Governor Newsom announces appointments 2.13.25

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:

Vera Zakem, of Walnut Creek, has been appointed State Chief Technology Innovation Officer at the California Department of Technology. Zakem was Chief Digital Democracy and Rights Officer at the Agency for International Development from 2022 to 2025. She was Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Zakem Global Strategies from 2019 to 2022. Zakem was Director of Strategy and Partnerships and Senior Research Scientist at CNA Corporation from 2014 to 2018. She was an Adjunct Lecturer at George Washington University from 2013 to 2015. Zakem was Senior Project Manager and Analyst at Analytic Services, Inc. from 2011 to 2013. She was an Associate at Booz Allen Hamilton from 2008 to 2011. Zakem was Associate Director for Research at Saic/Hicks & Associates from 2005 to 2008. She was a Senior Project Specialist at Carana Corporation from 2004 to 2005. Zakem earned a Master of Arts degree in Government from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Politics from the University of San Francisco. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $192,000. Zakem is a Democrat.

Aaron Stockwell, of Fair Oaks, has been reappointed to the California Building Standards Commission, where he has served since 2020. Stockwell has been International Representative for United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters International since 2022. He was Executive Director of the California State Pipe Trades Council from 2020 to 2022. Stockwell held several positions at UA Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 447 from 2014 to 2020, including Business Manager, Business Representative, and Organizer. He was a Piping Detailer for ACCO Engineered Systems from 2013 to 2015. Stockwell held several positions at Airco Mechanical, Inc. from 1999 to 2013, including Detailing Manager, Pre-Construction Manager, Piping Superintendent, and Plumbing and Piping Foreman. He is a member of UA Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 447. This position requires Senate confirmation, and there is no compensation. Stockwell is a Democrat.

Elham “Elley” Klausbruckner, of San Diego, has been reappointed to the California Building Standards Commission, where she has served since 2014. Klausbruckner has been Owner and Principal at Klausbruckner and Associates Inc. since 1998. She is a member of the National Fire Protection Association, International Code Council, and the Society of Fire Protection Engineers. Klausbruckner earned a Master of Science degree in Fire Safety Engineering and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. This position requires Senate confirmation, and there is no compensation. Klausbruckner is registered without party preference.

William Benedict, of Danville, has been appointed to the Board of Pilot Commissioners for the Bays of San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun. Benedict has been a Ship Pilot for the San Francisco Bar Pilots since 2019. He was a Tugboat Captain for AMNav Maritime Services from 2010 to 2019. Benedict was a Support Boat Manager/Captain for Alinghi from 2004 to 2010. He was a Support Boat Captain for Oracle Racing from 2000 to 2003, and for America One from 1997 to 2000. Benedict is a Member of Richmond Yacht Club. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from St. Mary’s College of California. This position requires Senate confirmation, and there is no compensation. Tynan is a Democrat.

Karen Tynan, of Fairfield, has been reappointed to the Board of Pilot Commissioners for the Bays of San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun, where she has served since 2021. Tynan has been a Shareholder of Ogletree Deakins since 2020, where she was previously Counsel from 2018 to 2020. She was Owner of Tynan Law Office from 2009 to 2018. She was an Attorney at Jordan, Aqui and Tynan from 2005 to 2009. Tynan was Chief Mate at Chevron Shipping from 1987 to 1997. She served as an O-3 in the United States Navy Reserve from 1987 to 2000. Tynan earned a Juris Doctor degree from Empire College School of Law and a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Transportation from the United States Merchant Marine Academy. This position requires Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $600 per month. Tynan is a Democrat.

Lynn Korwatch, of Alamo, has been reappointed to the Board of Pilot Commissioners for the Bays of San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun, where she has served since 2023. Korwatch was Executive Director for the Marine Exchange of the San Francisco Bay Region from 2000 to 2023. She was General Manager of Marine Operations at Matson Navigation Company Inc. from 1991 to 2000 and a Deck Officer with Matson Navigation, achieving the rank of Captain in 1988. Korwatch is a member of the California Maritime Academy Foundation, the Council of American Master Mariners, the Office of Spill Prevention and Response Technical Advisory Committee, the National Liberty Museum, the California Maritime Academy Advisory Board, the San Francisco Bay Region Harbor Safety Committee, and the U.S. Coast Guard Area Security Committee. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nautical Science from the California Maritime Academy. This position requires Senate confirmation, and there is no compensation. Korwatch is a Democrat.

Mary-Ann Warmerdam, of Woodland, has been appointed to the 40th District Agricultural Association Yolo County Fair Board. Warmerdam has been the Senior Vice President Government Affairs at the Rural County Representatives of California since 2021. She was Deputy Controller of Environmental Policy at the CA State Controller from 2020 to 2021. Warmerdam was a Senior Policy Advocate at the Rural County Representative of CA from 2016 to 2020. She was the Leader of US Regulatory Affairs at the Clorox Company from 2012 to 2016. Warmerdam was Director of the State of California Department of Pesticide Regulation from 2004 to 2011. She is a board member of the Yolo Land Trust. Warmerdam earned a Master of Business degree from the California State University, Stanislaus and a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Business from the California State University, Fresno. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and there is no compensation. Warmerdam has no party preference.

Phil Mercado, of Los Angeles, has been reappointed to the California Arts Council, where he has served since 2022. Mercado has been a Partner Emeritus with the Southern California Permanente Medical Group since 2024, a Clinical Instructor for General Surgery at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center since 2016, and an Expert Medical Reviewer for the Medical Board of California since 2004. He was Regional Chief of General Surgery at the Southern California Permanente Medical Group from 2014 to 2023. Mercado was Chief of the Department of General Surgery at the Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park Medical Center from 2002 to 2019. He is Co-Chair of Annual Giving for Harvard Westlake, and a Member of the National Finance Team for the Democratic National Committee and the Hammer Museum Board of Advisors. Mercado earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Wisconsin – Parkside. This position requires Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Mercado is a Democrat.