SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:
Joe Xavier, 60, of Elk Grove, has been reappointed director of the California Department of Rehabilitation, where he has been director since 2014 and has served in several positions since 1998, including deputy director of the Specialized Services Division and of the Independent Living and External Affairs Division. He was owner and operator at Snack N’ Things from 1996 to 1998, at Skyline Food Services from 1986 to 1996 and at the Gold Star Café from 1984 to 1986. Xavier is a member of the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Association of California State Employees with Disabilities. Xavier was confirmed to this position by the Senate in 2015. The compensation is $189, 588. Xavier is registered without party preference.
Kelly Hargreaves, 59, of Woodland, has been reappointed chief deputy director of the California Department of Rehabilitation, where she has served as chief deputy director since 2016. Hargreaves was chief counsel at the California Department of Rehabilitation from 2006 to 2016. She held several positions at the Department of Social Services from 1991 to 2006, including staff counsel, assistant chief counsel and assistant general counsel. Hargreaves was a loaned executive for the California Performance Review in 2004. She was staff counsel at the Department of Water Resources from 1986 to 1991. Hargreaves is a member of the California Bar Association. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. Hargreaves was confirmed to this position by the Senate in 2017. The compensation is $179,304. Hargreaves is a Democrat.
Maria Aliferis-Gjerde, 46, of Sacramento, has been reappointed executive officer of the California Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities at the California Department of Rehabilitation, where she has served as executive officer since 2015. Aliferis-Gjerde was executive officer of the State Rehabilitation Council at the California Department of Rehabilitation from 2013 to 2015. She was legislative and policy analyst in the Policy and Enforcement Branch of the Center for Health Care Quality at the California Department of Public Health from 2012 to 2013. Aliferis-Gjerde was a legislative analyst in the Office of Legislative and Regulatory Policy at the California Department of Toxic Substances Control from 2008 to 2012. She was press secretary in the Office of Assemblymember Patty Berg from 2006 to 2008. Aliferis-Gjerde was assistant to the speaker in the Office of Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez from 2004 to 2006 and in the Office of Assembly Speaker Herb J. Wesson Jr. from 2002 to 2004. Aliferis-Gjerde was press deputy in the Officer of Assembly Speaker Robert M. Hertzberg from 2000 to 2002. She was assistant to the speaker in the Office of Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa from 1998 to 2000. Aliferis-Gjerde was a press aide in the Office of Assembly Speaker Cruz M. Bustamante from 1996 to 1998 and in the Office of Assembly Minority Leader Richard Katz in 1996. Aliferis-Gjerde earned a Master of Public Policy and Administration degree from California State University, Sacramento. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100,656. Aliferis-Gjerde is a Democrat.
Elena Gomez, 52, of West Sacramento, has been reappointed deputy director of the Specialized Services Division at the California Department of Rehabilitation, where she has served as deputy director of the Specialized Services Division since 2014 and has held several positions since 1996, including assistant deputy director of the Specialized Services Division, program manager of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Section, senior information systems analyst specialist, chief information officer, and chief of community resources development. She earned a Master of Science degree in rehabilitation counseling from California State University, San Diego. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $140,256. Gomez is registered without party preference.
Jennifer Troia, 41, of Sacramento, has been appointed chief deputy director of adult, children and families programs at the California Department of Social Services. Troia has been principal consultant for the Joint Legislative Budget Committee since 2018. She was policy advisor on human services and child care for the Office of Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de Leon from 2014 to 2017 and deputy director and principal consultant for K-12 education for the Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review from 2013 to 2014, where she was principal consultant for human services from 2009 to 2013. Troia was principal consultant for the Assembly Human Services and Foster Care Select Committees from 2008 to 2009, director of advocacy for the California Court Appointed Special Advocates Association from 2006 to 2008 and an attorney at the Youth Law Center from 2004 to 2006. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $170,004. Troia is a Democrat.
Kimberly McCoy Wade, 48, of Oakland, has been appointed director of the California Department of Aging, where she has served as acting director since 2019. McCoy Wade was CalFresh and Nutrition Branch chief at the California Department of Social Services from 2015 to 2019, a consultant for Public Policy and Philanthropy Consulting from 2009 to 2015 and campaign manager for Together California’s Future in 2008. She was executive director of the California Association of Food Banks from 2006 to 2008, where she was co-director from 2004 to 2006. McCoy Wade was director of education and advocacy for Food Banks of Northern California from 2001 to 2003, campaign manager for the Alliance for Justice in 2000 and senior domestic policy analyst for Bread for the World from 1998 to 1999. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the New York University School of Law. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $170,004. McCoy Wade is a Democrat.
Mark Beckley, 49, of Gold River, has been appointed chief deputy director of the California Department of Aging. Beckley has served as chief deputy director at the California Department of Child Support Services since 2015. He was administrative deputy director at the California Department of State Hospitals from 2012 to 2015. Beckley held several positions at the California Department to Child Support Services from 2007 to 2009, including administrative deputy director, acting administrative deputy director and chief financial officer. Beckley held several positions at the California Department of Finance from 2001 to 2006, including staff finance budget analyst, associate finance budget analyst, and assistant finance budget analyst. Beckley held multiple positions at Charles Schwab & Co. from 1997 to 2001, including project manager, team manager, team leader and senior specialist. He earned a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Southern California. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $165,000. Beckley is a Democrat.
Adam Willoughby, 37, of Fair Oaks, has been appointed assistant director for legislation and public affairs at the California Department of Aging. Willoughby has served as acting assistant director for legislation and public affairs at the California Department of Aging since 2019. He was legislative manager at the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development from 2018 to 2019. Willoughby was policy consultant at the Tobacco Control Branch of the California Department of Public Health in 2018. He was a legislative analyst for the Division of Legislative and Regulatory Review at the California Department of Consumer Affairs from 2017 to 2018. Willoughby was legislative and external affairs analyst in the Office of Legislative and Public Affairs for the California Emergency Medical Services Authority from 2011 to 2017. Willoughby was account manager at Impact Marketing LLC from 2010 to 2011. He was a field representative in the Office of Assemblymember Ted Gaines from 2006 to 2010. Willoughby earned a Master of Arts degree in government from California State University, Sacramento. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $105, 636. Willoughby is a Democrat.
Tiena Johnson-Hall, 59, of Ontario, has been reappointed to the California Housing Finance Agency Board of Directors, where she has served since 2014. Johnson-Hall has been community relations officer for Southern California at BBVA Compass Bancshares Inc. since 2014. She was vice president at U.S. Bank from 2005 to 2013 and director of housing at the City of Los Angeles Housing and Community Investment Department from 2003 to 2005. Johnson-Hall was a senior vice president at Bank of America from 1996 to 2003 and was project manager for the Los Angeles Community Design Center from 1991 to 1994. Johnson-Hall earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Redlands. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Johnson-Hall is a Democrat.
Preston Prince, 55, of Fresno, has been reappointed to the California Housing Finance Agency Board of Directors, where he has served since 2013. Prince has been chief executive officer and executive director of the Fresno Housing Authority since 2007. He was executive director of the Aurora Housing Authority from 2002 to 2007 and senior housing development program manager for the Seattle Housing Authority from 1999 to 2002. Prince was director of housing development of Kitsap County Consolidated Housing Authority from 1995 to 1999 and a housing developer for Common Ground from 1990 to 1995. He is president of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials. Prince earned a Master of Arts degree in urban affairs and policy analysis from the New School University. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Prince is a Democrat.
Dalila Sotelo, 51, of Los Angeles, has been reappointed to the California Housing Finance Agency Board of Directors, where she has served since 2014. Sotelo has been principal of the Sotelo Group since 2011 and vice president and western regional managing director for Integral Development LLC since 2015. She served in multiple positions at the City of Los Angeles, Community Redevelopment Agency from 2007 to 2011, including acting deputy chief executive officer and deputy chief of operations. Sotelo was senior vice president at McCormack Baron Salazar from 1995 to 2007, finance officer for the Los Angeles Housing Department from 1993 to 1995 and project manager for the Concerned Citizens of South Central Los Angeles from 1991 to 1993. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Sotelo is a Democrat.
William Kissinger, 59, of Mill Valley, has been reappointed to the San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board, where he has served since 2012. Kissinger has been a partner at Morgan Lewis and Bockius since 2014. He was a partner at Bingham McCutchen from 2003 to 2014, senior deputy legal affairs secretary in the Office of Governor Gray Davis from 2001 to 2003, senior advisor for international economic policy for the National Economic Council at the White House from 2000 to 2001 and special assistant to the legal adviser at the U.S. Department of State from 1997 to 2000. Kissinger was an associate and then a partner at McCutchen Doyle Brown and Enersen from 1989 to 1997 and a staff attorney at the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit from 1987 to 1988. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Kissinger is a Democrat.
Michael Johnston, 67, of Watsonville, has been reappointed to the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, where he has served since 2011. Johnston was a consultant for Teamsters Local 890 and Teamsters Joint Council 7 from 2012 to 2017. He was campaign co-coordinator for Anna Caballero for Assembly in 2016, a consultant for Teamsters Local 948 and the California Teamsters State Council of Cannery and Food Processing Unions in 2011 and Salinas campaign coordinator for Anna Caballero for California State Senate in 2010. Johnston was campaign coordinator in the strategic research and campaigns department for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters from 2006 to 2009 and a business representative for Teamsters Local 890 from 1988 to 2005. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Johnston is a Democrat.
Jean-Pierre Wolff, 70, of San Luis Obispo, has been reappointed to the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, where he has served since 2010. Wolff has been a viticulturist and owner of Wolff Vineyards since 1999. He was an independent technology consultant from 2000 to 2002, senior vice president at Global Energy Services from 1998 to 2000, and vice president and corporate officer at Electro-Test Inc. from 1981 to 1998. Wolff was a field and power system engineer at Westinghouse Electric Corporation from 1977 to 1981 and a design engineer at Darmsted-Parenti and Associates from 1973 to 1977. Wolff is vice president of the Coastal San Luis Resource Conservation District, chairman of the San Luis Obispo County Agriculture Liaison Advisory Board, and a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council of the Cal Poly College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Science at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in science and technology from Walden University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Pepperdine University. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation $250 per diem. Wolff is a Republican.
Mark Bradford, 65, of Sacramento, has been reappointed to the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board, where he has served since 2018. Bradford was principal at ERM-West Inc. from 1992 to 2016 and program director at Ecology and Environment Inc. from 1979 to 1992. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Bradford is a Democrat.
Henry Abarbanel, 76, of Del Mar, has been reappointed to the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board, where he has served since 2011. Abarbanel has been a professor of physics at the University of California, San Diego and a research physicist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography since 1983. He served as a member of the Del Mar City Council from 2000 to 2008 and from 1992 to 1996. Abarbanel earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in physics from Princeton University. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Abarbanel is a Democrat.
Eric Anderson, 62, of Elfin Forest, has been reappointed to the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board, where he has served since 2004. Anderson has been an agronomist and vice president of La Costa Flower Shop and Nursery since 1978. He has been a member of the board of directors of the San Diego County Farm Bureau since 1992. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Anderson is a Libertarian.
Natalie Arroyo, 35, of Eureka, has been appointed to the Klamath River Renewal Corporation. Arroyo has been a lecturer at Humboldt State University since 2017, a member of the Eureka City Council since 2014 and a senior planner for the Natural Resources Services Division at the Redwood Community Action Agency since 2007. She has been a marine science technician 2nd Class for the U.S. Coast Guard Reserves since 2012. Arroyo was an AmeriCorps service member in the AmeriCorps Watershed Stewards Program from 2006 to 2007. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Arroyo is a Democrat.
Cynthia Guzmán, 32, of Los Angeles, has been reappointed to the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board, where she has served since 2016. Guzmán has been a principal at Estolano Advisors since 2018, where she has held several positions since 2012, including senior associate, associate and research analyst. Guzmán earned a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Public Affairs. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Guzmán is a Democrat.
Irma Munoz, 67, of Los Angeles, has been reappointed to the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board, where she has served since 2011. Munoz has been founder and president of Mujeres de la Tierra since 2007. She was a senior manager at TreePeople from 2001 to 2003 and national director of marketing and customer service at the U.S. Small Business Administration from 1994 to 2000. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Munoz is a Democrat.
Donald Jardine, 68, of Markleeville, has been reappointed to the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board, where he has served since 2008. Jardine has served as a member of the Alpine County Board of Supervisors since 1987. He held multiple positions at the California Department of Transportation from 1986 to 2006, including supervisor, equipment operator and lead worker. Jardine is a member of the Carson Water Subconservancy District Board of Directors. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Jardine is a Republican.
Peter Pumphrey, 73, of Chalfant, has been reappointed to the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board, where he has served since 2011. Pumphrey served as a deputy district attorney in the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office from 2001 to 2004 and was a deputy public defender in the San Joaquin County Public Defender’s Office from 1991 to 2001. He was an attorney in the Law Offices of Peter C. Pumphrey from 1973 to 1991. Pumphrey earned a Juris Doctor degree from Humphreys College Laurence Drivon School of Law. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Pumphrey is a Democrat.
Kelli Gant, 61, of Trinity Center, has been reappointed to the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, where she has served since 2015. Gant was owner and president of the Tangella Corporation from 1997 to 2018. She was director of technical publications and training at Avolent from 1999 to 2003 and director of project management at Vision Software from 1995 to 1996. Gant held multiple positions at Unify Corporation from 1983 to 1995, including director of communications, manager of publications and technical writer. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Gant is a Republican.
Edward Muzik, 68, of Indian Wells, has been reappointed to the Colorado River Basin Regional Water Quality Control Board, where he has served since 2007. Muzik has been general manager of the Hi-Desert Water District of Yucca Valley since 2007, where he was chief financial officer from 2002 to 2006. He was director of operations and finance at Vicom Systems Inc. from 1993 to 2002 and a controller at Ashford Development from 1990 to 1993 and at Cobble Knoll from 1985 to 1990. Muzik was accounting supervisor at Motorola from 1984 to 1985 and at S&C Electric from 1978 to 1984. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Muzik is registered without party preference.
Jayne Powell, 66, of Rancho Mirage, has been reappointed to the Colorado River Basin Regional Water Quality Control Board, where she has served since 2015. Powell has been an environmental and aggregate resources manager at Granite Construction Inc. since 2007. She was owner and environmental consultant at Resource Recovery Inc. from 2003 to 2006 and an environmental safety and quality manager at Foster Wheeler Environmental Corporation, now Tetra Tech, from 1997 to 2003. Powell was an environmental engineering group manager for Dames and Moore from 1990 to 1997 and an environmental manager at the Atlas Powder Company from 1988 to 1990. She is a member of the California Stormwater Quality Association. Powell earned a Master of Science degree in biology from Murray State University. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Powell is a Republican.
Tom Rivera, 80, of Grand Terrace, has been reappointed to the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board, where he has served since 2012. Rivera held multiple positions at California State University, San Bernardino from 1972 to 2011, including associate dean of undergraduate studies, associate dean of education support services and assistant professor of education. He was a counselor and human resources coordinator at San Bernardino Valley College from 1970 to 1972 and an elementary school teacher at the Rialto Unified School District from 1965 to 1970. He was a Peace Corps volunteer in Colombia from 1963 to 1965. Rivera earned a Doctor of Education degree from the University of California, Los Angeles and a Master of Arts degree in education, elementary teaching from California State University, Los Angeles. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Rivera is a Democrat.
William Ruh, 60, of Montclair, has been reappointed to the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board, where he has served since 2001. Ruh has been director of government affairs for the Citrus Valley Association of Realtors since 2001 and a member of the Montclair City Council since 1998. He was a consultant to the joint legislative committee on the Alameda Corridor East from 1999 to 2001, a field representative for Congressman Jay Kim from 1995 to 1999 and a constituent affairs representative for Assemblymember Fred Aguiar from 1993 to 1995. Ruh was executive director of Project Home Run from 1991 to 1993 and director of government relations for the Building Industry Association, Baldy View Region from 1988 to 1991. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Ruh is a Republican.
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