Governor Newsom Announces Appointments

Larry N. Pangilinan, 56, of Fontana, has been appointed administrator at the Veterans Home of California, Barstow, where he served as skilled nursing facility administrator since 2018. Pangilinan has been executive director at Height Street Skilled Care since 2015. He was administrator at Ojai Gardens Nursing Center from 2013 to 2015 and director of operations at Golden Cross Health Care from 2011 to 2013. Pangilinan was director of operations at Affiliated Care Services from 2006 to 2011 and assistant administrator at Cloverleaf Healthcare from 2005 to 2006. He was administrator-in-training at Longwood Manor and Rehabilitation Center in 2005, school administrator for the California Career Development Association from 1997 to 2005 and administrator at Cal Care Staffing Services from 1995 to 1997. Pangilinan was director of marketing at RN Home Health Services Inc. from 1994 to 1995, service area supervisor for associated students at the University of California, Los Angeles from 1988 to 1994 and an aviation handler class E-4 for the U.S. Navy for the Naval Air Station North Island from 1984 to 1988. He is a member of the California Association of Healthcare Facilities. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $141,120. Pangilinan is a Democrat.

Coby Petersen, 56, of Sacramento, has been reappointed deputy secretary of veterans homes at the California Department of Veterans Affairs, where he has served in that position since 2014. Petersen was senior army advisor to the U.S. Army Adjutant General of California from 2010 to 2014, chief of future operations in the 3rd U.S. Army, Kuwait from 2009 to 2010 and brigade and battalion commander of the U.S. Army 174th Infantry Brigade from 2006 to 2009. Petersen was deputy fire support coordinator for the 3rd Marine Division, U.S. Pacific Command from 2003 to 2006 and served in multiple positions for the 1st Infantry Division, Germany of the U.S. Army from 2000 to 2003, including battalion executive officer and chief of plans officer in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He served as brigade personnel officer in the Theater Support Brigade from 1998 to 2000, battalion fire support officer in the 5-87th Infantry Battalion from 1996 to 1998, training officer in U.S. Fifth Army West from 1994 to 1996 and served in various other positions for the U.S. Army from 1987 to 1994. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $159,324. Petersen is registered without party preference.

Erin M. Choi, 31, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the California Exposition and State Fair Board of Directors. Choi has been corporate counsel at Sutter Health since 2020. She was corporate counsel at the California Dental Association from 2019 to 2020 and senior corporate counsel at PowerSchool Group LLC from 2017 to 2019. She was an attorney at Carr and Ferrell LLP from 2016 to 2017. Choi earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Davis School of Law. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Choi is a Democrat.

Michael D. Gelfand, 65, of Rancho Santa Fe, has been appointed to the 22nd District Agricultural Association, San Diego County Fair Board of Directors. Gelfand has been president of Terra Vista Management Inc. since 1994. He is president and founder of the Rancho Santa Fe Democratic Club, ex-officio member for Congressman Mike Levin for the San Diego County Democratic Party Central Committee, a founding member of Overcoming Obstacles and a member of the California Democratic Party Executive Board. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Gelfand is a Democrat.

Pierre E. Sleiman, 33, of San Diego, has been reappointed to the 22nd District Agricultural Association, San Diego County Fair Board of Directors, where he has served since 2015. Sleiman has been founder and chief executive officer at Go Green Agriculture Inc. since 2009. He is vice president of the San Diego County Farm Bureau Board of Directors and a member of the University of California, San Diego Rady School of Management Alumni Board. Sleiman earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of California, San Diego Rady School of Management. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Sleiman is registered without party preference.

Nicholas Kovacevich, 34, of Newport Beach, has been appointed to the 32^nd District Agricultural Association, Orange County Fair Board of Directors. Kovacevich has been chief executive officer of KushCo Holdings since 2014. He was chief operating officer for BigRentz Inc. from 2012 to 2014. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Kovacevich is a Democrat.