Announcements regarding key staffing changes of importance to California's rural counties.
Jennifer Jean O'Keefe, 43, of Salinas, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Monterey County Superior Court. O’Keefe has served as Chief Deputy Public Defender at the Monterey County Office of the Public Defender since 2017, where she has served as a Deputy Public Defender since 2010. She has been a Professor at the Monterey College of Law since 2015. O’Keefe served as a Deputy Public Defender at the Fresno County Office of the Public Defender from 2005 to 2010. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Catholic University of America School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Efren N. Iglesia. O’Keefe is a Democrat.
Troye Kendall Shaffer, 47, of Windsor, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Sonoma County Superior Court. Shaffer has served as a Commissioner at the Sonoma County Superior Court since 2019. She served as Chief Deputy District Attorney at the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office from 2015 to 2019, where she was a Deputy District Attorney from 2000 to 2015. Shaffer was an Associate at Bowles and Verna LLP from 2000 to 2001. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. Shaffer fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Robert S. Boyd. Shaffer is a Democrat.
Christopher Chase, 48, of Mount Shasta, has been reappointed to the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, where he has served since 2017. Chase has been General Manager of California Operations at Timber Products Company and Michigan-California Timber Company since 2019, where he has held multiple positions since 1997, including Timberland Manager, Timber Procurement Manager, Resource Manager for the Michigan Hardwood Veneer and Lumber Division, Plywood and Veneer Mill Product Specialist, and Log Buyer. He is a member of the American Forest Resource Council, California Forestry Association, California Licensed Foresters Association and Federal Timber Purchasers Committee. Chase earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Southern Oregon University. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Chase is registered without party preference.
Sherry R. Hao, 44, of South Lake Tahoe, has been appointed to the Tahoe Transportation District. Hao will be Energy Services Program Director at the Sierra Business Council beginning April 2021. She has been Director of Non-Profit Strategy at Carney Communications since 2016. Hao was Senior Energy Resources Project Manager at EN2 Resources Inc. from 2014 to 2021. Hao was an Instructor at Lake Tahoe Community College from 2014 to 2019. She was Senior Project Manager for Energy Solutions from 2008 to 2013. Hao was Project Manager at Asian American LEAD from 2004 to 2007. She was Director at the Campaign to Protect Chinatown from 2001 to 2003. Hao was a Mechanical Engineer at Product Genesis Inc. from 1998 to 2000. Hao is a member of the South Lake Tahoe 100% Renewable Committee. She is a board member for the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Hao is a Democrat.
Einar M. Nyborg, 54, of Ukiah, has been reappointed to the Board of Pilot Commissioners for the Bays of San Francisco, San Pablo and Suisun, where he has served since 2017. Nyborg has been a Pilot at the San Francisco Bar Pilots since 1995. He was a Harbor Tug Captain at Crowley Maritime Services from 1991 to 1995, Tank Vessel Deck Officer at the Keystone Shipping Company from 1989 to 1993 and First Officer and Deck Boss for Arctic Alaska Seafoods in 1988. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Nyborg is a Republican.
Janet Kappmeyer, 64, of St. Helena, has been reappointed to the State Mining and Geology Board, where she has served since 2017. Kappmeyer has been Manager of Grower Relations at Constellation Brands since 2009. She was an Assistant Winemaker at Peju Province Winery from 2008 to 2009, Enologist at Miner Family Winery from 2007 to 2008 and a Wine-Making Intern at Franciscan Estate from 2006 to 2007. Kappmeyer was President and Principal Geologist at Cypress Environmental Inc. from 1992 to 2004, Director of Operations at On-Site Technologies from 1990 to 1992, Senior Project Manager at Emcon Associates from 1984 to 1990 and a Geologist at Exxon Company, USA from 1982 to 1984. Kappmeyer is a member of the American Society for Enology and Viticulture, Saint Helena Community Band, and St. Helena Choral Society. She earned a Master of Science degree in geology from the University of Michigan. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Kappmeyer is a Democrat.