Bios

Jim Earp – Executive Director

Jim Earp was hired in 1998 as Executive Director of the California Alliance for Jobs. Under his leadership, the Alliance has become a strong advocate for transportation investment, solving the state’s housing shortage, meeting California’s water needs and other issues that impact California’s economy and the construction industry.

The California Alliance for Jobs has particularly become a political force for increasing investment in California’s transportation and water infrastructure. The Alliance was a leading supporter in the successful 2002 campaign to pass Proposition 42, which dedicated state sales taxes on gasoline to transportation projects.

In 2006, the Alliance launched an initiative campaign to increase protection for Prop. 42 funding. At the same time, Earp worked closely with the Governor and Democratic legislative leaders to craft the historic bipartisan legislation that became Propositions 1A through 1E, which created $37 billion in infrastructure bonds and dedicated $1.5 billion a year in gasoline sales tax revenue to transportation. Earp subsequently chaired the Yes on 1A-1E campaign, which was successful in passing all five measures in November 2006.

In February 2007, Earp received a gubernatorial appointment from Governor Schwarzenneger to serve on the California Transportation Commission, the agency responsible for overseeing and allocating funding for the state’s transportation program. He was elected to serve as chair in February 2010. In March 2011, Earp was reappointed to the CTC by Governor Jerry Brown.

In 2008, Jim also chaired the Prop. 1A High Speed Rail Bond campaign, which was successful in passing a $9.9 billion bond measure to help fund the initial stages of the nation’s first true high-speed rail system from Southern California to the Bay Area.

In 2009-2010, the Alliance played a key role in crafting an $11 billion bond measure to improve state and regional water infrastructure. The measure is slated for the November 2012 ballot. At the local level, the Alliance was the largest supporter of San Francisco’s $1.3 billion bond measure in 2002 to revamp its Hetch-Hetchy water system. In 2004, Earp led the successful campaign to approve an advisory measure to expand the Los Vaqueros reservoir in Contra Costa County.

Under Earp’s leadership, the California Alliance for Jobs has also played a critical role in helping to pass more than $15 billion in transportation funding measures for Northern California counties and regions.

Prior to 1998, Jim was employed by the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 3, where he served as Political and Public Affairs Director. He was also managing editor of Engineers News, the most award-winning building trades publication in the United States.

Jim lives in Roseville, CA with Susan, his wife of 38 years. They have four children and (to date) eight grandchildren.

Michael Quigley – Manager, Government and Environmental Affairs

Michael Quigley joined the California Alliance for Jobs in 2008 as Manager of Government and Environmental Affairs. Born in Boston, raised in Wisconsin and educated at Texas A&M University, Michael began his career working in the construction industry before eventually moving into campaign politics.

After hanging up his tool belt, Michael combined both skill sets in order to lobby and consult for the local Wisconsin State Building Trades Council. He has worked as an advocate on land use, environmental, public works procurement and workforce development issues. Today, Michael’s issue areas include environmental regulation, high speed rail and infrastructure project advocacy.

Andrew Fields – Director, Bay Area Government Affairs and Water Policy

Since 2008, Andy Fields has worked on water infrastructure issues and government relations for the Alliance. He brings a wealth of political experience having worked on several U.S. Senate campaigns, which includes spearheading a successful campaign in 2006 for U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri.

Fields graduated from the University of South Carolina with degrees in Journalism and English before receiving his Masters of Public Policy degree from Georgetown University. In his spare time Fields enjoys writing, producing web videos, constructing and running through obstacle courses, camping, swimming, and training and competing in triathlons (which allows him to eat everything in sight.)

John Frith – Director of Communications

John Frith joined the Alliance staff in 2013 after more than a 10 years of communications leadership at California construction industry trade associations. He is also one of just 2 percent of public relations practitioners nationwide to have earned the Accredited in Public Relations designation from the Public Relations Society of America.

Frith graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in journalism and began his career as a reporter and editor before becoming a congressional press secretary and later a state public affairs director. He lives in Folsom with his wife, Sandy, and loves golf, bike riding and the occasional good cigar.

Susan Stevens – Office Manager and Executive Assistant

Susan has been the Office Manager and Executive Assistant at the Alliance since moving to California in 2000. In addition to providing administrative support to the Executive Director and liaison to the Board of Directors, she is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the organization. She has a background in medicine and holds a nursing degree and received her education at Mercy School of Nursing, Drake University and Mankato State University. She also owns a pizzeria in Rio Vista, CA where she resides with her husband, Dwayne. They have 2 grown children and 2 grandchildren and enjoy traveling with them whenever there is time.