SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments.
Devin Fong, 44, of Elk Grove, has been appointed chief of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Office of Labor Relations. Fong has been assistant general manager of administration at the California Prison Industry Authority since 2012, where he was chief of human resources from 2010 to 2012. He served in multiple positions at the California Department of Developmental Services from 2007 to 2010, including chief of labor relations and labor relations specialist. Fong was a field representative at the California Correctional Peace Officers Association from 1995 to 2007 and an assistant consultant at Western Murch and Associates from 1993 to 1995. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $105,420. Fong is a Republican.
Jamie Wright, 30, of Culver City, has been reappointed to the Medical Board of California, where she has served since 2013. Wright has been attorney in private practice since 2011. She was a mayoral aide in the Office of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in 2010 and legislative projective consultant for the California State Assembly Speaker’s Office of Members Services from 2009 to 2010. Wright was an associate at Sedgwick Detert Moran Arnold LLP from 2008 to 2009 and regulatory and enforcement law clerk at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority from 2007 to 2008. Wright earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Wright is a Democrat.
Felix Yip, 59, of Los Angeles, has been reappointed to the Medical Board of California, where he has served since 2013. Yip has been chief of staff at the Pacific Alliance Medical Center since 2014, a clinical professor of urology at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine since 2011 and a urologist in private practice since 1987. He is a member of the Garfield Medical Center Governing Board. Yip earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and a Master of Business Administration degree from University of California, Irvine School of Business. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Yip is a Republican.
Cynthia Cipres Klein, 46, of Canyon Lake has been reappointed to the California Board of Registered Nursing, where she has served since 2012. Cipres Klein has been a registered nurse in the Internal Medicine – Sub-Specialty Clinic at Kaiser Permanente Medical Group, Riverside since 2013, where she has held multiple positions since 1998, including population care nurse, pediatric advice nurse and urgent care charge nurse. She was a nursing supervisor at U.S. Family Care West from 1997 to 1998 and registered nurse lead for the Universal Care Medical Group from 1996 to 1997. Cipres Klein was a registered nurse at Miller Children’s Hospital from 1995 to 1996 and a medical records clerk at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital from 1991 to 1992. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Cipres Klein is a Democrat.
Elizabeth Woods, 72, of Sonoma, has been reappointed to the California Board of Registered Nursing, where she has served since 2014. Woods has been a nurse practitioner at the Jewish Community Free Clinic since 2005. She was a registered nurse labor representative at the California Nurses Association from 1994 to 2007, an adjunct clinical professor at Sonoma State University from 1984 to 1995 and a nurse practitioner and sexual assault examiner at the Sonoma County Community Hospital from 1982 to 1988. Woods was a family nurse practitioner at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Santa Rosa from 1978 to 1996 and a registered nurse in the Hillcrest Hospital Intensive Care Unit from 1968 to 1978. She earned a Master of Science degree in nursing from Sonoma State University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Woods is a Democrat.
Amy Gutierrez, 54, of Trabuco Canyon, has been reappointed to the California State Board of Pharmacy, where she has served since 2012. Gutierrez has been assistant professor of clinical pharmacy at the Western University of Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy since 2009, chief pharmacy officer at the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services since 2006 and adjunct professor of clinical pharmacy at the University of Southern California, School of Pharmacy since 2004. She was a leadership pod advisor for the California HealthCare Foundation Health Care Leadership Fellowship Program from 2007 to 2009 and served in multiple pharmacy management positions at the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services from 1986 to 2006, including pharmacy director, assistant pharmacy director and in-patient pharmacy supervisor. Gutierrez was a clinical pharmacist at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center from 1984 to 1986, a pharmacist at the Los Angeles Community Hospital from 1983 to 1984 and an intern pharmacist at San Gabriel Valley Community Hospital from 1979 to 1983. She earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Southern California, School of Pharmacy. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Gutierrez is a Democrat.
Nicole J. Jones, 44, of Los Angeles, has been reappointed to the California Board of Psychology, where she has served since 2012. Jones has been director of external affairs at Crystal Stairs Inc. since 2011. She was associate director of corporate and foundation relations at Loyola Marymount University from 2008 to 2011, senior program director at Southern California Grantmakers from 2007 to 2008 and program director at the California Wellness Foundation from 2002 to 2007. Jones was program officer and program associate at the California Community Foundation from 1998 to 2001, fellow and special assistant at the National Urban Fellows from 1997 to 1998 and a fellow with the Coro Fellows Program from 1996 to 1997. She served as a field representative for California State Assemblymember Kevin Murray from 1994 to 1996 and as a field deputy for Los Angeles City Council member Rudy Svorinich Jr. from 1993 to 1994. Jones earned a Master of Public Administration degree from the City University of New York, Baruch College. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Jones is a Democrat.
Sarita Kohli, 55, of Saratoga, has been reappointed to the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, where she has served since 2011. Kohli has been executive vice president for mental health and community services at Asian Americans for Community Involvement since 2014, where she was director of mental health and community programs from 2003 to 2014. Kohli was a staff psychotherapist at Family and Children’s Services of Silicon Valley from 2001 to 2003. She earned a Master of Arts degree in clinical psychology from the John F. Kennedy University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Delhi. Kohli is a licensed marriage and family therapist. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Kohli is a Democrat.
Melodi Masaniai, 49, of Salinas, has been reappointed to the California Board of Podiatric Medicine, where she has served since 2013. Masaniai has been campaign coordinator for Build Democracy, End Corporate Rule since 2014. She was a volunteer coordinator for Jerry Hill for State Senate in 2012, campaign manager for Shawn K. Bagley for DNC Member from 2011 to 2012, field coordinator for Jaime De La Cruz for Supervisor in 2012 and a consultant at Castillo Consulting LLC in 2011. Masaniai was a community organizer for Organizing for America in 2010 and executive assistant at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center from 2002 to 2010 and at Sun Microsystems Inc. from 1992 to 2002. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Masaniai is a Democrat.
Steven Morrow, 79, of Yucaipa, has been appointed to the Dental Board of California, where he has served since 2010. Morrow has been a professor of endodontics and director of patient care services and clinical quality assurance at Loma Linda University School of Dentistry since 1980. He was a dentist and endodontist in private practice from 1963 to 2005, lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Dental Corps, Active Reserve from 1962 to 1968 and lieutenant on active duty in the U.S. Navy Dental Corps from 1960 to 1962. Morrow earned a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry and a Master of Science degree in microbiology from Loma Linda University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Morrow is a Democrat.
Russell S. Penniman IV, 56, of Rancho Santa Fe, has been appointed to the 22nd District Agricultural Association, San Diego County Fair Board of Directors, where he has served since 2003. Penniman has been a rear admiral in the U.S. Navy Reserve since 2008, where he has served since 1994, and has been a managing member of Penniman and Associates LLC since 2000. He was a managing member of Plus Products from 1994 to 1999 and an active duty naval officer at the U.S. Department of the Navy from 1979 to 1994. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Penniman is a Republican.