Imperial Valley News

Sacramento, California - California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the following appointments:

Daniel Contreras, 46, of Sherman Oaks, has been appointed to the Mexican American Veterans’ Memorial Beautification and Enhancement Committee. He is the adjutant for the Disabled American Veterans Department of California (DAV). Since 2000, he has served as a national service officer for the DAV. From 1993 to 1999, Contreras worked as a marketing director and case manager for Geriatric Service and, from 1980 to 1996, he served in the U.S. Army and achieved the rank of sergeant first class. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Contreras is a Democrat.

Bo Derek, 51, of Santa Ynez, has been appointed to the California Horse Racing Board. She has been an actress since 1974. Derek has served as spokeswoman for the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act since 2003 and has owned Bless the Beasts since 2000. She has served as chairperson for the Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Rehabilitation Special Events since 2000. Additionally, Derek has served as the special envoy of the Secretary of State on Wildlife Trafficking and has served on the board of WildAid and the Galapagos Conservancy, Ecuador. She previously served on the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees. This position requires Senate confirmation and compensation is $100 per diem. Derek is a Republican.

Patrick DeYoung, 81, of Carpinteria, has been appointed to the Santa Barbara Fair and Expo Board of Directors (19^th District Agriculture Association). Since 1997, he served as ranch manager for Rancho Las Rosas. From 1994 to 1997, DeYoung served as president of Coastal Jet, Incorporated in San Antonio, TX and Big Sur. Prior to that, he was the executive vice president of The Jaffe Group from 1990 to 1994 and, from 1986 to 1990, DeYoung served as the president of Coastal Jet, Incorporated in Santa Barbara. From 1981 to 1986, he served as vice president of sales for Tracor Aviation and, from 1975 to 1981, DeYoung worked as the executive sales director for OMNI Aircraft, Incorporated. He served as the general manager for Aerocol and vice president for Taxi Aero Nacional from 1969 to 1975. From 1967 to 1969, DeYoung worked as the vice president of sales in Latin America for the Lockheed Georgia Company and, from 1966 to 1967, he worked as the deputy director for the Chile California Program under Governor Edmund “Pat” Brown and Governor Ronald Reagan. DeYoung is a member of California Avocado Growers, Incorporated and the Santa Barbara Committee on Foreign Relations. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. DeYoung is a Republican.

Gregory Finch, 56, of Fair Oaks, has been appointed to the Court Reporters Board. He has served on the board since 2006. Since March 2008, Finch has served as principal for the Signature Law Group. From 2003 to 2008, he served as litigation director for the law firm of Cohen Durrett. Finch was previously a partner with the law firm of Booth and Finch from 1997 to 2003 and Finch, Burton and White from 1994 to 1997. He was a sole practitioner from 1980 to 1994. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Finch is a Republican.

David Israel, 57, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to the California Horse Racing Board. He has been a writer and television producer since 1973. Israel worked as a syndicated sports columnist from 1975 to 1981, writing on the Triple Crown triumph of “Seattle Slew” and “Affirmed” and the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes. Israel has served on the California Science Center Board of Directors since 2004 and on the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission since 2005. He is currently president of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission. Additionally, he served on the California Governor’s and First Lady’s Conference on Women Board of Directors from 2004 to 2007. This position requires Senate confirmation and compensation is $100 per diem. Israel is a Democrat.

Julia “Judy” Johnson, 50, of Brea, has been appointed to the Board of Behavioral Sciences. She has served on the board since 2005. Johnson has been a school neuropsychologist with the Whittier Union High School District and a school psychologist at Pioneer High School since 2004. Johnson has also been a practicing licensed educational psychologist since 1994 and works collaboratively with the Intercommunity Child Guidance Center, Intercommunity Counseling Center, Rosemead School of Psychology, Fuller School of Psychology and Chapman University to train and supervise mental health workers. Previously, she was a part-time professor in educational psychology and special education at California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo. She is a member of the California Association of School Psychologists, the National Association of School Psychologists and the American Board of School Neuropsychology. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Johnson is a Democrat.

Louise Kirkbride, 55, of Monte Sereno, has been appointed to the Contractors State License Board. She has served on the board since 2005 and has served on the California Board of Accountancy since May 2008. In 1997, Kirkbride founded Broad Daylight, a company which facilitates communications between businesses and their customers through the Internet and served as chief executive officer until 2003. Prior to that, she founded and worked at Answer Systems from 1988 to 1997. From 1984 to 1988, Kirkbride was marketing manager for Tektronix - CAE Systems. She is a member of the board of trustees at the California Institute of Technology. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Kirkbride is a Republican.

David Luzuriaga, 38, of Ladera Ranch, has been appointed to the Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. He has served as president of Luzuriaga Taylor, Incorporated since 2000. Prior to that, Luzuriaga served as president of David Luzuriaga Associates Civil Engineers from 1998 to 2000. He worked as a project engineer for Brian Kangas Foulk from 1995 to 1998 and for Treadwell and Rollo, Incorporated from 1993 to 1995. Luzuriaga has been a licensed civil engineer in California since 1997. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Luzuriaga is a Republican.

Herman “Bud” Rice, 53, of Pleasanton, has been appointed to the Inspection and Maintenance Review Committee. He has worked for Quality Tune-Up shops as president since 2004, vice president from 1987 to 2004, franchisee from 1985 to 1987, area supervisor from 1981 to 1985 and shop manager from 1976 to 1981. Rice is a member of the California Automotive Business Coalition Executive Board. This appointment does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Rice is a Republican.

Michael Sanders, 61, of Redding, has been appointed to the Shasta District Fair Board of Directors (27^th District Agriculture Association). Since 2004, he has owned Shasta Office Services. Previously, Sanders was president of Airport Printing and Mailing from 1982 to 2003. He is a member of the National and Local Order of the Eastern Star and Loyal Order of the Moose. Additionally, Sanders is a member of Another Chance Animal Welfare League Board of Directors. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Sanders is a Republican.

Arlan Van Leeuwen, 63, of Oakdale, has been appointed to the State Board of Food and Agriculture. Since 2006, he has owned and been partner of New Hope Dairy. Prior to that, Van Leeuwen owned Fairview Farms from 1974 to 2006. He is a board member for the Dairy Council of California and Agriculture Milk Producers’ Security Trust and a member of Rotary International and California Department of Food and California Dairies, Incorporated. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Van Leeuwen is registered decline-to-state.

Caleb Zia, 67, of Huntington Beach, has been appointed to the Bureau of Naturopathic Medicine Advisory Council. Since 2003, he has served as president of China International University. Zia has served as provost at SIAS International University of Business and Management in Henan, China since 2005 and from 2001 to 2003.  Additionally, he was assistant dean for the Asian program at Fort Hays State University in Kansas from 2001 to 2003. Prior to that, he served as the director of recruitment and special project coordinator for the University of Southern California from 2000 to 2001 and, from 1994 to 1999, Zia served as the director for the Center of International Trade Development at Coastline Community College. He served as vice president of administration to The Right Solution in 1993 and was the vice president of marketing at Wilshire Center Bank in 1992. From 1989 to 1992, Zia worked as the general manager and was a managing partner for Hotel Pueblo and, from 1987 to 1989, he worked as the chief executive officer for Chinese Arts and Crafts, Incorporated. From 1983 to 1987, he served as president of Maui Airlines and, from 1980 to 1989, Zia was the director and secretary for Grand National Bank Board of Directors. Since 1970, he has been a registered professional engineer in Control System Engineering for the State of California. Zia is a member of the Golden Coast Bank of Long Beach Board of Directors and is vice president of Educational Services Exchange with China, Incorporated and is a member of on the Community Care Health Centers Board of Directors. Additionally, Zia has been a member of the Chinese American Republican Association of Orange County Board of Directors, the Asian and Pacific Islander Council for Leadership in Higher Education and the Goodwill Industries of Orange County Board of Directors. He also serves as chairman of the Chinese American Cancer Foundation and is the committee chair of International Trade for the California Small Business Association. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Zia is a Republican.