SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments.
Kyle Simerly, 24, of Mill Valley, has been appointed assistant secretary for public affairs at the California State Transportation Agency. Simerly was a back of house specialist at Apple Inc. from 2011 to 2012 and student director of the Robert T. Matsui Center for Politics and Public Service’s Cal in Sacramento Fellowship Program at the University of California, Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies from 2010 to 2011. He was a budget analyst for the Student Affairs Division Committee on Student Fees and Budget Review at the University of California, Berkeley Office of the Chancellor from 2010 to 2011. Simerly served as an intern in the Office of Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey in 2010, in the California State Senate, Office of the Secretary in 2009 and for the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District in 2008. He earned a Master of Science degree in comparative politics from the London School of Economics and Political Science. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $40,008. Simerly is a Democrat.
Cyd Brandvein, 54, of Irvine, has been appointed to the California Board of Optometry. Brandvein has been senior vice president at AECOM Technology Corporation since 1989. She was marketing coordinator at Michael Brandman Associates from 1988 to 1989, catering manager for the University Club at the University of California, Irvine from 1985 to 1988 and marketing assistant for Volt Energy Systems from 1981 to 1985. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Brandvein is a Democrat.
Christopher Cabaldon, 47, of West Sacramento, has been reappointed to the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, where he has served since 2011. Cabaldon has been a principal at Capitol Impact LLC since 2009 and mayor of West Sacramento since 1998. He was the president and chief executive officer of EdVoice from 2003 to 2008 and served as a vice chancellor for the California Community Colleges from 1998 to 2003. Cabaldon was chief of staff for the California State Assembly Committee on Higher Education from 1989 to 1997. He is vice chair for education at the U.S. Conference of Mayors. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Cabaldon is a Democrat.
Peter Chiu, 65, of Palo Alto, has been appointed to the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. Chiu has been a member of the Bay Area Quality Management District Hearing Board since 2013 and an adjunct clinical professor at Stanford University since 2009. He was a senior physician at Kaiser Permanente from 1990 to 2012, family physician at the Good Samaritan Medical Group from 1989 to 1990 and family physician and partner at Chiu and Crawford M.D.s from 1986 to 1989. Chiu was resident physician and chief of resident physicians at the San Jose Hospital from 1983 to 1986, principal environmental engineer at the Association of Bay Area Governments from 1976 to 1979 and associate water quality management engineer at the Bay Area Sewage Services Agency from 1974 to 1976. He earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from Stanford University and a Doctor of Public Health degree in environmental health and Master of Public Health degree in occupational health from the University of California, Berkeley. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Chiu is a Democrat.
John K. Liu, 47, of Hillsborough, has been appointed to the California Court Reporters Board. Liu has been counsel of the corporate department at Lowenstein Sandler LLP since 2012. He was of counsel of the corporate department at Fenwick and West LLP from 2008 to 2012 and a partner at Charter Law Group LLP from 2002 to 2008. Liu was an associate of the corporate department at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati P.C. from 1999 to 2002 and president of Technology Intelligence Integrated Inc. from 1992 to 1997. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Davis School of Law and a Master of Science degree in engineering economic systems from Stanford University. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Liu is a Democrat.
Elwood Lui, 72, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to the California Medical Board. Lui has been a partner at Jones Day since 1987. He was an associate justice at the California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District from 1981 to 1987 and a judge at the Los Angeles County Superior Court from 1980 to 1981. Lui served as a judge at Los Angeles County Municipal Court from 1975 to 1980 and a deputy attorney general at the California Department of Justice from 1969 to 1971. Lui earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of California, Los Angeles Anderson School of Management. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Lui is a Republican.
David Smith, 62, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the Capitol Area Development Authority, in conjunction with the Department of General Services. Smith held multiple positions at US Airways from 1983 to 2001, including captain, check airman, line captain and simulator instructor. He was a first officer at Continental Airlines from 1978 to 1983. Smith served as captain in the Texas Air National Guard from 1978 to 1980 and in the U.S. Air Force from 1974 to 1978. He is a member of Tuskegee Airmen Inc. Smith earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Golden Gate University, Sacramento. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Smith is a Democrat.
Steven Stepanek, 62, of Canoga Park, has been appointed to the California State University Board of Trustees. Stepanek has served as chair of the California State University, Northridge Computer Science Department since 1999 and professor since 1993. He has held multiple positions at the University since 1972, including academic consultant, operating systems analyst, lecturer and assistant, associate and full professor. Stepanek serves as faculty president and campus senate chair at California State University, Northridge and is a member of the Academic Senate of the California State University. He earned a Master of Science degree in computer science from California State University, Northridge. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Stepanek is a Democrat.
Damian D. Capozzola, 42, of Hermosa Beach, has been reappointed to the California Law Revision Commission, where he has served since 2012 and served from 2010 to 2011. Capozzola has been principal of the Law Offices of Damian D. Capozzola since 2013. He was a partner at Crowell and Moring LLP from 2011 to 2013 and was an attorney at Epstein Becker and Green P.C. from 2007 to 2011 and at Kirkland and Ellis LLP from 1996 to 2007. Capozzola is president-elect of the Italian American Lawyers Association. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $50 per diem. Capozzola is registered decline-to-state.
Taras Peter Kihiczak, 49, of Los Angeles, has been reappointed to the California Law Revision Commission, where he has served since 2012. Kihiczak has been an attorney and shareholder at the Kick Law Firm APC since 1991. He was an attorney at Thelen Marrin Johnson and Bridges from 1989 to 1990. Kihiczak earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $50 per diem. Kihiczak is a Democrat.
Megan Juring, 51, of Carmichael, has been reappointed to the California State Independent Living Council, where she has served since 2013. Juring has been deputy director of independent living and community access at the California Department of Rehabilitation since 2011. She was an assistant secretary at the California Health and Human Services Agency from 2008 to 2010 and a project director at California State University, Sonoma from 2004 to 2008. Juring was senior policy manager for research and development at the California Workforce Investment Board from 2000 to 2004 and a staff manager at the California Employment Development Department Office of Workforce Investment from 1998 to 2000. She served in multiple positions at the California Department of Rehabilitation from 1988 to 1998, including associate government program analyst. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Juring is a Democrat.
Linda Schaedle, 60, of Paso Robles, has been reappointed to the California State Independent Living Council, where she has served since 2013. Schaedle has been a human resources analyst and Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator at California State University, Monterey Bay since 2012. She was an employment disability consultant at California State University, San Diego from 2011 to 2012 and a disability program navigator for Shoreline Workforce Development Services and Pacific Gateway Workforce Investment Network from 2006 to 2010. Schaedle served on various disability mediation, dispute resolution and professional panels from 1996 to 2006. She served in various positions at the Bank of America Human Resources Center, Pasadena from 1994 to 2002, including Americans with Disabilities Act case manager. Schaedle was a freelance graphic designer from 1987 to 1993. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Schaedle is a Democrat.
Jimmie Soto, 41, of Bakersfield, has been reappointed to the California State Independent Living Council, where he has served since 2013. Soto has been executive director of the Independent Living Center of Kern County since 2011. He held multiple positions at Resources for Independence Central Valley from 2000 to 2010, including director of program services and is a board member of the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers. Soto earned a Master of Arts degree in education administration and supervision from California State University, Fresno. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Soto is a Democrat.
Hugo Rodriguez, 51, of Brawley, has been appointed to the California Private Security Disciplinary Review Committee, South. Rodriguez was branch manager at Securitas Security Services USA Inc. from 2012 to 2013 and police commander at the City of Brawley Police Department from 2004 to 2012. He was a nuclear security officer at the Southern California Edison San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station from 2003 to 2004, a reserve police officer at the Culver City Police Department from 2000 to 2004 and senior investigator at Universal Insurance Services from 1993 to 2004. Rodriguez was a police officer at the University of California, Riverside Police Department from 1996 to 1997 and at the City of South Gate Police Department from 1985 to 1996. He earned a Master of Public Administration degree from Bellevue University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Rodriguez is a Republican.
Nancy Teel, 61, of Mission Viejo, has been appointed to the California Private Security Disciplinary Review Committee, South. Teel was an English teacher at Dana Point High School from 2002 to 2007 and at Niguel Hills Middle School from 1997 to 2002. She was an office administrator for the Original Pancake House restaurant franchises from 1996 to 1997 and held multiple positions at the Blue Lantern Inn, including general manager and assistant manager from 1990 to 1995. Teel was an English teacher for Niguel Hills Middle School from 1978 to 1990 and an English and choral music teacher at Cecil B. DeMille Middle School from 1976 to 1978. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Teel is a Democrat.
Teresa Deloach Reed, 55, of Oakland, has been appointed to the State Board of Fire Services. Deloach Reed has been fire chief at the City of Oakland Fire Department since 2012. She held multiple positions at the City of San Jose Fire Department from 1986 to 2012, including assistant fire chief, interim deputy fire chief, battalion chief, fire captain, fire inspector, fire engineer and firefighter. Deloach Reed was a telephone installer at Pacific Bell Telephone from 1979 to 1986. She is a member of the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs, the Black Chief Officers Committee, the International Association of Black Professional Firefighters and the International Association of Fire Chiefs. Deloach Reed earned a Master of Public Administration degree in organizational leadership from National University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Deloach Reed is a Democrat.
Anne Walker, 53, of Rescue, has been appointed to the State Board of Fire Services. Walker has been an administrative assistant at Silva Valley Elementary School since 2012. She was a substitute teacher and secretary at the El Dorado County Office of Education from 1993 to 2012 and held multiple positions at the East Whittier School District from 1984 to 1992, including teacher and substitute teacher. Walker is a board member of the Rescue Fire Protection District. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Walker is a Republican.