News: 2007 Press Release

SACRAMENTO - After an extensive search for the best and the brightest team, California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner today announced his 14-member Executive Team at the Department of Insurance. In his recent Inaugural speech, Commissioner Poizner underscored his intention to serve as the state's top regulator in a balanced fashion, a theme which is reflected in today's announcement. The team includes members from both political parties, both industry expertise and consumer advocacy, and a solid mix of new faces and experienced veterans from the previous administration.

"This talented and balanced team reflects my philosophy that consumer protection is neither a Democratic nor Republican issue. Our job at the Department of Insurance is to protect consumers and my goal is to make CDI the top consumer protection agency in the nation. My executive team shares this goal," said Commissioner Poizner.

The Commissioner also expressed his gratitude to Rick Baum, the current Chief Deputy and member of the previous administration, for his assistance during the transition. "Rick is an extraordinary talent who cares a great deal about the Department of Insurance. He was instrumental in making our transition a success," said Commissioner Poizner. Baum will continue to serve as Chief Deputy through the end of March.

The new Executive Team will be led by:

New Chief of Staff/Chief Deputy Insurance Commissioner - Jim Richardson

Richardson, a Republican, will oversee all Department operations and policy matters on behalf of the Commissioner. . CDI has 1,350 employees and a $200 million budget. Richardson has more than 20 years of management, administrative, and policy experience. Most recently, he was the Principal and CEO of Golden State Consulting, providing informational and strategic services to a variety of clients. He spent fifteen years in state service where he held a number of key positions including Chief of Staff to the Senate and Assembly Minority Leaders and as the Chief Operating Officer of the California State Assembly. Before entering government, Richardson taught high school for five years. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from University of California, Berkeley and has three Master's Degrees --- Education, English and Government.

 

General Counsel and Deputy Commissioner, Legal - Gary Cohen

Cohen, a Democrat, will advise the Insurance Commissioner and direct the operations of the Legal Division with responsibility for the (9) bureaus: Auto Insurance Enforcement, Sacramento Enforcement, San Francisco Enforcement, Corporate Affairs I, Corporate Affairs II, Policy Approval, Rate Enforcement, Fraud Liaison, and Government Law.

Cohen was appointed as General Counsel/Deputy Commissioner of the Department's Legal Branch on April 7, 2003. He previously served as General Counsel to the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for two years. In that position, Cohen directed the PUC's legal strategy in response to the unprecedented challenges caused by the state's energy crisis and was responsible for managing the 66 lawyers in the Commission's Legal Division. Before joining the PUC, Cohen was a partner in the San Francisco litigation firm of Keker & Van Nest. He joined the firm in 1985, becoming a partner in 1988. Cohen graduated magna cum laude from Brown University in 1976. He then attended Stanford University Law School, where he graduated second in his class in 1979, was awarded the Order of the Coif, and was a member of the Law Review.

 

Chief Deputy of Operations - Dennis Ward

Ward, a Democrat, will direct the day to day activities of the Department's administration, rate regulation, consumer services, market conduct, financial surveillance and enforcement operations. He will advise the Commissioner and Chief of Staff on all policy matters related to these operations.

Ward has served as Deputy Commissioner, Administration & Licensing Services since June 2, 2003. He is a 33-year veteran of the Department of Insurance, who started as an Investigator in 1974, and previously served as Chief of the Department's Enforcement Division. Ward is a graduate of the University of California, Riverside with a B.S. in Economics.

 

Deputy Commissioner, Administration & Licensing Services - Shelley Thomas

Thomas, a Republican, will direct the day to day activities of the Administration & Licensing Services Branch which includes Human Resources, Fiscal Management, Business Services Management, Information Technology and Licensing Services. Thomas has 34 years of management and policy experience in a variety of State Agencies. Most recently she served as Chief of Administration for the Department of Consumer Affairs. She has also served as Chief of Administration for the Governor's Office of Emergency Services and Acting Deputy Director, Administration for the Department of Aging. Thomas has served as a Personnel Officer, Contracts Manager, Chief Financial Officer and has worked in a variety of program/policy positions including oversight responsibility for Medi-Cal Dental, Governor's Aging with Dignity Initiatives, and Licensing/Regulations Programs with the Department of Health Services.

The Executive Team also includes:

Deputy Commissioner, Enforcement - Dale Banda

Banda, a Decline-to-State, will be responsible for formulating policy and plans, organizing and directing all law enforcement and related operations statewide for CDI. The Enforcement Branch is comprised of the Fraud and Investigations Divisions. The incumbent also reviews and develops legislation and regulations as needed to support the law enforcement function of CDI. The position is designated as peace officer under Penal Code Section 830.3 and carries out law enforcement programs as mandated and/or authorized by Penal Code Sections 550 and 551, and the Insurance Code and its regulations and other related laws.

Banda has served as Deputy Commissioner of the Enforcement Branch, which consists of the Fraud and Investigation Divisions, since February 15, 2005. He has more than 25 years of law enforcement experience. Mr. Banda began his career with the Department of Insurance (CDI) in 1993 as a Fraud Investigator, and was promoted to Chief of the Fraud Division in May 2000. As Fraud Division Chief, he directed the Department's statewide law enforcement operation including its five major anti-fraud programs: Automobile, Workers' Compensation Insurance, Organized Automobile Insurance Fraud Activity Interdiction, Property/Casualty/Life, and Disability/Health Care. In addition to these programs, the Enforcement Branch investigates and assists in the prosecution of persons or businesses who violate laws governing the practices of insurance agents, brokers and insurance companies (i.e., Premium Theft, Senior Citizen Abuse, Title Insurance and Bail Bond issues). Banda has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from California State University, Sonoma.

 

Deputy Commissioner, Financial Surveillance - Ramon Calderon

Calderon, a Democrat, will direct the Financial Surveillance function with statewide responsibility for the Financial Analysis Division, Field Examinations Division, Actuarial Division and Troubled Companies and Premium Tax Audit. He will advise the Commissioner on a wide range of financial surveillance issues. He has served as Deputy Commissioner of the Department's Financial Surveillance Branch since August 2, 2004.

In his 31 years with the Department, Mr. Calderon developed strong technical expertise in insurance accounting and finance systems. His experience and familiarity with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) enables California to retain its leadership role in shaping national financial policies and standards. Mr. Calderon first joined the Department in 1976 as an Insurance Examiner and subsequently served as Bureau and Division Chief of Field Examinations. He holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from California State University, Fullerton and a secondary teaching credential.

 

Deputy Commissioner, Rate Regulation - David Diehl

Diehl, a Republican, will provide policy advice and direction to the Insurance Commissioner and Executive Staff on administrative and program policies related to insurance rating matters. He will also manage and provide general direction over the operations and activities of the Rate Regulation Branch and its six rate filing bureaus located in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Diehl was appointed as Deputy Commissioner, Rate Regulation, on July 1, 2004 after a national recruitment effort. He came to the California Department of Insurance from the Maryland Insurance Administration where he served as the Chief Administrator for five years. He has more than 24 years of experience having previously worked in the insurance industry as well as managing insurance rate and policy regulation in North Carolina and Washington. Diehl holds a B.A. degree from Ohio State University and a M.A. degree from Central Michigan University.

 

Special Counsel to the Commissioner - William Gausewitz

Gausewitz, a Republican, will provide legal advice to the Commissioner and Chief of Staff concerning the decisions on all adjudicative hearings in which the Department is a party; highly sensitive and complex legal issues such as jurisdictional issues with other agencies like the Department of Managed Health Care and the Department of Industrial Relations; legal issues arising from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners; and on any new emerging issues that would not appropriately be assigned to internal legal staff. He will serve as a member of the Executive Staff and participate in meetings and policy deliberations. He will also coordinate and direct multi-disciplinary taskforces within the Department on specific umbrella issues such as issues affecting seniors. In addition, he will be responsible for the oversight, policy direction and the day-to-day operations of the Government Law Bureau and he will be headquartered in Sacramento.

Gausewitz has strong managerial and legislative experience, and has knowledge of the insurance industry. He also has extensive experience in State service. He was previously appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Director of the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) and was responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of OAL, which includes managing and supervising attorney and non-attorney staff; managing the administrative activities; supervising and participating in OAL review of regulations adopted by State agencies; reviewing government actions; monitoring and participating in legislative activities; and advising the Governor on regulatory procedures. He previously served as the Staff Director for the California State Senate; Senior Consultant/Deputy Staff Director for the California State Assembly Republican Caucus; Assistant Vice President, State Affairs, of the American Insurance Association; and the Assistant Vice President, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, for Farmers Insurance Group. Bill earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English/Economics from University of California, Los Angeles; a Master of Arts degree in Economics from University of California, Los Angeles; and a Juris Doctor from University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law.

 

Deputy Commissioner, Consumer Services & Market Conduct - Sherwood "Woody" Girion

Girion, a Democrat, will provide advice and policy direction on a wide range of consumer issues that have a significant impact upon operations and profitability, financial stability and fair conduct of the insurance industry. He will have overall management responsibility and direction of the Consumer Services and Market Conduct Divisions.

Girion has served as Deputy Commissioner, Consumer Services & Market Conduct, since August 16, 2004. He has more than 27 years of experience with the Department, including establishing the first Consumer Services Bureau, which eventually grew into today's Consumer Services & Market Conduct Branch. He has also served as the Department's Chief of the Financial Analysis Reinsurance and Technical Support Bureau, and as Chief of the Financial Analysis Division. He is a graduate of California State University, Sacramento and holds a Masters of Public Administration degree from California State University, Dominguez Hills.

 

Special Assistant to the Commissioner - Jesse Huff

Huff, a Republican, will provide leadership, policy direction, and oversight for activities of the Department's Office of Ethics & Operational Compliance, Office of Market Competition, Executive Office, Information Security Office, Office of the Ombudsman, the Office of Strategic Planning, and the EEO Office. His responsibilities will encompass issues and projects that are significant and time sensitive for the Insurance Commissioner's intervention, and that are normally extremely sensitive and confidential in scope and nature. He will be headquartered in Sacramento.

Huff's qualifications include a distinguished career in various positions with the California Legislature including a position as the principal consultant to the Senate Minority Finance Committee. In addition, he has held several high-level positions, which include Chief Deputy Director and Director of the Department of Finance for Governor Duekmejian; Director of the Department of Toxic Substances Control; Board Member, and the California Integrated Waste Management Board Jesse brings with him a wide and varied leadership and policy influencing background. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Chapman University; a Master of Arts degree in Political Science from University of California, Riverside; and a Master of Business Administration degree from Pepperdine University.

 

Deputy Commissioner, Legislative Director - David Link

Link, a Democrat, will be responsible for providing policy advice on a broad range of topics including disability insurance expertise that will guide the Department's policy direction for health insurance related issues; representing the Department and the Insurance Commissioner in effective collaborations with other state and federal government agencies, consumer groups and insurance industry representatives to improve disability and health insurance regulation, and consumer protection activities of the Department; representing the Department and the Insurance Commissioner at legislative hearings and advising the Legislature and Governor's Office on behalf of the Department on all matters, concerns, issues and policies of the Department's disability insurance regulatory functions, policy direction and health care insurance education efforts. Link is headquartered in Sacramento.

Link possesses in-depth expertise in the area of health care and insurance. He previously served as the Special Counsel to Senator Liz Figueroa, and for the past 10 years has advised on issues relating to health policy and insurance. He also served as the Principal Consultant to Assembly Insurance Committee during his tenure in the State Assembly in 1997-1998. His responsibilities included analyzing legislation, drafting and advocating legislation, preparing for and conducting legislative hearings, and meeting and discussing concerns of all interested groups and lobbyists. In addition, he served as Staff Counsel to Proposition 103 Enforcement Project with consumer advocate Harvey Rosenfield, where he worked on Prop. 103 implementation, rate hearings and numerous legislative proposals. He was a Staff Counsel for the Department of Managed Health Care's Office of Patient Advocate. In this capacity, he was responsible for providing legal counsel and policy advice relative to patient rights under the Knox-Keene Act regulating HMOs; reviewing legislation and regulations; drafting and negotiating contracts; working directly with HMOs, consumer groups, other governmental and private organizations; and was in charge of producing the HMO Quality of Care Report Card. He earned a Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles; Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater/Education from California State University, Fullerton; and a Master of Arts degree in English Literature, graduating cum laude, from Claremont Graduate School.

 

Deputy Commissioner, Community Relations - Richard Robinson

Robinson, a Democrat, will be responsible for providing leadership and policy direction over the Community Outreach and Low Income Community Outreach programs, the Department's California Organized Investment Network (COIN) program, the Consumer/Industry Education Initiatives, and the Low Cost Auto program. Robinson most recently served as a Principal with the ERW Group LLC and Robinson Communications. Robinson has served at the federal level as Northern California Director to former U.S. Senator Alan Cranston, as a Senior Consultant in the State Legislature to now State Senator John Vasconcellos, and as an aide to San Jose City Council member Jerry Estruth. He served as Northern California Director for Bill Clinton for President and has worked in national campaigns including Gary Hart for President, Alan Cranston for President and Joe Biden for President. He has also served several local public officials and entities throughout the Bay Area and Silicon Valley, including the Santa Clara County Health Department. He has a Juris Doctorate from Santa Clara University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from San Jose State University. He is a member of the State Bar of California.

 

Deputy Commissioner, Communications & Press Relations - Byron Tucker

Tucker, a Democrat, will continue his duties providing expertise, advice and strategic direction regarding the Department's complex public communications and press relations program; consulting with and advising the Commissioner and other members of top management on all issues of interest to the public and the media; responding to highly sensitive inquiries/correspondence; educating members of the media and the insurance industry concerning special initiatives being considered, generated and implemented within the Department.

Tucker was appointed to the position of Deputy Commissioner, Communications & Press Relations on December 1, 2003. He is responsible for providing strategic direction and management oversight to the Department's Communications Office, and serves as a spokesperson to the media. Mr. Tucker previously served as Senior Deputy Press Secretary to Governor Gray Davis for three years, overseeing all media operations and strategy for Southern California. In addition to his role as senior spokesperson for the Governor, he provided management oversight to the Governor's Los Angeles office communication staff. Mr. Tucker also served as Press Secretary and spokesperson for State Controller Kathleen Connell for four years where he coordinated all media relations and public outreach. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from California State University, Los Angeles.

 

Asst. Deputy Commissioner, Communications & Press Relations - Jennifer Kerns

Kerns, a Republican, will be responsible for the dissemination of program and policy information to the public, media and governmental agencies. She also consults with and advises the Commissioner and other executive level staff and communications staff on issues and responds to media inquiries. In addition, she establishes CDI information program objectives and writes and edits press materials on behalf of the Department. Jennifer serves as the Insurance Commissioner's primary spokesperson to the public and media. She is headquartered in Sacramento.

Kerns has a distinguished career as a Communications Director and Chief Spokesperson for various public officials. She previously served as the Communications Director for Insurance Commissioner Poizner during his campaign for Insurance Commissioner. She was responsible for managing the communications office and played an instrumental role in his being elected as Insurance Commissioner. She has also served as Communications Director/Press Secretary for a number of candidates and elected officials on the local, state, and federal levels. Her experience includes developing and implementing strategic communication and proactive public relations plans; serving as a media relations expert and spokesperson for public officials; serving as the primary liaison with major newspaper editorial boards to win endorsements and/or favorable coverage on issues; developing and managing major community relations events; and directing press conferences for local and national media coverage. She attended journalism school at the University of Oklahoma and received a Bachelor's Degree in Organizational Communication from the University of Tulsa.

 

Deputy Chief Counsel - Connie Perry

Perry, a Democrat, will assist the General/Chief Counsel in the administration of the Department's Legal program; has functional supervision over specific program areas within the Legal Branch; supervises the day-to-day operations of the Legal Branch, and acts on behalf of the General/Chief Counsel.

Ms. Perry has served the Department of Insurance for 16 years, beginning her career as a civil servant. She served as an appointee during the Garamendi administration serving in the role of Deputy General Counsel. She has previously served as Senior Staff Counsel at the Department, as well as Staff Counsel for the Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB), General Counsel for the San Francisco Housing Authority, and as an Attorney for the San Francisco Neighborhood Legal Assistance Foundation. She also served on the San Francisco Police Commission from 1997 through 2004 under Mayor Willie Brown. She earned her Bachelors Degree in Political Science and a Juris Doctor from Cleveland State University and was admitted to the California State Bar in 1978. She currently serves as a member of the San Francisco Mayor's Council implementing the 10-year Plan to End Homelessness.