Today, Governor Roy Cooper announced 63 appointments to various state boards and commissions for North Carolina.
“I’m grateful that these skilled North Carolinians will share their expertise with our state by serving on these key boards and commissions,” said Gov. Cooper.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the North Carolina State Board of Education:
• Jill Camnitz of Greenville as a representative of the 1st Education District. Camnitz is chair of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Coastal Plain Board of Directors. Camnitz also serves on the Parents for Public Schools of Pitt County, Pitt County Educational Foundation and Brody Foundation. She previously served as a member and as chair for the Pitt County Board of Education.
• James E. Ford of Charlotte as a representative of the 6th Education District. Ford is the principal at Filling the Gap Education Consultants, LLC and serves as co-chair for the Leading on Opportunity Council in Charlotte. Ford previously served as the program director at the Public School Forum of North Carolina and was the North Carolina State Teacher of the Year during 2014-2015.
• JB Buxton of Raleigh as a member at-large. Buxton is the founding principal of the Education Innovations Group and has also worked as the deputy state superintendent of the North Carolina Department for Public Instruction. Buxton has served as an appointed member of the Raleigh Planning Commission and as a soccer coach with the Capital Area Soccer League.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Social Services Commission:
• Daniel Ball of Newport as a representative of the 3rd Congressional District. Ball is a substance abuse intensive outpatient program coordinator at PORT Health Services and a health care counselor for Freedom House Recovery. He is a member of the National Association of Social Workers.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the North Carolina Board of Landscape Architects:
• Chris Hilt of Apex as a landscape architect. Hilt is the president of CLH Design and has had a 35-year career as a landscape architect. She was inducted into the National American Society of Landscape Architects Council of Fellows in 2011 for her work in K-12 design.
• Brian Jenest of Davidson as a landscape architect. Jenest is the chair and principal of Design and Planning for ColeJenest & Stone. He also served on the Davidson Board of Commissioners from 2007-2017.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency Board of Directors:
• Pat Garrett of Surf City as a member experienced in subsidized housing management. Garrett retired in 2013 as the president of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Housing Partnership. She serves on the board of directors for Aldersgate Life Plan Community in Charlotte.
• Marc Isaacson of Greensboro as a member experienced in community planning. Isaacson is a partner with the Isaacson, Isaacson, Sheridan, Fountain & Leftwich Firm, focusing on land use and real property law. He serves as chair of the Greensboro Planning Board.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the Rural Infrastructure Authority:
• Jan Hayes of Sanford as a representative of a tier 1 or 2 county. Hayes is the managing partner for Hayes Group Consulting, LLC. She has served as the chair of the Lee County Board of Education and the Lee County Partnership for Children.
• Bill Webb of Ellerbe as a representative of a tier 1 or 2 county. Webb is a Partner at Kitchin, Neal, Webb, Webb & Futrell PA. Webb also served on the North Carolina Local Government Commission.
• Commissioner Jeff Smith of Edenton as a Representative of a tier 1 or 2 county. Smith is the chair of Chowan County Commissioners and president of the Chowan County Farm Bureau. He is a past president of the NC Peanut Growers Board.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the North Carolina Hearing Aid Dealers and Fitters Licensing Board:
• Bruce Le of Concord as a hearing aid specialist. Le is the manager of Practice Optimization for GN ReSound. He previously was a business consultant for Starkey Hearing Technologies.
• Cynthia Marshall of Mars Hill as a hearing aid specialist. Marshall is the Owner and Hearing Aid Specialist for Hearing Connections, Inc. She previously was a hearing aid specialist at Asheville Head, Neck & Ear Surgeons.
• Victoria Brattain of Rocky Mount as a hearing aid specialist. Brattain is the president and audioprosthologist for Down East Hearing Care Associates. Brattain served on the board for the North Carolina Association for Hearing Care Professionals.
• Dr. Brendan O’Connell of Carrboro as a physician. O’Connell is an assistant professor in the Department of Otolaryngology at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. O’Connell also worked as an associate editor for Otolaryngology Case Reports.
• Schquthia Peacock of Durham as a public member. Peacock is a family nurse practitioner and co-owner of Preston Medical Associates. Peacock is also chair of the North Carolina Nurses Association Council of Nurse Practitioners.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the North Carolina Brain Injury Advisory Council:
• Geana Welter of Banner Elk as a survivor of brain injury. After receiving multiple degrees and experiencing success in the theatre, she currently works as an advocate for survivors and families of brain injury.
• Diane Westbrook of Pinehurst as a family member of person with a brain injury. Westbrook worked for over 40 years in the Information Technology field. Westbrook also is an active member of the Women of Weymouth and the vice-president of the board of directors of the Given Library and Tufts Archives.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina State Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators:
• Hal Garland of Greenville as a licensed nursing home administrator. Garland works as an administrator at Macgregor Downs Health and Rehabilitation Center. Garland has served as chair for the Council on Provider Relations in the North Carolina HealthCare Facilities Association.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the North Carolina Interagency Coordinating Council for Children from Birth to Five with Disabilities and Their Families:
• Brandi Hinnant-Crawford of Waynesville as a parent of disabled child Under Age 12. Hinnant-Crawford is an assistant professor of educational research at Western Carolina University. She is chair of the WCU College of Education and Allied Professions Diversity Committee.
• Amanda DeSimone-Shabrack of Apex as a parent of disabled child under Age 6. DeSimone-Shabrack is the owner and life coach of Realize a Better You.
• Thomas McGhee of Rutherfordton as an early intervention representative. McGhee is the director of Shelby Children’s Developmental Services Agency. McGhee served on the Cleveland County Smart Start Board and volunteers with the Cleveland County Pediatric Medical Society.
• Linda Wilson of Morganton as a Head Start representative. Wilson is the director of the Early Head Start Program at the Enola Group. She previously worked for Burke County Public Schools as an Even Start Family Literacy Program coordinator.
• Cynthia Askew of Coffield as a regional provider of early Intervention Services. Askew is a health and disability manager for the Choanoke Area Development Association where she is responsible for the management of mental health services for parents, children, and staff.
• Amy Asplundh of Raleigh as a Parent of Disabled Child Under Age 6. Asplundh previously worked as a clinical social worker with Nathanson Adoption Services. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and is a community advisor for the Durham County Medical Legal Partnership for Children.
• Deborah Day of Chapel Hill as the Division of Social Services-foster care representative. Day works for the North Carolina Division of Social Services where she manages the Community Based Programs team in the Child Welfare Section.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina ABLE Program Board of Trustees:
• Marquita Robertson of Knightdale as a person having experience in investments and finance. Robertson is the executive director for the Collaborative and previously worked as the Financial Education Director for the NC Department of State Treasurer. Robertson is the chair of the NC Financial Literary Council.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the North Carolina Advisory Committee on Cancer Coordination and Control:
• Dr. Daniel Carrizosa of Charlotte as a member at-large. Carrizosa is the section leader of the Head and Neck Research Section at Levine Cancer Institute. He is a member of the NC Oncology Association.
• Dr. Frankie Powell of Lumberton as a member at-large. Powell is a tenured associate professor in the Department of Educational Specialties at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the State Health Plan Board of Trustees:
• Wayne Fish of Maggie Valley as a member at-large. Fish is a correctional food service manager at the Craggy Correction Center. Fish has served as the president of the State Employees Association of North Carolina and as a member of the board of directors for the Association of Correctional Food Service Affiliates.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Human Resources Commission:
• Dekhasta B. Rozier of Raleigh as a member at-large. Rozier focuses on personal injury law at The Becton Law Group, PLLC. Rozier previously worked as a legal assistant for the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin, as a Staff Attorney at NC Prisoner Legal Services, Inc. and as the dean of the School of Continuing Education at Saint Augustine’s University.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the Council for Women:
• Judge Robin W. Robinson of Wilmington as a member at-large. Robinson is currently a District Court Judge for New Hanover and Pender Counties where she presides over family court, DWI, and drug treatment court. She is currently a member of the North Carolina State Bar and is a certified specialist in family law through the State Bar. Robinson is a member of the North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys.
• Emily F. Kirby of Raleigh as a member at-large. Kirby formerly provided legal counsel at Styleseat’s and was their first and only in-house attorney. Previously, she served as a pro bono attorney for KIND (Kids in Need of Defense)
• Dr. Patricia S. Parker of Chapel Hill as a member at-large. Parker chairs the Department of Communication at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 2014, she received UNC-Chapel Hill’s University Diversity Award. She is the founder and executive director of the Ella Baker Women’s Center for Leadership and Community Activism.
• N. Joyce Payne of Rocky Mount as a member at-large. Payne is the senior international affairs & STEAM advisor to the president for the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. In addition, she served as chair on the National Board of Directors for the AARP Foundation and is the founder of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. Payne has been inducted into both the District of Columbia and the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fames.
• Adrienne Spinner of Whitsett as a member at-large. Spinner serves as a social and corporate event planner, the legislative team lead for Moms Demand Action, and the event coordinator for the Guilford Education Alliance.
• Settle Plyler Monroe of Raleigh as a member at-large. Monroe is the owner and writing teacher for middle school students for Raleigh Scribes. Monroe is a monthly column writer for Walter Magazine and serves as a member of the North Carolina Writer’s Network and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Commission on Children with Special Health Care Needs:
• Sirisha Rathnam of Raleigh as a parent of a special needs child. Currently, Rathnam works as a freelance writer for WriterBay. She holds a leading role at Hope Creek Academy, a special needs school, spearheading the grants process and organizing a book fair fundraiser.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the North Carolina Interpreter and Transliterator Licensing Board:
• Jim Sewell of Carolina Beach as an interpreter. Sewell established the Sewell Consulting Group, Inc. to focus on persons with deafness and Special Education in the Public-School System. Sewell previously worked as the personnel director for the NC Division of Services for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing.
• Kevin Earp of Clayton as an Employee of DHHS. Earp is a rehabilitation program specialist for deafness and communicative disorders at the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Public School Forum of North Carolina, Inc.:
• Matthew L. Liles of Raleigh as a member at-large. Liles works as an assistant attorney general for consumer protection related to education for the North Carolina Department of Justice. Liles previously worked as an associate for Cohen, Millstein, Sellers & Toll, PLLC and as a legal honors attorney and attorney advisor at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Clean Water Management Trust Fund:
• Dave Womack of Greenville as a member at-large. Womack is retired chair of Womack Electric Supply. He is currently a member of the Board of Trustees for Vidant Health System. Previously, Womack served as chair for the North Carolina Aquarium Society Board of Trustees, the North Carolina Chapter of the Nature Conservancy and the East Carolina University Foundation Board of Trustees.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the Library Commission:
• Jimi Rider of Hampstead as a member at-large. Rider works as a supervising librarian with the New Hanover County Public Library. Rider is a member of the Azalea Coast Library Association and volunteers with the Topsail Island Longboard Association.
• Barbara Pendry of North Wilkesboro as a member at-large. Pendry retired as a budget analyst for Wilkes County Schools. Pendry serves as the treasurer for the Humane Society of Wilkes and the Rendezvous Mountain Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She has previously served as a treasurer for the Genealogical Society of Wilkes.
• Rachel A. Fuerst of Raleigh as a member at-large. Fuerst is a lawyer for Henson & Fuerst, P.A. Fuerst is involved with the North Carolina Advocates for Justice Nursing Home Section, the Girl Scouts of America, and Disability Rights NC.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Public Librarian Certification Commission:
• Dr. Jon P. Gant of Durham as a dean of School of Library Science. Dean Gant oversees the NCCU School of Library and Information Sciences and is a board member of the Telecommunication Policy Research Conference. He was the founding director for the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Center for Digital Inclusion.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners:
• Dominic Totman of Matthews as a public member. Totman is the founder of Totman Law Office, PLLC. He previously worked as an associate attorney for Adams, Howell, Sizemore & Lenfestey, PA.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the North Carolina Board of Refrigeration Examiners:
• Kimberly P. Haley of Durham as a representative of Division of Public Health of UNC System. Haley currently works as a university industrial hygienist at UNC-CH. She is a member of the American Industrial Hygiene Association and UNC Grievance Panel.
• Dr. Ahmed Cherif Megri of Oak Ridge as a representative of an Engineering School of UNC System. Megri currently works as an associate professor at North Carolina A&T State University. He is a member of the International Code Council and the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Historic Bath Commission:
• Eltha Booth of Washington as a member at-large. Booth is a member of the Beaufort County Board of Education and was awarded All State School Board for 2017-2018. She is a previous member of the National School Board Association Board of Directors. Booth also serves on the Board of New Bern Missionary Baptist Association.
Gov. Cooper has reappointed the following individual to the Bladen Community College Board of Trustees:
• Richard Leinwand of Elizabethtown as a member at-large. Leinwand is the owner/operator of Leinwand’s retail of Elizabethtown and a member of the Elizabethtown Town Council. Leinwand is past chairman of the Bladen County Economic Development Board.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Carteret Community College Board of Trustees:
• Beverly June Fulcher of Atlantic as a member at-large. Fulcher is retired from Atlantic Elementary School. Fulcher also serves as a member of the Carteret County Board of Education and served on the board of directors for the North Carolina School Boards Association.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Central Piedmont Community College Board of Trustees:
• Judy N. Allison of Charlotte as a member at-large. Allison was a senior vice president at First Union Corporation. Currently she serves on the board of directors for the Women’s Impact Fund, the Good Friends Board and is a Trustee Emeritus at Queens University of Charlotte.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Guilford Technical Community College Board of Trustees:
• Kip Blakely of Guilford as a member at-large. Blakely is president of TCDI, a technology company specializing in litigation management, cybersecurity, and forensics. In 2015 and 2016, Blakely was awarded most influential person according to Triad Business Journal. Blakely serves on the High Point University Board of Visitors, the Guilford County’s Workforce Development Board and the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce Operating Committee.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Haywood Community College Board of Trustees:
• Dr. Morgan S. Plemmons of Waynesville as a member at-large. Plemmons is a veterinarian at the Animal Hospital of Waynesville. She currently serves on the board for the Child Enrichment Center at Long’s Chapel United Methodist Church.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Johnston Community College Board of Trustees:
• Judge Robert Bryant of Clayton as a member at-large. Bryant is a District Court Judge for the 11th Judicial District. Bryant previously served as vice chair of the Johnston Community College Board. He is a member of the Greater Smithfield-Selma Area Chamber. He serves as lay leader at Edgerton Memorial United Methodist Church.
Gov. Cooper has reappointed the following individual to the Mayland Community College Board of Trustees:
• Bryan T. Peterson of Burnsville as a member at-large. Peterson works as the Human Resources Manager at Altec Industries. Peterson also chairs the High-Country Workforce Development Board and has served on the Yancey County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Mitchell Community College Board of Trustees:
• David J. Meachem of Statesville as a member at-large. Meachem is interim president & CEO of the Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce. He retired as executive director of the Statesville Housing Authority. He was a senior fellow at the American Leadership Foundation.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Randolph Community College Board of Trustees:
• J. Brooke Schmidly of Asheboro as a member at-large. Schmidly is a partner at Moser, Schmidly & Roose. Schmidly was previously an assistant judge advocate for the United States Air Force Reserves at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina. Schmidly serves as chair of the Asheboro ABC board and is a board member of the North Carolina Center for Civic Education.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Roanoke-Chowan Community College Board of Trustees:
• Commissioner John O. Trent of Lewiston as a member at-large. Trent is a member and past chair of the Bertie County Commission. Trent is managing partner for JBA Property Management, LLC. He serves as chair of the YMCA Board and as a member of the Vidant Hospital board of directors.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the South Piedmont Community College Board of Trustees:
• Bill Hutton of Matthews as a member at-large. Hutton is president of Matrix Web Solutions. He has served as a member of the chamber of commerce in Rockingham and as a member of the Better Business Bureau. Hutton is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Charlotte Grad Chapter.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Southeastern Community College Board of Trustees:
• Dr. Gary Lanier of Tabor City as a member at-large. Lanier is director of the Columbus County Economic Development Commission & Columbus County Planning Department. He is a member of the Workforce Development Board of the Cape Fear Council of Governments, the Board of the North Carolina Economic Development Association, and the Southeastern Economic Development Commission.
Gov. Cooper has reappointed the following individual to the Southwestern Community College Board of Trustees:
• Jeremy S. Hyatt of Bryson City as a member at-large. Hyatt is the Secretary of Operations for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. He serves as a board member of the Cherokee Historical Association and the Jackson County Planning Board.