MR. STEPHEN RHOADS is a Principal Consultant for Strategic Education Services (SES), a Sacramento-based government relations and policy consulting firm.

Mr. Rhoads joins SES after thirty years of extensive experience in education and energy policy. His distinguished record of public service is a valuable asset to SES, having served in the following capacities: Most recently Mr. Rhoads was the Executive Director of the California Energy Commission, from 1995 to 1998. He also served in this capacity from 1986 to 1992. Prior to 1995 Mr. Rhoads was the Undersecretary to the Governor's Office of Child Development and Education under the Wilson Administration for three years.

Mr. Rhoads has also served many years in the Legislature. During 1995 he was the Chief Consultant to Republican Assembly Member James Brulte. He was the Budget Staff Director for the Minority Ways and Means Committee from 1981 to 1986 and was the Deputy Director for the Assembly Republican Caucus from 1979 to 1981. From 1976 to 1979 Mr. Rhoads served as the School Finance Expert for the Legislative Budget Committee of the Legislative Analyst's Office. He was also the chief witness for the Western Center on Law and Poverty on the Serrano v. Priest court case.

Earlier in his career Mr. Rhoads was the Assistant Specialist for the Program in International Education Policy of UC Berkeley's School of Education, and he worked as a Consultant to the Tunisian Minister of Planning. He was a School Finance Consultant to the California Senate Select Committee on School Finance; the New York State Commission on the Quality, Cost and Financing of Elementary and Secondary Education; Citizens Commission on Maryland Government; Oakland Public Schools; and the Urban Coalition.

Mr. Rhoads earned a Master of Business Administration, Operations Management, from the University of California at Berkeley and his Bachelor of Engineering Science, Operations Research, from Johns Hopkins University.

email: srhoads@strategicadvocates.com