Announcements regarding key staffing changes of importance to California's rural counties.
Heather A. Bernikoff, 50, of Catheys Valley, has been appointed to the Sierra Nevada Conservancy. Bernikoff has been a Program Officer of Education at The James B. McClatchy Foundation since 2020 and a Self-Employed Consultant since 2017. She was a Consultant for Mariposa County providing service to the American Indian Council of Mariposa County from 2019 to 2020, was Administrative Director at California Small County Collaborative from 2017 to 2020 and Program Director at the California Consumer Protection Foundation from 2002 to 2017. Bernikoff was Program Director at The Special Hope Foundation from 2014 to 2017, Program Manager at California Telehealth and Telemedicine Center from 2000 to 2002 and Senior Health Educator and Program Manager at Contra Costa Health Plan from 1997 to 2000. She is a volunteer on the Outreach and Education Committee of the Integrated Regional Watershed Management Plan and American Indian Council of Mariposa County, and an advisor of the Fellowship Program at the Sierra Institute. Bernikoff earned a Master of Science degree in health education from the University of Wyoming. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Bernikoff is a Democrat.
William F. Honsal III, 48, of Fortuna, has been appointed to the California Rehabilitation Oversight Board. Honsal has served as Sheriff of Humboldt County since 2017, where he was Undersheriff from 2013 to 2017. Honsal was an Investigator at the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office from 2007 to 2013. He held several positions at the Humboldt State University Police Department from 2003 to 2007, including Lieutenant and Sergeant. He was a Patrol Officer at the Eureka Police Department in 2003, was Patrol Officer and Firefighter at the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety from 1996 to 2003 and was a Patrol Officer at the Madera Police Department from 1995 to 1996. He is a board member for the Redwood Teen Challenge and a member of the Rotary Club of Southwest Eureka. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Honsal is a Republican.
Patrick E. Wright, 59, of Grass Valley, has been appointed Director of the Governor’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force. Wright has been Acting Director of the Forest Management Task Force at California Natural Resources Agency since 2020 and Executive Director at the Tahoe Conservancy since 2006. He was Executive Director at the California Bay-Delta Authority from 2003 to 2006, Deputy Secretary for Policy Development at the California Natural Resources Agency from 2000 to 2003 and Senior Policy Advisor to the Regional Administrator at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from 1995 to 2000. Wright earned a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of California, Berkeley. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $170,772. Wright is a Democrat.