Governor Newsom announces appointments 8.7.26

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:

Grecia Staton, of West Sacramento, has been appointed Chief Deputy Director at the Department of Industrial Relations. Staton has been Deputy Director of Disability Insurance at the Employment Development Department since 2025, where she was Deputy Director of Unemployment Insurance from 2021 to 2025. She held multiple positions at the California Secretary of State from 2019 to 2021, including Chief of the Management Services Division and Staff Services Manager III in the Political Reform Division. Staton held multiple positions at the Employment Development Department from 2008 to 2019, including Staff Services Manager II, Staff Services Manager I, Employment Manager II, Associate Governmental Program Analyst, and Employment Program Manager I. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration from San Diego State University. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $205,488. Staton is registered without party preference.

Dana Martinez, of North Hollywood, has been appointed General Counsel at the Public Employment Relations Board. Martinez has been Partner, Shareholder, and Management Committee Member at Bush Gottlieb, ALC since 2018. She was Partner and Shareholder at Garfield Matinez APLC from 2001 to 2018. Martinez was an Organizer at H.E.R.E., Local 11 from 1999 to 2001. She is a member of AFL-CIO Union Lawyers Alliance. Martinez earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $217,692. Martinez is a Democrat.

Salena Chow, of Elk Grove, has been appointed Chief Deputy Director at Healthcare Access and Information. Chow was Chief Operating Officer at the Judicial Council of California from 2024 to 2026. She held multiple positions at the California Department of Social Services from 2006 to 2024, including Chief Operating Officer, Fiscal Forecasting and Policy Branch Chief, Bureau Chief, Estimates Manager, and California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids Program Analyst. Chow was Risk Management and Project Administrator at Walsh & Forster from 2004 to 2006. She was Executive Assistant at Azteca Construction Inc. from 2003 to 2004. Chow earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $204,000. Chow is a Democrat.

Jami Terrell, of Auburn, has been appointed Deputy Director and Chief Counsel at the California Department of Health Care Services. Terrell has been Assistant Chief Counsel and Deputy Director at Covered California since 2025. She held multiple positions at the Department of Health Care Services from 2017 to 2025, including Assistant Chief Counsel, Attorney IV, and Attorney III. Terrell was a Senior Attorney at Hunt, Jeppson & Griffin LLP from 2015 to 2017. She was Supervising Tax Counsel III at the Board of Equalization from 2012 to 2015. Terrell was an Administrative Litigation Team Staff Counsel at the Department of Health Care Services from 2010 to 2012. She was a Staff Counsel in Family Law at Downey Brand LLP from 2007 to 2010. Terrell was an Associate Attorney at Stein & Baydaline, LLP from 2006 to 2007. She was Associate Attorney at Mayall, Hurley, Knutsen, Smith & Green from 2005 to 2006. Terrell earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Economics from the University of California, Davis. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $232,008. Terrell is a Democrat.

Monica Montano, of Sacramento, has been appointed Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs at the Department of Managed Health Care. Montano has been a Senior Regulatory and Legislative Advocate at the California Dental Association since 2021. She was a Health Care Policy Consultant at the Senate Office of Research from 2020 to 2021. Montano was Director of the CalMedForce Grant Program at Physicians for a Healthy California from 2018 to 2020. She was a Science Fellow at the California Council on Science and Technology from 2017 to 2018. She is a member of the California Council on Science and Technology Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Alumni Group. Montano earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Cellular and Molecular Pathology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Rockhurst University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $162,000. Montano is a Democrat.

Natalie Kwong, of Sacramento, has been appointed Assistant Deputy Director of the Office of Communications at the California Department of Public Health. Kwong has been Acting Assistant Deputy Director in the Office of Communications at the California Department of Public Health since 2026, where she was Web Team Manager from 2022 to 2025. She held multiple positions in the Office of Public Affairs at the California Public Employees’ Retirement System from 2014 to 2022, including Communications Strategy Manager, Digital Content Manager, and Digital Content Writer. Kwong was Communications Coordinator in the Office of Public Affairs at the California Victim Compensation Program from 2013 to 2014. She held multiple positions at Audacy, Inc. from 2007 to 2013, including Promotion Coordinator and Promotion Assistant. Kwong earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies from California State University, Sacramento. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $144,000. Kwong is registered without party preference.

Diane Sabonis, of Folsom, has been appointed Chief Counsel at the Emergency Medical Services Authority. Sabonis has been Special Advisor to the Emergency Medical Services Authority Director since 2024, where she was Attorney I from 2023 to 2024. She was Attorney Advisor in the Office of Hearing Operations at the Social Security Administration, from 2010 to 2023. She was Attorney at Diane Sabonis, Attorney at Law from 2009 to 2010. Sabonis was Staff Attorney at Rose Law Firm, PC from 2008 to 2009. She was a Forensic Chemist at the United States Department of Justice from 1987 to 1992. Sabonis earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Lincoln Law School of Sacramento and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biochemistry from the University of California, Davis. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $173,928. Sabonis is a Republican.

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