Governor Newsom announces appointments

SACRAMENTO - Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:

Craig Snellings, of Oakland, has been reappointed to the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board, where he has served since 2019. Snellings was an Associate Trial Attorney at Hartsuyker, Stratman & Williams-Abrego from 2014 to 2018. He was an Associate Attorney at Shaw, Jacobsmeyer, Crain & Claffey from 2012 to 2013. Snellings was a Staff Counsel at the State Compensation Insurance Fund from 2006 to 2012. He was an Associate Attorney at Mullen & Filippi from 2005 to 2006. Snellings was Staff Counsel at the State Compensation Insurance Fund from 2002 to 2004. He was an Associate Attorney at Adelson, Testan, Brundo, Novell & Jimenez from 2004 to 2005. Snellings is a member of the Charles Houston Bar Association and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. He earned a Juris Doctor degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from University of California, Los Angeles. This position requires Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $186,271. Snellings is a Democrat.

Magda Menendez, of Bakersfield, has been appointed to the California Workforce Development Board. Menendez held several roles at the Mexican Opportunity Foundation from 1981 to 2024, including Administrator, Program Coordinator, and Support Services Coordinator. She is a Founding Board Member of Latina Leaders of Kern County, Board Member at Dress for Success, and Member of the Latino Advisory Board to the City of Bakersfield. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Menendez is a Democrat.

Alysia Bell, of Redondo Beach, has been appointed to the California Workforce Development Board. Bell has been President at UNITE-LA since 2022, where she has held several positions since 2011, including Executive Vice President of UNITE-LA and Vice President of Education Business Coalitions in partnership with the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives and the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. She was Vice President of Workforce Development and Administration at Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce from 2007 to 2011. Bell was a Human Resources Specialist in the Personnel Selection Branch at Los Angeles Unified School District from 2005 to 2006. She was an Adjunct Professor of Industrial-Organizational Psychology at Pepperdine University in 2006. Bell is Co-Chair of the Executive Committee of California Stewardship Network, Board Member of California Forward, and Member of the California Jobs First Los Angeles County Collaborative Steering Committee and University of Southern California EdPolicy Hub Advisory Board. She earned a Master of Arts degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from California State University, Long Beach and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Southern California. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Bell is a Democrat.

Rex Richardson, of Long Beach, has been appointed to the California Workforce Development Board. Richardson has been Mayor of the City of Long Beach since 2022, where he has held several positions since 2014, including Councilmember and Vice Mayor. He was a Manager of Government Affairs at Crown Castle from 2019 to 2022. Richardson was President of Southern California Association of Governments from 2020 to 2021. He was Chief of Staff to Councilmember Steven Neal at the City of Long Beach from 2010 to 2014. Richardson held multiple roles at SEIU Local 721 from 2007 to 2010, including Political and Community Coordinator and Worksite Organizer. He is an Advisory Board Member of the United States Conference of Mayors. Richardson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from California State University, Dominguez Hills. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Richardson is a Democrat.