January 9, 2003

Secretary Smith, of Davis, is the Acting Secretary for Labor andWorkforce Development Agency. Secretary Hickox, 60, of Sacramento, is the Secretary for the Environmental Protection Agency.

Mr. Ricci, of Glendale, is a founding member, principal and co-owner of Applied Insights, LLC, a software development company that specializes in investment management technology, since 1998. Previously,
he was the Director of Integration Services for Leep Technology, a database software company, and a System Analyst for Deloitte & Touche.

Mr. Ricci is the National Chair of the Muslim Public Affairs Council and a member of the Islamic Center of Southern California. He earned a bachelor of science degree from California State University, Northridge.

The Governor's Small Business Reform Task Force was established by the Small Business Regulatory Reform Act of 2000 to identify problems and ideas from the small business community concerning the regulation, communication and assistance of state government with small business.

The Task Force must prepare and submit a report of its findings to the Governor and the Legislature. It submitted its initial report, Envisioning Small Business Reform, in May, 2001. The report identified the top challenges that California's small business face in the marketplace and in interacting with the state. A second report is targeted for January 2004.

Members do not receive a salary. These positions do not require Senate confirmation.