SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom on Nov. 9 and Nov. 12, announced the appointment of Abigail D. Ortega, 40, of Long Beach and Robert Tagorda, 44, of Los Angeles, respectively.
Ortega has been appointed to the Board of Behavioral Sciences. Ortega has been a licensed clinical social worker at Love Listen and Play, a psychotherapy private practice, since 2016. Ortega was a licensed clinical social worker at the Wilmington Community Clinic from 2016 to 2021 and at Counseling4Kids from 2017 to 2020. She was a medical social worker at the Children’s Clinic from 2014 to 2015. Ortega held several positions at Children’s Institute Inc. from 2011 to 2014, including therapist II and clinical domestic violence team lead. She was a psychiatric social worker at the Child Center of New York from 2010 to 2011. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Ortega is a Democrat.
Robert Tagorda has been appointed to the California Cradle-to-Career Data System Governing Board. Tagorda has been founder and CEO of Revival Strategy Consulting since 2021. He held several positions at Long Beach Unified School District from 2006 to 2021, including executive director of equity, access and college & career readiness, program administrator in the office of the superintendent and assistant to the superintendent. Tagorda held several positions at MAXIMUS from 2000 to 2004, including manager and research consultant. He earned a master of public policy degree with a concentration in business and government from the Harvard Kennedy School. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Tagorda is registered without party preference.