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Simitian Alumni Directory

The directory below contains current employment and contact information for many former Simitian staff members.  You’ll find each staff member listed alphabetically under the public office (Supervisor, Assembly, Senate) in which they worked. 

Former staff members who worked in more than one office are listed by most recent position.

State Senate (2004-present)

  • Terry Adams served as Scheduler during Joe’s first term in the Senate. Currently, Terry produces a variety of programs for KGO Newstalk Radio AM 810 and engineers live and remote broadcasts for its sister station Hot Talk 560 KSFO Radio. In addition, she serves as a free lance producer and teleprompter operator for live studio webcasts at Stanford University. Terry can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
  • Melissa Figueroa served as Press Secretary for Senator Simitian from 2009-2011 in his Capitol office. During her time in the Legislature she also staffed the Senator on veterans affairs and human services issues.  Melissa now serves as the Deputy Secretary of Communications for the State and Consumer Services Agency and can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
  • Sabra Foley served as Senior Field Representative for Joe during his tenure in the California State Assembly and in the California State Senate.  Most recently, she was the Northern California Deputy Finance Director for a presidential campaign. 
  • Heather (Barbour) Gonzalez served as a committee consultant and legislative aide for Joe during his first term in the State Senate.  She worked primarily on education and privacy issues. She currently works as a Specialist in Science and Technology Policy at the Congressional Research Service.
  • Matt Haney was a Senate Fellow in Joe’s office during the 2005-2006 session.  After his fellowship, Matt was awarded a George J. Mitchell Scholarship, through which he studied international human rights in Ireland.  In 2008, he was a youth and student organizer for a presidential campaign, and he recently co-founded a non-profit.  In 2010 Matt graduated with a JD and MA in Education from Stanford University’s School of Law.  He’s currently studying for his Bar exam and serves as the Executive Director for the UC Student Association. 
  • Jaspreet Johl served as Office Aide and Capitol Constituent Liaison for Joe during his tenure in the California State Assembly and in the California State Senate.  She is currently attending the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law. 
  • Nina Kapoor was a Senate Fellow in Joe’s office during the 2006-2007 session.  After her fellowship, Nina worked in the office of Assemblymember Felipe Fuentes on energy policy issues.  In early 2010 she joined KP Public Affairs as a lobbyist to work with clients in the energy, transportation and environmental arenas.
  • Kris Kuzmich served as Principal Consultant to the Senate Select Committee on Privacy during Joe’s second term in the State Senate. She now works for the Senate’s Budget Committee and can be reached via email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
  • Michele Lew served as District Director during Joe’s tenure in the California State Assembly and the California State Senate. She is currently President and CEO of Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI), the largest community-based organization serving the Asian American community in Santa Clara County.  Michele may be reached at (408) 975-2730.
  • Nancy Lynott served as scheduler in Joe’s Capitol office during his second State Senate term. She is now retired. Nancy can be reached via email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
  • Maureen McCarty served as a Senior Field Representative during Joe’s tenure in the California State Senate.  She is currently working as an analyst for Santa Cruz County Supervisor Mark Stone. Maureen can be reached at (831) 454-2200 or via email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
  • Shannon McKinney served as Legislative Aide for Joe during his tenure in the California State Senate.  She is currently Senior Consultant to the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee.  Shannon may be reached at (916) 319-3965 or via email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
  • Jennifer Moreno served as a Senate Fellow in Joe’s office during the 2009-2010 session.  Jennifer now works as a legislative aide in the office of Assemblymember Betsy Butler, focusing on Education as well as Arts and Entertainment. Jennifer can be reached via email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
  • Rei Onishi served as a Senate Fellow in Joe’s office during the 2004-2005 session, then as a Legislative Aide in 2005-2006.  After spending time studying and working in Japan, Liberia and Washington D.C., Rei will finish a joint degree from Harvard Law School and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government in 2011.  Upon graduation, he will clerk for the Eleventh Circuit in Atlanta. Rei can be reached via email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
  • Priscilla Ouchida served as Chief of Staff during Joe’s tenure in the Assembly, then as Legislative Director during his first term in the Senate.  Having retired from a long career of public service, Priscilla now spends her time traveling, volunteering, taking photographs, and remodeling her house. 
  • Anand Parikh served as a Senate Fellow in Joe’s office during the 2008-2009 session.  He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and currently attends NYU Law School.
  • Sarah Rosendahl served as a Senior Field Representative during Joe’s first Senate term.  She is currently working as a legislative aide for San Mateo County Supervisor Don Horsley. Sarah can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
  • Anthony Sanchez served as a Senate Fellow in Joe’s office during the 2007-2008 session.  Since his fellowship, Anthony has worked on a number of political campaigns in the Bay Area, and currently works for the Berkeley City Council. Anthony can be reached via email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
  • Paige Schoknecht served as executive assistant during Joe’s first term in the Senate.  Currently, Paige is currently an account executive at a public relations firm in San Francisco.
  • Kristi Stauffacher served as Joe’s Legislative Director from 2008 to 2011.  She is now Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs at the California Environmental Protection Agency.  Kristi can be reached at 916-322-7315.
  • Michelle Thomas served as office manager, scheduler and legislative assistant in Joe’s Sacramento office from 2006-2008. She is currently persuing her Masters in Public Adminstration with an option in public policy at CSU East Bay. She currently works as a district representative for State Senator Ellen Corbett and can be reached via email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
  • Renee Wadsworth served as an Office Aide in Joe’s Sacramento office during the 2005-2006 session.  She is currently working at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in Washington, DC, as Manager of State Relations and plans to pursue a master’s degree in public policy and urban planning.  She may be reached at (202) 626-7384.
  • Marisol Wauters served as Office Manager for Joe during his tenure in the California State Senate.  In June 2009, she graduated with a masters degree in Urban Planning.
  • Carlee Weiss served as Office Manager in the Palo Alto District Office during Joe’s tenure in the California State Assembly and the California State Senate.  She is currently retired, though she keeps busy with interior design work and travel. Carlee can be reached via email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
  • Sarah (Mason) Z’berg served as scheduler, legislative aide, and press liaison in the Capitol Office during Joe’s first term in the California State Senate.  She currently works for the Senate Business and Professions Committee.  She may be reached at (916) 651-4104 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

State Assembly (2000-2004)

  • Karen Brunton served as a Senior Field Representative during Joe’s tenure in the California State Assembly.  After leaving the office in 2004, Karen worked as a Policy Associate for the Steven and Michele Kirsch Foundation, graduated law school at University of Washington in Seattle, and managed an Alaska State House campaign.  Karen is currently a Litigation Associate at Perkins Coie, LLP in Seattle she can be reached by email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
  • Megan Swezey Fogarty served as Nonprofits Liaison from 2001-2003. She continues to host Joe’s television show, Capitol Focus, and is currently Postgraduate and Alumni Program Director at the Haas Center for Public Service at Stanford University. Megan may be reached via email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or by phone at (650) 725-2870.
  • Judy Kramer served as Nonprofits Liaison during Joe’s tenure on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors and during the early part of his tenure in the California State Assembly.  She is currently retired, but remains active as a community volunteer.  Judy may be reached at (650) 494-3222 or via email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
  • Jamille Moens served as Policy Aide and later as Press Secretary during Joe’s tenure on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.  She also served as Legislative Aide and Press Secretary during his tenure in the California State Assembly.  She is currently Business Services Manager at the Department of Utilities for the City of Sacramento.  Jamille may be reached at (916) 808-5988 or via email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
  • Lark Park served as Legislative Aide during Joe’s tenure in the California State Assembly.  Lark transferred to the Office of Senator Gloria Romero in 2005, and now works for the Senate Human Services Committee. 
  • Daryl Savage served as Executive Assistant during Joe’s tenure in the California State Assembly.  She is currently Chair of the City of Palo Alto Human Relations Commission. Daryl can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
  • Deanna Sessums served as a Senior Field Representative during Joe’s tenure in the California State Assembly.  She is currently Regional Manager for the Monterey Region of the League of California Cities.  Deanna recently completed an MPA degree at San Jose State and can be reached via email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
  • Andrew Silverman served as an Assembly Fellow in Joe’s office during the 2002-2003 session.  Andrew subsequently graduated from USC’s law school, passed the California State Bar, and is currently an attorney assigned to the Civil Division of the United States Department of Justice in Washington, DC. He can be reached via email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
  • Preston Taylor was an Assembly Fellow in Joe’s office during the 2001-2002 session.  He subsequently served as a Legislative Aide and as a Senior Assistant, working in both the Capitol and District Offices.  After leaving the office, Preston earned an MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, and worked in China and India.  Currently he works as a Worldwide Product Marketing Manager for Lenovo in Raleigh, North Carolina. 
  • Dena Wilson served as Scheduler and Legislative Aide on aging issues during Joe’s tenure in the California State Assembly. After leaving the office in 2004, Dena worked as an Associate Consultant in the Speaker’s office, then as an Associate Consultant in Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero’s office.  She currently works as a Policy Analyst in the Secretary of Education’s office. 

Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors (1997-2000)

  • John Brazil served as Land Use & Transportation Policy Aide for Joe during his tenure at the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.  He currently manages the City of San Jose’s Bicyclist & Pedestrian Program.  John may be reached at (408) 975-3206.
  • Amy Carta served as Health Policy Aide for Joe during his tenure on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.  She is currently the Assistant Director for the Santa Clara Valley Health and Hospital System.  Amy may be reached at (408) 885-4551 or via email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
  • Elizabeth Cuesta served as Office Manager for Joe throughout Joe’s tenure on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.  She currently serves as Office Manager for Santa Clara County Supervisor Liz Kniss.  Elizabeth may be reached at (408) 299-5050 or via email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
  • Joyce Iwasaki served as Executive Assistant for Joe during his tenure on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. Joyce can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
  • Seth Masket, Ph.D. served as Law and Justice Policy Aide for Joe during his tenure on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.  He is currently an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Denver.  Seth may be reached at (303) 900-8621 or via email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
  • Cathryn Ming-Hyde served as Senior Policy Aide for Land Use, Housing, and Transportation for Joe during his tenure on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.  She is currently serving as Constituent Services Director for US Representative Michael M. Honda, who represents California’s 15th Congressional District.  Cathy may be reached at (408) 558-8085 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
  • Paul Murphy served as Health Policy Aide for Joe during his tenure on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. He is currently a Senior Policy Analyst for Santa Clara County Supervisor Liz Kniss, and President of the Horace Mann School Foundation in San Jose.  Paul previously worked for the Santa Clara Family Health Plan and the Harvey M. Rose Accountancy Corporation.  Paul may be reached at (408) 386-9717 or via email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
  • Michelle Poche Flaherty served as Joe’s Chief of Staff during his tenure on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. She went on to serve as a Regional Director for the California Trade & Commerce Agency and Special Assistant to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norm Mineta before returning to local government as Assistant County Manager in Washoe County, Nevada. She currently serves as the Organizational Development Manager for the City of Rockville, Maryland, and as the President of City on a Hill Consulting, providing executive coaching to government leaders. Michelle may be reached in Rockville at (240) 314-8118 or via email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
  • Samantha Spielman served as Policy Aide for Children, Family and Education during Joe’s first year on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.  She went on to serve as the Political Director for Northern California AIPAC and then as the Director of Project Management for the Creative Department of macys.com. She now is an active volunteer in her East Bay community and can be reached via email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). 
  • Susie Thom served as Scheduler for Joe during his tenure on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.  She was Director of Human Resources at Entech Analytical Labs, Inc. and is currently Administrative Director for the 2009 Senior Games.  She is a member of the City of Palo Alto Library Advisory Commission.