Executive Director and Co-founder, Utility Consumers' Action Network (UCAN) a non-profit consumer watchdog group made up of 31,000 San Diego households and small businesses. Represents the interests of San Diegans in energy, telecommunication and Internet matters before the state and federal regulatory bodies. Also serves as an expert witness and attorney on behalf of UCAN and an adjunct professor at University of San Diego School of Business. Authored the recent someday-to-become-a-best-seller: "Secrets of the World's Greatest Consumer: Essential Consumer Tools for the 21st Century ", a 300+ page slightly irreverent guide to new tools and strategies used by consumers in dealing with most retailers.
Academic Background
o Admitted to California and Federal Bar (1983)
o Graduate of UCLA (1978, B.A. Public Administration) and University of San Diego School of Law (1982, Juris Doctor)
Recent Activities
o Board Member - California Public Interest Energy Research Oversight Board (2007-present). Appointed by the California Energy Commission.
o Adjunct Professor, University of San Diego School of Business. Teaching Corporate Ethics and Business Responsibility to undergraduate and graduate students (1991-2005)
o Member, San Diego Regional Energy Policy Advisory Committee (2002-2003) Appointed by SANDAG.
o Member, California Board on Energy Efficiency Board (1997-2000) Appointed by the Public Utilities Commission.
o Member, Consumer Education Advisory Panel (1997) Appointed by the Public Utilities Commission.
o Member, California Joint Task Force on Privacy (1997-present) Appointed by Senator Steve Peace.
o Member, California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan Oversight Committee. (1992-1995) Appointed by Commissioner John Garamendi
o Member, Chula Vista Environmental Commerce Zone Task Force (1992-1994)
o Member, San Diego City Task Force on Water and Sewer Policy (1992)
o Member, Environmental Health Coalition Board of Directors. (1987-2001)
o Chair, California State Sierra Club Political Committee (1994-1997)
o Member, San Diego County Water Authority Committee on Repurified Water (1991-92)
o Director, Environmental Court Project, University of San Diego. Conducted analysis of City Code Enforcement activities (1989-1990)
o Founder, San Diego Municipal Mediation Office. Office within
City of San Diego City Manager's office that resolves disputes between City and citizens on zoning and city code enforcement matters. (1990)
o Member, Pacific Bell Consumer Advisory Panel (1989-1991)
o Member, Blue Ribbon Panel on San Diego County Water Authority committee
to evaluate utility municipalization. (1989-90)
o Member, San Diego County Public Works Board (1992-1993)
o Graduate of LEAD, San Diego - leadership training program. (1988)
o Coordinator of Environmental and Government seminars (1990-1993)
Other Activities
Author of numerous articles and opinion-editorials on Electric, Telephone, Cable and Insurance regulation.
Expert Witness on utility-related issues before the California Senate and Assembly oversight committees and Public Utilities Commission. Has testified on the electric, telephone, insurance and other regulatory issues.
Owner, Cleaner By Nature. First environmental dry cleaning retail stores in California and second in the United States. Uses no toxic chemicals in cleaning clothes. Located in Santa Monica, Brentwood & Encino.
Relevant Published Books and Articles
- Gruminations of the World's Greatest Consumer, (World's Greatest Publishing Co., 2007)
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"Secrets of the World's Greatest Consumer: Essential Consumer Tools for the 21st Century " (World's Greatest Publishing Co., 2005)
- "Electricity Deregulation: Lessons Learned From California" (coauthored with Professor P. Navarro), Energy Law Journal, 2003 Vol. 2
- “Preserving Consumer Protection and Education in a Deregulated Electric Services Industry”, Who Benefits From Privatization, Hossain & Malbon, eds. (Routledge, 1998)
- "Electric Utility Deregulation Sparks Controversy ", Harvard Business Review, May-June 1996
- "Consumer Principles for Electric Utility Reform", in Electric Utilities Moving into the 21st Century, Enholm & Malko, eds. PUR Inc. (1994)
Recent Published Profiles
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October, 2007, Public Utilities Fortnightly - People in Power: A Consuming Passion
February 22, 2005, San Diego Union-Tribune - For_the_people .htm
