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People in the News
STOCKTON May 9, 2008 12:01am 
• Bank names commercial real estate manager • University taps an alumnus for outreach • And many more! 
Jacob McDougal
James Butler
Lynnette Zelezny
Craig Vierra
• Jacob McDougal has been named director of alumni and annual giving at California State University, Stanislaus.
It’s a return to a familiar campus for Mr. McDougal, who graduated from CSU Stanislaus in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication studies and a Dean's List achiever his last two years at the university.
Mr. McDougal has been director of special events with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in Mission, Kan., since September 2005.
Prior to working for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation he served as logistics manager for the Special Olympics in North Carolina. He was lead event manager for Stanford University's Athletic Department for five years before turning his focus to earning a college degree.
• James Butler has been appointed as California’s chief procurement officer, a position in the state’s Department of General Services, by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Mr. Butler, 43, of Roseburg, Ore., also assumes the responsibilities of the deputy director for the Procurement Division at DGS.
For the past five years he has been director of procurement services for Levi Strauss and Co. Before that he was a senior manager of Enterprise Resource Planning systems and procurement programs at Dell Computer Corp.
• Lynnette Zelezny, professor and chairwoman of the Department of Psychology at California State University, Fresno, has been selected one of 34 American Council of Education (ACE) fellows for the 2008-09 academic year.
Ms. Zelezny, the first ACE fellow from Fresno State, will spend the year working directly with an assigned university president -- to be determined in June – to observe and participate in meetings and events and take on special projects and assignments.
She is an applied social psychologist who has published research related to the environment, health and women in leadership.
• Craig Vierra, a professor of biology at University of the Pacific, has been given the University Distinguished Faculty Award in recognition of his work as “a scientist and scholar and his dedication to students and undergraduate research.”
Mr. Vierra, who is also co-chairman of the Department of Biological Sciences, joined Pacific as a visiting lecturer in the fall of 1994.
His research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanics of black widow spider silk and how these properties relate to the fiber’s high tensile strength, elasticity and toughness. His work has been published in a variety of publications, including the Journal of Biological Chemistry, Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences and Biochemistry.
Established in 1974, the University Distinguished Faculty Award is given annually to a tenured faculty member for outstanding accomplishments.
• Alan Koski has been hired as a senior vice president and commercial real estate manager for River City Banks’ commercial real estate department.
Mr. Koski brings more than 20 years of experience in the banking industry to River City Bank. Previously, he served five years as the vice president, senior relationship manager for The Mechanics Bank.
• Brittany Chord, 23, of Redding, has been appointed assistant press secretary for the Office of the Governor. Most recently, she served as a legal assistant in the Office of Legal Affairs for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger from 2007 to 2008. Prior to that, Ms. Chord served as a communications intern for Californians for Schwarzenegger 2006.
• Michael Rogowski, 42, of Sacramento, has been appointed executive assistant to the undersecretary of programs for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Since 2006, he has served as an administrative assistant in the Office of Planning and Research for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
From 2003 to 2005, Mr. Rogowski served as executive assistant to Sacramento Vice Mayor Sandy Sheedy. From 2001 to 2003, he served as confidential secretary for Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo and, from 1999 to 2001, served as confidential secretary for Sacramento City Councilmember Heather Fargo.
• Susan Ronnback, 50, of Sacramento, has been appointed chief of staff for the Office of the Secretary for Education. Since 2003, she served as chief policy advisor to state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell.
From 2000 to 2002, Ms. Ronnback worked for former California State Sen. Steve Peace as the K-12 education consultant for the state Senate’s Budget and Fiscal Review Committee. Prior to that, she worked for Mr. Peace as a legislative consultant from 1994 to 2000, associate staff consultant from 1984 to 1988, and district representative from 1982 to 1988.
• Rayne Thompson, 32, of West Sacramento, was appointed deputy secretary for legislation and policy for the Department of Food and Agriculture. Since 2004, she has served as director of international trade and plant health for the California Farm Bureau Federation.
From 2001 to 2004, Ms. Thompson was the director of government affairs for the Agricultural Council of California. From 1999 to 2000, she was a project manager for Convergent Communications and, from 1998 to 1999, she was an assistant account executive for Opus Creative Group.
• Justin Bond of Hanford has been named the 2008 Veteran of the Year for the 30th Assembly District by Assemblywoman Nicole Parra, D-Hanford.
Mr. Bond served in the U.S. Army from 1995 to 2005. He was wounded in Iraq after an ambush left him with damage to both knees. Since his return home and during his recovery, he has worked to help other wounded veterans by raising funds and hosting events, Ms. Parra notes.
He started “Bowling for Wounded Soldiers” which raised money to help families travel to Washington, D.C., to visit with their injured soldiers while they recover. Mr. Bond raised over $25,000 through this effort alone.
He also initiated a drive to collect books and board games to send to soldiers in Iraq, gathering more than 50,000 books to send overseas.
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