Sacramento, California - Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments:
Charlene Taylor, 63, of Elk Grove, has been reappointed to the California Veterans Board, where she has served since 2012. Taylor has held several positions at the Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and Health Plan since 1997, including chief nursing officer and chief operating officer of the Kaiser Permanente Sacramento Medical Center. She served as chief nurse and flight nurse for the U.S. Air Force Reserve from 1993 to 2009 and was an assistant hospital administrator at Sutter Amador Hospital from 1988 to 1997. She is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Reserve Officers Association and the Society of Air Force Nurses. Taylor earned a Master of Science degree in nursing administration from the University of California, San Francisco. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Taylor is a Republican.
Bruce Holaday, 63, of Oakland, has been reappointed to the California State Board of Education, where he has served since 2012. Holaday has been director at Wildlife Associations since 2014, where he was director of educational advancement from 2010 to 2014. He was executive director at Newpoint Tampa High School from 2009 to 2010 and at the Oakland Military Institute from 2004 to 2009. Holaday held several positions at Culver Academies from 1976 to 2004, including director of development, director of Culver Summer Camps and an English teacher. He earned a Master of Education degree in English from Indiana University. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Holaday is a Democrat.
Feliza Ortiz-Licon, 40, of Long Beach, has been reappointed to the California State Board of Education, where she has served since 2015. Ortiz-Licon has been senior director of K-12 education at the National Council of La Raza since 2013, where she was regional director of education for California and the Far West from 2007 to 2013. She was director of college access services at the Fulfillment Fund from 2006 to 2007, director of policy for Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education member David Tokofsky from 2003 to 2006 and served as a teacher at John Muir Elementary School from 1999 to 2001. She is a member of the American Educational Research Association. Ortiz-Licon earned a joint Doctor of Education degree in educational leadership from the University of California, Irvine and California State University, Los Angeles and a Master of Arts degree in city and regional planning from the University of California, Berkeley. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Ortiz-Licon is a Democrat.
Nicolasa I. Sandoval, 45, of Lompoc, has been reappointed to the California State Board of Education, where she has served since 2013. Sandoval has been education director for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians since 2009 and a lecturer at the University of California, Santa Barbara since 2007. She was a consulting manager at the Nonprofit Support Center from 2008 to 2009, where she was a community outreach specialist from 2007 to 2008. Sandoval was project evaluator at the University of California, Santa Barbara from 2004 to 2006 and served in several positions at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian from 1995 to 2002, including assistant director of community services, training coordinator and special assistant for external affairs. Sandoval was a public affairs assistant at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History from 1994 to 1995 and a press assistant at the J. Paul Getty Museum from 1991 to 1993. Sandoval earned a Doctor of Education from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a Master of Arts degree in museum studies from George Washington University. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Sandoval is registered without party preference.
Judith Freyman, 65, of Rocklin, has been reappointed to the Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board, where she has served since 2012. Freyman was vice president and western operations director at Mercer ORC Worldwide from 2001 to 2012 and held multiple positions at ConAgra Refrigerated Prepared Foods from 1979 to 2001, including assistant general counsel and corporate counsel. Freyman was corporate counsel at the Jewel Corporation from 1977 to 1979. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Loyola University, Chicago School of Law. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $120,441. Freyman is a Republican.
Jack Neureuter, 78, of Geyserville, has been reappointed to the State Compensation Insurance Fund Board of Directors, where he has served since 2014. Neureuter was chief executive officer at Alliance Medical Center from 1998 to 2012, executive director of the Oakland Association of Insurance Agents from 1980 to 1998 and an account executive at Fritz Insurance Agency from 1977 to 1980. He is a member of the Sonoma County Memorial Hospice Advisory Board and the Health Action Sonoma Committee for Health Improvement Palliative Care Group. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $55,255. Neureuter is a Republican.
Ricky Cabrera, 49, of Salinas, has been reappointed to the 7th District Agricultural Association, Monterey County Fair Board of Directors, where he has served since 2012. Cabrera has been president at Cabrera Contracting Inc. since 1988. He is president of the Salinas Alisal Rotary Club and the Mexican Heritage Expo and a volunteer for the California Rodeo Salinas and Monterey County Reads. Cabrera is a member of the National Steinbeck Center Board of Trustees, Salinas Valley Leadership Group Board of Directors and the Monterey County Farm Bureau. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Cabrera is a Democrat.
Daniel Presser, 72, of Monterey, has been reappointed to the 7th District Agricultural Association, Monterey County Fair Board of Directors, where he has served since 2014. Presser has been owner at Four Winds Travel since 1994. He was a travel agent at Ashely Travel from 1992 to 1993 and a public relations director at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in 1991. He is a member of the Association of Retail Travel Agents, Monterey County Military and Veterans Affairs Advisory Commission, Carmel Chamber of Commerce and the American Legion Post 41 Board. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Presser is a Democrat.
Paul Tran, 51, of Spreckels, has been reappointed to the 7th District Agricultural Association, Monterey County Fair Board of Directors, where he has served since 2012. Tran has been a project manager at Community Housing Improvement Systems and Planning Association Inc. since 2004. He served as a contract planner and deputy zoning administrator for the City of Santa Cruz in 2004. Tran was a law clerk at Lombardo and Gilles from 2001 to 2003, at Bello, Tade and Nale from 1999 to 2001 and at Call and Boyns from 1998 to 1999. He served as a certified law student and student intern at Legal Services for Seniors from 1997 to 1998. Tran was an associate planner for Monterey County from 1990 to 1998 and an assistant planner at the EMC Planning Group Inc. from 1989 to 1990. He is a member of the Salinas Senior Center Board of Directors, Monterey County Sheriff’s Advisory Council, Monterey County Sheriff’s Emergency Assistance Team and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Tran earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Monterey College of Law. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Tran is registered without party preference.
Ned Dunphy, 57, of Bakersfield, has been reappointed to the 15th District Agricultural Association, Kern County Fair Board of Directors, where he has served since 2015. Dunphy has been a partner at Young Wooldridge since 2014, where he has been an attorney since 2012. He was a personal injury lawyer at Klein DeNatale and Goldner from 1990 to 2012 and a staff attorney and organizer at the United Farm Workers from 1977 to 1990. Dunphy is a member of the Kern County Bar Association and the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles. He earned his legal education through the California State Bar Law Office Study Program while participating in the United Farm Workers of America Legal Apprenticeship Program. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Dunphy is a Democrat.
Karen Henderson, 61, of Grass Valley, has been reappointed to the 17th District Agricultural Association, Nevada County Fair Board of Directors, where she has served since 2012. Henderson has been a teacher at Nevada Union High School since 1992. She was a teacher at Emporia State University from 1988 to 1992 and co-owner at Shady Oaks Ranch from 1977 to 1988. Henderson is a member of the California Wool Growers Association. She earned a Master of Science degree in biology from Emporia State University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Henderson is registered without party preference.
Andrew Trygg, 33, of Grass Valley, has been reappointed to the 17th District Agricultural Association, Nevada County Fair Board of Directors, where he has served since 2013. Trygg has been a lead instructor at Public Safety Training Consultants since 2011. He served in several positions at the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office from 2008 to 2013, including communications manager and senior sheriff’s dispatcher. Trygg was a public safety dispatcher at the Placer County Sheriff’s Office from 2005 to 2007 and a sheriff’s dispatcher at the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office from 2002 to 2005. He is a member of the Firefighters Association of Nevada City and served as a volunteer fire captain at the Nevada City Fire Department from 2001 to 2015. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Trygg is registered without party preference.
Kathlyn Mead, 57, of Escondido, has been appointed to the Race Track Leasing Commission as a representative of the 22nd District Agricultural Association, San Diego County Fair Board of Directors. Mead was executive vice president and chief operations officer at the California Endowment from 2007 to 2014. She was president and chief executive officer at the Council of Community Clinics from 2006 to 2007, vice president at Blue Shield of California from 2005 to 2006 and president and chief executive officer at Sharp Health Plan from 1996 to 2005. Mead was vice president at Children’s Hospital San Diego from 1994 to 1996. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Mead is a Democrat.
Richard Valdez, 52, of Chula Vista, has been appointed to the Race Track Leasing Commission as a representative of the 22nd District Agricultural Association, San Diego County Fair Board of Directors. Valdez has been an adjunct professor at the University of San Diego School of Law since 2008 and a partner and associate at Sandler, Lasry, Laube, Byer and Valdez LLP since 2000. Valdez was a partner and associate at Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves and Savitch LLP from 1991 to 2000. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Valdez is a Democrat.
Joan Kaiser Bell, 85, of Red Bluff, has been reappointed to the 30th District Agricultural Association, Tehama District Fair Board of Directors, where she has served since 2013. Bell served as an outpatient clinic clerk at the California Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital, Long Beach from 1989 to 1995. She is a member of the Tehama County Democratic Central Committee and the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association. She is a member of the California Democratic Party and a past California Democratic Party Assembly District 2 delegate. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Bell is a Democrat.
Linda Durrer, 67, of Red Bluff, has been reappointed to the 30th District Agricultural Association, Tehama District Fair Board of Directors, where she has served since 2013 and served from 2002 to 2005. Durrer has been owner and broker at Durrer Insurance since 2005 and a vocational counselor and return to work specialist at Durrer Rehabilitation since 1991. She is a member of the Tehama County Democratic Central Committee and Rotary International. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Durrer is a Democrat.
Manuel “Ray” Souza, Jr., 69, of Turlock, has been reappointed to the 38th District Agricultural Association, Stanislaus County Fair Board of Directors, where he has served since 1996. Souza has been owner at Ray Souza Farms since 1984. He is a member of the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau and past president of the Western United Dairymen, District 5 Board of Directors. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Souza is a Republican.
Jeremiah Williams, 51, of Modesto, has been reappointed to the 38th District Agricultural Association, Stanislaus County Fair Board of Directors, where he has served since 2015. Williams has been owner at Oak Crafts by Jeremiah since 1986. He is a member of the Modesto Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Gallo Center for the Arts Board of Trustees, King-Kennedy Memorial Center Board of Directors, Modesto Community Gang Task Force and the Boys and Girls Club of Stanislaus County Board of Directors. Williams is a charter member of Project Uplift, president of the Greater Modesto Tree Foundation, chair of the City of Modesto Independence Day Parade and community relations director at the United Pentecostal Church of Modesto. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Williams is a Republican.
