SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the following appointments: James Burleson, 43, of Petaluma, has been reappointed to the Sonoma-Marin County Fair Board of Directors (4th District Agricultural Association), where he has served as a member since 2006. He has been principal for Greenleaf and Burleson Wealth Management since 2004. Previously, Burleson was an investment specialist for Charles Schwab from 2003 to 2004 and director of business development at Premier Trading Group from 2002 to 2003. Prior to that, he was a managing director and principal at LETCO LMM from 1998 to 2002. Burleson is a member of the Rotary Club of Petaluma. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Burleson is a Republican.
Bert Crane Jr., 51, of Merced, has been reappointed to the Merced County Fair Board of Directors (35th District Agricultural Association), where he has served as a member since 2007. He has been general partner for Bert Crane Orchards since 2004. Crane is a member of the Senate Agriculture Advisory Committee, Merced County High-Speed Rail Committee, California Walnut Commission and chair of the California Walnut Commission Intra-Industry Liaison Committee. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Crane is a Republican.
Mark Erreca, 39, of Los Banos, has been reappointed to the Merced County Fair Board of Directors (35th District Agricultural Association), where he has served as a member since 2003. Hehas been principal for Erreca Cattle Company since 1986 and a real estate agent for PMZ Real Estate since 2008. Erreca was a real estate agent with Century 21 Premier from 2004 to 2008 and for Prudential California Company from 1994 to 2004. He is a member of the board of directors for the Merced County Planning Commission and Merced County Chamber of Commerce. Erreca is a member of the Los Banos Basque Club and Merced County Sheriff’s Office of Search and Rescue. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Erreca is a Democrat.
Jaime Farao, 57, of Gustine, has been reappointed to the Merced County Fair Board of Directors (35th District Agricultural Association), where he has served as a member since 2007. He has been an agricultural instructor for Merced College since 1998. Previously, Farao was an agricultural instructor for Gustine Unified School District from 1991 to 1998 and manager and partner for Burke Farao Suffolks & Hampshires from 1987 to 1991. He is a member of the California Agriculture Teachers Association, Merced College Academic Senate, California Fairs and Expositions Rules Committee, Merced County Fair’s Auction Committee, Gustine High School’s Agriculture Advisory Committee and Merced and West Side 4-H. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Farao is a Republican.
Sonia Fernandez, 38, of Pomona, has been appointed to the Employment Training Panel. Since 2005, she has been the marketing representative for the Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust Southwest. Fernandez was the database manager for Southern California Laborers’ Joint Apprenticeship from 2002 to 2005 and a substitute instructional assistant to severely disabled students for the Capistrano Unified School District from 1997 to 2000. She was an accounts receivable and accounts payable clerk for Holiday Candy Corporation from 1996 to 1997 and a personnel administration clerk in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1993 to 1996. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Fernandez is a Democrat.
Flip Hassett, 63, of Merced, has been appointed to the Merced County Fair Board of Directors (35th District Agricultural Association). He has been executive director of United Way of Merced County since 2006. Prior to that, Hassett was the health and safety director for Owens-Illinois from 2002 to 2006. He was coach of the U.S.A. Water Polo Women’s National Team in 1979, when they won the Water Polo World Cup. Hassett is a member of the board of directors for Greater Merced Chamber of Commerce, Merced County Chamber of Commerce, Atwater Chamber of Commerce and Los Banos Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of California Collaboration-United Way. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Hassett is a Democrat.
Deborah Lewis, 61, of Los Banos, has been reappointed to the Merced County Fair Board of Directors (35th District Agricultural Association), where she has served as a member since 2007. Prior to retiring, she was a planning commissioner for the city of Los Banos from 1999 to 2007.Previously, Lewis worked for Santa Clara County as a deputy public guardian from 1985 to 2004 and an eligibility worker from 1980 to 1985. She was an assistant investigator for the Santa Clara County Public Defender’s Office from 1974 to 1980. Lewis is a member of the Los Banos Arts Council Board of Directors and president of the Merced County Republican Women’s Federation. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Lewis is a Republican.
Nicole Marzo, 43, of Petaluma, has been reappointed to the Sonoma-Marin County Fair Board of Directors (4th District Agricultural Association), where she has served as a member since 2006. She has owned and operated Lace House Linen Supply since 2000. Previously, Marzo was the sales and marketing director for Mixed Emotions Fine Arts from 1999 to 2000. She is a member of the Society of California Pioneers. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Marzo is a Republican.
Barbara Matheron, 58, of Hilmar, has been reappointed to the Merced County Fair Board of Directors (35th District Agricultural Association), where she has served as a member since 2005 and previously was a member from 1997 to 2001. She is self-employed working for Hilmar Holsteins, a family owned and operated dairy farm, since 1979. Matheron is a member of the California Women for Agriculture and California Dairy Women’s Association. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Matheron is a Republican.
Janine Montoya, 44, of Simi Valley, has been reappointed to the Employment Training Panel, where she has served as a member since 2008. She has been co-owner of Valley Aire Heating and Air Conditioning since 1988. Prior to that, Montoya co-owned Tri County Heating, Air Conditioning and Fireplaces from 2003 to 2010 and helped establish Simi Fastening System in 1983, where she served as an administrator from 1983 to 1988. Montoya is a member of the National Federation of Independent Business, National Association of Women Business Owners and National Association of Women in Construction. She is a member of the board of directors for Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce, Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce and Moorpark Chamber of Commerce. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Montoya is a Republican.
Shannon Picciano, 52, of Merced, has been reappointed to the Merced County Fair Board of Directors (35th District Agricultural Association), where she is currently president and has served as a member since 2004. Since 2001, she has worked as a public information assistant for Merced Community College. Picciano was an administrative specialist at the University of California, Merced from 1999 to 2000, a community representative for the California State Senate from 1995 to 1999 and an interpreter for the deaf at Merced College from 1993 to 1995. Previously, she served the Office of Governor George Deukmejian as a public affairs assistant from 1987 to 1990 and as assistant to the director of writing and research from 1983 to 1987. Picciano is a member of the Merced County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and Friends of Merced County Fair, and is founding director of Merced County’s Most Wanted. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Picciano is a Republican.
Janice Roberts, 59, of Modesto, has been reappointed to the Employment Training Panel, where she has served as a member since 2005. She has been the economic development training manager for Frito Lay since 2004, where she previously served as regional training and development manager from 2002 to 2004 and manufacturing department manager from 1996 to 2002. Roberts was operations manager for Wickes Forest Industries, later renamed Sequoia Forest Industries, from 1973 to 1995. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Roberts is a Republican.
Carol Sartori-Silva, 59, of Merced, has been reappointed to the Merced County Fair Board of Directors (35th District Agricultural Association), where she has served as a member since 2005 and previously was a member from 1998 to 2002. Prior to retiring, she was a fiscal and management information supervisor for the Merced County Workforce Investment Department from 1982 to 2001 and a civil assistant for the Merced County Marshall’s Office from 1979 to 1982. Sartori-Silva is a member of Mercy Hospital Foundation Heritage Club and California Women in Agriculture. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Sartori-Silva is a Republican.
Margaret Smith, 58, of Petaluma, has been reappointed to the Sonoma-Marin County Fair Board of Directors (4th District Agricultural Association), where she has served since 2006. She has owned and operated Cowgirl Creamery and Tomales Bay Foods since 1997. Previously, Smith was a chef at Chez Panisse Restaurant and Café from 1988 to 1997. Smith is a member of Marin Agricultural Land Trust, American Cheese Society, Women’s Chefs and Restaurateurs and is president of Marin Organic Board of Directors. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Smith is a Democrat.
Yuri Vanetik, 40, of Lemon Heights, has been appointed to the California State Lottery Commission. Since 1995, he has been the managing partner of Vanetik International, vice chairman of InformINS Incorporated since 1999 and managing director of the investment committee at GR Capital Asset Management since 2007. Vanetik was co-founder and partner for Iger, Koehler & Vanetik from 2002 to 2003 and founder of Vanetik International in 1999, where he served as managing director until 2001. Prior to that, Vanetik was an attorney for Kirkpatrick & Lockhart from 1997 to 1999. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Vanetik is a Republican.
Sharon Williams, 44, of Merced, has been appointed to the Merced County Fair Board of Directors (35th District Agricultural Association). She has been principal attorney for the Law Office of Sharon E. Williams since 1998. Prior to that, she worked as an associate attorney at Flanagan, Mason, Robbins Gnass & Corman from 1994 to 1998. Williams is a member of the Merced College Foundation, Guide Dogs for the Blind and is president of Cruickshank Middle School Performing Arts Boosters. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Williams is a Republican.
