Beyond the Badge, California Correctional Training and Rehabilitation Authority

CALPIA General Manager Bill Davidson retires

January 6, 2026

CALPIA General Manager Bill Davidson holds his retirement plaque alongside CDCR Secretary Jeff Macomber.

The California Prison Industry Authority (CALPIA) said goodbye to General Manager Bill Davidson on Dec. 30, 2025. Davidson retired after serving the State of California for more than 26 years.

His leadership has transformed prison rehabilitation and meaningful job training for thousands of incarcerated individuals.

Davidson started his career with the State of California on July 1, 1999. He was hired as an Accountant Trainee through the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). He served much of his career at the DMV climbing the ranks to Chief Budget Officer, Deputy Director of Field Operations, Chief Deputy Director and Acting Director. During his time at the DMV, Davidson served on the California Prison Industry Board from 2011-2019. He was appointed as the designee by the Transportation Agency Secretary.

Davidson also served as the Deputy Secretary for Administration and Finance at the California State Transportation Agency.

From DMV to CALPIA

Davidson then left the DMV to become the Chief Financial Officer for CALPIA in 2019. Then, two years later, he was appointed by the Prison Industry Board to serve as CALPIA’s General Manager and Executive Officer for the Board.

As CALPIA’s General Manager, Davidson oversaw more than 100 enterprises and programs at 31 state prisons. He led an organization of 1,200 employees in addition to more than 5,800 incarcerated individuals who earn industry accredited certifications so they can return to their communities with employment opportunities.

Under his leadership, incarcerated individuals are now able to connect with employers and secure job offers before leaving prison through the Entry to Employment (E2E) network. Davidson has said the E2E network is a game changer for incarcerated individuals to land jobs before leaving prison.

Study shows CALPIA works

Under Davidson’s leadership, CALPIA completed a thorough multi-year recidivism study with the University of California, Irvine. The study found that CALPIA participants have a 15 percent return to custody rate after three years, which means 85 percent of all CALPIA participants do not return to prison.

As the General Manager, Davidson supported the expansion of CALPIA’s Healthcare Facilities Maintenance (HFM) program which created an additional 100 incarcerated positions.

Davidson was also instrumental in a multi-year effort to implement a new business software application, Sage X3, replacing the agency’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) tool at all locations.

Davidson’s biggest legacy will most likely be CALPIA’s name change. Davidson has been a proponent of changing the name of The California Prison Industry Authority (CALPIA) to the California Correctional Training and Rehabilitation Authority (CALCTRA) which took place on Jan. 1, 2026.

Davidson has said the name “prison industry” does not accurately reflect the vital rehabilitative and job training work that is the core mission of the agency. Frequently, those not familiar with CALPIA that hear the agency name for the first time have no indication that the organization provides essential job training and other rehabilitative services to incarcerated individuals.

Davidson has said to reflect its mission, purpose, and focus on successful reentry more accurately, CALPIA proposed to change its name to CALCTRA.

Suzie Changus named acting director of CALCTRA

Acting Director Suzie Changus speaking at a board meeting alongside Bill Davidson, retiring general manager. — *Suzie Changus, speaking at a recent Prison Industry Board Meeting, becomes CALCTRA’s (formerly CALPIA) acting Director.*

With a new name, CALCTRA has a new Acting Director, Suzie Changus. Prior to this role, Changus served as the Chief Deputy Director for CALCTRA (formerly CALPIA).

Changus had more than two decades of experience in the private and nonprofit sectors prior to joining the agency in 2018. Her background consists of roles in vocational education and retraining, technology, project management, government policy and finance, and healthcare.

Changus is excited to focus on CALCTRA’s mission to provide incarcerated individuals with life-changing career development opportunities so they may be productive, successful contributors when they return to their communities.

Story by Michele Kane, CALCTRA Deputy Director, External Affairs

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