Governor Newsom Announces Appointments 3.19.20

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SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:

Katherine Delbar, 52, of Potter Valley, has been reappointed to the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, where she has served since 2016. Delbar has been county executive director at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency for Humboldt and Del Norte Counties since 1998 and for Mendocino and Lake Counties since 1992. She was a program technician for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service from 1989 to 1992. She is a member of the Potter Valley Community Park and Recreation and Mendocino County Cattleman’s Association. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Delbar is a Republican.

J. Keith Gilless, 64, of San Francisco, has been reappointed to the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, where he has served since 2011. Gilless has been a professor of forest economics at the University of California, Berkeley since 1983, where he was the dean of the College of Natural Resources from 2008 to 2018. He is a member of the Society of American Foresters. Gilless earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in forestry and agricultural economics, a Master of Arts degree in agricultural economics, and a Master of Science degree in forestry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Gilless is a Democrat.

Tom S. Epstein, 68, of Orinda, has been reappointed to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors, where he has served since 2014 and has been board president since 2018. Epstein was vice president of public affairs at Blue Shield of California from 2001 to 2016. He was vice president of communications for Public Broadcasting Service from 1995 to 2001, special assistant for political affairs in the Office of the President William J. Clinton from 1993 to 1995, and deputy commissioner for consumer protection and communications in the California Department of Insurance from 1991 to 1993. He is a member of the Coalition for Clean Air Board of Directors. Epstein earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Epstein is a Democrat.

Jolena Grande, 49, of Westminster, has been reappointed to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors, where she has served since 2018. Grande has been a licensed embalmer and crematory manager of Service Corporation International at Riverside Care Center since 2009, program director and professor at the Mortuary Science Program at Cypress College since 1999, and faculty member and professor for the North Orange Community College District at Cypress College since 1995. She was a licensed embalmer and funeral director at Heritage Memorial Services from 2002 to 2009 and at McCormick & Son Inc. from 1997 to 1999. Grande was adjunct instructor at the Mortuary Science Program at Cypress College from 1995 to 1999. She held multiple positions at Westminster Memorial Park and Mortuary and Peek Family Colonial Funeral Home from 1989 to 1994, including licensed embalmer, funeral director and crematory manager. Grande is a member of the National Association of College of Mortuary Science and the American Board of Funeral Service Education. She earned a Master of Science degree in education technology and a Master of Forensic Science degree from National University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Grande is a Democrat.

William Rawlings, 44, of Los Angeles, has been reappointed to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors, where he has served since 2018. Rawlings has been computer facilities coordinator at Mt. San Antonio College since 1999. He was a computer operator at Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District from 1996 to 1999. Rawlings was a microcomputer specialist from 1994 to 1997 and a computer lab technician from 1993 to 1995 for the North Orange County Community College District. He is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Walnut Valley, California Democratic Party’s Democratic State Central Committee, California Information Technology in Education, California School Employees Association, and the Watchmen Arts Association. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Rawlings is a Democrat.

Zia Zafir, 59, of Gold River, has been reappointed to the State Mining and Geology Board, where he has served since 2016. Zafir has been senior technical manager at Kleinfelder since 2017, where he was principal/senior principal engineer from 2006 to 2016 and staff engineer/senior engineer from 1994 to 2006. Zafir is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and Seismological Society of America, and president of the Sacramento Chapter of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute. Zafir is a registered civil and geotechnical engineer in the State of California. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in civil engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno and a Master of Science degree in geotechnical engineering from Iowa State University. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Zafir is registered without party preference.

Sarah Miggins, 47, of Marina Del Rey, has been reappointed to the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission, where she has served since 2018. Miggins has been executive vice president at the American Conservation Experience since 2018, where she has been California state director since 2016. She was center director at Audubon California from 2015 to 2016, executive director at the Southern California Mountains Foundation from 2005 to 2015, program director as Los Angeles Conservation Corps from 2001 to 2005 and director of business development at Inland Empire Economic Partnership from 1998 to 2001. Miggins earned a Master of Arts degree in management from the University of Redlands. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Miggins is a Democrat.

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