SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — On Thursday this week, Calif. Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced the following appointments: First, Conor O’Brien, 24, of Granite Bay, has been appointed special assistant for policy at the California Department of Food and Agriculture. O’Brien has been a corporate legal assistant at Simpson Thacher and Bartlett LLP since 2012 and was a farm worker at River Garden Farms Company in 2011. He was an intern at the Executive Office of the President, Presidential Correspondence Unit in 2010. O’Brien is a member of Pi Sigma Alpha. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $53,088. O’Brien is a Democrat.
Robin Baker, 60, of Berkeley, has been reappointed to the California State Compensation Insurance Fund Board of Directors, where she has served since 2013. Baker has been director of research to practice at the University of California, Berkeley Center for Occupational and Environmental Health and at the Center for Construction Research and Training since 2010. She was director at the University of California, Berkeley Labor Occupational Health Program from 1981 to 2010 and at the Santa Clara Center for Occupational Safety and Health’s Project on Health and Safety in Electronics from 1978 to 1981. Baker is a member of the American Federation of Teachers and the American Public Health Association. She earned a Master of Public Health degree from the University of California, Berkeley. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $53,131. Baker is a Democrat.
Sheryl Chalupa, 59, of Bakerfield, has been appointed to the State Compensation Insurance Fund Board of Directors, where she has served since 2007. Chalupa has been president and chief executive officer of Goodwill Industries of South Central California since 2001. She worked in multiple positions for the Girl Scouts, Joshua Tree Council from 1986 to 2001, including executive director, director of membership and program services and director of membership services. Chalupa is a member of the American Association of University Women and California Women Lead. She earned a Master of Public Administration degree from California State University, Bakersfield. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $53,131. Chalupa is a Democrat.
Jack Neureuter, 77, of Geyserville, has been appointed to the State Compensation Insurance Fund Board of Directors. 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 $53,131. Neureuter is a Republican.
Bill Zachry, 59, of San Carlos, has been appointed to the State Compensation Insurance Fund Board of Directors where he has served since 2009. Zachry has been vice president of risk management for Safeway Inc. since 2001. He was senior chief operations officer at StellarNet from 2000 to 2001 and vice president of claims at Zenith Insurance Company from 1998 to 2000. Zachry was senior vice president at C.E. Heath Insurance from 1987 to 1998 and claims manager at Western Employer Insurance from 1985 to 1987. He is a board member of the California Self-Insurers’ Security Fund and a member of the Pacific Claims Executive Association and Mission Lodge 169. Zachry was member of the California Fraud Assessment Commission from 1999 to 2009. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $53,131. Zachry is a Republican.
Linda Mae Balakian Hunsucker, 64, of Clovis, has been appointed to the 21st District Agricultural Association, Big Fresno Fair Board of Directors. Hunsucker is a member of the Coalition of Labor Union Women, the Fresno County Democratic Women’s Club, and the UFCW Women’s Network. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Hunsucker is a Democrat.
William White, 49, of Fresno, has been appointed to the 21st District Agricultural Association, Big Fresno Fair Board of Directors where he has served since 2007. White has been an attorney at Baker Manock and Jenson since 1990. He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, the California Medical Legal Committee, the Fresno County Bar Association, and the American Bar Association. He earned a Juris Doctor degree at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. White is a Republican.
Edy Adkison, 58, of Riverside, has been appointed to the 46th District Agricultural Association, Southern California Fair Board of Directors. Adkison has been president of Adkison Engineers since 1983. He was a city councilmember at the City of Riverside from 2000 to 2007. Adkison is a member of the National Exchange Club of Magnolia Center, the California Landsurveyors Association and the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Adkison is a Republican.
Jaime Hurtado, 48, of Moreno Valley, has been appointed to the 46th District Agricultural Association, Southern California Fair Board of Directors, where he has served since 2010. Hurtado has served in multiple positions for Riverside County Supervisor Marion Ashley since 2003, including chief of staff and deputy chief of staff. He was a programmer analyst at the University of California, Riverside from 1998 to 2003 and an employment coordinator at Golden State Services from 1996 to 1998. Hurtado was a job developer at the Greater Riverside Area Urban League from 1993 to 1996 and a legislative aide for California State Assemblymember Julie Bornstein from 1992 to 1993. He was a field representative for Assemblymember Steve Clute from 1990 to 1992. Hurtado is president of the Inland Empire Hispanic Leadership Council and a member of the Moreno Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, where he was president from 2005 to 2007. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Hurtado is a Republican.
Gene Skala, 75, of Riverside, has been appointed to the 46th District Agricultural Association, Southern California Fair Board of Directors, where he has served since 2010. Skala has been an insurance agent at State Farm Insurance since 1964. He is a member of the Riverside Rancheros and the DeAnza Trail Caballeros. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Skala is a Republican.
Louis Tavaglione, 84, of Riverside, has been appointed to the 42nd District Agricultural Association, Southern California Fair Board of Directors, where he has served since 1986. Tavaglione has been a partner at J and L Properties since 1960. He was executive vice president at Tavaglione Construction and Development Inc. from 1962 to 2012 and a real estate broker at Tava Realtors from 1950 to 1962. He is a founding member of Riverside Rancheros Equestrian Center and a member of the DeAnza Trail Caballeros. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Tavaglione is a Democrat.
