SACRAMENTO /California Newswire/ — Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the following appointments: First, Jennifer Allen, 44, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities. She has been a self-advocate presenter for Supported Life Institute since 2007. Previously, Allen served Capitol People First as president from 2005 to 2008 and a self-advocate from 2000 to 2007. This position does not require Senate confirmation and compensation is $100 per diem. Allen is a Democrat.
Ronald Steven Aschwanden, 57, of Angels Camp, has been reappointed to the Calaveras County Fair Board of Directors. He has served on the board of directors since 2004. Since 1996, Aschwanden has served as senior vice president of Pacific State Bank. Prior to that, he owned and served as president of Abbey Carpet from 1991 to 1997. Aschwanden serves as president on the Board of the Calaveras County Business Council and is a member of the Angels Camp Business Association. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Aschwanden is a Republican.
Linda Briskman, 61, of Beverly Hills, has been appointed to the State Parks and Recreation Commission. Prior to her retirement, Briskman served the city of Beverly Hills as a city council member from 2001 to 2009 and was mayor in 2005. While on the city council, she served on the Westside Cities Council of Governments as chair from 2007 to 2008 and as co-chair of the Transportation Committee from 2006 to 2009. Briskman was a member and served as chair of the Beverly Hills Planning Commission from 1996 to 2001, the Beverly Hills Traffic and Parking Commission from 1992 to 1996, a member of the Beverly Hills Solicitations Commission from 1990 to 1992 and served as co-chair of the Beverly Hills Solid Waste Committee from 1988 to 1999. Additionally, she was owned and was vice president of Timely Trends, an apparel manufacturer, from 1988 to 2001. This position requires Senate confirmation and the salary is $100 per diem. Briskman is a Democrat.
Gay Callan, 59, of San Andreas, has been reappointed to the Calaveras County Fair Board of Directors. She has served on the board of directors since 1991. Since 1980, Callan has owned and operated Chatom Vineyards and she is a member of the Calaveras Winegrape Alliance. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Callan is a Republican.
Kraig “Max” Duley, 42, of Fairfield, has been reappointed to the Developmental Disabilities Area Board IV. He previously served the board as a supervisor appointee from 2006 to 2009. Since 2008, Duley has served as the chief executive officer of A Flash in the Pan, a menu planning website. Previously, he worked for Trinitas Cellars at the Meritage Resort as vice president of operations, general manager and executive chef from 2007 to 2008. Duley was the director of hospitality and executive chef for Peju Province Winery from 2002 to 2007, corporate executive chef and director of food and beverage for Sassy Restaurant Group from 2001 to 2002 and education operations manager for the Culinary Institute of America from 1996 to 2001. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Duley is a Democrat.
Maureen Gorsen, 45, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the State Parks and Recreation Commission. Since March 2009, she has worked as a partner in environmental and land use practice for Alston and Bird. Previously, Gorsen was director of the California Department of Toxic Substances Control from 2006 to 2009 and deputy secretary for law enforcement and general counsel for the California Environmental Protection Agency from 2003 to 2006. She was a partner for Weston, Benshoof, Rochefort, Rubalcava and MacCuish from 1999 to 2003 and served the California Natural Resources Agency as general counsel from 1996 to 1999 and assistant general counsel from 1994 to 1996. Gorsen was a fellow in the National Network for Environmental Management Student Fellowship Program for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from 1991 to 1992, foreign service intern serving in Niamey, Niger for the U.S. Department of State in 1990 and law clerk in the Office of Oceans at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in 1989. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Gorsen is a Republican.
Robin Hansen, 58, of Davis, has been appointed to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities. She has served the University of California, Davis School of Medicine as director of clinical programs for the M.I.N.D. Institute since 2003, professor of clinical pediatrics for the Department of Pediatrics since 2005, director of the Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities since 2006 and chief of the section of developmental and behavioral pediatrics since 1998. Hansen serves as associate editor of the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics and was president of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics from 2008 to 2009. Previously, she served the University of California, Davis School of Medicine as vice chair of the Department of Pediatrics from 2003 to 2007, chief of the Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics and Child Protection Center from 1998 to 2001 and director of the child development program from 1986 to 1998. This position does not require Senate confirmation and compensation is $100 per diem. Hansen is registered decline-to-state.
Miriam Eileen Kang, 42, of Long Beach, has been appointed to the Developmental Disabilities Area Board X. Prior to her retirement, she served Centocor as a senior immunology specialist in dermatology from 2005 to 2006, immunology specialist from 2004 to 2005 and senior cardiologist from 1999 to 2004. Kang worked for Rhone-Poulenc Rorer as senior advanced therapeutic specialist from 1998 to 1999, therapeutic coordinator from 1996 to 1998 and salesperson from 1992 to 1996. She was district manager and financial consultant for Fortis Investors from 1990 to 1992. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Kang is registered decline-to-state.
Charlene Lee, 16, of Walnut, has been appointed to the State Board of Education. She is an honor student in her senior year at Walnut High School. Lee worked as a U.S. Senate page in 2009 and was an intern for the district office of then-Congresswoman Hilda Solis in 2008. She also served as vice president of the California Association of Student Councils from 2008 to 2009. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Lee is not yet registered.
Darrin Mills, 35, of Angels Camp, has been appointed to the Calaveras County Fair Board of Directors. Since 2001, he has served as vice president of Distinctive Metals. Previously, Mills was secretary of Angels Sheet Metal from 1995 to 2001. He is a member of the Bret Harte FFA Booster Club. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Mills is a Republican.
Mario Santoyo, 52, of Reedley, has been appointed to the State Parks and Recreation Commission. He has served at the Friant Water Authority since 1986 where he has been assistant general manager since 2004. Previously, Santoyo held the positions of water resources manager from 2001 to 2004, maintenance manager from 1993 to 2001, manager of the operation and maintenance division from 1989 to 1993 and construction staff engineer from 1986 to 1989. Prior to that, he worked as a project engineer for Sorensen and Keller Consulting Civil Engineers from 1985 to 1986 and civil engineer for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation from 1978 to 1985. This position requires Senate confirmation and the salary is $100 per diem. Santoyo is a Republican.
Jennifer Walsh, 37, of San Mateo, has been appointed to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities. She has served as a community connector for the Community Living Campaign since 2008 and as an advisor for People First of California since 2004. Previously, Walsh was an accessibility consultant for Partners in Policymaking California in 2008, mentor for Community Leadership and Advocacy in Mentorship from 2004 to 2005, program support specialist for the Bridge School from 2001 to 2003 and administrative assistant for DOGSHELP from 1998 to 2001. This position does not require Senate confirmation and compensation is $100 per diem. Walsh is a Republican.
Karen Wong, 53, of Sacramento, has been appointed deputy director for public safety communications for the Office of the State Chief Information Officer. Since 2007, she has served as a deputy director of administrative services for the division of correctional health care services at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). Previously, Wong served under CDCR as an administrator in the Office of Correctional Safety from 2006 to 2007, acting assistant secretary for the Office of Risk Management from 2005 to 2006, assistant deputy director for the Office of Environmental Health and Safety from 2002 to 2005, chief of the Telecommunications Branch from 1998 to 2002 and manager of field operations in the Office of Telecommunications from 1997 to 1998. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $113,700. Wong is registered decline-to-state.
