Sacramento, California - Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments.
Susan Kane, 53, of Sacramento, has been appointed deputy secretary of administrative services at the California Department of Veterans Affairs. Kane has been assistant division chief of customer services at the California Public Employees’ Retirement System since 2015, where she has served in several positions since 2004, including chief of the health account services section, principal advisor to the board president and administrator of benefits. She served as chief negotiator for state workers’ compensation at the California Department of Personnel Administration from 2000 to 2004 and a labor relations analyst at the California Department of Insurance from 1999 to 2000. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $123,048. Kane is registered without party preference.
Chet Widom, 75, of Los Angeles, has been reappointed state architect at the California Department of General Services, Division of the State Architect, where he has served since 2011. Widom was senior architectural advisor at Build-Los Angeles Community College District from 2009 to 2011 and was a partner at Widom, Wein, Cohen, O’Leary, Terasawa from 1964 to 2008. He was a member of the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Bond Oversight Committee, Executive Committee from 2010 to 2011, Hospital Building Safety Board from 2004 to 2010, Los Angeles Planning Commission from 2002 to 2004 and the City of Los Angeles Board of Building and Safety Commissioners from 2000 to 2004. He was national president of the American Institute of Architects in 1995. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $150,197.88. Widom is a Democrat.
Mark Andre, 59, of Arcata, has been reappointed to the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, where he has served since 2010. Andre has been director of environmental services at the City of Arcata since 2006, where he has served in several positions since 1984, including deputy director of environmental services, forester and geographic information system specialist from 1988 to 1992, and forest technician from 1984 to 1987. He was co-principal at NRG Inc. from 1979 to 1984. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Andre is a Democrat.
Michael Miles, 44, of Eureka, has been reappointed to the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, where he has served since 2011. Miles has been director of forest science at the Mendocino Redwood Company and the Humboldt Redwood Company since 2012. He was area manager and watershed analysis manager at the Humboldt Redwood Company from 2012 to 2008. Miles held several positions at Scotia Pacific Company from 2004 to 2008, including watershed analysis manager and area forester. He was a compliance forester at Pacific Lumber Company from 2001 to 2004 and held multiple positions at the Natural Resources Management Company from 1992 to 2001, including staff forester and technician. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Miles is a Democrat.
George Livingstone, 56, of San Rafael, has been appointed to the Board of Pilot Commissioners for the Bays of San Francisco, San Pablo and Suisun. Livingstone has been a ship pilot for the San Francisco Bar Pilots since 2008. He was a captain at Sause Brothers Ocean Towing Inc. from 1991 to 2006. Livingstone is vice president of the Nautical Institute, London Branch and a member of the American Pilots Association, International Tug and Salvage Association. Livingstone was a member of the Harbor Safety Committee for San Francisco Bay from 2011 to 2015. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Livingstone is a Democrat.
Jennifer Schmid, 43, of Pleasant Hill, has been appointed to the Board of Pilot Commissioners for the Bays of San Francisco, San Pablo and Suisun. Schmid has been an engineer and paramedic at the Oakland Fire Department since 2005, where she was a paramedic and fire fighter from 1998 to 2005. She was an instructor and watch officer at the California Maritime Academy in 2001 and 2009 and a third mate at Chevron Shipping Company in 1997 and at Marine Spill Response Corporation in 1997 and at Keystone Shipping from 1994 to 1996. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Schmid is a Republican.
Joan Patche, 63, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the California State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind. Patche has been owner at Joni’s, since 1982. She was a teacher at Pacific Grove Adult Education from 1978 to 1981 and was a consultant at LightHouse for the Blind in 1978. She is chairperson of the California Council of the Blind Education Committee and of the California School for the Blind Advisory Committee and is a member of the California Vendors Policy Committee, Business Enterprises Program Training Committee. She earned a Master of Arts degree in languages and international studies from the Monterey Institute of International Studies. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Patche is registered without party preference.
Ernest Chung, 62, of Kentfield, has been reappointed to the California State Park and Recreation Commission, where he has served since 2013. Chung was managing director at KPMG Consulting and BearingPoint Inc. from 2001 to 2009. He held several positions at the Chevron Corporation from 1979 to 2001, including principal consultant, general manager, business development manager, area business development manager and technology research and development manager. Chung earned Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Science degrees in chemical engineering from the California Institute of Technology and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Chung is registered without party preference.
