SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:
Nicole Darracq Bert, 58, of Sacramento, has been appointed assistant director of the Office of Communications and Public Affairs at the Department of Child Support Services. Darracq Bert has been a supervisor at the Department of Child Support Services since 2016. She was an information officer I at the Delta Protection Commission from 2014 to 2016, communications specialist at the University of California, Davis Small Farm Center in 2014 and owner and principal of Platform Blue Communications from 2002 to 2014. Darracq Bert was director of sales and marketing for Wildhurst Vineyards from 1997 to 2002. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $107,760. Darracq Bert is registered without party preference.
Shacunda Rodgers, 43, of Elk Grove, has been appointed to the California Board of Psychology. Rodgers has been founder and director of Melanin Meets Mindfulness since 2018 and a clinical psychologist in private practice since 2014. She was a clinical psychologist at Concept Healthcare from 2014 to 2016 and at Kaiser Permanente from 2006 to 2013. Rodgers was an assistant clinical professor at the University of California, Davis Department of Psychiatry from 2006 to 2009 and a clinical psychologist in private practice from 2005 to 2009. She was a clinical psychologist at Folsom State Prison from 2005 to 2006. Rodgers is a member of Safe Black Space, American Psychological Association, and the Society for Personality Assessment. She earned a Doctor of Psychology degree in clinical psychology from the University of Tennessee. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Rodgers is a Democrat.
Jed Grant, 48, of Rancho Cordova, has been reappointed to the California Physician Assistant Board, where he has served since 2013. Grant has been an assistant professor of clinical medicine at the University of the Pacific and a physician assistant at Mercy San Juan Medical Center since 2015. He held multiple positions at San Joaquin Valley College from 2003 to 2015, including director of the physician assistant program and physician assistant instructor. He serves as a medical officer in the California National Guard. Grant earned a Master of Science degree in physician assistant studies from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Grant is a Republican.
Susan Johnson, 73, of Rescue, has been reappointed to the California Private Security Disciplinary Review Committee, North, where she has served since 2014. Johnson has been a tax specialist for H&R Block and an on-site property manager at Leu Enterprises since 2019. She was principal and owner of Tallent Johnson Consulting from 2001 to 2011 and an independent residential sales agent at Leu Enterprises and at Keller Williams Realty from 2005 to 2010. Johnson was an independent residential mortgage loan agent at Residential Mortgage Lending from 2001 to 2005 and a vice president banking center manager for Bank of America from 1974 to 2000. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Johnson is a Democrat.
Leslye M. Tinson, 38, of San Francisco, has been reappointed to the California Private Security Disciplinary Review Committee, North, where she has served since 2015. Tinson has been an instructor of psychology for the San Francisco Community College District since 2018 and a lecturer of psychology at San Jose State University since 2015 and at San Francisco State University since 2013. She was an adjunct professor of psychology at San Jose Evergreen Community College District in 2018 and at Contra Costa Community College District from 2016 to 2018 and a mental health clinician at the San Benito County Behavioral Health Department in 2015. She was a mental health clinician and consultant at Asian American Recovery Services from 2012 to 2015, a mental health therapist at Opportunity Plus Inc. from 2011 to 2013 and an administrative support coordinator at San Francisco State University from 2005 to 2012. Tinson is a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. She earned a Master of Science degree in psychology from San Francisco State University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Tinson is a Democrat.
Mark Arabo, 36, of San Diego, has been appointed to the California Workforce Development Board. Arabo has been president and chief executive officer of Refined Management since 2015. He was president and chief executive officer of the Neighborhood Market Association from 2008 to 2015 and a member of the marketing and sales team for Anheuser-Busch from 2004 to 2006. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Arabo is a Democrat.
Kamyar Amiri-Davani, 34, of Laguna Beach, has been appointed to the California Workforce Development Board. Amiri-Davani is a co-founder of EB5Investors.com, established in 2012, and has been vice president of Outclick Media since 2008. He co-founded Uglobal in 2016, where he is currently vice president, and co-founded Opportunity Zone Expo in 2018, where he is currently vice president. Amiri-Davani co-founded LawQA in 2010, where he was vice president from 2010 to 2011. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Amiri-Davani is a Libertarian.
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