© Copyright 2008, California Business for Education Excellence Foundation. All rights reserved.



   
 



Chairman

Greg Jones
President and CEO,  State Farm General Insurance
Based in Woodland Hills, Mr. Jones was responsible for State Farm's insurance and financial service operations in California, which is State Farm's largest market, and oversees a work force of nearly 7,800 employees and agents. Mr. Jones currently serves on the Board of Directors for Junior Achievement of Southern California, the California Chamber of Commerce, the California Business Roundtable, Franklin University, Los Angeles Sports Council, the Los Angeles Urban League, the National Urban League, and Operation Hope. He is listed in Who's Who of Executives and Professionals.

Vice Chairman
William Hauck
President,  California Business Roundtable
Mr. Hauck is President of the California Business Roundtable and is a member of the Board of Trustees for California State University which he chaired from 1998-2000. Mr. Hauck has served as deputy chief of staff in the Office of the Governor and as a top aide to two State Assembly Speakers. He was chair of the California Constitution Revision Commission, and he most recently chaired Governor Schwarzenegger’s Constitutional Revision Commission. Mr. Hauck is a member of the CORO Foundation Board of Trustees and the Bob Moretti Memorial Scholarship Foundation.

Executive Director
Kirk M. Clark
Executive Director, California Business for Education Excellence
Prior to joining CBEE Clark was the vice president of the California Business Roundtable a position he held since 1997. Prior to joining the Roundtable Clark served as the assistant to Governor Wilson’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Joseph Rodota. While serving in the Administration Clark assisted with the development of several of the Governor Wilson’s top education technology initiatives, including the “Digital High School” and the “California Virtual University.” From 1993 to 1995, Clark served as an assistant to Governor Wilson’s Deputy Director of Communications serving as a liaison between the Deputy Director of Communications and Agency Public Information Officers. Prior to his rejoining the Wilson Administration in 1996, Clark served on the staff of the California Constitution Revision Commission where he conducted research and analysis on nearly all aspects of state governance. From 1988 to 1993 Clark served in the United States Navy as a Naval Aircrewman and Rescue Swimmer. While on active duty Clark made several overseas deployments including a deployment to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Desert Storm. Having earned the rank of Lieutenant Commander, Clark continues to be an active member of the United States Navy Reserve.

Directors
A. Lee Blitch
Vice President, University Advancement San Francisco State University
Mr. Blitch served as chair of the Chamber board of directors in 2000 and has been a member of the board since 1997. Prior to joining the Chamber, Mr. Blitch was employed by AT&T for 37 years. Before he retired in 2000, he was AT&T’s region vice president for Consumer Marketing in the Western and Pacific Regions. He is a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Education Committee, and serves on the boards of the San Francisco Historical Society Advisory Committee, SF Works, School Alliance Foundation, World Affairs Council, American Chamber of Commerce Executives, National Center for Educational Accountability, Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame and the Municipal Fiscal Advisory Committee for the Mayor. Blitch also sits on advisory boards for the San Francisco School Volunteers and the oversight Committee for San Francisco City College Capital Improvements.

Patricia T. Clarey
Chief Operating Officer, HealthNet of California
Clarey, who is based at Health Net Inc.'s corporate headquarters, coordinates government relations efforts for the entire organization and manages the company's government and public affairs activities in California. She reports to B. Curtis Westen, senior vice president, general counsel and secretary of Health Net Inc. Prior to joining Health Net Inc., Clarey served for two years as vice president of Public Affairs for San Francisco-based Transamerica Corporation, one of the country's largest financial services companies. In this role, Clarey directed all federal, state and local government affairs activities for the corporation and business units, and oversaw the company's Political Action Committee. Prior to this, she served for eight years as deputy chief of staff to former California Governor Pete Wilson. During her tenure in the Wilson Administration, Clarey served as a senior advisor to the Governor on state and federal policy issues, managed the day-to-day operations of the Governor's office and served as the liaison to the National Governors Association and Republican Governors Association.

Ronald C. Cohen
Partner, Sidley Austin LLP
Ron Cohen is a partner and trial lawyer in Sidley Austin LLP, a full-service global law firm with approximately 1700 lawyers in 16 offices across the United States, Europe, Asia and Australia. Mr. Cohen specializes in complex commercial litigation, and has represented and advised a variety of domestic and international clients in cases in several States. He is also a member of Sidley’s global Sports practice and its nationwide College and University practice. Every year since 2003, Sidley has been named to Legal Business’ Global Elite, its designation for the 18 firms “that define the pinnacle of the legal profession.” BTI, a Boston-based research and consulting firm, has named Sidley to its Client Service Hall of Fame as one of only two law firms to rank in the Client Service Top 10 for seven years in a row (and Sidley was number one in three of those years), and to the BTI Power Elite as one of only seven law firms demonstrating the best client relationships for four consecutive years. In 2008, Sidley was tied for fifth overall in Corporate Counsel’s survey ranking of “Who Represents America’s Biggest Companies.” Sidley has also been widely recognized for its pro bono and diversity programs. In 1997, Mr. Cohen received the Wiley W. Manuel Pro Bono Award from the State Bar of California for the provision of free legal services to the disadvantaged.

Cinthia Haan
Co-Founder and Chairman, The Haan Foundation for Children
Mrs. Haan currently oversees the executive management and daily operations of The Haan Foundation for Children, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to education. Mrs. Haan is an active advocate in Washington D.C., securing federal funding for high quality education research. She is President of the POWER4KIDS READING INITIATIVE, a clinical trial of reading interventions in our public schools. Prior to dedicating her skills to education, Mrs. Haan enjoyed over 20 years of success in the business community, beginning as one of the founding team members in Southern Pacific Railroad’s landmark launching of SPRINT through its acquisition by GTE. She held the position of director at Ford Aerospace for many years, before joining OCI. As Executive V.P. of OCI, she proceeded to focus five years executing a series of mergers and acquisitions in the telecommunications industry. Prior to retiring from business, Mrs. Haan served as CEO of Syndacon Corporation, and is now devoting all her efforts to education.

Kevin Johnson
Mayor, City of Sacramento
Sacramento native Kevin Johnson was elected as the 55th mayor of the City of Sacramento in November 2008. Mayor Johnson’s top priorities are public safety, economic development and education. In the first months of his administration, Mayor Johnson has embarked on an ambitious plan to reshape how city government serves the citizens of Sacramento. To improve public safety, Mayor Johnson has increased the number of police on the streets, and held a Gang Summit to listen to the concerns and needs of gang members. To spur economic development, Mayor Johnson has been a top advocate for federal stimulus dollars, promoted the revitalization of the downtown, and championed Sacramento’s inclusion in plans for California’s high speed rail system. Mayor Johnson also held an Education Summit that brought the nation’s pre-eminent education reform leaders to Sacramento. One of the Mayor's top priorities is to bring a stronger "business" mentality to government. This entails creating a more entrepreneur-friendly climate to spur economic growth, and instituting greater discipline, accountability and responsiveness in city government. For example, to promote greater accessibility and customer service, Mayor Johnson has pioneered a new regular schedule of office hours and town hall meetings across the city. Before his election to public office, Kevin led a diverse career as a professional athlete, entrepreneur and nonprofit executive. In May of 2000, Kevin Johnson retired from the NBA after 12 seasons with the Phoenix Suns. He returned to his hometown of Sacramento, California to serve as the CEO of St. HOPE, a nonprofit community development corporation he founded in 1989 designed to revitalize inner-city communities through public education, economic development, civic leadership and arts enrichment.

Daniel E. Kinney
Vice President – Operations, State Farm Insurance Companies California Zone
Dan Kinney is Vice President- Operations for State Farm California, which represents the organization’s largest producing state with a workforce of nearly 6,200 employees and agents. Dan began his career with State Farm as an attorney in 1986, working in the Corporate Law Department in Bloomington, Illinois. In 1991. He relocated to California as a part of State Farm’s Corporate Law West office in Sacramento. He joined the California Executive Office in Woodland Hills 2001, and since that time has been responsible for the management of the Auto Operations, Public Affairs, and Marketing departments, as well as the California Strategic Management Office. Dan is a board member and past chairman of the Personal Insurance Federation of California, and continues his involvement in California legislative and regulatory activity through State Farm’s Public Affairs activities. A Los Angeles Chamber board member since 1993, Dan is actively involved in various community organizations within the Los Angeles area. He has been an advisor and supporter of both the Hollenbeck Youth Center and Inner-City Games for more than a decade and has served on the board for Inner-City Games since 2006.

Lenny Mendonca
Director, McKinsey & Company
Lenny Mendonca is a director in the San Francisco office of McKinsey & Company. He co-founded McKinsey's Public Sector practice and the North American Personal Financial Services practice, and has served dozens of corporate, government, and nonprofit clients. Mr. Mendonca leads McKinsey's Strategy Practice, is on the Shareholders' Council of McKinsey (its board of directors), and is the chairman of the McKinsey Global Institute.Mr. Mendonca is the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bay Area Economic Forum, Secretary and Executive Committee Member of the Bay Area Council, on the board of directors of the Bay Area Science and Innovation Consortium, on the board of EdVoice, and a member of the Business Advisory Council for the San Francisco Unified School District. He is also the founder and owner of the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company. He has written and spoken extensively on globalization, economic development, regulation, education, energy policy, health care, financial services, and corporate strategy. He received his M.B.A. and certificate in public management from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He holds an A.B., magna cum laude, in economics from Harvard College.

Louis Meunier
Executive Vice President, Macys West
Mr. Meunier's responsibilities include External & Government Affairs, Community Relations, Special Events, and Special Services. External & Government Affairs cover all western states to Hawaii and Guam. Active as Chair of the California Retailer’s Association and board member of most retail associations in the West. Focus on issues, which enhance or distract from Macy’s profitability. Extensive coverage of issues dealing with data protection, privacy, employment environment, taxation and health care. Twenty-seven years in merchandising roles with Macy’s culminating with the position of Executive Vice President and General Merchandise Manager, Home Store. During this time responsibilities included the sourcing of product from around the globe, which required extensive travel in the Far East, India and Europe. Opened the China Trade for retail stores in the United States in 1975. Traveled three to five times a year for fifteen years throughout China from Canton and Shanghai to Ulumuchi on the silk road in the Kansu province. In Europe, sourced from Finland, Denmark, Belguim, Italy, Spain, England and Ireland developing product in all of these countries for over fifteen years – overseas for five to six months annually. Also responsible for the management of the acquisition of product, it’s distribution to all stores in the Western states and for the sales promotion and marketing of all home-related product including Housewares, Home Furnishings, Floor Coverings, Furniture, Textiles, Electronics, and all food products including packaged food and restaurants and delicatessens. Developed all of the restaurants in the Union Square store from Tom’s Cookies to The Cheesecake Factory (the number one restaurant in productivity in The Cheesecake Factory chain) and most recently Hubert Keller’s Burger Bar. Also, had responsibility as Senior Vice President for Sales Promotion and Marketing with an 85 million dollar internal agency budget. Senior Vice President and General Manager Macy’s Union Square, the third largest retail store in the United States with two thousand employees. As Group Vice President and Director of Stores, managed about five thousand employees and had responsibility for sales and profit of each unit (15).,

Greg Stubblefield
President, CA/HI Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Greg Stubblefield heads Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s California and Hawaii operations, overseeing all automotive functions in the two states, including car rentals, fleet services (leasing), car sales, truck rentals, and rideshare services along with administrative operations. He is responsible for a staff of nearly 6,500 employees working in some 800 rental offices Like nearly all of the company’s top executives, Stubblefield, 45, began his career with Enterprise as a management trainee working in a rental office learning the business from the ground up. He joined Enterprise in Southern California in 1982 after graduating from UC Berkeley. At the time, the company had been doing business in the Los Angeles area for only two years and had a rental fleet of approximately 1,600 cars. Today, Enterprise is North America’s largest rental car company, boasting a fleet of more than 50,000 cars in Southern California alone. He’s been involved in various charitable and business organizations and serves or has served on a number of boards of directors, including the United Way of Greater Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Urban League, the St. Louis University International School of Business and several family businesses. He also serves on the board of the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation – the company’s charitable arm – and on the board of the Mayfield Junior School in Pasadena.

 

 

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