Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the following appointments:

Ashley Boren, 46, of San Francisco, has been appointed to the State Board of Food and Agriculture. She has served on the board since 2005. Since 1997, Boren has served as executive director of Sustainable Conservation, a nonprofit environmental group that collaborates with various agricultural industries to solve environmental problems. From 1989 to 1997, she was director of retail merchandising for Smith and Hawken. Boren also held various positions at the Nature Conservancy International Program from 1983 to 1987. She is a trustee of The Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation. Boren received a Master of Business Administration degree from Stanford University in 1989.  This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Boren is a Democrat.

Judith Frank, 66, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to the Health Facilities Financing Authority. She has served on the authority since 2002. Frank has owned and served as principal of Asset Strategies, a real estate and facilities consulting practice, since 1993. From 1987 to 1992, she was vice president of real estate development at Warner Brothers and, from 1974 to 1983, was president of the real estate division at Fox Film Corporation. Frank is currently a member of the Los Angeles County Health Facilities Authority and is past chair and past member of the State Parks and Recreation Commission. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Frank is a Republican.

Luawanna Hallstrom, 48, of Rancho Santa Fe, has been appointed to the State Board of Food and Agriculture. She has served on the board since 2005. Since 1986, Hallstrom has been chief operating officer and general manager of Harry Singh and Sons, the largest single vine-ripe tomato producer, and business manager for Oceanside Produce since 1996. She is a member of several agricultural organizations, including the Western Growers Association, National Council for Agricultural Employers, California Farm Bureau, Agricultural Coalition for Immigration Reform and American Farm Bureau. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Hallstrom is a Republican.

Craig McNamara, 57, of Winters, has been appointed to the State Board of Food and Agriculture. He has served on the board since 2001. McNamara has owned and served as president of Sierra Orchards since 1980 and he also founded and serves as president for the Center for Land-Based Learning since 1993. Additionally, he has been a guest lecturer in farm management at the University of California, Davis since 1997 and at the Culinary Institute of America since 2003. Previously, he co-owned Bountiful Harvest Food Company from 1977 to 1980. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. McNamara is a Democrat.

Adan Ortega Jr., 45, of Fullerton, has been appointed to the State Board of Food and Agriculture. He has served on the board since 2005. Ortega has served as deputy managing director for GCG Rose & Kindel, a public advocacy firm, since 2005. Previously, he was vice president of external affairs for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California from 1999 to 2005. Ortega was chief deputy secretary of state under Secretary of State Bill Jones from 1997 to 1999. He was assistant general manager from 1996 to 1997, director of public affairs from 1995 to 1996 and community affairs consultant in 1994 for West Basin Municipal Water District and Central Basin. Prior to that, he was vice president for The Dolphin Group Incorporated from 1989 to 1995 where he also served as press director from 1985 to 1989. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Ortega is decline-to-state.

Jake Suski, 24, of Sacramento, has been appointed deputy communications director in the Office of the Governor. He most recently served as a national spokesman for the non-profit advocacy firm Freedom's Watch from 2007 to 2008. Suski served as western finance director for John McCain 2008 from January 2007 to June 2007. Prior to that, he was a special assistant to the campaign manager for Californians for Schwarzenegger 2006 from March 2006 to December 2006 and a constituent affairs representative in the Office of the Governor from 2005 to 2006. Suski earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in political science from the University of California, Davis in 2005. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $65,000. Suski is a Republican.

John Telles, M.D., 59, of Fresno, has been appointed to the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District and the California Air Resources Board. He has been a cardiologist at the Heart Group Cardiovascular Associates Incorporated since 1979, where he also serves as a managing partner. Telles is a member of the American College of Cardiology, American Medical Society, California Medical Society and is former president of the Fresno Madera Medical Society. Both positions require Senate confirmation and have no salary. Telles is a Democrat.

Kerry Tucker, 60, of Poway, has been appointed to the State Board of Food and Agriculture. He has served as chief executive officer of Nuffer, Smith, Tucker Incorporated, a public relations consulting firm, since 1980. Tucker is a member of the University of California President's Advisory Commission on Agriculture and Natural Resources and past member of the San Diego Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He is immediate past chair and member of the California Polytechnic State University School of Agriculture Advisory Council and a past member of the California State Food Biotechnology Advisory Committee. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Tucker is a Republican.

Donald Valpredo, 69, of Bakersfield, has been appointed to the State Board of Food and Agriculture. He has owned and served as president of Donald Valpredo Farms since 1985. Valpredo was director of the Arvin Edison Water Storage District in 2007, Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association from 1995 to 2007 and the Western Growers Association from 2000 to 2007. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Valpredo is a Republican.