 to 1991. Goldstene earned a Master of Arts degree in government from California State University, Sacramento. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $145,500. Goldstene is a Democrat.
Leslie R. Lopez, 52, of Sacramento, has been appointed general counsel at the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency. Lopez served as general counsel at the California State and Consumer Services Agency from 2007 to 2013. She was deputy attorney general at the California Department of Justice, Government Law section from 1994 to 2007 and deputy city attorney for the Sacramento City Attorney’s Office from 1990 to 1994. Lopez was an associate attorney at Matteoni Saxe and Nanda from 1987 to 1990. She earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the Santa Clara University School of Law. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $129,996. Lopez is registered decline-to-state.
Brian Annis, 44, of Sacramento, has been appointed undersecretary at the California State Transportation Agency. Annis has been deputy secretary for transportation at the California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency since 2012. He served in multiple positions for the California State Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review, including deputy staff director from 2010 to 2012, principal consultant from 2005 to 2010 and consultant from 2004 to 2005. Annis served in multiple positions at the California Department of Finance, including principal program budget analyst II from 2002 to 2004, staff finance budget analyst from 1999 to 2002 and research analyst II from 1998 to 1999. He was an adjunct professor of economics at the American River College from 1997 to 2002, a teaching assistant and distance learning instructor at the University of Washington from 1995 to 1997 and an economist at the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics from 1992 to 1995. Annis earned a Master of Arts degree in economics from the University of Washington. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $145,008. Annis is a Democrat.
Russia Chavis, 30, of Sacramento, has been appointed deputy secretary for transportation safety and enforcement at the California State Transportation Agency. Chavis has served as deputy secretary for housing and real estate at the California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency since 2012. She was a fiscal and policy analyst at the California Legislative Analyst’s Office from 2009 to 2012, planning and program development intern at the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency from 2008 to 2009, a database manager and analyst at Environmental Synectics from 2006 to 2007 and grants program coordinator at Sacramento Child Advocates from 2005 to 2006. Chavis earned a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Southern California. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $95,004. Chavis is a Democrat.
Ben De Alba, 26, of Sacramento, has been appointed assistant secretary for rail and ports at the California State Transportation Agency. De Alba has been special assistant at the California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency since 2012. De Alba served in multiple positions in the customer service industry from 2002 to 2012. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $45,000. De Alba is a Democrat.
Carol Farris, 52, of Sacramento, has been appointed deputy secretary of policy coordination at the California State Transportation Agency. Farris has been deputy secretary of business oversight and agency operations at the California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency since 2012. She was assistant secretary of agency relations at the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency from 2001 to 2012, director of administration for Lieutenant Governor Cruz M. Bustamante from 1999 to 2001, staff director at the California State Assembly Speaker’s Office of Member Services from 1997 to 1998 and business manager at Strategic Education Services from 1990 to 1997. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $114,996. Farris is registered decline-to-state.
Gareth Lacy, 31, of Sacramento, has been appointed deputy secretary of communications and strategic planning at the California State Transportation Agency. Lacy has been deputy secretary of communications and strategic planning at the California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency since 2012. He was senior research associate at the Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. from 2011 to 2012, editor-in-chief of the Washington Journal of Law, Technology and Arts from 2010 to 2011 and research assistant at the University of Washington School of Law from 2010 to 2011. Lacy was press secretary in the Office of Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. from 2007 to 2008 and deputy campaign manager of Brown for Attorney General from 2005 to 2006. He was a Peace Corps volunteer in Lesotho from 2003 to 2005. Lacy earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Washington School of Law. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $112,008. Lacy is a Democrat.
Ronda Paschal, 50, of Sacramento, has been appointed deputy secretary of legislation at the California State Transportation Agency. Paschal has been deputy secretary of legislation at the California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency since 2012. She was deputy secretary of state of legislative and constituent affairs in the Office of the California Secretary of State from 2007 to 2012, associate vice president at the California Medical Association from 2006 to 2007 and consultant and legislative aide for California State Senator Joseph L. Dunn from 1999 to 2006. Paschal was associate consultant for California State Senator Tom Hayden and the California State Senate Committee on Natural Resources from 1995 to 1999 and was business manager at V. John White Associates from 1989 to 1995. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $110,004. Paschal is a Democrat.
Wayne Bell, 59, of Sacramento, has been appointed commissioner at the California Bureau of Real Estate. Bell has served as commissioner of the California Department of Real Estate since 2013, where he was chief counsel and assistant commissioner for legal policy and recovery from 2006 to 2013. He was special counsel and director of homeownership at the California Housing Finance Agency from 2003 to 2006. Bell was deputy secretary and general counsel at the California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency from 1999 to 2003 and served in various positions at Ralphs Grocery Company from 1989 to 1999, including vice president, senior counsel and assistant secretary. Bell earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $130,176. Bell is a Democrat.
Tad Egawa, 45, of Sacramento, has been appointed assistant commissioner, legal affairs at the California Bureau of Real Estate. Egawa has been assistant commissioner, legal affairs at the California Department of Real Estate since 2013. He has been deputy attorney general at the California Department of Justice since 2009. He was of counsel and shareholder with McDonough Holland and Allen PC from 2007 to 2009, assistant general counsel at the Ryland Group Inc. from 2004 to 2007 and associate attorney at Jeffer Mangels Butler and Marmaro LLP from 1999 to 2004. Egawa was an associate attorney at Tuttle and Taylor from 1998 to 1999 and at Sheppard Mullin Richter and Hampton LLP from 1996 to 1997. Egawa earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Southern California, Gould School of Law. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $126,588. Egawa is a Republican.
Jeffrey Mason, 50, of Sacramento, has been appointed chief deputy commissioner at the California Bureau of Real Estate. Mason has been chief deputy commissioner at the California Department of Real Estate since 2013. He was chief of the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services at the California Department of Consumer Affairs from 2010 to 2013, manager of education and training and client relations at the Lyle Company from 2006 to 2009 and project manager at InsWeb from 2005 to 2006. Mason was owner and operator of a personal chef service at Jump Shots Coffee from 2003 to 2005, manager of the new products and technology implementation team at AT&T Wireless Services from 1996 to 2003 and legislative assistant for California State Assemblymember Denise Ducheny from 1994 to 1995. He was a legislative advocate at Rees and Associates from 1992 to 1994 and a legislative clerk at the California State Assembly Office of the Chief Clerk from 1990 to 1992. Mason was a surgical assistant at Kaiser Hospital from 1987 to 1990 and hospital corpsman in the United States Navy from 1981 to 1987. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $105,420. Mason is a Democrat.
James Martin, 57, of Sacramento, has been appointed bureau chief at the California Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers. Martin has been director of the California Office of Real Estate Appraisers since 2012. He served in multiple positions at the Real Estate Services Division of the California Department of General Services from 2002 to 2012, including chief of real property services, assistant section chief and senior real estate officer. Martin was a public land management specialist at the California State Lands Commission from 1996 to 2002 and an investigator and property appraiser in the Compliance Division of the California Office of Real Estate Appraisers from 1995 to 1996. Martin was president and chief appraiser at California Property Research Inc. from 1981 to 1994. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $119,424. Martin is registered decline-to-state.
John Hanna, 62, of Orange, has been appointed general counsel at the California Department of Business Oversight. Hanna has been general counsel at the California Department of Corporations since 2012. He was partner at Hanna and Scott from 2004 to 2011, an attorney at Horton Barbaro and Reilly from 1980 to 2004 and a public information officer for the U.S. House Select Committee on Committees from 1979 to 1980. Hanna was a congressional aide to Congressman Jerry Patterson from 1976 to 1979. He earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. This position is does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $120,000. Hanna is a Democrat.
Kathryn Knudson, 32, of Sacramento, has been appointed education and outreach coordinator at the California Department of Business Oversight. Knudson has been the education and outreach coordinator at the California Department of Corporations since 2012. She served in multiple positions at the California Medical Assistance Commission from 2006 to 2012, including research associate and special assistant. Knudson was a constituent affairs representative at the Office of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger from 2004 to 2006. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $58,524. Knudson is registered decline-to-state.
Michael McQuinn, 28, of Sacramento, has been appointed assistant general counsel at the California Department of Business Oversight. McQuinn has been assistant to the general counsel at the California Department of Corporations since 2013. He was a law clerk at the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing in 2012 and a legal extern at the Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. in 2011. McQuinn earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of San Francisco, School of Law. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $56,088. McQuinn is a Democrat.
Lila Mirrashidi, 29, of Redondo Beach, has been appointed deputy commissioner of business regulation at the California Department of Business Oversight. Mirrashidi has been deputy commissioner of business regulation at the California Department of Corporations since 2012. She was deputy appointments secretary at the Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. from 2011 to 2012, deputy research director for the Jerry Brown for Governor Campaign from 2009 to 2010 and a legal intern at the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in 2008. Mirrashidi earned a Juris Doctorate degree from University of California, Hastings College of the Law. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $74,988. Mirrashidi is a Democrat.
Tara Murphy, 55, of Alameda, has been appointed assistant general counsel at the California Department of Business Oversight. Murphy has been assistant general counsel at the Department of Financial Institutions since 2012. She was vice president and counsel at Fireside Bank from 1995 to 2012, senior counsel at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation from 1993 to 1995 and manager of field operations at the Canadian Deposit Insurance Corporation from 1990 to 1992. Murphy served as senior counsel at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation from 1983 to 1990 and was an associate at Callaghan Callaghan Ruckman and Vaughan from 1982 to 1983. She earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the West Virginia University, College of Law. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $122,196. Murphy is a Democrat.
Dave O’Toole, 41, of Sacramento, has been appointed chief deputy commissioner at the California Department of Business Oversight. O’Toole has been chief deputy director at the California Department of Corporations since 2012. He was policy director at the California State Controller’s Office from 2007 to 2012, consultant for the California State Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review from 2004 to 2007 and a staff finance analyst at the California Department of Finance from 2001 to 2003. O’Toole served as an ordnance and damage control officer in the United States Navy from 1995 to 1999 and worked as a teacher and community organizer at Dolores Mission Alternative School from 1994 to 1995. He earned a Master of Public Policy degree from the Georgetown Public Policy Institute. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the salary is $136,584. O’Toole is a Democrat.
Jan Owen, 61, of West Sacramento, has been appointed commissioner at the California Department of Business Oversight. Owen has been commissioner of the California Department of Corporations since 2011. She was principal at the Jan Owen Group from 2010 to 2011, strategic initiatives manager at Apple Inc. from 2009 to 2010 and vice president of government affairs at JP Morgan Chase from 2008 to 2009. Owen served as state director of government and industry affairs at Washington Mutual Inc. from 2002 to 2008 and executive director of the California Mortgage Bankers Association from 2000 to 2002. She was acting commissioner of the California Department of Financial Institutions from 1999 to 2000, where she served as deputy commissioner from 1996 to 1999. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $150,120. Owen is a Democrat.
Patricia Salazar, 30, of Pacoima, has been appointed deputy commissioner of public affairs at the California Department of Business Oversight. Salazar has served as deputy commissioner of public affairs at the California Department of Corporations since 2012. She was a legislative and regulatory lobbyist at the California and Nevada Credit Union League from 2010 to 2012, senior account executive at Cerrell Associates Inc. from 2007 to 2010 and council aide for the City of Los Angeles, Council District 7 from 2006 to 2007. Salazar served as an assistant southern California field director for the California Democratic Party in 2006 and council aide for the City of Los Angeles, Council District 14 from 2005 to 2006. She earned a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Southern California. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $90,000. Salazar is a Democrat.
Teveia Barnes, 60, of Tiburon, has been appointed senior deputy commissioner of the Division of Financial Institutions at the California Department of Business Oversight. Barnes has been commissioner of the California Department of Financial Institutions since 2012. She was a partner at Foley and Lardner LLP from 2005 to 2012 and president and executive director at Lawyers For One America from 1999 to 2012. Barnes was executive director and general counsel at the Bar Association of San Francisco from 2001 to 2003. She worked in multiple positions at the Bank of America National Trust and Savings Association from 1986 to 1999, including associate general counsel and senior vice president. Barnes earned a Juris Doctorate degree from New York University, School of Law. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $142,965. Barnes is a Democrat.
RaAnn Wood, 56, of Alta Loma, has been appointed deputy commissioner of the Division of Credit Unions at the California Department of Business Oversight. Wood has been deputy commissioner of the Division of Credit Unions at the California Department of Financial Institutions since 2008. She was president and chief executive officer at the California Center Credit Union from 2004 to 2008, professional networks manager and research analyst at the California Credit Union League from 1997 to 2004 and a mortgage loan compliance officer at Provident Savings Bank from 1993 to 1997. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $103,608. Wood is registered decline-to-state.
Sylvia Ortega Hunter, 50, of Roseville, has been appointed deputy director of the Division of Boating and Waterways at the California Department of Parks and Recreation. Hunter has held multiple positions at the California Department of Boating and Waterways since 2010, including acting director, chief deputy director and chief of loan and grant financial services. She was a staff services manager at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation from 2007 to 2009 and at the California Department of Health Care Services from 2006 to 2007. Hunter held multiple positions at the California Department of Water Resources from 1998 to 2006, including associate management analyst and drinking water infrastructure finance manager. She was associate management auditor at the California Department of General Services from 1989 to 1998 and a general auditor at the California Department of Developmental Services from 1987 to 1989. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $97,704. Hunter is registered decline-to-state.
Christopher J. Murphy, 56, of Elk Grove, has been appointed director of the California Office of Traffic Safety, where he has served in multiple positions since 1986, including director, interim director, deputy director, assistant director of operations, statewide police traffic services program coordinator, associate accounting analyst and accounting analyst. Murphy serves on the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Statewide Advisory Council and the Highway Traffic Safety Subcommittee on Safety Management for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. He was chairman of the Governors Highway Safety Association from 2006 to 2007. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $114,024. Murphy is a Democrat.