Governor Newsom announces appointments 10.25.24
SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:
Jen Hamelin, of Colfax, has been appointed to the Commission on Health and Safety and Workers’ Compensation. Hamelin has been Chief Claims Officer, Worker’s Compensation at Public Risk Innovation, Solutions, and Management since 2023 and has held several roles there since 2012, including Director of Workers’ Compensation, Workers’ Compensation Claims Manager, Supervising Senior Workers’ Compensation Claims Specialist and Senior Workers’ Compensation Claims Specialist. She held several roles at York Insurance Services Group from 2001 to 2011, including Assistant Vice President of Workers’ Compensation, Claims Manager, Claims Supervisor, Senior Claims Examiner, Claims Examiner and Claims Assistant. Hamelin is a member of the board of directors of Project Go Inc. and The Perseverance Project. She is a member of the California Coalition on Workers’ Compensation and the Association of Governmental Risk Pools. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Hamelin is registered without party preference.
Kristi Montoya, of Oakland, has been appointed to the Commission on Health and Safety and Workers’ Compensation. Montoya has been Director of Claim Operations at United Parcel Service since 2023 and has held multiple roles there since 2003, including Director of Risk Management, Risk Management District Case Advisor, Finance Manager and Revenue Recovery Manager. She is a member of the California Coalition of Workers’ Compensation and the Workers’ Compensation Action Network. Montoya earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from California State University, East Bay. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Montoya is a Democrat.
Chris Pedroza, of Dublin, has been appointed to the Commission on Health and Safety and Workers’ Compensation. Pedroza has been Executive Director at Carpenters 46 Northern California Counties Conference Board since 2021. He was a Marketing Field Representative at the Northern California Carpenters Regional Council from 2008 to 2021. Pedroza is a member of the Carpenters Local Union 152. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Pedroza is a Democrat.
Meagan Subers, of Sacramento, has been reappointed to the Commission on Health and Safety and Workers’ Compensation, where she served since 2022. Subers has been Owner and Lobbyist of Capitol Connection since 2022, where she was a Legislative Advocate from 2010 to 2022. She was a Communications Specialist at Swanson Communications from 2008 to 2010. Subers is a member of the Institute of Governmental Advocates. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Subers is a Democrat.
Harold Ashe, of San Quentin, has been reappointed to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, where he has served since 2021. Ashe has been an In-Home Provider since 2016, providing care to his 14-year-old son with Down Syndrome and his 11-year-old son with Autism. He was a Correctional Officer at San Quentin State Prison from 1990 to 2001. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Ashe is a Democrat.
Harold T. Fujita, of Glendora, has been reappointed to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, where he has served since 2021. Fujita was Human Resources Director for the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks from 2000 to 2023. He was Director of Human Resources for the City of Los Angeles Information Technology Agency from 1996 to 2000. Fujita earned a Master of Public Administration degree from California State University, Dominguez Hills and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Fujita is a Democrat.
Cathay Liu, of Alhambra, has been reappointed to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, where she has served since 2021. Liu has been Training Coordinator for the Chinese Parents Association for the Disabled since 1990. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Liu is registered without party preference.
Dorka Keehn, of San Francisco, has been appointed to the California Arts Council. Keehn has been a Partner at Keehn Partners since 2021 and Founder and Principal at KEEHN ON ART since 2011. She was a Curator and Cofounder at Sites Unseen from 2014 to 2020. Keehn was a Development Consultant at Illuminate the Arts from 2011 to 2013 and a Cofounder at EMERGE AMERICA from 2000 to 2014. She was West Coast Director at Voters for Choice from 2000 to 2002. Keehn was a Cofounder at Women Count from 1998 to 2000. She earned a Master of Nonprofit Administration degree from the University of San Francisco. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Keehn is a Democrat.
Lacey Ventura, of Lancaster, has been appointed to the 50th District Agricultural Association, Antelope Valley Fair Board. Ventura has been Senior Director of Operations at Antelope Valley Medical Center since 2024 and a Registered Nurse at UCLA Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital since 2020. Ventura was Director of Behavioral Health Services at Antelope Valley Medical Center from 2023 to 2024. She was a Regional Nurse Manager/Director of Recovery at Valley Cities Behavioral Healthcare from 2018 to 2020. She was a Registered Nurse Clinical Instructor at Western University from 2018 to 2019. She was a Registered Nurse/Charge Nurse at Palomar Hospital from 2017 to 2018. Ventura earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from West Coast University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Ventura is registered without party preference.
Romer Cristobal, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the 52nd District Agricultural Association, Sacramento County Fair Board. Cristobal has been President of the Hamptons Community Foundation since 2022. Cristobal was a Staff Services Manager at the California Department of Health Care Services from 2017 to 2022. He was an Associate Governmental Program Analyst at the California Department of Health Care Services from 2015 to 2017. He was a Program Analyst at the California State Treasurer’s Office from 2011 to 2013. Cristobal is Vice President of the Sacramento Chapter of Asian Pacific American Public Affairs and a member of the Sacramento Rainbow Chamber of Commerce and the Sacramento State APIDA Center Community Advisory Council. Cristobal earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from California State University, East Bay. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Cristobal is a Democrat.