Governor Newsom announces appointments 9.10.26

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:

Melinda Grant, of Sacramento, has been appointed Undersecretary at the California Business and Consumer Services Agency. Grant was the Undersecretary at the California Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency from 2019 to 2026. She was the Deputy Legislative Secretary at the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom from 2016 to 2019. Grant was the Deputy Director of Legislation and Policy Review at the California Department of Consumer Affairs from 2014 to 2016. She was a Legislative Advocate at Platinum Advisors from 2006 to 2014. Grant was a Legislative Aide in the Office of California State Senator Kevin Murray from 2003 to 2006. She was a Legislative Analyst at The American Federation of State County and Municipal Employee’s from 2001 to 2003. Grant is a member of the California State University Sacramento Governmental Alumni Association and Leadership California. Grant earned a Master of Arts degree in Public Administration from the University of San Francsico and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from California State University, Sacramento. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $224,940. Grant is a Democrat.

Tad Egawa, of Sacramento, has been appointed Deputy Secretary and General Counsel at the California Business and Consumer Services Agency. Egawa was the Deputy Secretary and General Counsel, California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency from 2019 to 2026. He was Chief Counsel at the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration from 2017 to 2019. Egawa was General Counsel at the California Department of Housing and Community Development from 2015 to 2017. He was Assistant Commissioner of Legal Affairs at the California Bureau of Real Estate from 2013 to 2015. Egawa was Deputy Attorney General III in California Department of Justice at the Office of the Attorney General from 2009 to 2013. He was a Shareholder and Partner at McDonough Holland & Allen, PC from 2007 to 2009. Egawa was Assistant General Counsel at The Ryland Group, Inc. from 2004 to 2007. He was an Associate Attorney at Jeffer Mangels Butler & Marmaro LLP from 1999 to 2004. Egawa was an Associate Attorney at Tuttle & Taylor from 1998 to 1999. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Southern California, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Economy of Natural Resources from the University of California, Berkeley. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $228,984. Egawa is a Democrat.

Nicole Hisatomi, of Sacramento, has been appointed Deputy Secretary of Legislation at the California Business and Consumer Services Agency. Hisatomi was the Deputy Secretary of Legislation at the California Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency from 2024 to 2026. She was Deputy Commissioner for Legislation at the California Department of Financial Protection & Innovation from 2020 to 2024. Hisatomi held multiple positions at the Office of California Assemblymember Mark Stone in the California State Assembly from 2014 to 2020, including Legislative Director, Legislative Aide, and Assembly Fellow. Hisatomi is a member of the University of California, Irvine Alumni Association and the Japanese American Citizens League. Hisatomi earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Pacific, McGeorge School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Health Policy & Political Science from the University of California, Irvine. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $174,948. Hisatomi is a Democrat.

Claire Cullis, of Carmichael, has been appointed Deputy Secretary at the California Business and Consumer Services Agency. Cullis was the Deputy Secretary of Business and Consumer Relations at the California Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency from 2025 to 2026. She was the Chief of Staff to the First Partner in the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom from 2021 to 2025. Cullis was the Chief Executive Officer and Founder at Claire Cullis Consulting LLC from 2018 to 2021. She was the Executive Director at the Institute for Democracy and Justice from 2018 to 2021. Cullis was the Director of Dignitary and Speaker Engagement at the Global Climate Action Summit for the United Nations Foundation in 2018. She was a Consultant to the Special Olympics for the Austria Winter World Games in 2017. Cullis held multiple positions at the United States Department of the Treasury from 2013 to 2017, including Director of Scheduling, Advance, and Administration, and the Associate Director Scheduling and Advance for the Treasury Secretary. She was an Advance Associate for The White House from 2013 to 2017. Cullis was Deputy Parade Director at the Presidential Inaugural Committee from 2012 to 2013. She was National Advance Staff for Obama for America in 2012. Cullis was a Senior Associate at the Dewey Square Group from 2006 to 2012. She was an English Teacher with the JET Program from 2005 to 2006. Cullis was Campaign Staff for John Kerry for President in 2004. She earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Virginia Tech and a Bachelor of the Arts degree in International Studies & Studio Art from the University of Iowa. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $201,432. Cullis is a Democrat.

Tiffany Roberts, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the Independent Consumer Fuels Advisory Committee. Roberts has been Western Region Senior Director of Government Affairs at Phillips 66 since 2026, where she was Western Region Director of Government Afairs from 2021 to 2026. She held multiple positions at Western States Petroleum Association from 2015 to 2022, including Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Director of Legislative and Regulatory Policy. Roberts was Policy Consultant for the Republican Caucus to the Senate Environmental Quality Committee in California State Senate from 2014 to 2015. She was a Senior Energy and Climate Change Analyst in the California Legislative Analyst’s Office from 2009 to 2014. She earned a Master of Arts degree in Economics from California State University, East Bay and a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies from the University of Southern Mississippi. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Roberts is registered without party preference.

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