Jennifer Haley is President and CEO of Kern Energy (Kern), where she leads a talented team of 185 individuals, directs policy and oversees Kern’s innovative “California Clean” renewable and petroleum refining operation. The company produces more than three-quarters of a million gallons of gasoline and diesel daily for the San Joaquin Valley marketplace. Under Haley’s leadership, the company has personified its “small but mighty” culture to help lead statewide efforts to promote energy resilience, clean energy and collaborative solutions that protect the economy and environment.

Haley took a non-traditional path to refinery leadership. After earning a law degree at the University of San Diego School of Law, she handled litigation for primarily public agency clients – including school and water districts – in state and federal court as a member of Best, Best and Krieger LLP’s San Diego office. Haley also represented public agency coalitions in regulatory issues before the California Public Utilities Commission.

Haley joined Kern in 2011 as Vice President – Legal and Government Affairs and, although she had no industry-specific experience, she brought an open mind and keen desire to understand every aspect of the business and California energy environment. Haley’s on-the-job training gave her a deep appreciation for the complexity inherent in a refining operation, and her fresh perspective helps drive Kern’s ongoing evolution to meet the demands of climate change.

Playing Division I softball for the University of San Diego, Haley pitched, played first base, and batted clean-up, which shaped her competitive spirit and commitment to teamwork. A servant-leader who believes the greatest achievement is helping others be successful, Haley has incorporated an emphasis on communication, culture and professional development into Kern’s business strategy.

Haley earned her BA in History, magna cum laude, from the University of San Diego and her J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law, summa cum laude and Order of the Coif. She serves on the board of the California Chamber of Commerce. Haley is married with two young sons and, outside of the office, can be found testing gravity on the ski slopes of Southern California.

Luis Quiñonez was named president of the California Foundation for Commerce and Education, effective February 18, 2025.

His knowledge of how regulations and laws at the local, state and federal levels affect individuals and businesses comes from more than 20 years of experience in public policy, public affairs, government relations and research in both the public and private sectors.

Quiñonez has expertise in policy areas ranging from economic development, budget and taxes, housing, transportation, insurance, climate change and renewable energy, to education, health care, international relations, immigration, and veterans affairs.

Most recently, Quiñonez served as chief of staff to California State Senator Anna M. Caballero since 2022. His previous State Capitol experience includes stints as chief of staff to former Assemblywoman Autumn Burke and former Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla, whom he served as chief of staff while she was a Contra Costa County supervisor, before her election to the Assembly. Furthermore, Quiñonez was a senior aide to longtime U.S. Representative Barbara Lee.

In the private sector, Quiñonez was vice president and West Coast director for Res Publica Group, a global public affairs firm. Before that, Quiñonez was manager of North America state and local government relations for eBay. He also led U.S. state government relations for Zenefits, a software-as-a-service platform.

Quiñonez holds a B.A. in political science and M.P.A. in public administration from the University of San Francisco.

Jennifer Barrera took over as president and chief executive officer of the California Chamber of Commerce on October 1, 2021.She has been part of the CalChamber team since 2010 and stepped into the top position after serving as CalChamber executive vice president, overseeing the development and implementation of policy and strategy for the organization, as well as representing the CalChamber on legal reform issues.

Barrera is well-known for her success rate with the CalChamber’s annual list of job killer legislation, efforts to reform the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) and leadership working with employers on critical issues, including most recently those arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition, she advises the business compliance activities of the CalChamber on interpreting changes in employment law.

She led CalChamber advocacy on labor and employment and taxation from September 2010 through the end of 2017. As senior policy advocate in 2017, Barrera worked with the executive vice president in developing policy strategy. She was named senior vice president, policy, for 2018 and promoted to executive vice president on January 1, 2019.

From May 2003 until joining the CalChamber staff, she worked at a statewide law firm that specializes in labor/employment defense, now Carothers, DiSane & Freudenberger, LLP. She represented employers in both state and federal court on a variety of issues, including wage and hour disputes, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, and wrongful termination.

She also advised both small and large businesses on compliance issues, presented seminars on various employment-related topics, and regularly authored articles in human resources publications.

Barrera earned a B.A. in English from California State University, Bakersfield, and a J.D. with high honors from California Western School of Law

Andrew Baldonado is vice president of State Public Affairs at Southern California Edison, one of the nation’s largest electric utilities. He leads SCE’s state relations, overseeing the team in Sacramento, providing governmental and political insights and supporting the company’s business strategies. He is responsible for strategic engagement on key legislative and regulatory matters; building and maintaining relationships with policymakers, staff and stakeholders and developing strategies to advocate the company’s position on critical state matters and successfully shape the outcomes of SCE’s public policy priorities. He also directs political engagement and represents the company in several business and political organizations.

Before joining SCE in 2019, Baldonado spent 21 years at Anheuser-Busch in various leadership roles, most recently leading the state government affairs team and contract lobbyists in all 50 states. Key issues included sales and marketing, taxation, manufacturing and environmental sustainability. He also was responsible for engagement with state attorneys general and Democratic/Republican governors associations.

Baldonado is actively engaged in the community, currently serving on the boards of the California Museum, California Resilience Challenge and Civil Justice Association of California. He has also previously served on the boards of directors of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute.

Baldonado graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a bachelor’s degree in political science and was selected as a Coro Fellow in Los Angeles.

Tom Bannon is the Chief Executive Officer of the California Apartment Association, the largest statewide trade association in the country for apartment professionals and owners. In his capacity as CEO, Mr. Bannon has general management responsibilities for all components of the Association.

The Association is the recognized and respected apartment industry leader at the State Capitol and in all major metropolitan areas throughout California. Aside from its legislative advocacy, public policy and compliance efforts, CAA provides a myriad of products and services to property owners and managers.

Under Mr. Bannon’s leadership, the Association’s Political Action Committee has become the largest Apartment Political Action Committee in the Country, providing millions of dollars in funds to support candidates and issues important to the apartment industry in the State of California.

Prior to assuming his role at the California Apartment Association, Bannon served as staff director to Congressman Robert Matsui, VP Public Affairs for the California Building Industry Association and the Political Director for the California Association of REALTORS.

Mr. Bannon is a native Californian, and a graduate of the California State University with bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Matthew Hinck is the Vice President of State Government Affairs at CalPortland Company. CalPortland is a construction materials company (Sand, Gravel, Cement, Concrete and Asphalt) doing business in most major markets across the Western United States. Mr. Hinck currently oversees the Government affairs program at the State and Local Level following a long tenure in environmental program management. He also works extensively on sustainability and climate change initiatives within the Company. Matt has been with CalPortland for 20 years and prior to that worked in the forest products industry in Washington State. He is a graduate (BSE – Chemical Engr. and MSE – Environmental Engr.) of the University of Washington in Seattle.

Greg McWilliams was appointed Chief Policy Officer in March 2018. Previously, he served as Regional President- Southern California starting in May 2016. Mr. McWilliams has more than 40 years of experience in real estate, entitlement and policy matters and oversees all public policy initiatives for FivePoint. In his previous role as President of The Newhall Land and Farming Company (which would later become part of FivePoint), Mr. McWilliams managed the entitlement, planning and development for Newhall Ranch and the final phases of Valencia.

Earlier in his career, Mr. McWilliams was an executive at Lennar. His most recent roles included Regional President of Lennar Urban Communities in California and President of Lennar Communities in the Bay Area, where he managed complex development projects.

Mr. McWilliams serves as Chairman of the Southern California Association of Governments’ Global Land Use/Economic Council. He is also on the Executive Board and is a former Chairman of the Southern California Leadership Council, which includes two former California Governors and provides a common voice on major public policies critical to economic vitality, job growth and quality of life in Southern California.

Mr. McWilliams is on the Board of Directors of the California Business Roundtable, California Chamber of Commerce, California Building Industry Association, the Greater Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, Los Angeles Business Council, the Building Industry Association of Southern California and the CORO Foundation. He is also on the Board of Trustees at California Institute of the Arts. He holds a B.A. from the University of Redlands and a law degree from Western State University.

Dan Skopec is senior vice president and chief regulatory officer for the Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), Sempra's regulated California utilities. He is responsible for the company’s engagement with the California Public Utilities Commission and the strategic planning organization. Skopec joined SoCalGas and SDG&E in 2008 as vice president, regulatory affairs after serving as undersecretary at the California Environmental Protection Agency, deputy cabinet secretary under California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and as a legislative aide in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Mr. Walker joined Tejon Ranch in March of 2025 as Chief Operating Officer, before becoming President & CEO on April 1, 2025.

Prior to joining the Company, Walker spent a distinguished 24-year career at Los Angeles-based real estate firm Lowe Enterprises. Walker ended his time at Lowe as Executive Vice President and Shareholder, overseeing the firm’s hospitality and resort community platform. Originally trained as an architect, his extensive real estate experience includes resort and residential development, residential sales and marketing, master planned community entitlement and development, as well as resort value add investment. Walker also brings experience in capital development and joint venture formation. Most importantly, over the course of his career, Walker has cultivated projects which are authentic to their place and create lasting loyalty from residents and guests.

Prior to joining Lowe, Mr. Walker held positions at several architectural firms. Walker earned a Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University and a Master of Business Administration from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.

EDUCATION & ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Mr. Walker received his Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University and his MBA from UCLA. He has taught an MBA real estate development course at UCLA and is a past Chair of the Urban Land Institute Recreation Development Council Blue Flight. Mr. Walker has participated on the Executive Committee of the California Building Industry Association, the CalChamber Board of Directors, the Board of the Southern California Leadership Council and the Board of the California Foundation for Commerce & Education. Mr. Walker has been an Assistant Scoutmaster in Boy Scout Troop 223 of Pacific Palisades, California where he and his wife have raised their four adult children.