SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments:
Kenneth Spence, 40, of Sacramento, has been appointed director of legislation and policy at the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. Spence has served as a deputy director in the California State Senate Office of Research since 2016. He was an associate consultant in the California State Assembly Speaker’s Office from 2013 to 2016, a consultant for the California State Senate Subcommittee on Invasive Species from 2011 to 2013 and a science and technology fellow at the California Council on Science and Technology from 2010 to 2011. He was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Davis from 2007 to 2010, where he was a graduate student researcher from 2001 to 2007. Spence earned a Doctor of Entomology degree from the University of California, Davis. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $120,000. Spence is a Democrat.
Susan Husari, 64, of San Rafael, has been reappointed to the California State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, where she has served since 2014. Husari served as a pacific west regional fire management officer for the U.S. National Park Service from 2002 to 2012 and served in several positions at the U.S. Forest Service from 1991 to 2002, including deputy director of fire and aviation management and assistant director of fire and aviation management. Husari served in several positions at the Everglades National Park from 1987 to 1991, including fire management officer and assistant fire management officer, and was a forestry technician at Pinnacles National Park from 1981 to 1983. She was a firefighter and engine operator at Lassen National Forest from 1976 to 1981 and a seasonal firefighter at Klamath National Forest in 1975. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Husari is a Democrat.
Richard Wade, 64, of Pollock Pines, has been reappointed to the California State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, where he has served since 2011. Wade has held several positions at Sierra Pacific Industries since 1995, including district manager and district forester. He was a forester at the Cal Oak Lumber Company from 1983 to 1995 and at James Nicklos and Associates from 1980 to 1983. Wade was a harvest inspector for the U.S. Forest Service from 1979 to 1980 and a forester at Western Timber Services Inc. from 1978 to 1979. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Wade is a Democrat.
Camille E. Maben, 63, of Rocklin, has been appointed to the California State Advisory Council on Early Learning and Care. Maben has been executive director at First 5 California since 2012. She was director of the Child Development Division at the California Department of Education from 2008 to 2012, where she held several positions from 1992 to 2007, including director of the School and District Accountability Division, coordinator, senior advisor, consultant and special assistant to the superintendent. Maben was chief of staff in the California Secretary for Education’s Office from 2007 to 2008, legislative aide to the California State Assembly Education Committee from 1991 to 1992 and a business manager at Roseville Community Preschool Inc. from 1983 to 1992. She is a member of the Rocklin Unified School District Board of Trustees. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Maben is a Democrat.
Veronica Ufoegbune, 54, of Oakland, has been appointed to the California State Advisory Council on Early Learning and Care. Ufoegbune has been executive director of the Early Childhood Education Program at the University of California, Berkeley since 2016 and has been adjunct faculty at California State University, East Bay since 2006. She was director of early education at the Alameda Unified School District from 2012 to 2016. Ufoegbune was a head start director at Salvation Army Booth Early Education Programs from 2009 to 2012. She was director at Bright Horizons Family Solutions from 2008 to 2009 and at the Knowledge Learning Corporation from 2002 to 2008. Ufoegbune was executive director at Montessori Schools from 1998 to 2002, early head start director for the Spanish Speaking Unity Council Delegate Agency from 1996 to 1998 and an assistant head of school at Bright Star Montessori School from 1993 to 1996. She was a teacher and assistant director at Rising Star Montessori School and at Child Unique Montessori School from 1986 to 1993. Ufoegbune earned a Doctor of Education degree in educational leadership, administration and policies from Pepperdine University and a Master of Arts degree in educational leadership from Mills College. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Ufoegbune is a Democrat.
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