SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments.
Andrew Genasci, 36, of Turlock, has been appointed to the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley Board of Directors. Genasci has been a field staffer at the California Farm Bureau Federation since 2011 and a field representative at Duarte Nursery from 2009 to 2011. He was a partner and dairy manager at 2 Ace Holsteins from 2003 to 2009 and an assistant herd manager at Genasci Dairy Inc. from 2000 to 2003. Genasci is a member of the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau and the Stanislaus County Holstein Breeders Association. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Genasci is a Republican.
Suzi Picaso Gonzalez, 45, of Lindsay, has been appointed to the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley Board of Directors. Gonzalez has been an instructor at the Milan Institute, Visalia Campus since 2011 and an independent marketing consultant since 2004. She served as a member of the Lindsay City Council from 2005 to 2010 and was chief executive officer at Picaso’s Passion Inc. from 2004 to 2009. Gonzalez was an account executive at Buckley Broadcasting from 2001 to 2003 and a youth coordinator at Tulare County Community Services Employment Training from 1997 to 2001. She is a member of the Walk With Me Family Services board, the Economic Development Corporation of Tulare County and the Southeastern Tulare County Republican Women Federated. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Gonzalez is a Republican.
Harold Hanson, 77, of Bakersfield, has been appointed to the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley Board of Directors. Hanson has been vice president of Citizens Business Bank since 2001 and has served as a member of the Bakersfield City Council since 2000. He was senior vice president and regional manager at Westamerica Bank from 1992 to 1998 and at the American National Bank – Wells Fargo Bank from 1975 to 1992. Hanson is a member of the Knights of Columbus. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Hanson is a Republican.
Karen Ross, 62, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley Board of Directors, where she has served since 2011. Ross has served as secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture since 2011. She was chief of staff for U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack from 2010 to 2011 and president of the California Association of Winegrape Growers from 1996 to 2009. Ross was a member of the California State Board of Food and Agriculture from 2001 to 2009 and vice president of government relations for the Agricultural Council of California from 1989 to 1996. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Ross is a Democrat.
Kelsey Brewer, 20, of Fullerton, has been appointed to the California State University Board of Trustees effective July 1, 2014. Brewer has been a student at California State University, Fullerton since 2012 and is pursuing a degree in political science. She has been chief governmental officer for the California State University, Fullerton Associated Students Incorporated since 2014, where she has been a member since 2012 and has been an intern and clerk at Klein DeNatale and Goldner LLP since 2013. Brewer is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and California State University, Fullerton’s team for the Up To Us Competition by the Clinton Global Initiative. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Brewer is a Democrat.
Sandra Thorstenson, 58, of Whittier, has been appointed to the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence. Thorstenson has been superintendent of the Whittier Union High School District since 2002, where she has served in multiple positions since 1977, including assistant superintendent of educational services, principal, assistant principal of curriculum and teacher. She is a member of the American Association of School Administrators, the California Association of Latino Superintendents and Administrators, the Southern California Superintendents Association and the Association of California School Administrators, where she has been chair of the Superintendency Council since 2012. She was president of the California City Superintendents Association from 2011 to 2012. Thorstenson earned a Master of Education degree in education administration from California State University, Fullerton. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Thorstenson is a Democrat.
Bonnie Klatt, 44, of Antelope, has been appointed to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Klatt has been a teacher at the Natomas Charter School since 2013. She was a teacher for Aspire Public Schools in 2013, and an education programs consultant for the California State Board of Education from 2012 to 2013 and for the California Department of Education from 2008 to 2012. Klatt was a teacher at Center High School from 1995 to 2008 and at Highlands High School from 1993 to 1995. She is a member of Capitol CUE. Klatt earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in English from California State University, Sacramento. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Klatt is a Democrat.
Haydee Rodriguez, 47, of El Centro, has been appointed to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Rodriguez has served as a teacher for the Central Union High School District since 2006, including at Southwest High School and at Central High School. She was a teacher at Holtville Middle School from 2004 to 2006, education director for the Farmworker Institute for Education and Leadership Development in 2004 and a teacher at East Palo Alto Academy from 2001 to 2003. Rodriguez was lead adult education teacher and a literacy specialist at the Desert Oasis High School from 1998 to 2001. She is a member of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Board of Directors, the National Council for the Social Studies and the California Teachers Association. Rodriguez was a member of the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation Commission on Standards and Performance Reporting from 2012 to 2013. She earned a Masters of Arts degree in education from Stanford University. Rodriguez is a National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certified teacher in Social Studies-History. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Rodriguez is a Democrat.