Sacramento, California - Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments:
Brian Annis, 48, of Sacramento, has been appointed secretary of the California State Transportation Agency, where he has served as acting secretary since 2018 and was undersecretary from 2013 to 2018. Annis was deputy secretary for transportation at the California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency from 2012 to 2013. He served in several positions at the California State Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review, including deputy staff director from 2010 to 2012, principal consultant from 2005 to 2010 and consultant from 2004 to 2005. Annis served in several positions at the California Department of Finance from 1998 to 2004, including principal program budget analyst II, staff finance budget analyst and research analyst II. He was an adjunct professor of economics at American River College from 1997 to 2002, a teaching assistant and distance learning instructor at the University of Washington from 1995 to 1997 and an economist at the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics from 1992 to 1995. Annis earned a Master of Arts degree in economics from the University of Washington. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $201,869. Annis is a Democrat.
Laurie Berman, 57, of San Diego, has been appointed director of the California Department of Transportation, where she has been District 11 director since 2009 and has served in several positions since 1983, including chief deputy district director of project delivery, State Route 125 south toll road corridor project manager, design manager and senior transportation engineer. She is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Women’s Transportation Seminar.This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $190,333. Berman is a Democrat.
Michael Mohler, 45, of Anaheim, has been appointed deputy director of communications at the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, where he has been battalion chief, southern region public information officer since 2014 and has served in several position since 2004, including fire captain, unit information officer at the San Diego Unit and fire apparatus engineer, public information officer at the Riverside Unit. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $125,340. Mohler is a Republican.
Robert Alvarado, 65, of Pinole, has been reappointed to the California Transportation Commission, where he has served since 2006. Alvarado has been executive officer at the Northern California Carpenters Regional Council since 2001. He is co-chair of the Carpenter Funds Administrative Office Corporate Board and a member of the Drexel University Board of Advisors. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Alvarado is a Democrat.
Frances Inman, 71, of Santa Ana, has been reappointed to the California Transportation Commission, where she has served since 2010. Inman has been founding president at Majestic Realty Foundation since 2002 and senior vice president at Majestic Realty Co. since 1996. She is a member of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce Boards of Directors, California Business Properties Association, San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership, Think Together, National Association of Industrial and Office Properties, Inland Action and the University of Redlands Board of Trustees. She earned a Master of Business Administration degree from California State University, Fullerton. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Inman is a Republican.
Nicole Neeman Brady, 37, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to the Colorado River Board of California. Neeman Brady has been chief operating officer and principal at the Renewable Resources Group since 2017. She was president at Edison Water Resources from 2015 to 2017 and director of strategic planning at Edison International in 2015. Neeman Brady held several positions at Southern California Edison from 2008 to 2015, including director of energy procurement and power supply, director of asset optimization and trading, director of contracts, renewable and alternative power, senior manager of strategic projects group, market strategy and resource planning and energy contract negotiator, renewable and alternative power. Neeman Brady earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Neeman Brady is a Democrat.
John Brissenden, 69, of Hope Valley, has been appointed to the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, where he served from 2005 to 2017. Brissenden has been owner and manager at Sorensen’s Resort since 1980. He was a member of the Alpine County Board of Supervisors from 1989 to 1993 and the Live Oak School District Board from 1978 to 1983. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Brissenden is a Democrat.
