Brian McGowan is California's deputy secretary for economic development and Commerce. He was appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in December 2007, and began serving in January as the secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing, ex-officio voting member. Before his appointment, McGowan was the economic development agency administrator for San Bernardino County, economic development manager for Ontario for five years and economic development coordinator for Palm Springs for six years.

McGowan has also championed local international initiatives in government. He created the Palm Springs Foreign Trade Zone and led a series of trade missions to China for both Ontario and San Bernardino County. He also helped build trade ties with Mexico and assisted Bulgaria and Serbia in creating economic development programs through the United States Agency for International Development.

McGowan discussed his newest role and fielded general questions on the state's economy with Real Estate Southern California editor and West Coast Bureau Chief of GlobeSt.com Don Jergler. (For the shorter magazine version of the interview, see the September issue of Real Estate Southern California)

GlobeSt.com:With the economy and real estate in a bad spot, is California currently still a good place for investment?