SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments:
Dan Kalamaras, 51, of Gold River, has been appointed director of the Office of Systems Integration at the California Health and Human Services Agency. Kalamaras has been interim executive director of Welfare Client Data Systems at the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids Information Network Consortium since 2018, where he was transition manager in 2014 and deputy director from 2003 to 2005. He has been chief information officer and director of information technology at the San Francisco Human Services Agency since 2015. Kalamaras was information technology manager at the Sacramento County Department of Human Assistance from 2005 to 2014, where he was a senior information technology analyst from 1998 to 2001, eligibility supervisor from 1995 to 1996 and an eligibility worker from 1990 to 1995. He was an administrative aide in the Office of Sacramento County Board of Supervisors Member Dave Cox from 1996 to 1998. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $185,004. Kalamaras is registered without party preference.
James A. Aleru, 70, of Fresno, has been reappointed to the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley Board of Directors, where he has served since 2007. Aleru has been owner and proprietor of James A. Aleru CPA CVA since 2001. He was an independent contractor for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation from 2005 to 2007 and served in multiple positions for the County of Fresno from 1976 to 2001, including auditor-appraiser at the Assessor’s Office and account clerk at the Elections Office. Aleru was controller and accountant at Soccer and Lifestyle from 1996 to 1997 and partner and controller at the Medicom Management Group from 1994 to 1995. He was partner and chief financial officer at PC Experts from 1986 to 1987. Aleru is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, the California Society of Certified Public Accountants, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Aleru is registered without party preference.
Steve Bestolarides, 61, of Stockton, has been reappointed to the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley Board of Directors, where he has served since 2013. Bestolarides has been San Joaquin County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk since 2015. He served as a member of the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors from 2009 to 2015 and of the Stockton City Council from 2003 to 2008. Bestolarides was a general manager at the Eagle’s Nest Harley-Davidson Dealership from 2004 to 2006 and a vice president of construction and development at Washington Mutual Bank from 2000 to 2004. He is a member of the Woodbridge Masonic Lodge and the Ben Ali Shriners. He earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the National University School of Business and Management. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Bestolarides is a Republican.
Elaine Craig, 63, of Madera, has been reappointed to the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley Board of Directors, where she has served since 2015. Craig has been an executive director at the Madera County Workforce Investment Corporation since 2005. She is a member of the Madera County Business and Education Compact, Central California Workforce Collaborative and the California Workforce Association. Craig earned a Master of Public Administration degree from Golden Gate University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Craig is a Republican.
Dorene D’Adamo, 57, of Turlock, has been reappointed to the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley Board of Directors, where she has served since 2007. D’Adamo served as senior policy advisor to Congressman Jim Costa in 2013 and to Congressman Dennis Cardoza from 2003 to 2012. She was legal counsel for Congressman Gary Condit from 1994 to 2003 and a visiting instructor at California State University, Stanislaus from 1992 to 1998. D’Adamo was an associate at the Law Offices of Perry and Wildman from 1992 to 1994 and a policy consultant at DeeDee D’Adamo Consulting from 1991 to 1992. She was legislative director for Congressman Gary Condit from 1990 to 1991 and assistant director at the California Youth Authority from 1988 to 1990. D’Adamo was legal counsel at the California State Assembly Committee on Public Safety from 1986 to 1988 and legislative director in the Office of the California State Assembly Assistant Majority Leader from 1985 to 1986. She is a member of the State Water Resources Control Board and served on the California Air Resources Board from 1999 to 2013. D’Adamo earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. D’Adamo is a Democrat.
Lee Ann Eager, 62, of Fresno, has been reappointed to the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley Board of Directors, where she has served since 2013. Eager has served as president and chief executive officer at the Fresno County Economic Development Corporation since 2009. She was an attorney at Lang, Richert and Patch from 2005 to 2009 and executive director at Rape Counseling Service of Fresno from 1988 to 2000. Eager is a co-chair of the California Central Valley Economic Development Corporation and a member of the California International Trade and Investment Council. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Davis School of Law. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Eager is a Democrat.
Bryn Forhan, 59, of Fresno, has been reappointed to the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley Board of Directors, where she has served since 2013. Forhan has been owner at the Forhan Company since 2002. She was vice president of government and community relations at Community Medical Centers from 1995 to 2002 and was district chief of staff for California State Assemblymember Jim Costa from 1991 to 1994. Forhan is co-chair of the Valley Coalition for University of California, Merced Medical School. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Forhan is a Democrat.
Frank Gallegos, 53, of Fresno, has been reappointed to the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley Board of Directors, where he has served since 2015. Gallegos has been chief executive officer and executive director at Central California Business Finance Group since 2014. He was vice president at Community West Bank from 2012 to 2014. Gallegos was vice president at the Fresno Wells Fargo Bank from 2007 to 2012 and at Fresno First Bank from 2005 to 2007. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Gallegos is a Republican.
Ellen Junn, 59, of Turlock, has been appointed to the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley Board of Directors. Junn has been president at California State University, Stanislaus since 2016. She was provost and vice president for academic affairs at California State University, Dominguez Hills from 2014 to 2016 and at San Jose State University from 2012 to 2013. She was associate provost at California State University, Fresno from 2008 to 2011. Junn served in several positions at California State University, Fullerton from 1991 to 2008, including associate dean, associate and full professor, director of the Office of Educational Equity and Faculty Mentor Program and administrative fellow in the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs. She was an assistant professor at California State University, San Bernardino from 1989 to 1991, where she was a full-time lecturer from 1986 to 1989. Junn is a member of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium, Stanislaus Community Foundation’s Cradle to Career Leadership Team, ITHAKA Higher Education Insights, California Association for the Education of Young Children and the Association for Psychological Science. Junn earned Doctor of Philosophy and Masters of Arts degrees in cognitive and developmental psychology from Princeton University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Junn is a Democrat.
Daniel Leavitt, 54, of Davis, has been reappointed to the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley Board of Directors, where he has served since 2015. Leavitt has served as manager of regional initiatives at the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission since 2012. He was deputy director at the California High-Speed Rail Authority from 1997 to 2012, executive director at the California Intercity High-Speed Rail Commission from 1995 to 1996 and deputy project manager at Parsons Brinckerhoff from 1994 to 1995. Leavitt earned a Master of Science degree in transportation engineering and city and regional planning from the University of California, Berkeley. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Leavitt is a Democrat.
Patricia Poire, 60, of Bakersfield, has been reappointed to the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley Board of Directors, where she has served since 2017. Poire has been a planning manager at Kern Groundwater Authority GSA since 2018. She was director of corporate and public affairs at Grimmway Farms from 2008 to 2018, special projects manager for the City of Shafter from 2006 to 2008 and land project manager at Lennar Homes from 2002 to 2006. Poire is second vice president of the Kern County Farm Bureau and a member of the Bureau’s Land Use Committee and the Kern County Home Builders Association. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Poire is a Republican.
Charles Riojas, 53, of Fresno, has been reappointed to the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley Board of Directors, where he has served since 2017. Riojas has been a business agent for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 100 since 1999. He is a member of the California Workforce Development Board. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Riojas is a Democrat.
Bret Wood, 36, of Chico, has been appointed to the 3rd District Agricultural Association, Silver Dollar Fair Board of Directors. Wood has been vice president at North Valley Building Systems since 2010. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Wood is a Republican.
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