Governor Newsom Announces Appointments 6.21.24

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:

Derek Kirk of Sacramento has been named senior advisor for economic policy in the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. Kirk has served as deputy assistant secretary for climate economics at the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency since 2023. He was supervisor of community solutions in the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development from 2022 to 2023, where he served as a specialist regional business development from 2020 to 2022. Kirk served as director of community engagement and advocacy for Visit SLO CAL from 2019 to 2020. He served as president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Atascadero from 2018 to 2019. Kirk served as director of community and government relations for North Orange. County Chamber of Commerce from 2016 to 2017. He earned a Master of Arts in Social Justice and Community Organizing from Prescott College and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Point Loma Nazarene University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and compensation is $155,796. Kirk is a Democrat.

Poonum Rashmikant Patel, of Hayward, has been named deputy director of business development in the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, where she has served as deputy assistant director of Business Investment Services since 2020 and has held several positions since 2013, notably that of business director. Development Specialist, Senior Permitting Assistant, Assistant Permitting Specialist, and Senior Project Specialist. Patel served as special assistant on appointments in the office of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. from 2011 to 2013. She earned a master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor of arts in political science from the University of California, Davis. This position does not require Senate confirmation and compensation is $133,608. Patel is a Democrat.

Kayla Ungar, of Sacramento, has been named deputy director for strategic program planning in the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. Ungar has served as Acting Director of California All Women’s and Mental Health Programs in Governor Gavin Newsom’s office since 2024 and was Chief Deputy Director of the California Arts Council from 2023 to 2024. She served as Special Advisor to the climate, water and drought. at the California Department of Food and Agriculture from 2022 to 2023. Ungar served as deputy assistant secretary to the Cabinet in the office of Governor Gavin Newsom from 2019 to 2022. She served as chief of staff of SGR Consulting from 2016 to 2019 and Financial Associate from 2016 to 2019. 2014 to 2015. Ungar earned a master’s degree in public policy and public administration from Northwestern University and a bachelor of arts degree in political science from the University of California, Berkeley. This position does not require Senate confirmation and compensation is $144,204. Ungar is a Democrat.

Zahirah Mann of Pasadena has been appointed to the California Transportation Commission. Mann has served as President and CEO of the South Los Angeles Transit Empowerment Zone (SLATE-Z) since 2021. She served in several roles at the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation from 2017 to 2021, including Senior Program Officer and program officer. Mann was a program manager at the Annenberg Foundation in 2016. She was the Home For Good program manager at the United Way of Greater Los Angeles from 2013 to 2016. Mann was an attorney at the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles from 2010 to 2012. She worked for herself as a consultant from 2009 to 2010. Mann was a partner at Strumwasser & Woocher LLP from 2004 to 2008. She was an attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council from 2002 to 2004. Mann is a member of the Center for Nonprofit Board of Trustees, Chandler School Board of Trustees, and Community Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Vassar College and a Juris Doctor from Tulane Law School. This position requires Senate confirmation and compensation is $100 per day. Mann is a Democrat.

Mark Krausse, of Clarksburg, has been appointed to the California Public Employment Relations Board. Krausse has served as director of state agency relations for Pacific Gas and Electric since 2007. He was executive director of the Fair Political Practices Commission from 2000 to 2007. Krausse served as director of government relations for the Doctors Company from 1996 to 1997 and a senior consultant in the California State Senate from 1994 to 1996. Krausse was a senior consultant to the California State Assembly from 1991 to 1994 and an associate consultant to the California State Senate from 1988 in 1990. Krausse earned a Bachelor of Arts in government from California State University, Sacramento. and a Juris Doctor degree from the McGeorge School of Law at the University of the Pacific. This position requires Senate confirmation and compensation is $175,578. Krausse is a Democrat.