The California Life Sciences Association (CLSA) has announced a new hire and several staff promotions in its advocacy team, further bolstering the organization’s government relations and communications efforts at the federal, state and local levels on behalf of California’s world-leading life sciences sector. CLSA is the nation’s largest statewide life sciences public policy and business solutions organization representing more than 750 of California’s life sciences innovators.

Michael Bolden has been appointed senior director of State Government Relations. Based in CLSA’s Sacramento office, Bolden will conduct strategic lobbying activities to support and advance the organization’s state advocacy priorities. Bolden comes to CLSA after nearly five years with the California State Council of the Service Employees International Union as a Government Relations Advocate, one and a half years with the California State Senate as an Executive Principal Consultant (Public Employment and Retirement Committee) and nearly four years as the Political and Legislative Advocate for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO.

In addition, CLSA also announced several promotions within the organization’s advocacy team.

Jenny Carey has been promoted to vice president of Federal Government Relations and Alliance Development from her position as director of Federal Government Relations and Alliance Development. Carey’s expanded duties include management and direction of CLSA’s federal government relations activities in Washington DC, including continued advocacy leadership with California’s congressional delegation, member organizations and stakeholder partners.

Reese Isbell has been promoted to director of Local Government & Community Relations from his position as associate director, Government Affairs. In his new role and based out of CLSA's South San Francisco office, Isbell is responsible for the management of CLSA’s local-level community engagement, advocacy and government relations activities throughout the state.

Will Zasadny has been promoted to associate director, Communications from his position as Manager of Communications. Zasadny’s expanded duties include oversight of all CLSA media and public relations interactions, including serving as CLSA’s media spokesman and directing the day-to-day activities related to media relations and public policy communications strategy.

“Michael Bolden is an exceptional addition to the California Life Sciences Association team. His experience at the Service Employees International Union, the California State Senate and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees will further strengthen CLSA's influential advocacy and outreach activities with our legislature and the Administration in Sacramento,” said Todd Gillenwater, executive vice president for Advocacy and External Relations, California Life Sciences Association (CLSA). “I’m delighted to also announce the well-deserved promotions of Jenny Carey, Reese Isbell and Will Zasadny on our advocacy team. With the efforts of our experienced staff, CLSA will continue to drive solution-oriented public policy development and advocacy activities at the federal, state and local levels to sustain and support life sciences research, investment and innovation in California.”