Longtime State Exec Karen Johnson Joins Pinnacle Advocacy as Consultant Partner

Karen Johnson, a longtime executive in state government, has moved to the private sector after almost 40 years working in and around the public sector. She’s been named consultant partner at Pinnacle Advocacy LLC, a Sacramento-based firm specializing in government relations, legislative issues and procurement advocacy services.

Johnson most recently served as chief deputy executive officer of Covered California, part of the California Health and Human Services Agency, one of the largest entities in state government. Before that, the Sacramento-area resident was chief deputy director of the Department of Health Care Services. She began her new role in January.

“I came into California state government as a state auditor,” Johnson told Industry Insider — California in an interview, “and as a state auditor, my job was really assisting others with the effective discharge of their responsibilities.” She said she joined Pinnacle for the same reason.

Rob Grossglauser, Pinnacle’s founder, said he was thrilled to have Johnson join the firm.

“Karen is an amazing human, an amazing leader, and she brings a tremendous wealth of knowledge and experience,” Grossglauser told Industry Insider via email. “Most importantly, she embodies our core values and believes in the Pinnacle mission: to advance and advocate for policies and partnerships that result in successful outcomes for our clients and the betterment of all Californians. We’re lucky to have Karen on the team as we continue to partner with our clients to support the state, striving to make California a better place for all its residents.”

“I’m very excited, very motivated,” Johnson said. “I’m very passionate about what I do.”

Industry Insider asked Johnson four questions about her new role and responsibilities. Here are her responses, edited lightly for brevity and clarity.

Industry Insider — California: Please describe your new role with Pinnacle?

Karen Johnson: As a consultant partner at Pinnacle Advocacy, I will draw on my extensive experience in state government operations and strategic leadership to help firms, particularly in the technology sector, navigate complex public policy landscapes. With a deep understanding of California’s government environment, I will guide organizations in aligning their business goals, offering expertise in operations, budgeting, auditing, program integrity, risk management and information technology. A large part of what we do at Pinnacle is assisting clients in enhancing strategic partnerships, and I will support stronger connections between state partners and private-sector organizations, helping to address challenges, and optimize service delivery for more effective outcomes for California residents.

IICA: What’s your previous experience and background?

KJ: With several decades of experience in executive leadership, I have built a comprehensive background in managing financial, budgeting, program integrity, administrative and information technology across multiple high-profile public organizations. Having served in chief operating roles at the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), Covered California, and the California State Board of Equalization, I’ve excelled in strategic planning, risk management, finances, administrative, auditing and information technology. I am an innovator who consistently strives for excellence in delivering services to consumers, using my leadership expertise to drive program development, policy implementation and organizational restructuring. My approach fosters operational efficiency, compliance and sustainable growth, and I am highly skilled in providing consultative and analytical services to guide major initiatives.

In my most recent role as chief deputy executive director of operations at Covered California, the state’s Health Benefit Exchange, I oversaw a $474.4 million department, leading efforts in financial management, IT and administration to enhance operational effectiveness. Prior to this, as chief deputy director at DHCS, I managed $518 million in departmental funds and played a pivotal role in protecting over $100 billion in resources. My career also includes significant contributions at the California State Board of Equalization and the California Department of Food and Agriculture, where I was instrumental in fiscal management, policy development, IT and administration. My diverse experience reflects a steadfast commitment to operational excellence, innovation and effective leadership in public service.

IICA: Who generally are your clients in your new role?

KJ: Given my extensive experience in state of California public service, I will primarily serve Pinnacle Advocacy’s IT clients, leveraging my deep expertise in technology and public-sector operations. Pinnacle’s IT clients include leading firms like Accenture, Amazon Web Services, Celonis, Clutch, Docusign, Gartner, Genesys, Informatica, Okta, ServiceNow, Spectrum, Splunk, TEKsystems, Teradata and Veracode. My background makes me well-equipped to support these organizations, particularly in navigating the intersection of technology, public policy and government affairs.

IICA: What are your top one or two goals or priorities coming into your new role?

KJ: As I start my role at Pinnacle Advocacy, I’m excited to focus on Pinnacle’s mission: to advance and advocate for policies and partnerships that result in successful outcomes for our clients and the betterment of all Californians. Below are a few key goals or priorities to further our mission:

1. Strengthening government private-sector collaboration: Drawing on my extensive experience in state government operations, I aim to enhance the relationship between state agencies and private-sector clients. By facilitating clear communication, aligning with the state’s strategic goals and fostering meaningful collaboration, I plan to ensure that state initiatives and processes are better understood by our client service partners. This approach will help address state challenges more efficiently and improve overall service delivery.
2. Enhancing operational efficiency and compliance: Leveraging my expertise in managing high-level operations, I can assist guiding firms through complex requirements, and ensuring they meet both business goals, particularly in the technology sector.
3. Leveraging advanced technologies to drive innovation and service delivery: A key goal of mine is to also help state organizations leverage advanced technologies like cloud computing, AI and data analytics to transform service delivery. By bringing together strategic partners and state departments, I aim to showcase the art of the possible and introduce innovative solutions that can enhance efficiency, scalability and security. Through this collaboration, we can drive more responsive, innovative and accessible services, while also fostering greater transparency and public trust to meet the evolving demands of citizens.
   

Off the job, Johnson’s passions include her children’s education. She was treasurer of the Parents' Guild at St. Francis High School in Sacramento, which her daughters attended, and she also coached their soccer teams. She also served on a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs advisory committee for the prevention of fraud, waste and abuse.