2024 CalChamber Board Candidates

*First Election for Three-Year Term

*James Beckwith
President and Chief Executive Officer
Five Star Bank (community business bank)
Bachelor of science, business administration, with concentration in accounting, San Francisco State University. Graduate and class president, Pacific Coast Banking School, University of Washington. Nearly 30 years of experience. Joined Five Star Bank in current role in 2003 and also is a member of Five Star Bank Board of Directors. Previously served as chief financial officer and chief operating officer at National Bank of the Redwoods in Santa Rosa, California. Has chaired several community-based organizations, including the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce, Valley Vision and KVIE (the local PBS affiliate). Past chair of California Bankers Association. Private sector director with the Greater Sacramento Economic Council and a member of the Sacramento State University College of Business Advisory Council. Recognitions include 2020 Businessman of the Year by the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce; among the Most Admired CEOs of 2020 by the Sacramento Business Journal; Vistage Leadership Award in 2021; 2022 UCP Humanitarian of the Year; and named to the Sacramento Business Journal’s Power 100 List. CalChamber director since September 2024.

Gregory S. Bielli
President and Chief Executive Officer
Tejon Ranch Company (ranching and property development)
Bachelor’s in political science, University of Arizona. Joined Tejon Ranch in September 2013 with nearly 25 years experience in real estate, land acquisition, development and financing. Most recently was president of western region for Newland Communities, overseeing master-planned residential, commercial and retail real estate projects in Arizona, California and Colorado. Former city councilman and vice mayor in Scottsdale, Arizona. 2023 CalChamber chair and member of Executive Committee. CalChamber director since January 2014.

*Cameron Boswell
Vice President, Finance and Administration
J. G. Boswell Company (farming, processing and marketing)
Bachelor’s in political science and human development, Prescott College. Current responsibilities include human resources, benefits and payroll; information technology and enterprise systems; political and legislative affairs; and finance and risk management. Fourth generation to be part of family business, operating in California for more than 100 years. Previously served as chief operating officer of Auscott, Limited (a J. G. Boswell Company subsidiary at the time) in Australia. Board member of California Agricultural Leadership Foundation, Huntington Medical Research Institute, and James G. Boswell Foundation. CalChamber director since October 2024.

*Daniel Brill
President, U.S. Sales and Distribution
The Anheuser-Busch Sales and Distribution Company (beer distributors)
B.S., journalism and mass communication, University of Colorado, Boulder; M.B.A., University of Denver. Named to current position in March 2022. Joined Anheuser-Busch InBev in September 2020 as senior director of commercial and marketing for Pacific Northwest, advancing to senior division general manager in February 2021. Previously worked for PepsiCo, starting as a sales representative in Denver, Colorado before stepping up to local, then regional managerial posts. Moved on to lead sales and distribution strategy for regional distribution center in Portland, Oregon; then managing team of branch directors responsible for Pepsi distribution operations across Oregon and Idaho; followed by serving as senior director, Pacific Northwest manager responsible for Oregon, Washington and Alaska. CalChamber director since January 2024.

Steve Cain
Chief Executive Officer, California Market
UnitedHealthcare (health care services)
B.A., sports management, Bowling Green State University. More than 20 years of industry leadership, sales and marketing expertise and executive management. Numerous market leadership roles since joining UnitedHealthcare in 2007. In current role facilitates market-wide growth strategies across provider systems, consultants, distribution, sales, marketing and alliances. CalChamber director since September 2021.

Jason Carlson
Chief Operating Officer
Green Diamond Resource Company (forest products)
B.A., history, Carnegie Mellon University; M.B.A., George Washington University. Joined Green Diamond in July 2008 as senior business analyst in Seattle; moved on to be general manager for company’s wood chip export business in Eureka, California, and log sales manager for Oregon Operations in Klamath Falls; began current role in January 2019. Before joining Green Diamond, was a finance professional at Weyerhaeuser Company, Safeco Insurance Company and Intel Corporation, as well as an infantry officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. CalChamber director since January 2022.

*Grace Davis
Senior Vice President, Chief External Affairs Officer
Sutter Health (not-for-profit health care network)
B.A., political science and government, San Jose State University. First to hold current position, starting March 2023. Oversees all facets of government and regulatory engagement, community health and external affairs work across entire health system. Previously served as vice president, chief public affairs officer. Joined Sutter Health in May 2017 from Intel Corporation, where she spent 18 years in a series of leadership roles, most recently as head of Intel’s global public affairs organization, worldwide. In that role, directed all government and external affair matters in the United States, Asia, the Middle East, Europe and South America. Before joining Intel, served as executive director for TechAmerica, now part of CompTIA. She also spent time on Capitol Hill as a press secretary and legislative director. CalChamber director since June 2024.

*Jeff Dormo
President, Sustainability and Decarbonization
Honeywell (integrated operations: automation, aviation, energy transition)
Bachelor’s degree, electrical engineering, U.S. Naval Academy; M.S., electrical engineering, Stanford University; M.B.A., finance, Harvard Business School. Heads business unit specializing in development and manufacture of high-performance fluorine products. Previously held roles with increasing responsibility supporting Honeywell’s performance materials and technologies business, advanced materials, fluorine products, electronics and chemicals, digital transformation and customer experience. Before joining Honeywell in 2017, he led a number of positions with Dow Chemical, most recently as a business director. Before Dow Chemical, served for several years as an electrical engineering instructor with the U.S. Naval Academy. CalChamber director since September 2024.

Michael V. Drake, M.D.
President
University of California (higher education)
B.A., Stanford University; M.D. and residency, UC San Francisco. Ophthalmology training at UCSF and Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. Before appointment as 21st UC president in August 2020, served as president of Ohio State University. Time at OSU preceded by service in several roles at UC, including nine years as chancellor of UC Irvine and five years as systemwide vice president for health affairs. Also spent more than two decades on faculty of UCSF School of Medicine. Author of numerous articles and co-author of six books. CalChamber director since September 2020.

Kailesh Karavadra
Partner
Ernst & Young LLP (accounting/professional services)
Bachelor’s and master’s, electronic engineering, Bangor University, North Wales, United Kingdom, specializing in artificial intelligence. Transitioned from global coordinating principal for all EY services worldwide in 2017 to focus on recognizing world’s most exceptional entrepreneurs. Started career with EY in UK in 1991 as Chartered Accountant before moving to Silicon Valley in 1995. 2022 CalChamber chair and member of Executive Committee. CalChamber director since January 2016.

*Martin A. Kropelnicki
President and Chief Executive Officer
California Water Service Group (water utility)
B.A., M.A., business economics and finance, San Jose State University. More than 30 years of experience in utility finance and operations. Joined company in 2006 as vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer in 2006; named president and COO in 2012; and appointed to current position effective September 1, 2013. Previously held executive-level positions at Pacific Gas & Electric Company, Deloitte & Touche Consulting Group, and Hall Kinion & Associates, which he took public on the Nasdaq exchange in 1997. CalChamber director since April 2023.

Tim Lieb
Senior Vice President, Commercial Markets
Blue Shield of California (health plan)
Bachelor of science in mathematics with a minor in business, Ohio University in Athens. More than 30 years of experience in health care. In current role, responsible for providing leadership and strategic planning oversight across all commercial lines of business. Before joining Blue Shield in 2022, served as president of Regence BlueShield in Washington state, part of the Cambia Health Solutions family of companies. There, he was responsible for operational and financial performance as well as growth strategy through a shared services operations model. Prior to that, he led employee health and benefits for Mercer, where he was responsible for client retention and growth. CalChamber director since July 2022.

Donna L. Lucas
Chief Executive Officer and Founder
Lucas Public Affairs (public relations)
B.A., journalism, University of Southern California. Before forming Lucas Public Affairs in 2006, served as deputy chief of staff for strategic planning and initiatives for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and chief of staff to First Lady Maria Shriver. Previously was global and public affairs practice leader for international public relations firm Porter Novelli after it acquired Nelson Communications Group, where she was president and CEO for several years. Also served as deputy press secretary for Governor George Deukmejian; deputy treasurer for Tom Hayes; and California press secretary for the 1988 presidential campaign of then-Vice President George H.W. Bush. 2021 CalChamber chair and member of Executive Committee. CalChamber director since August 2012.

Leslie L. Melburg
Senior Partner
Nichols, Melburg & Rossetto Architects + Engineers (architecture, structural engineering and interior design)
Bachelor’s degree, architecture, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Continuing education at Harvard School of Design. As design director, oversees NMR’s major projects. Has designed Temecula Civic Center, Shasta County Administration Center, Redding Civic Center, Monterey Civic Center and Tehama County Administration Center. Received an A.I.A. Honor Award for Shasta Enterprises Office Building. CalChamber director since April 2018.

Diane D. Miller
President
Wilcox, Miller & Nelson (executive search/human capital management)
B.A. in applied behavior analysis, University of the Pacific; M.B.A. in marketing, Golden Gate University. Career in executive search and outplacement field since 1986. Served as vice president, portfolio management at Consolidated Capital. Recipient of The Business Journal’s 2002 “Women Who Mean Business” award. 2016 at-large member of CalChamber Executive Committee. CalChamber director since 2004.

*Duncan Joseph (DJ) Moore
Partner
Latham & Watkins LLP (law firm)
B.A., University of Virginia; J.D., University of Virginia School of Law. Practice focuses on obtaining and defending project-siting and environmental approvals for major infrastructure, energy and development projects. Board member of the Los Angeles City College Foundation, Century City Chamber of Commerce, and West Hollywood Library Foundation. CalChamber director since September 2024.

Christine Moseley
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Full Harvest Technologies, Inc. (online platform connecting large farms to food and beverage businesses)
B.A., psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. M.B.A. The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. Founded Full Harvest in 2015 as a B2B online distributor for ugly and surplus produce. More than 10 years of experience in the logistics and food industries at both Fortune 100 companies (A.P. Moller-Maersk Group, Procter & Gamble) and high-growth food start-ups (Organic Avenue, Cape Classics). CalChamber director since April 2018.

Brian Mulvaney
Regional Executive for California
U.S. Bank (financial services)
B.S., University of Vermont; M.B.A., University of Southern California Marshall School of Business. Joined U.S. Bank in current post in December 2022; first person to hold position. Leads relationship management team serving middle-market clients and communities across the state, leveraging combined commercial banking teams of U.S. Bank and MUFG Union Bank. Previously served as managing director and market president of the Pacific Northwest Commercial Banking Group at MUFG Union Bank, managing team serving clients in the Washington and Oregon markets. Seasoned investment banker whose career in banking and financial services spans more than 30 years and includes stint as market manager in Global Commercial Banking Group at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. CalChamber director since August 2023.

Kurt Oneto
Partner
Nielsen, Merksamer, Parrinello, Gross & Leoni, LLP (law firm)
B.A., political science, Phi Beta Kappa, University of California, Berkeley; M.A., government, California State University, Sacramento; J.D. UCLA School of Law. Leads Nielsen Merksamer government law section and is a member of its management committee. Specializes in statewide ballot measures and has served as counsel and legal strategist to ballot measure campaigns in California and more than a half-dozen other states. Serves on executive committee of State Law Resources, Inc., an international network of independent law firms. Before joining Nielsen Merksamer, worked for the California District Attorneys Association and interned for the California State Senate and U.S. House of Representatives. CalChamber director since January 2023.

Sima Patel
Chief Executive Officer
Ridgemont Hospitality (hotel and lodging)
Moved to United States from India in 1979. Current owner and operator of several branded and boutique hotels in San Francisco Bay Area with husband, Pravin. The two developed first lodging property in 1985. Award recipient for activities in lodging/tourism associations and Indian American community. Former chair of Visit California Board of Directors. CalChamber director since January 2019.

Rudolph M. (Rudy) Reyes
West Region Vice President and Associate General Counsel
Verizon (telecommunications)
B.A. Harvard University. J.D. Harvard Law School. Leads company public policy and legal affairs in Western United States. Since joining Verizon in 2003, has served as chief regulatory counsel, chief legislative counsel and vice president of government affairs before taking current post in April 2017. Previously held positions at law firms practicing litigation and, briefly, software licensing. CalChamber director since February 2018.

*Eric N. Robinson
Managing Shareholder
Kronick Moskovitz Tiedemann & Girard (law firm)
B.S., Northwestern University, Medill School of Journalism; J.D., University of California, Davis. Joined Kronick Moskovitz in 2000. In current role, represents public and private sector clients in the fields of natural resources and environmental law, including providing counsel on water rights and supplies, and environmental compliance for development projects under local, state and federal laws. Began law career in 1997. CalChamber director since February 2024.

William R. Sawyers
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer
Del Monte Foods (food producer, distributor and marketer)
B.A. cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Williams College. J.D., University of California, Berkeley School of Law. Has served as senior vice president, general counsel, chief compliance officer and secretary of Del Monte Foods since March 2014. Served similar role from 1993 through 2001. Before returning to Del Monte was a partner of the Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe law firm in San Francisco and served as chief administrative officer at the Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center, a neuroscience research institute, in Emeryville, California. CalChamber director since January 2019.

Brian Ternan
Chief Executive Officer and Plan President
Health Net of California (managed care/health insurance)
More than 30 years of experience as a senior health care executive and leader at some of the state’s largest health care plans. Assumed current role in September 2019. Before joining Health Net, held leadership posts at Anthem Blue Cross of California and Aetna Inc. Board member of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County. CalChamber director since January 2023.

*Michelle Wroan
Office Managing Partner
KPMG LLP (accounting/professional services)
B.S., University of California at Los Angeles. Certified public accountant in California and New York (inactive status). Also hub leader for KPMG’s Pacific Southwest region leading more than 1,500 professionals in providing audit, tax and advisory services to KPMG clients. Audit partner with nearly 30-year tenure at firm serving clients from the emerging growth stage to mature public companies. Also worked in KPMG Department of Professional Practice, helping KPMG professionals and their clients address and resolving complex accounting, reporting and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission-related issues. Helped found Los Angeles chapter of KPMG Executive Leadership Institute for Women. Serves as executive board member of KPMG Network of Women. CalChamber director since November 2022.

*Laura Zeigler
Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer
AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah (insurance/membership services)
B.S., economics, Arizona State University. In current role since September 2022, responsible for leveraging connectivity between multiple divisions at company, including auto repair, marketing, road service, social impact and communications. Joined AAA Mountain West Group in March 2008 as senior vice president, insurance product marketing. Moved on to AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah in September 2018, serving first as executive vice president, chief member experience officer – road service, then executive vice president, chief marketing officer before assuming current role. CalChamber director since January 2024.