SACRAMENTO, Calif. /CALIFORNIA NEWSWIRE/ — This week, on Tuesday (June 3), California Governor Gavin Newsom announced the following appointments: First, Alana Mathews, of Elk Grove, has been appointed Deputy Secretary of Enforcement and General Counsel at the California Environmental Protection Agency. Mathews has been Assistant District Attorney at the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office since 2022 and Adjunct Professor at the University of Pacific, McGeorge School of Law since 2020.
Mathews was Director of Policy, Membership, and Training for the Prosecutors Alliance of California from 2021 to 2022. Mathews was Chief Consultant at the California State Assembly from 2019 to 2021. She held several roles at the California Energy Commission from 2012 to 2019, including Public Advisor and Senior Attorney. Mathews was Deputy District Attorney IV at the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office from 2004 to 2012. Mathews is Founder of The Community Justice Collaborative, Chair of the Florin Law Academy Advisory Committee, and Board member of Girl Scouts Heart of Central California. She earned a Juris Doctor degree and a Master of Laws in Government Affairs and Public Policy from University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Spelman College. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $227,028. Mathews is a Democrat.
Edward Fenn, of Boulder City, Nevada, has been appointed Chief of Construction at the California High Speed Rail Authority. Fenn was Vice President, Construction Management at Brightline West Trains since 2020. He was a Project Director at The Lane Construction Corporation from 2018 to 2020. Fenn was a Senior Project Manager at The Walsh Group from 2015 to 2018. He was an Operations and Program Director at the RailWorks Corporation from 2007 to 2015. Fenn was an Assistant Program Manager at Burns & McDonnell Engineering from 2005 to 2007. He was a Senior Engagement Manager at Navigant Consulting from 2000 to 2005. Fenn was a Project Controls/Project Manager at the City of Bridgeport from 1998 to 2000. He was a Project Engineer/Manager at The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company from 1994 to 1998. Fenn earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Bucknell University. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $375,000. Fenn is registered without party preference.
Joanna Rees, of Healdsburg, has been appointed to the California Workforce Development Board. Rees has been Chairman at West Global since 2023. She was Managing Partner at West Ventures from 2015 to 2023. Rees was Senior Partner at The B Team from 2013 to 2017. She was Managing Partner at Endeavor.Org from 2012 to 2013. Rees was Managing Partner at VSP Capital from 1996 to 2009. She is Board Chair of Illumyn Impact, Member of the Board of Directors for the Representation Project, Endeavor Global, Inception Fertility and FICO, Member of the Board of Advisors at Ramy Brook LLC, and a Henry Crown Fellow at The Aspen Institute, where she also serves as a Senior Moderator. Rees earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Duke University. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Rees is a Democrat.
Angel Sanchez, of Riverside, has been appointed to the California Workforce Development Board. Sanchez has been President of Phenix Gateway since 2024 and Chief Executive Officer of Phenix Technology Inc. since 2022, where he held several roles since 2012, including Director of Global Operations, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Manager. He held several roles at Bank of America between 2000 and 2011, including Vice President of Government Partnerships, Vice President, Senior Process Design Engineer, and Learning Manager. Sanchez is the founder of Jurupa Valley Adopt a Family and Board Member at the Riverside County Workforce Development Board and Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration from California Baptist University. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Sanchez is registered with no party preference.
