SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments.
Alison Grimes, 61, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to the California Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board, where she has served since 2010. Grimes has been director of audiology and an assistant clinical professor in head and neck surgery at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center since 2006. She was director of audiology at the Providence Speech and Hearing Center from 1996 to 2005, audiology consultant and director of provider relations at National Ear Care Plan from 1991 to 1996 and a professor and clinical supervisor at University of Colorado, Boulder from 1993 to 1996. Grimes served as director of audiology for the Hearing Society of San Francisco from 1987 to 1996, clinical and research audiologist at the National Institutes of Health from 1980 to 1986 and clinical and research audiologist at the San Francisco Hearing and Speech Center from 1976 to 1979. Grimes earned a Doctor of Audiology degree from Central Michigan University and is a board-certified pediatric audiologist. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Grimes is a Democrat.
Stephen Phillips, 56, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to the California Board of Psychology. Phillips has been a clinical psychologist in private practice since 2002, an adjunct faculty and clinical supervisor at the Wright Institute Los Angeles since 2001 and an adjunct instructor at the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University since 1999. He was a psychological assistant for Elaine Schulman, Ph.D. from 2000 to 2002, an attorney in private practice from 1995 to 2004 and served in multiple positions at Shapiro Posell Rosenfeld and Close from 1985 to 1994, including managing partner, litigation department chairperson and associate. Phillips earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Chicago Law School and a Doctor of Psychology degree in clinical psychology from the Alliant International University California School of Professional Psychology. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Phillips is a Democrat.
Nancy Springer, 51, of Browns Valley, has been appointed to the California Contractors State Licensing Board. Springer has served in multiple positions for Butte County since 2007, including building division manager, interim building division manager and building official assistant. She held multiple positions at Willdan Engineering from 2003 to 2007, including building safety services supervisor, office manager and senior plans examiner. Springer was a plans examiner at Linhart Peterson Powers and Associates from 1998 to 2003 and a building inspector for the Sutter County Community Services Department from 1992 to 1998. She was a building inspector for the City of Colusa from 1991 to 1992 and for the City of Palmdale from 1989 to 1991. Springer was an electrician apprentice at the National Electrical Contractors Association from 1984 to 1987 and an aircraft electrical systems specialist for the U.S. Air Force from 1980 to 1985. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Springer is a Democrat.
Chris Downey, 50, of Piedmont, has been appointed to the California Commission on Disability Access. Downey has been principal architect at Architecture for the Blind since 2009, and has been a lecturer in the Department of Architecture at the University of California, Berkeley since 2011. He was managing principal at Michelle Kaufmann Designs in 2008, founding partner at Ashdown Downey Architecture and Design from 2003 to 2007, and held multiple positions at Holt Hinshaw from 1993 to 2003. Downey is a board member for LightHouse for the Blind and a member of the San Francisco Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Downey earned a Master of Architecture degree from the University of California, Berkeley This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Downey is a Democrat.
Michael Paravagna, 61, of Rocklin, has been appointed to the California Commission on Disability Access. Paravagna has been a part-time independent consultant since 2002. He was manager of the Build Los Angeles Community College District Americans with Disabilities Act Project from 2009 to 2011 and the Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator for the City of Sacramento from 2007 to 2009. Paravagna served in multiple positions at the California Department of Rehabilitation from 1975 to 2007, including chief of the Disability Access Division. He served on the California Building Standards Commission from 2008 to 2010. Paravagna is a member of the National Association of ADA Coordinators Board of Directors. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Paravagna is a Democrat.
Douglas Wiele, 60, of Latrobe, has been appointed to the California Commission on Disability Access. Wiele has been founding partner and president of Foothill Partners Inc. since 1994. He served in multiple positions at Whitney Development Company from 1986 to 1994, including managing partner and general partner and director of acquisitions. Wiele was a real estate broker and leasing agent at McMasters and Westland Commercial Real Estate from 1977 to 1985. He is vice chair of the California Business Properties Association and is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Wiele is registered decline-to-state.