Introduction

I am both a trusted advisor to elected officials with a long history as a policy advisor and a coalition builder who focuses on reading the political environment, finding the solution that will work politically and deliver client results while matching public policy imperatives. I also have long standing working relationships with key lobbying interests and can bring additional parties on board for issues, supporting allied interests.

Achievements

I received commendations from Governor Davis and Speaker Hertzberg for my leadership and work during the Energy Crisis, earned the Leadership in Communications award from CA Communications Association (CalComm), two leadership awards while at Edison, commendations from Assembly Members Henry Perea, Jackie Goldberg and CA Legislative Women's Caucus for work on their successful sponsored legislation, and commendations from Society of Government Meeting Professionals, CA WiE membership and the board of CA Low Carbon Fuel and Energy Coalition for leadership in policy forums and successful passage of legislation

Clients

1) CALIFORNIA LOW CARBON FUEL & ENERGY COALITION

2) FAMILY JUSTICE ADVOCATES IN ACTION

3) GREENLEAF POWER

4) INTEGRATED STORMWATER RESOURCES LLC

5) PENDULUM POWER AND WATER

6) VGRID ENERGY SYSTEMS

7) VULCAN MATERIALS COMPANY, WESTERN DIVISION

Number of Years as a Lobbyist

20+ years

Relationships

I have strong working relationships with the Governor's Office, policy committee chairs and leaderships in both houses of the legislature, particularly with the Senate Pro Tem and Senate Majority Leader as well as leadership of Legislative Women's Caucus and Black Caucus and Assembly U&E, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Budget chairs, among others and with Governor's Office of Planning and Research, CalEPA, CPUC, CA Energy Commission, CARB, Resources Agency, CalFIRE, CalRecycle, CDFA, General Services, Department of Finance, Judicial Council, Gov's Office of Business Oversight (GoBiz) and others.

Biography

I'm a former regulator who started out in anti-trust matters involviing market abuse and mergers in the communications and energy sectors, as well as handling rate, infrastructure, valuation and auditing matters for all utility types. I served in the consumer advocacy unit at my agency much of my tenure and also wrote key articles for the agency on regulatory models, market trends, etc. During the state's energy crisis I was asked to serve as Chief Consultant in the Assembly's Energy Committee and also served on the Governor's and Speaker's Task Forces, writing and negotiating much of the key legislation that was passed during that period and serving as a negotiator with utilities. I also had to work with nearly a hundred legislators to manage which bills would go forward, ensure votes were in place and also ensure strong relationships were forged and maintained. From 2002-2009 I worked for law firms in the regulatory and legislative arenas as both a lobbyist and in the administrative law realm at agencies. My clients included Verizon Wireless, AT&T, LADWP, an association I formed of all of the smaller and mid-size communications companies, cable companies, Southern California Edison, auto recycling and emissions equipment providers, mining interests, water companies and their association, insurance companies, municipalities, non-profits and environmental and tech startups and alternative fuel providers and renewable energy providers. I spent 6 years running Southern California's state public affairs unit and completely revamped it, increasing Edison's profile and negotiating key pieces of market transformative legislation in addition to managing crisis communication and management for the company over issues as varied as wildfires, storm response and closure of our nuclear plant. Since leaving Edison I formed my own firm and recently formed a strategic alliance with a larger firm, handling primarily water, energy, environmental, family law, insurance and even some education issues for my own clients or for their clients. I have a large regulatory practice and work collaboratively with the heads and leadership teams of all key agencies and with the administration's key advisors and have strong working relationships with legislators as well as with key caucuses and their chairs. I have formed, am on the board of non-profits, and am a sponsor of many others, including Capitol Network, SheShares, CA Women in Energy, Equality California, Association of Women in Water and Energy, Hawthorne Club and others and serve and a mentor, speaker and facilitator to a number of networking and professional groups in and around the capitol.

Last Updated: June 19, 2019