National Advisory Council

Elli Abdoli

Partner, Nielsen Merksamer

National Advisory Council: 2021

Elli Abdoli is a partner with Nielsen Merksamer in the Political Law Section. She advises Fortune 500 companies, non-profits, trade associations and other organizations on complying with federal, state and local lobby, campaign finance and ethics laws,...Read more about Elli Abdoli

Brad Barber

National Advisory Council: 2016

Mr. Barber is a retired attorney and development professional with extensive experience in the management of non-profit and fundraising organizations, and in the planning and implementation of fundraising campaigns. He currently serves as a board member or...Read more about Brad Barber

Peter Brightbill

Senior Director of Government Relations, Wells Fargo Bank

National Advisory Council: 2012

Peter Brightbill ('87), Senior Director of Government Relations, started working with Wells Fargo in 1998; he is based in San Francisco. In this role, he is responsible for managing the organization’s state legislative and political agendas in California....Read more about Peter Brightbill

Kelly Calkin

Partner, Townsend Calkin Tapio Public Affairs

National Advisory Council: 2012

Kelly Calkin is a leader in a new generation of game-changing political strategists who are redefining how to win in high-stakes candidate, ballot measure and legislative campaigns.

Bringing state-of-the-audience perspectives and a fully integrated...Read more about Kelly Calkin

Annabel R. Chang

Head of State Policy & Government Relations, Waymo

National Advisory Council: 2016

Annabel R. Chang is Head of State Policy & Government Relations at Waymo, an autonomous driving technology company creating a new way forward in mobility. Prior to joining Waymo, she was a corporate officer with Alaska Airlines, serving as the...Read more about Annabel R. Chang

Mady Deininger

Founder and President, Kismet Wines

National Advisory Council: 2019

Ms. Madeleine (Mady) Deininger earned her BA in Liberal Studies from Stockton State College and her MA in Liberal Studies from Dartmouth College, with a concentration in Comparative Literature and History. During and after her tenure as a graduate...Read more about Mady Deininger

Pamela S. Duffy

Partner, Coblentz, Patch, Duffy & Bass LLP

National Advisory Council: 2011

Pamela Duffy is a partner at Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP. She is one of the first women to become a name partner at a major San Francisco law firm. Her practice focuses on public policy issues and commercial real estate, land use and development,...Read more about Pamela S. Duffy

Maria Echaveste

President, The Opportunity Institute

National Advisory Council: 2018

Maria Echaveste is the President of the Opportunity Institute, a non-profit focused on increasing social and economic mobility and advancing racial equity. Before that, she built a distinguished career working as a consultant, lecturer, senior White House...Read more about Maria Echaveste

Joe Garrett

Partner, Garrett & McAuley

National Advisory Council: 2016

Joe Garrett grew up just a few blocks from the Berkeley campus, and Strawberry Creek was his and his friends’ playground in the 1950’s. He graduated from Cal in 1970, got a Masters in Political Science from the University of Washington, and returned...Read more about Joe Garrett

Peter D. Hart

Chairman, Hart Research

National Advisory Council: 2006

For more than 35 years, Peter Hart has been one of the leading analysts of public opinion in the United States. Since 1971, he has directed Peter D. Hart Research Associates, which has conducted more than 6000 public opinion surveys that have included...Read more about Peter D. Hart

Tom MacBride (Chair)

Of Counsel, Downey Brand LLP

National Advisory Council: 2016

Tom MacBride is Of Counsel at Downey Brand LLP after 35 years as a partner at Goodin, MacBride, Squeri & Day LLP in San Francisco. He continues to specialize in proceedings before the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). He served as President...Read more about Tom MacBride (Chair)

Katie Merrill

Partner, BaughmanMerrill

National Advisory Council: 2014

Katie Merrill is one of California’s most successful female and LGBT campaign managers and statewide consultants. She is a partner in the nationally-recognized political consulting, direct mail, and media firm, BaughmanMerrill, which is based in San...Read more about Katie Merrill

Matt Middlebrook

Head of Policy and Government Affairs - California, Hawaii, Alaska, Airbnb

National Advisory Council: 2019

Matt Middlebrook is Head of Policy and Government Affairs (California, Hawaii, Alaska) for Airbnb. A recognized leader in government affairs, public policy, and strategic communications, Matt Middlebrook’s background reflects his ability to bring people...Read more about Matt Middlebrook

Laiza Negrete

PAC Director, California Association of REALTORS

National Advisory Council: 2014

Laiza Negrete currently serves as the PAC Director with the California Association of REALTORS® handling the political resources for one of the top trade associations in the state. Before joining CRE-PAC, Laiza worked for the New York State Assembly...Read more about Laiza Negrete

Chris Patterson

State Government Relations, Pacific Gas & Electric

National Advisory Council: 2015

Over the last decade, Chris Patterson has been at the forefront of California’s policy and political arenas in a variety of capacities.

Since 2018, Chris has led State Government Relations for Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), where he has...Read more about Chris Patterson

Heather Podesta

Founder and CEO, Invariant

National Advisory Council: 2011

Heather Podesta guides a bipartisan team as the founder and CEO of Invariant. Now in its fourteenth year, Invariant is considered one of the nation’s top government relations firms. Known for her political savvy, substantive policy chops, and commonsense...Read more about Heather Podesta

Jon Ross

Partner, KP Public Affairs

National Advisory Council: 2016

Jon Ross is a partner at KP Public Affairs. He joined the firm in 1996. He is a registered lobbyist and lawyer. He has specific expertise in financial services law and regulation, and has played a leading role in managing the financial services industry's...Read more about Jon Ross

Alan Unger

National Advisory Council: 2016

Alan Unger has over 40 years of experience working with public and private sector organizations – both domestic and international – managing projects and providing strategic planning and guidance in the areas of public policy, marketing and communications....Read more about Alan Unger

Bracken White

Managing Director, Atlantic-Pacific Capital

National Advisory Council: 2021

Bracken White is Managing Director of Atlantic-Pacific Capital. He provides senior strategic and project management guidance for capital formation mandates to fund managers. He also works with global institutional investors, Sovereigns, and family offices...Read more about Bracken White

Amy Worth

Mayor, City of Orinda

National Advisory Council: 2021

Amy Worth was elected to the Orinda City Council in 1998 and currently serves as Mayor of Orinda.

Representing the nineteen Contra Costa Cities, she is a member and past Chair of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), which is the...Read more about Amy Worth

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