Diana Rudé joined CCST as Policy Consultant in 2008. She also serves as Director of Public Relations and Outreach for the Sacramento-based International Association of Nanotechnology. In addition, she operates Bina Consulting, a consulting business specializing in economic and community development and legislative policy advocacy and research.

Diana was formerly employed with the California Legislature from April 1985 to January 2005, including 19 years as a legislative policy consultant. Her most recent position in the Legislature was as Principal Assistant for the former Assembly Majority Leader Marco Antonio Firebaugh.

While serving the Legislature, Ms. Rude's policy focus was in areas of economic and business development, international trade, new and emerging technology, workforce training, education, public procurement and regulatory reform. Diana has developed several successful legislative measures in a variety of policy areas including, but not limited to, telecommunications and information technology, workforce training, K-12 and higher education, and economic and business development.

In addition, she has been instrumental in coalition building and resource identification leading to successfully bringing major community development projects to fruition. These community development projects included a multimedia academy (the Community Technology and Education Center (CTEC), in Cypress Park, California; and the Van de Kamp Satellite campus of Los Angeles City College in Atwater, California.

Diana has received legislative awards for her work from both the United Minority Business Entrepreneurs (1994) and the Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Network (1994).

Her prior work experience includes 15 years in public administration arenas in both New York State and California. She holds an Associates Degree in Liberal Studies from Jamestown Community College, Jamestown, New York and a Bachelor's Degree in Communications Studies from California State University, Sacramento, California.