California Groundbreakers

** This podcast was recorded on November 18, 2019** Our final “Policy and a Pint” of 2019 is with a former farm boy from the Central Valley who is now Gavin Newsom’s go-to guy for advice on California ‘s economy and business affairs, and also chair of the state’s High Speed Rail project. Lenny Mendonca grew up milking cows on his family’s farm in Turlock, but he was the first one in his family to go to college -- Harvard University -- where he became student body president. A Stanford MBA, a partnership at management consulting mega-firm McKinsey, and advising roles at California startups and nonprofits gave him such an impressive resume that Governor Newsom tapped Mendonca to be his Chief Economic and Business Advisor, the director of the state’s Office of Business and Economic Development (also known as GO-Biz), and, last but not least, the chair of California’s High Speed Rail Commission. Those are a lot of responsibilities, but Mendonca is taking them on — his mission now is to make Inland Califor