Home Antioch Julie Neward Appointed to State Council on Developmental Disabilities by Governor

Julie Neward Appointed to State Council on Developmental Disabilities by Governor

by ECT

This week, Julie Neward was appointed to the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities by Governor Jerry Brown.

Neward, of Concord, is the General Manager of the Somersville Towne Center Mall in Antioch and is also a Board Member at the Antioch Chamber of Commerce.

“I will be making space at the most influential levels in California for the Sib voice, as well as for families impacted by the sexual assault epidemic of those with intellectual/developmental disabilities,” said Neward.

For Neward, this was the first appointment from the Governor and had been serving in this position for the regional advisory for the Bay Area and now will move to the state level.

She highlighted she is driven by her sister, who was assaulted and there was a lack of response from and a lack of importance from all responding agencies who have a responsibility to respond to these types of crimes.

Earlier this year, we published an open letter by Neward on her experience after she has been advocating for her sister, Natalie Rose, who has a cognitive level of a 10-month old was sexually assaulted outside a care-taking facility. Her story was also featured on NPR.

“The sexual assault epidemic is still not being discussed by higher level and how we can work together to curve this epidemic. I want to bring to light ways we can work to resolve this epidemic,” says Neward. “We need to be proactive in responding to the epidemic of people with disabilities being sexually assaulted.”

Neward currently runs a blog where she discusses her families experience at www.nataliesvoice.net and is the president of the non-profit California Sibs.


Official Release by Gov. Brown

SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments:

Laurence Baskin, 59, of San Francisco, has been reappointed to the Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant Identification Committee, where he has served since 2012. Baskin has been division chief of pediatric urology at the University of California, San Francisco Benioff Children’s Hospital San Francisco and Oakland since 2004 and has served in several positions at the University of California, San Francisco since 1993, including as professor of urology and pediatrics, associate professor and assistant professor. He was a fellow in pediatric urology at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia from 1991 to 1993 and a resident in urology at the University of California, San Francisco from 1988 to 1991. Baskin is past president of the Society for Pediatric Urology, Society of Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgeons, Society for Fetal Urology, American Association of Pediatric Urologists and Asia-Pacific Association of Pediatric Urologists. Baskin is a member of the UpToDate Editorial Board. He earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Baskin is a Democrat.

Irva Hertz-Picciotto, 70, of Davis, has been appointed to the Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant Identification Committee. Hertz-Picciotto has been a professor at the University of California, Davis since 2002. She was a professor at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill from 1990 to 2003 and visiting scholar at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences from 1989 to 1990. Hertz-Picciotto is a member of the Society for Epidemiologic Research, International Society for Environmental Epidemiology and the International Society for Autism Research. She earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in epidemiology, Master of Arts degree in biostatistics and Master of Public Health degree in epidemiology from the University of California, Berkeley. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Hertz-Picciotto is registered without party preference.

Tracey Woodruff, 55, of Piedmont, has been reappointed to the Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant Identification Committee, where she has served since 2012. Woodruff has been a professor at the University of California, San Francisco Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences and Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies since 2007. She has been director of the University’s Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment since 2007. She was a scientist at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from 1994 to 2007. Woodruff is a member of the American Association of Public Health, Society of Toxicology and the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology. She earned a Master of Public Health degree in environmental health and a joint Doctor of Philosophy degree in bioengineering from the University of California, Berkeley and the University of California, San Francisco. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Woodruff is a Democrat.

Susan Friedman, 78, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to the Medical Board of California. Friedman was an Emmy-award winning network news producer for NBC News from 1982 to 2008 and from 1968 to 1977. She was a reporter and producer for PBS from 1977 to 1982. Friedman is a founding member of the Alliance for Children’s Rights Board of Directors, vice-chair and commissioner on the Los Angeles County Mental Health Commission and a board member of Facing History. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Friedman is a Democrat.

Laurie Lubiano, 38, of Daly City, has been appointed to the Medical Board of California. Lubiano has been intellectual property and product counsel at the Climate Corporation since 2017. She was general counsel and director of business development at Birdi and Associates Inc. from 2014 to 2016, patent counsel at Silicon Graphics International Corp. from 2012 to 2014, intellectual property associate at Lewis and Roca LLP from 2011 to 2012, associate at Carr and Ferrell LLP from 2008 to 2011, legal intern at Sun Microsystems Inc. in 2007 and a summer associate at Kaye Scholer LLP in 2006. Lubiano served as a member of the Daly City Planning Commission from 2010 to 2015. She is president of the Filipino Bar Association of Northern California, a founding member of the National Filipino American Lawyers Association and a member of the Mission Hiring Hall Board of Directors, Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area and the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Lubiano is registered without party preference.

Thomas Quinn, 58, of Oakland, has been appointed to the California Naturopathic Medicine Committee. Quinn has been an interventional cardiologist at Sutter East Bay Medical Foundation since 2005. He was a cardiologist in private practice from 1996 to 2005 and a staff cardiologist at the Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center from 1995 to 1996. Quinn earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of California, Davis School of Medicine. He completed a Cardiology Fellowship at Stanford University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Quinn is a Democrat.

Ken Berrick, 63, of Oakland, has been appointed to the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission. Berrick has been chief executive officer at Seneca Family of Agencies since 1985 and a trustee for Area 3 of the Alameda County Office of Education since 2008. He is a fellow of the Pahara Institute and a member of the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities, California Child Welfare Council, Alameda County Mental Health Services Act Planning Commission, California Alliance of Child and Family Services and Support, Opportunities and Rapport for Youth. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Berrick is a Democrat.

Nicole Adler, 23, of Redwood City, has been appointed to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities. She is a member of Area Board V of the State Council on Developmental Disabilities and the Redwood City Woman’s Club. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Adler is a Democrat.

Julie Neward, 38, of Concord, has been appointed to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities. Neward has been general manager at Somersville Towne Center Mall for Urban Retail Properties since 2016. She was property manager for Madison Marquette from 2015 to 2016 and at the Village at Corte Madera for Macerich from 2014 to 2015. She was assistant general manager for Westfield Parkway Plaza in San Diego, Westfield Santa Anita in Los Angeles and Westfield Valley Fair in San Jose from 2007 to 2014, property manager for Shea Properties from 2011 to 2012 and a licensed retail salesperson for Colliers International from 2002 to 2006. Neward is co-founder and president of the California Sibling Leadership Network. She is co-chair of the Antioch Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee and a member of the Contra Costa County Mental Health Commission and Shelter Inc. Neward earned a Master of Business Administration degree in international business from the University of San Diego. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Neward is registered without party preference.

Joseph A. Cislowski, 58, of West Hollywood, has been appointed to the California Commission on Aging. Cislowski has been president at Beverly Park Consulting Group since 2010. He was president and chief executive officer at the Health Care and Elder Law Programs Corporation from 2007 to 2009, interim executive director at the Independent Living Center from 2006 to 2007 and executive director at the Southern California Leadership Network from 1999 to 2005. Cislowski was executive director at the Center for Health Care Rights from 1996 to 1999, principal at the Generation Group from 1991 to 1996, a policy analyst at the National Commission on Children from 1989 to 1991 and a consultant for the National Academy of Sciences in 1989. He was an analyst of social legislation at the Library of Congress from 1984 to 1988, a program analyst at the National Institutes of Health in 1983, an assembly fellow at the California State Assembly from 1981 to 1982 and an intern at the California Center for Research and Education in Government in 1980. Cislowski is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Alumni in Southern California Council, Harvard Club of Southern California and University of California, Los Angeles Alumni Association. He earned a Master of Public Policy degree from the Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Cislowski is a Democrat.

Ellen Schmeding, 61, of San Diego, has been appointed to the California Commission on Aging. Schmeding has been chief operating officer at St. Paul’s Senior Services since 2017. She held several positions at the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency from 1997 to 2016, including as director of aging and independence services, public administrator, public guardian, public conservator and deputy director of aging and independence services. She is a member of the San Diego Senior Alliance and National Association of Area Agencies on Aging. Schmeding earned a Master of Arts degree in counseling education from San Diego State University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Schmeding is a Democrat.

Sonya Christian, 52, of Bakersfield, has been appointed to the Community College Student Success Funding Formula Oversight Committee. Christian has been president at Bakersfield College since 2013. She was vice president of academic and student affairs at the Lane Community College from 2003 to 2012. Christian is a member of the Grimmway Academy Foundation, Alliance Against Family Violence Board, Bakersfield Homeless Center Board and Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce Board. She earned a Doctor of Education degree in educational leadership from the University of California, Los Angeles and a Master of Science degree in applied mathematics from the University of Southern California. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Christian is registered without party preference.

Ann-Marie Gabel, 50, of Chino Hills, has been appointed to the Community College Student Success Funding Formula Oversight Committee. Gabel has been vice chancellor of business services at the South Orange County Community College District since 2018. She was executive vice president of finance, facilities and technology services at the Long Beach Community College District from 2007 to 2018, assistant vice chancellor of fiscal services at Rancho Santiago Community College District from 2005 to 2007, manager of fiscal affairs at North Orange County Community College District from 1998 to 2005 and audit manager at Clifton, Larson, Allen from 1991 to 1998. Gabel is vice chair of the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Advisory Workgroup on Fiscal Affairs and president of the Association of Chief Business Officials for California Community Colleges. She is a member of the California Community Colleges Consultation Council, Statewide Association Community College Joint Powers Authority and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Gabel is a Democrat.

Kindred Murillo, 63, of Chula Vista, has been appointed to the Community College Student Success Funding Formula Oversight Committee. Murillo has been superintendent and president at Southwestern College since 2017. She was superintendent and president at the Lake Tahoe Community College District from 2011 to 2017, vice chancellor of administrative services at Contra Costa College District from 2008 to 2011, vice president of administrative services at Pasadena Community College District from 2007 to 2008 and vice president of administrative services at the Copper Mountain Community College District from 2001 to 2006. She was faculty at the Desert Community College District from 1996 to 1999. She is a member of the South County Economic Development Council and the South County YMCA Advisory Board. She earned a Doctor of Education degree in organizational leadership and a Master of Business Administration degree in organizational development from Pepperdine University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Murillo is registered Green Party.

Christopher Nellum, 36, of Oakland, has been appointed to the Community College Student Success Funding Formula Oversight Committee. Nellum has been senior director for higher education at the Education Trust-West since 2017. He was policy director at Young Invincibles from 2016 to 2017 and senior researcher at the American Council on Education from 2014 to 2016. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in higher education and public policy from the University of Michigan and a Master of Science degree in counseling and higher education from California State University, Long Beach. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Nellum is a Democrat.

Elizabeth Williamson, 30, of Walnut Grove, has been appointed deputy secretary for external affairs at the California Natural Resources Agency. Williamson has served as deputy director of external affairs in the Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. since 2015, where she served as external affairs coordinator from 2013 to 2015 and as a constituent affairs representative from 2012 to 2013. Williamson served as a constituent affairs representative in the Office of the Governor in 2010 and was an adjunct instructor of beginning microeconomics at California State University, Sacramento from 2009 to 2010. She has been a pole vault coach at California State University, Sacramento since 2012. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $111,600. Williamson is a Democrat.

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