Three Social Workers Appointed by Governor Newsom

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:

Mark Bontrager, 50, of Napa, has been appointed to the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission. Bontrager has been Behavioral Health Administrator for the Partnership HealthPlan of California since 2021. He was Director of Regulatory Affairs and Program Development for the Partnership HealthPlan of California from 2018 to 2021 and Executive Director of Aldea Children and Family Services from 2007 to 2018, where he was Deputy Director from 2005 to 2007. Bontrager was an Attorney in private practice from 2002 to 2006 and held multiple positions at the Villages of Indiana Inc. from 1996 to 2003, including Program Manager, Therapist and Social Worker. Bontrager is vice chair of the Napa County Workforce Investment Board. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Indiana University School of Law and a Master of Social Work degree from the Indiana University School of Social Work. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Bontrager is registered without party preference.

Alfred Rowlett, 62, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission. Rowlett has been Chief Executive Officer of Turning Point Community Programs since 2014. He was part-time Faculty for the California State University, Sacramento Division of Social Work from 2011 to 2013. Rowlett is a member of the National Association of Social Workers. He earned a Master of Social Work degree from California State University, Sacramento and a Master of Business Administration degree in Health Services Management from Golden Gate University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Rowlett is registered without party preference.

Abigail D. Ortega, 40, of Long Beach, 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.

View the additional appointments and full press release here.