Board Members
Bradley Benbrook
Bradley is an attorney at Stevens & O'Connell LLP, a litigation law firm specializing in complex civil litigation and business crimes investigations. Bradley handles a variety of disputes, primarily in the administrative and civil contexts, in a variety of subject areas, including real estate, insurance, securities, health care, trust and estates, disputes among partners, and traditional commercial and breach of contract matters. He has handled a number of civil suits under the California Political Reform Act. Bradley regularly serves as a settlement judge for the Sacramento Superior Court and as a neutral for the voluntary dispute resolution program administered by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California. He served on President Bush’s Judicial Selection Advisory Panel for the Eastern District of California.
After graduating from Boalt Hall, School of Law at U.C. Berkeley in 1993, Bradley served as a judicial clerk for Judge J.L. Edmondson on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in Atlanta, Georgia. Bradley earned an A.B. in Economics from Stanford University in 1990.
Karen Diepenbrock
Karen Diepenbrock's practice at Diepenbrock Harrison emphasizes real property, land use and environmental law. Karen has served as an Arbitrator for the Superior Court of Sacramento since 1988, and currently serves as a Judge Pro Tem. She has held numerous leadership positions with the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, including membership on the Board of Directors, General Counsel in 1992, Vice President of Governmental Relations in 1997, and Vice President of Community Relations in 1998. In 1996, the Chamber recognized her work with the prestigious "Businesswoman of the Year" award. In 1993, she was recognized as the County Bar Association's "Humanitarian of the Year.”
Karen received her B.A. and M.A. in French from the University of California, Berkeley, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. She earned her J.D. from the University of California, Davis, Martin Luther King School of Law in 1979 and received the Order of the Coif.
Hon. Muriel Johnson
In 2005, Muriel Johnson was appointed Director of the California Arts Council by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. A Sacramento resident since 1962, she was elected to the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors in 1992 and reelected in 1996 and 2000. She served as Chair of the Board in 1995, 1999, and 2004. Muriel was elected 2002 President of the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) and served twelve years on the CSAC Board of Directors. She also served as 2002 Chair of the Sacramento Area Council of Governments. For 11 years, she was the Governor's appointee to the Capitol Area Committee. Muriel was the 1998-99 President of the California Elected Women’s Association for Education and Research. Currently, Muriel serves on the Stanford Mansion Foundation, the California State University Sacramento Trust Foundation, and the Crocker Art Museum Architecture Committee.
Muriel is a 1996 graduate of Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government, and a graduate of the CORO Foundation's Public Affairs Leadership Training Program. Muriel earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Nebraska. Muriel and her husband, Ernest, have four grown children and ten grandchildren.
John Lambeth
Mr. Lambeth, president of Civitas, is an attorney who specializes in business improvement districts and land use issues. He has extensive experience working with cities, counties and business and property owners on urban project financing. Some of his many notable accomplishments include successful formation of tourism improvement districts in Kona, Hawaii and San Diego, California. Since forming California’s first business improvement district in 1995, he has assisted with the formation of nearly 100 improvement districts, including 30 of California’s 46 tourism improvement districts.
Throughout his career, Mr. Lambeth has extensively studied existing special district laws throughout the United States. He has used this broad knowledge to write laws enabling special districts in California, Nevada and Hawaii. As the needs of his clients have evolved, Mr. Lambeth has remained involved in the legislative process, drafting amendments to update existing business improvement district laws. This intimate knowledge of the law has also allowed Mr. Lambeth to engage in many speaking endeavors, including presenting at California Downtown Association and International Downtown Association conferences. In addition to his speaking engagements, Mr. Lambeth has authored several articles on business improvement districts and tourism improvement districts.
Mr. Lambeth takes a very active role in every aspect of the formation and renewal of special districts. He is an expert at building consensus among disparate owners, ensuring compliance with multiple laws governing improvement districts, undertaking ballot and petition processes, and developing successful service plans and budgets. He has successfully guided cities, counties and owners through the process of forming highly defensible districts meeting the unique needs of each area. He also serves as ongoing legal counsel to business improvement districts, helping them provide services and operate within the boundaries of governing laws.
Mr. Lambeth is and has been involved with many civic and governmental organizations. He has served as Chairman of the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Chair of the Sacramento County Planning Commission and been appointed by two California governors to the position of Chair of the Capitol Area Committee.
Mr. Lambeth studied philosophy and political science at Claremont McKenna College before earning his juris doctor, with distinction, from University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law. Prior to founding his own firm, Mr. Lambeth served as clerk to the Honorable Malcolm M. Lucas, Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court.
Rob Lapsley
Robert Lapsley joined the CalChamber as vice president of public affairs in April 2007. Lapsley is responsible for CalChamber public affairs activities, including its Advocacy Council, a political advisory committee made up of major members; its candidate recruitment and support program; and its political action committees - CalChamberPAC, which supports pro-jobs candidates, and CalBusPAC, which qualifies, supports and/or opposes ballot initiatives. He also serves as the CalChamber executive director of JobsPAC, a broad, employer-based, bipartisan committee that supports pro-jobs candidates.
Lapsley has more than 20 years of experience in public affairs and business, most recently serving as president of RCL Consultants, a firm specializing in business, regulatory, political and public affairs consulting. He also has served as vice president of Arnel Development, where he was responsible for new business projects.
As a presidential appointee, Lapsley served as special assistant to U.S. Ambassador to Spain, George Argyros. While with the U.S. State Department and in addition to his diplomatic duties, Lapsley coordinated strategies with private sector firms and the U.S. Department of Commerce in the Spanish-American and European Union business arenas.
He also was a long-time policy and political aide to former Secretary of State Bill Jones, serving as Undersecretary of State from 1995 to 1998 and from 1999-2001 and managing both of Jones's successful campaigns for that constitutional office.
Lapsley is a graduate fellow of the Coro Foundation and is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He holds a B.S. in biology and political science from Illinois State University.
Craig MacGlashan
Craig is a member of the Sacramento law firm of Nageley, Meredith & Miller, Inc. Prior to joining the firm in 1990, he practiced law in Visalia, California for eleven years with the firm Powell & MacGlashan, Attorneys at Law. Craig was a deputy district attorney with the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office from 1976 until 1979. Craig is currently Chair of the Sacramento County Republican Party. He has been a member or alternate member of the Sacramento County Republican Central Committee since 2005 and is currently President of the Sunrise Area Republicans.
Craig earned a B.A. from Occidental College in 1973 and his J.D. from University of Santa Clara in 1976. He was admitted to the California Bar that same year and to the United States Supreme Court Bar in 1983. He is married to Sacramento County Supervisor Roberta MacGlashan.
Justin Matheson
Known as a jack-of-all-trades in political circles, Justin Matheson brings a comprehensive 10 years of combined fundraising, association, legislative and campaign management experience to AimPoint, Inc.
In addition to his role at AimPoint, Inc., Justin serves as the Executive Director to the California Hospital Association Political Action Committee (CHPAC) where he designed and implemented a yearly fundraising plan – increasing funds raised by 40 percent in two years.
If you’re running for office, Justin brings to the table his extensive experience raising money and an in-depth understanding of the political process. As an account executive for Meridian Pacific, Inc., he has consulted over 10 successful campaigns since 2004. His past political experience also includes being Campaign Manager for Senate Pro Tem Dave Kerr for Kansas Governor, Walt Allen for Assembly, Phil Hawkins for Assembly, and Dick Dickerson for Assembly/Senate.
During the 2000 General Election, he was the Political Director for Senator Jim Brulte. In this capacity he oversaw all Republican Senate Campaign target races for Senate Republican Leadership and coordinated efforts with the Bush/Cheney Campaign.
He has previously served as Chief-of-Staff to Senator Bob Margett, Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia and Assemblyman Dick Dickerson. Justin also is the chairman of the Board for Californians Allied for Patient Protection Political Action Committee (CAPP PAC), is a member of the Financial Development Board for the American Red Cross, and is an Advisory Committee Member of Crime Victims United of California.
Justin resides in Sacramento, California with his wife and AimPoint, Inc. partner Michelle and their son.
Hon. Roger Niello
Roger worked as a Certified Public accountant until he joined his family's business at Niello Auto Group in 1974 and spent the next 25 years running retail automobile dealerships with his family partners.
In 1995, Roger served as the President of the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, and was a member of the Capital Area Political Action Committee. As a member of the community, he was an active volunteer.
Roger was elected to the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors in a special election in February of 1999. As a member of the Board of Supervisors, he served Sacramento County on numerous boards and commissions.
In 2004, Roger was elected to the California State Assembly and was immediately appointed Vice Chair of the Assembly Banking and Finance Committee and also served in positions on the Assembly Budget, and Transportation Committees. In addition, he served for a brief time on the Assembly Public Employees, Retirement and Social Security Committee and the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. In late 2006, Roger was named vice-chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, and served as the key negotiator on budget issues for the Assembly Republican Caucus.
Since being reelected to a third and final term in the Assembly, Niello now serves on the Transportation, Insurance, and Business and Professions Committees as well as the Joint Committee on Emergency Services and Homeland Security and the Select Committee on Foster Care. Additionally he is Vice-Chair of the Assembly Banking and Finance Committee.
Roger and his wife Mary reside in Fair Oaks. They have five adult children and four grandchildren.
Hon. Michelle Orrock
Michelle Orrock lives in East Elk Grove with her family – husband Chris, and sons Jacob and Ben. She is currently the communications director for the National Federation of Independent Business, the nation's largest small business association. She and her husband also own an insurance agency in Elk Grove. Previously, Michelle was the Deputy Secretary for Communications for the Governor’s Office of the Secretary of Education and a field representative for Assemblyman Roger Niello.
Michelle was elected to the Cosumnes Community Services District Board of Directors in 2008 and currently serves as Vice President. She is also the board liaison to the Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce and is active with the California Special Districts Association Legislative and Education Committees. She is a member of Point West Rotary Club.
Michelle has been active in Republican politics since college and is an active member of the Sacramento Republican Women Federated and Elk Grove Republicans. She is a past chapter president and board member for CA Women LEAD, an organization that encourages women to run for elected office and apply for appointments.
In Elk Grove, Michelle and her family are active with the Elk Grove Historical Society, Strauss Festival, Police Activities League, Project RIDE and other community groups.
Valerie Reynoso Piotrowski
Valerie Reynoso Piotrowski is the Divisional Director of Foundations and Development for The Salvation Army. Valerie’s career began as a writer for California Governor George Deukmejian upon completing her education at the University of Southern California and Cosumnes River College. Valerie served the Governor throughout both of his terms and was named Deputy Director of Communications of the State Employment Development Department at age 26, becoming the youngest deputy director in California State Government history. Valerie was named an “Outstanding Young Woman of America” three consecutive years and was noted in McCall’s magazine as an outstanding woman leader.
Following her service in California State Government, Valerie was named Vice President of a local public relations firm, where she directed media campaigns for candidates for local office, professional athletes, nonprofit organizations and local ballot measures. She also served as a corporate advertising manager and social editor for Comstock’s magazine for 10 years. Valerie currently serves on the Mercy Foundation Community Council and will assume the position of President of the National Latina Business Women Association, Sacramento Chapter in July. She and husband John reside in El Dorado Hills and are active in a number of community and charitable endeavors.
Michelle Smira
Michelle Smira, Principal of MMS Strategies, specializes in media relations, coalition building and government affairs. Michelle has served as District Director to United States Congressman Doug Ose and was the spokesperson and public information officer for the City of Elk Grove, the fastest growing City in the nation.
Michelle has over a decade of experience working on outreach and coalition building for large scale development projects such as the Sunrise Douglas Specific Plan, Laguna Ridge Specific Plan, Panhandle, Cordova Hills, and Diamond Dorado Retail Center in El Dorado County. Michelle serves on the El Dorado, Yolo and Sacramento Area Committees of the Building Industry Association and is active on the Land Use and Natural Resources and Transportation Committees of the Metro Chamber of Commerce.
Active in the Point West Rotary, Michelle is on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce and, the Sacramento Valley Lincoln Club. In addition, she is an active member of the Urban Land Institute, the North State BIA, the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, and the Convention and Visitors Bureau.
An alumna of Arizona State University, Michelle currently resides in historic Land Park, Sacramento.
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