ERIC STEIN, JOHN CONNELL JOIN CDFA LEADERSHIP TEAM

Appointments made to legislative unit and plant health division

SACRAMENTO, May 11, 2006 - CDFA Secretary A.G. Kawamura is welcoming two new members to the agency’s leadership team, in the legislative and plant health arenas.  Eric Stein has been appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger as assistant secretary for legislation, and John Connell has been appointed by Secretary Kawamura as director of plant health and pest prevention services.

Stein comes to CDFA from the Wine Institute, where he had served as legislative representative since 2002.  He has also worked as an event coordinator and fundraiser for Sandino Consulting and served as a legislative analyst with the Office of Planning and Research in the Wilson Administration.

Connell moves over from his position as chief administrative officer at the Department of Financial Institutions, where he has served since 2000. Prior to that, he worked for 24 years at CDFA, including serving as branch chief in the pest exclusion and pest detection/emergency projects branches.

“I am pleased that we can bring these two talented and experienced people aboard at CDFA,” said Secretary Kawamura. “Eric Stein has long experience working on legislative issues, and he has first hand experience in agriculture. And John Connell brings his deep plant and pest expertise back to our agency, along with strong progressive management and leadership skills developed in other arenas. I look forward to major contributions from each as we continue our work for the people of California.”     

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