Governor Newsom announces appointments 9.17.2026

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:

Holly Pearson, of Sacramento, has been appointed Chief Counsel at the California Department of Technology. Pearson has served as Assistant Chief Counsel at the California Department of Managed Health Care since 2020.  She was Acting Director at the California Office of Administrative Law in 2019. Pearson was Legal and General Counsel Deputy Secretary at the California Government Operations Agency from 2014 to 2020. She was Deputy Director and General Counsel at the California Department of Managed Health Care, where she held multiple positions from 2006 to 2014, including Assistant Chief Counsel for the Office of Legal Services, Staff Counsel III at the Office of Provider Oversight, and Chief of Personal and Employment Litigation. Pearson was Partner at Kronick, Moskovitz, Tiedemann & Girard from 2001 to 2005. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $219,300. Pearson is a Democrat.

Aubrie Fong, of Sacramento, has been appointed Community Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs Officer at the California Health and Human Services Agency. Fong has been Senior Advisor at the Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement since 2026. She held multiple positions at the Governor’s Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications from 2022 to 2026, including Acting Executive Director and Deputy Director of Partnerships. Fong held multiple positions at the California Department of Public Health from 2021 to 2022, including Senior External Affairs Officer and External Affairs Government Relations Lead. She was District Director in the Office of Assemblymember Kevin McCarty at the California State Legislature from 2014 to 2021. Fong was Executive Assistant in the Office of Councilmember Kevin McCarty at the City of Sacramento from 2004 to 2014. She was Executive Assistant in the Office of Councilmember Jimmie R. Yee in the City of Sacramento from 2002 to 2004. Fong is Treasurer of the Asian American Pacific Islander Caucus Institute and board member of the Chinese American Council of Sacramento and A Pipeline Project. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $165,000. Fong is a Democrat.

Steven Carnevale, of San Francisco, has been reappointed to the Behavioral Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, where he has served since 2021. Carnevale has been Founding Partner at Blue Ash Ventures since 2022. He has been Owner at Blue Oak Vineyard since 2001. Carnevale has been Chairman at Sawgrass since 1992. Carnevale earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from the University of Michigan. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Carnevale is registered without party preference.

Alfred Rowlett, of Sacramento, has been reappointed to the Behavioral Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, where he has served since 2021. Rowlett has been Owner at Rowlett & Associates, LLC since 2025. He was Chief Executive Officer at Turning Point Community Programs from 2016 to 2025. Rowlett is a member of the National Association of Social Workers. He earned a Master of Social Work degree from California State University, Sacramento, a Master of Business Administration degree from Golden Gate University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Ottawa University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Rowlett is a registered without party preference.

Keyondria Bunch, of Encino, has been reappointed to the Behavioral Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, where she has served since 2017. Bunch has been Supervising Psychologist at the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health since 2019, where she was a Clinical Psychologist from 2008 to 2019. She was a Therapist at the Children’s Institute from 2007 to 2008. Bunch was a Disability Services Program Counselor at the University of Southern California from 2001 to 2007. She is member of Service Employees International Union 721. Bunch earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Southern California, a Master of Education degree in Human Development and Psychology from Harvard University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from San Diego State University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Bunch is a Democrat.

Rayshell Chambers, of Los Angeles, has been reappointed to the Behavioral Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, where she has served since 2022. Chambers has been Executive Director at Painted Brain since 2022, where she was Co-Executive Director from 2016 to 2022. She was Program Analyst III at Special Service for Groups from 2011 to 2018. Chambers was a Community Outreach Coordinator in the Human Services Department in the City of Los Angeles from 2009 to 2010. She held multiple positions in the Commission on the Status of Women in the City of Los Angeles from 2006 to 2009, including Legislative Coordinator and Project Assistant. Chambers earned a Master of Public Administration degree from California State University, Long Beach and a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from the University of La Verne. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Chambers is registered without party preference.

Esther Rivera, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the Employment Training Panel. Rivera has been the Director of Operations Learning and Development at Cepheid since 2020. She was Training Manager at JELD-WEN from 2019 to 2020. Rivera was an Instructional Designer and Trainer at Decore-ative Specialties from 2017 to 2019. She held multiple positions at Total Quality Logistics including Instructional Designer from 2016 to 2017 and National Sales Training Specialist from 2015 to 2016. Rivera earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from the College of Charleston. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Rivera is a Democrat.

Ricky Smiles, of Vista, has been reappointed to the Employment Training Panel, where he has served since 2018. Smiles has been a Field Representative for the Southern California District Council of Laborers since 2018. He was a Field Representative for Laborers Local 89 from 2010 to 2018. Smiles was a Laborer and Intake Supervisory for Stone and Webster from 2005 to 2010. He was Laborer and Cement Finisher for SSC Construction Company from 2004 to 2005. Smiles was a Real Estate Agent for Homes of North County from 1995 to 2004. He was a Laborer and Cement Finisher for Bechtel Corporation from 1995 to 2001. Smiles was a Laborer at Blaine Wadman Construction Co. from 1978 to 1980. He was a Laborer Foreman for DyeCo Construction Co. from 1983 to 1990. Smiles was a Bird Trainer for Ray Burwick from 1981 to 1983. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Smiles is a Democrat.

Rebecca Bettencourt, of Modesto, has been reappointed to the Employment Training Panel, where she has served since 2023. Bettencourt has held multiple positions at Gallo since 2011 including Senior Program Manager of Corporate Workforce Planning and Learning, Manager of Operations Training and Workforce Development, Project Manager of Corporate Training, and Training Specialist of Corporate Training. She was the Training and Quality Manager at Communication Services for the Deaf from 2009 to 2011. Bettencourt was Regional Training Manager at Gate Gourmet from 2008 to 2009. She held several positions at Hilton Hotels from 2002 to 2008 including Regional Training Manager, Room Service, and Banqueting Manager and Banqueting Supervisor. Bettencourt is a member of the State Apprenticeship Interagency Advisory Board. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Hospitality Management from the University of Wales Institute Cardiff. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Bettencourt is a Democrat.