Advisory Council

The Council is comprised of representatives of consumers, public members, and representatives from the upholstered furniture, bedding and thermal insulation industries. The Council will serve as an invaluable resource to the Bureau in fulfilling its consumer protection mandate.

Council Membership

• Pascal Benyamini (Public)
  Mr. Benyamini is an attorney and partner at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, a national and full-service law firm and is a resident in the firm's Los Angeles office. Since October 2009, Mr. Benyamini has served on the Board of Directors for the California Furniture Manufacturers Association, and since July 2015, he has served on the Board of Directors for the Los Angeles Chapter of the National Tooling and Machining Association. Mr. Benyamini received his Juris Doctorate from the University of California, Davis School of Law.
• Burt Grimes (Industry – HFTI Manufacturer)
  Mr. Grimes started his company, Pacific West Furniture Manufacturing, in 1979 and continues to successfully grow his business, including acquisition of Royal Mattress Manufacturing in 2010. Mr. Grimes currently serves on the Board of Directors of the California Furniture Manufacturers Association, and has also served as president. Mr. Grimes holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Northern Colorado.
• Tom Keepers (Industry – Service Contract Industry Council)
  As Executive Director of the Service Contract Industry Council (SCIC), Mr. Keepers is accountable for the advocacy and insight services delivered to the membership at the federal and state levels. SCIC advances their members’ agenda by assuring viable markets for the products that balance the interests of providers and consumers alike. Prior to this role, he successfully led the Consumer Credit Industry Association for almost seven years and spent more than two and a half decades in industry successfully leading almost every facet of the member product suite. Tom holds a BA in Mathematics and an MBA, and earned the PMP, CLU and Series 7 designations
• Sara Oakley (Industry – Household Movers)
  Sara Oakley works directly with the Co-Presidents of Atlas Transfer & Storage Co. and Oakley Relocation LLC (“family business”) to implement strategic initiatives and risk mitigation programs for their family-owned and operated moving and storage business. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from University of California, Los Angeles, her career started outside of the family business with a political consulting firm in Los Angeles.
  
  Recent work experience includes augmenting the safety and compliance program; human resources development and management; marketing, social media and SEO management; and business development. Industry affiliates include participating on the Allied Van Lines Safety Committee and the Executive Committee of the Vanliner Captive Insurance group. Ms. Oakley represents Oakley Relocation LLC with the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council West (WBEC-West), and she also participated in the Goldman Sachs 10KSB Certificate of Entrepreneurship Program.
• Dan Rhodes (Industry – EAR Ignition Interlock Device)
  In his 20+ years in the DUI Industry, Dan Rhodes has launched, expanded, and co-founded a variety of successful ventures both in the US and Canada, primarily in the Ignition Interlock, Probationary Monitoring, and Evidentiary Testing industries, aimed at the effort of reducing DUIs.
  
  Mr. Rhodes is also a BAIID and DUI Policy Expert and was the Legislative and Public Policy Chair for the MADD Arizona Operations Council 06-12, assisting and guiding in the creation of some of the highest regarded and effective DUI Legislation in the Country today. Dan and Amy, his wife of 12 years currently reside in San Marcos, CA with their two children Dillan (9) and Lucianna (5).
• Toby Taylor (Industry – EAR Ignition Interlock Device)
  Mr. Taylor is the Vice President of Regulatory Compliance for Smart Start, a world-wide leader in breath alcohol testing and monitoring. His career began as a municipal police officer and he has spent the last 27 years in the breath alcohol testing/public safety field. He has worked in both the public and private sectors and created a national not for profit association providing sustained education and training programs to governmental entities who manage statewide breath alcohol testing programs. Mr. Taylor holds a Master of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice Administration.
• Steve Weitekamp (Industry – Household Movers)
  Mr. Weitekamp has been involved with the moving and storage industry since 1980. He has held several leadership positions and has served as President of the California Moving and Storage Association since 2006. He is also engaged with national and international moving and storage issues and serves as a member of the board of directors for the American Moving and Storage Association.

Council Responsibilities

The Council's primary responsibilities include:

• Providing perspective and advice on consumer and market issues
• Researching and recommending creative solutions to consumer and industry problems
• Advising the Bureau on outreach efforts to consumers, the general public, licensees, and industry
• Providing information and comments to the Bureau Chief on a broad range of policy issues including consumer education, industry outreach, and regulatory compliance.

Point of Contact

For questions regarding the advisory council, please contact (916) 999-2041.