SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments:
Alexis Podesta, 36, of Carmichael, has been appointed secretary at the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency, where she has served as undersecretary since 2015. Podesta served in several positions in the Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. from 2011 to 2015, including, director of external affairs, director of international affairs and chief of protocol. She was a special assistant to the senior vice president of public affairs and senior advisor to the chairman and chief executive officer at Pacific Gas and Electric Company from 2009 to 2011. Podesta was manager of government relations at the Walt Disney Company from 2007 to 2009 and served as director of scheduling in the Office of U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein from 2002 to 2007. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $194,105. Podesta is a Democrat.
Dean Grafilo, 44, of West Sacramento, has been appointed director at the California Department of Consumer Affairs. Grafilo has been chief of staff in the Office of California State Assemblymember Rob Bonta since 2012. He was associate director of government relations at the California Medical Association from 2009 to 2012, chief of staff in the Office of California State Assemblymember Warren T. Furutani from 2008 to 2009 and a senior legislative assistant in the Office of California State Assemblymember Alberto Torrico from 2004 to 2008. Grafilo was an organizer representative at Service Employees International Union Local 925 from 2003 to 2004 and a political intern at the M.L. King County Labor Council in 2002. He was a field representative and organizer at International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 142 from 1997 to 2001. Grafilo earned a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Washington. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $176,691. Grafilo is a Democrat.
Mona Pasquil Rogers, 54, of Walnut Grove, has been appointed to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission. Pasquil Rogers is appointments secretary in the Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr., where she has served since 2011. She was chief of staff to Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi from 2008 to 2009 and served as acting Lieutenant Governor from 2009 to 2010, upon Garamendi’s election to Congress. Pasquil Rogers was a business development consultant at IBM from 2003 to 2006. She was deputy political director for John Kerry’s presidential campaign in 2004, political director for Governor Gray Davis’ gubernatorial campaign in 2002, California political director for Al Gore’s presidential campaign in 2000 and western political director for the White House Office of Political Affairs from 1996 to 2000. Pasquil Rogers was deputy chief executive officer of the Democratic National Convention in 2000. She is president of the California Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus Institute, vice president of California Women Lead and a member of Women in Philanthropy. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Pasquil Rogers is a Democrat.
Diane Hamwi, 50, of Santa Monica, has been reappointed to the California Science Center Board of Directors, where she has served since 2015. Hamwi has been principal and owner at DCH Advisors Inc. since 2008. She was director of development and marketing at EMILY’s List from 2010 to 2011, western states finance director at Hillary Clinton for President from 2007 to 2008 and national finance director at Jon Tester for Senate in 2006. Hamwi was an independent political consultant from 2003 to 2008, Southern California finance director for Governor Gray Davis’ gubernatorial campaign from 2001 to 2002 and interim director at the Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism in 2000. She served as a policy analyst at the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research from 1999 to 2000 and was a fundraiser at Jane Harman for Governor in 1998. Hamwi was an account executive at Rogers and Associates from 1997 to 1998 and special assistant to the state director of the Clinton-Gore coordinated campaign in California from 1995 to 1996. Hamwi earned a Master of Public Administration degree from the George Washington University School of Public Policy and Public Administration. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Hamwi is a Democrat.
Mark Pulido, 48, of Cerritos, has been appointed to the California Science Center Board of Directors. Pulido has been deputy chief of staff in the Office of Congressman Alan Lowenthal since 2016, where he was district director from 2013 to 2016. He served as mayor of the City of Cerritos from 2014 to 2015, where he has served as a member of the city council since 2011 and was mayor pro tem from 2013 to 2014. Pulido was district director for California State Senator Alan Lowenthal from 2005 to 2012. He was a consultant at the California State Assembly Speaker’s Office of Member Services from 2000 to 2004 and was a deputy at the Democratic National Convention Committee Community Relations Department in 2000. He served as an administrative analyst and management assistant at the Long Beach City Manager’s Office from 1997 to 1999. He is a member of the Cerritos Regional Chamber of Commerce, Wittmann Elementary Parent Teacher Association and the Friends of the Cerritos Library. Pulido earned a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Chicago, Harris School of Public Policy. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Pulido is a Democrat.