FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 9, 2015
Contact: Matti Miranda, mmiranda@newleaderscouncil.org, (202) 885-9234
NEW LEADERS COUNCIL ANNOUNCES FIONA MA, MEMBER OF CA STATE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION, AS HONORARY NATIONAL CO-CHAIR
Washington D.C. – New Leaders Council announces State Board of Equalization (SBOE), Board Member and former Speaker Pro Tempore of the California State Assembly Fiona Ma as a National Honorary Co-Chair. It is an honor to have Fiona Ma become such an integral part of NLC as NLC continues to build the bench of progressive leaders in government and across all other sectors.
Fiona Ma has been a dedicated public servant since 1995. As Majority Whip in the State Assembly, she marshaled votes to ensure the passage of legislation that affected public education, expanded healthcare access, and set in place environmental protections. As Speaker pro Tempore, she authored landmark, first in the nation legislation to ban the sale, manufacturing, and distribution of toys and child care products made with phthalates intended to be used by children under the age of three. Ma also authored legislation to expand the use of elective vehicle charging stations in California, she authored several bills to expand protections for victims of domestic violence, and she created the statewide standards for the regulation of persons engaged in the business of tattooing, body piercing and the application of permanent cosmetics in California.
Ma has been a supporter of NLC for years, serving closely to support NLC San Francisco. It’s an honor to have Ma team up with us as National Honorary Co-Chair.
“I am pleased to once again join NLC as National Honorary Co-Chair,” stated Board Member Ma. “I was the Honorary Chair for the San Francisco Chapter of NLC, as it paved the way for all other chapters across the United States. Today, NLC has over 3,000 fellows that it has helped prepare and empower to assume the roles of leaders and entrepreneurs. I look forward to lending my experience to continue to foster the dynamic and progressive leaders of tomorrow.”
“Fiona has been a dear friend of mine for years and I have seen first-hand the passion and talent that she brings to public service. It's could not be more excited to have her join us as Honorary National Co-Chair and work along her side.” Chris Kelly, New Leaders Council Chairman
About NLC
New Leaders Council is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit leadership development organization whose mission is to recruit, train and promote the next generation of progressive leaders. NLC operates a one weekend a month, five month training institute which focuses on training these next leaders in entrepreneurship, fundraising/finance, communications/new technology, political/business/non-profit management, and policy issues (local and national). NLC operates the institute in 44 communities nationwide with over 3,000 alumni that have come through its ranks since 2006. Many of our alumni have gone on to run for public office, start innovative businesses and run non-profits.
About Hon. Fiona Ma
Fiona Ma was elected in November 2014 to represent the State Board of Equalization’s Second District. Ma was previously elected to represent the residents of California's 12th Assembly District from December 2006 to November 2012 and served as the first Asian woman Assembly Speaker pro Tempore since 1850.
Ma first became interested in politics while a small business owner and a Certified Public Accountant who advocated on behalf of other small businesses. She was an elected delegate to the White House Conference on Small Business under President Bill Clinton.
In 2002, she was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, where she served for four years until 2006.
Ma received her B.S. from the Rochester Institute of Technology (NY), her M.S. in Taxation from Golden Gate University (SF), and an MBA from Pepperdine University. She has been licensed in California as a Certified Public Accountant since 1992.
###