Last week Governor Gavin Newsom reached an agreement on the legislative version of the 2023-24 state budget and signed it into law. With the signing of the 2023-24 state budget, I want to take this opportunity to introduce our new chief financial officer in the Office of Fiscal Services at DGS, Madelynn McClain. Ms. McClain most recently served as the deputy director of Fiscal Services at the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), where she oversaw both budgets and accounting. Prior to this, she worked for over 20 years in a variety of capacities at the Department of Finance and the Judicial Council, and has an in-depth knowledge of the state’s budgeting, accounting, and legislative processes.

We are excited to welcome Ms. McClain to DGS and look forward to incorporating her expertise in both implementing the 2023-24 budget across our programs as well as shaping future budgets to come!

Ana M. Lasso Director, California Department of General Services

DGS' Office of Risk and Insurance Management Has a New Chief: Kathleen Webb

At DGS we are excited to welcome Kathleen Webb as our new chief of the Office of Risk and Insurance Management. Ms. Webb comes to DGS with extensive state and private sector experience. She most recently served as the chief operating officer at the State Controller’s Office. Previously, she was appointed in July 2019 by Governor Gavin Newsom as chief deputy director of the Department of Motor Vehicles where she had also served as the acting director of the Department of Motor Vehicles since January 2019.

Her public service career since 2006 also includes serving at the Government Operations Agency, the California Public Employee Retirement System, California Correctional Health Care Services, and (making this an official homecoming!) the Department of General Services. In addition to her public service, Ms. Webb also held multiple positions with State Farm Insurance from 1986 to 2006, including agency, claims management and legislative affairs. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Women’s Studies from UC Berkeley as a student-athlete and received a Charter Property & Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) professional designation in 2003. 

The Office of Risk and Insurance Management (ORIM) provides risk management and insurance services to state and other public entities, which includes Government, Motor Vehicle and General Liability Claims management programs. The goal of ORIM is to assist agencies in strategically assessing and managing their risk exposure to losses that result from general operations, employment, motor vehicles, property ownership and risk financing.

Ms. Webb is excited to join team DGS in this capacity which allows her to bring years of insurance and risk management experience as we work to cultivate a risk-intelligent approach to the management of risk that promotes safe and secure work environments through cost-effective practices on behalf of those we serve.

The California Commission on Disability Access seeks to promote disability access in California through dialogue and collaboration with stakeholders, including the disability and business community and all levels of government.

Executive Committee
Date: July 12 from 1:30 – 3 p.m. 

Full commission
Date: July 26 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. 

The meeting notices and agendas can be found on the California Commission on Disability Access website. 

The California Building Standards Commission produces sensible and usable state building standards and administrative regulations that implement or enforce those standards. 

Date: August 1-3
The agenda and meeting details are forthcoming and can be found on the Building Standards Commission website.