GOVERNOR NAMES POLICY ADVISERS FOR HEALTH, ECONOMIC ISSUES, HIGHER EDUCATION

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

August 07, 2008

CONTACT:
(602) 542-1342


PHOENIX – Governor Janet Napolitano has named two policy advisers to her staff. Gina Flores has taken over as the Governor’s Policy Adviser for Health. Since February, Flores has been Director of Family and Community Health for the Governor’s Office of Children, Youth and Families, working on a variety of programs specific to women’s and children’s health. She previously served for approximately three years as the Community Relations Administrator for AHCCCS (Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System) and as an Assistant to the Mayor for the City of Phoenix.

Flores replaces January Contreras, who became the Acting Director of Arizona Department of Health Services. Mariko Silver has been appointed to the job of Policy Adviser for Higher Education, Innovation and Economic Development. Since 2002, Silver has worked in the office of the President of Arizona State University as Director of Strategic Projects and a Senior Research Fellow. She was involved in a variety of projects, including the creation and implementation of AERO (Arizona Economic Resource Organization), and the design of Science Foundation Arizona.

Prior to her work at ASU, Silver was a Technology Policy Specialist at Columbia University and the Manager of Business Development for Quest Media. Silver replaces Darcy Renfro who recently joined the STEM Center as its Executive Director. For more information about the Office of the Governor, please visit http://www.azgovernor.gov.