SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments.
Awet Kidane, 38, of Elk Grove, has been appointed director of the California Department of Consumer Affairs effective July 3, 2014, following the retirement of director Denise Brown. Kidane has served as chief deputy director at the California Department of Consumer Affairs since 2012. He was chief of staff for California State Assemblymember Steven Bradford from 2009 to 2012 and senior advisor to California State Assembly Speaker Karen Bass from 2008 to 2009. Kidane served as a legislative consultant for the California State Assembly from 2003 to 2009, where he was an associate consultant from 2002 to 2003. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $148,836. Kidane is a Democrat.
Tracy Rhine, 42, of El Dorado, has been appointed chief deputy director at the California Department of Consumer Affairs, where she has served as deputy director of legislative and policy review since 2012. Rhine served in multiple positions at the California Board of Behavioral Sciences from 2008 to 2012, including assistant executive officer and legislative analyst. She was a consultant for the California State Assembly Committee on Business, Professions and Consumer Protection from 2005 to 2008 and consultant for the California State Assembly Speaker’s Office of Member Services from 2002 to 2005. Rhine was a graduate research assistant in Governor Gray Davis’ Office of Innovation in 2002. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $132,528. Rhine is a Democrat.
Russell Attebery, 62, of Happy Camp, has been appointed to the California Native American Heritage Commission. Attebery has been council chairman of the Karuk Tribe of California since 2012. He was a teacher and athletic director at Happy Camp High School from 2009 to 2012, substitute teacher for Shasta County Schools from 2003 to 2008 and quality control supervisor and sawyer at Sierra Pacific Industries from 1982 to 2003. Attebery is a member of the American Professional Baseball Association. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Attebery is registered without party preference.
Dana Hollinger, 54, of Beverly Hills, has been appointed to the California Public Employees’ Retirement System Board of Administration. Hollinger has been principal at the Dana Hollinger Group since 2011. She was a life insurance agent at AXA Equitable Life from 2007 to 2011, a producer at Succession Capital from 2005 to 2007, a life insurance agent at Nationwide Provident from 1998 to 2005 and vice president at KB Co. from 1992 to 1998. Hollinger earned a Juris Doctor degree from Southwestern Law School. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Hollinger is registered without party preference.