7th Annual DOFCON - California Department of Finance Policy & Recruitment Conference
7th Annual DOFCON - California Department of Finance Policy & Recruitment Conference

Speaker Bios

Joe Stephenshaw

Joe Stephenshaw

Director, California Department of Finance

Joe Stephenshaw was appointed as Director of the California Department of Finance by Governor Newsom in July of 2022. In this role, he serves as the Governor’s Chief Fiscal Policy Advisor. Prior to his appointment, Stephenshaw served in Governor Newsom’s Office as a Senior Counselor on Infrastructure and Fiscal Affairs.

Stephenshaw was Staff Director for the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee from 2017 to 2022. He held multiple positions in the California Legislature from 2008 to 2017, including serving as a Policy Consultant in the Office of the Senate President pro Tempore, a Special Advisor to the Speaker of the Assembly, and as a Budget Consultant for both the Assembly Budget Committee and the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee. Stephenshaw was a Budget Analyst for the California Department of Finance from 2005 to 2008.

Stephenshaw is a graduate of Menlo College with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He also earned a Master of Business Administration degree from California State University, Sacramento.

Cheryl McCormick

Cheryl McCormick, CPA

Chief of the Office of State Audits and Evaluations

Cheryl McCormick is the Chief of the Office of State Audits and Evaluations within the California Department of Finance. McCormick has been a member of the OSAE team for 27 years – starting as an entry-level auditor. McCormick is responsible for establishing audit policies and procedures and working on many unique and complex financial and performance audits including both governmental and private entities. McCormick is a graduate of California State University, Sacramento with a bachelor’s degree in accountancy. McCormick is also a Certified Public Accountant.

Bio Pic Austin Lange

Austin Lange

Financial and Performance Evaluator III, Office of State Audits and Evaluations

Austin Lange is a Financial and Performance Evaluator III in the Office of State Audits and Evaluations within the California Department of Finance. Lange has been a member of the OSAE team for five years and has led many significant and high-profile audits of state departments, bonds, grants, programs, and local agencies across the state. Lange currently specializes in auditing procurement practices and co-chairs OSAE’s Recruiting Committee. Lange is from the Sacramento area and a graduate of California State University, Sacramento with a master’s degree in accountancy.

Nicole Prisakar

Nicole Prisakar, CPA

Financial and Performance Evaluator III, Office of State Audits and Evaluations

Nicole Prisakar is a Financial and Performance Evaluator III in the Office of State Audits and Evaluations within the California Department of Finance. Prisakar has been a member of the OSAE team for 10 years and is currently a member of the Federal Funds Audit and Monitoring Team. Prisakar currently specializes in auditing procurement practices and co-chairs OSAE’s Recruiting Committee. Prisakar is a graduate of California State University, Sacramento with a bachelor’s degree in accountancy. Prisakar is also a Certified Public Accountant.

David Evans

David Evans

Finance Budget Analyst, Energy, Transportation, Housing, Local Government, and Labor Unit

David Evans is an experienced policy analyst with six years of experience working in the state Executive and Legislative branches. David started his career as an intelligence analyst in the United States Air Force and worked eight years at Beale AFB, Ca. After completing his enlistment, David worked as an Assembly Fellow and Legislative Aide in the California State Assembly. Afterwards, David worked as Associate Governmental Program Analyst at the Department of Social Services. David is now a Finance Budget Analyst at the Department of Finance on the energy assignment. David has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and government from California State University, Sacramento, and master’s degree in public administration from the University of Southern California.

Brandon Merritt

Brandon Merritt

Staff Budget Analyst, Resources, Environment, and Capital Outlay Unit

Brandon completed his Master of Public Policy degree at U.C. Berkeley in 2011 and began his career working for Living Social in Washington, D.C. for a year before returning to California to enter public service. He has served at the city, county, and state level in California for the past 11 years in various budgetary finance roles, including seven years managing lease revenue bond issuances and refinancings. Brandon currently works for the Resources, Environment, and Capital Outlay (RECO) unit overseeing the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) budgetary assignments.

Nathanael Williams

Nathanael Williams, MA

Finance Budget Analyst, Health & Human Services Unit

Nathanael Williams is a Finance Budget Analyst in the Health and Human Services Unit at the California Department of Finance. Williams has been at the Department of Finance since 2022 and currently oversees portions of the Administration’s healthcare-related budget and policy proposals impacting the Department of Health Care Services and the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission. Before coming to Finance, he previously spent 16 years working in the private sector in the financial organization of a Fortune 500 company. Williams is a graduate of Kansas State University with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and a master’s degree in speech communication.

Nicole Sheley

Nicole Sheley (Moderator)

Staff Services Manager II, Recruitment, Retention and Employee Development Team

Nicole Sheley is a Staff Services Manager II within the Recruitment, Retention and Employee Development team at the Department of Finance. In this role, Nicole oversees various programs and initiatives in training, talent acquisition and employee retention and experience. Nicole has an extensive background in organizational development, training, and workforce planning, and has served in various roles within several state departments. Before coming to Finance, Nicole served as Workforce Development Manager at the Air Resources Board, where she oversaw several programs including learning and development, onboarding, career development and mentorship. Prior to that role, Nicole also served as a Training Manager at the State Controller’s Office, where she oversaw the development of a statewide e-learning program specifically designed for human resources professionals. Nicole is a graduate of California State University, Sacramento with a bachelor’s degree in communication studies.

Josh Stewart

Josh Stewart, MA (Moderator)

Training Manager, Learning and Development Unit

Josh Stewart is a Training Manager in the Learning and Development Unit (LDU) at the California Department of Finance. Stewart has been at the Department of Finance since March 2023 and currently oversees the implementation of the department’s Learning Management System, serves on the DOFCON Committee as Vice Chair, and collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to revamp the LDU for the hybrid work environment. Prior to coming to Finance, he worked at the Department of Health Care Services as a Trainer and in Recruiting at various tech firms in Silicon Valley and San Francisco. Stewart is a graduate of California State University, Chico with a bachelors and master’s degree in political science with an emphasis on Public Policy and Administration.