Governor Cooper Appoints New Members to State Boards and Commissions

Today, Governor Roy Cooper announced his nominations and appointments to various boards, commissions, and councils. 

“I appreciate the dedication these appointees bring to serving our state,” Gov. Cooper said. “We’re fortunate to have their skills and experience on our state boards and commissions.”

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Governor’s Crime Commission:

• County Commissioner Karen Howard of Pittsboro as a County Government Official. Howard is a former attorney and has served as county commissioner since 2014. Howard served on the Chatham County Schools Academically and Intellectually Gifted Advisory Committee and the Chatham County Schools district accreditation member.
   

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the Historic Murfreesboro Commission:

• Albert Roper of Norfolk, VA as a member at-large. Roper is a descendant of The Winborne Family of Murfreesboro and Raleigh, as well as other families of Eastern NC going back to the 1600s. Roperis a retired otolaryngologist.
• Carol H. Farnham of Murfreesboro as a member at-large. Farnham has volunteered at several historical sites around the United States. She volunteered at the Maine Maritime Museum, the Lynnhaven House in Virginia, and Robert Mills House in South Carolina.
• LuAnn Whitley Joyner of Ahoskie as a member at-large. For 24 years, Joyner has been a member of the Historic Murfreesboro Commission. Joyner has served as a supervisor and paralegal. Currently she is the Marketing/Community Relations/Development Specialist for Vidant Bertie Hospital.
• Sylvia Anderson of Murfreesboro as a member at-large. Anderson has served as one of Hertford County’s Notary Public, completed the North Carolina Department of Revenue Fundamentals of Listing and Assessing. Anderson’s family formed the TLA Foundation in memory of her grandson, which offers scholarships every other year to graduating seniors from Hertford County Schools.
• Lillie White of Ahoskie as a member at-large. White worked for Telamon Corporation for 25 years as a case manager until her retirement in 1999. She has served on the Hertford County ABC Board, Roanoke-Chowan Community College Board of Trustees, and the Murfreesboro Planning Board. 
• Tandra Hedgepeth of Murfreesboro as a member at-large. Hedgepeth, is an Instructional Management Coordinator Career and Technical Education. Hedgepeth is also a co-founder/teacher at People Reaching for Acceleration Inspiration and Success, and a teacher for Hertford County Public Schools. 
• Robert S. Taylor of Woodland as a member at-large. Taylor works with the Maintenance Department at Chowan University. Prior, Taylor worked for the Postal Service, serving as Postmaster of Harrellsville and served in the US Air Force.
• Mary Brooker Daniel of Murfreesboro as a member at-large. Daniel is a native and current resident of Murfreesboro. Daniel is a member of the Murfreesboro Historical Association, co-developed the Murfreesboro Historic Ghost Tour, conducts cemetery tours of Southall-Lawrence Cemeteryshe is a former member of the Murfreesboro Town Council. 
• Caroline Stephenson of Como as a member at-large. Stephenson is a filmmaker and native of Murfreesboro. She is a member of the Directors Guild of America and has worked on several films and television shows. Stephenson and her family opened Cultivator Bookstore in Murfreesboro in 2016, and the store is involved in the Murfreesboro Community Garden project and upcoming Murfreesboro Black History Tours. 
   

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Supplemental Retirement Board of Trustees:

• Kelly Russell of Charlotte as a state employee with experience in finance and investments. Russell is an Assistant Clerk at Wake County Clerk of Court. Russell is also an Executive Member of the North Carolina Association of the Assistant and Deputy Clerks of Superior Court.  

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities:

• Dr. Joshua Gettinger of Asheville as a parent/guardian of a child with developmental disability. Gettinger is a family physician. His daughter has Down’s Syndrome which led to his involvement with the National Alliance on Mental Illness, including starting a NAMI Chapter in Madisonville, Tennessee.
• Myron Gavin of New Bern as a parent/guardian of a child with developmental disability. Gavin is a special education teacher and founded “Hour Special Place,” a center for families and individuals with special needs. 
• Ryan Rotundo of Weaverville as an immediate relative/guardian of an adult with a mentally impairing developmental disability. Rotundo is a small business owner. He is also a Special Education Teacher at North Buncombe High School.
• Allison Dodson of Blowing Rock as an immediate relative/guardian of an adult with a mentally impairing developmental disability. Dodson is the Director of Parent & Family Services at Appalachian State University. She has been involved with NC Sibs and the Special Olympics.
• Kristy Locklear of Pembroke as a parent/guardian of a child with a developmental disability. Locklear is the Chief Financial Officer for the Robeson Health Care Corporation, where she previously held positions as the Director of Accounting and the Budget Officer

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Psychology Board:

• Lisa Duck of Greensboro as a Public Member. Duck is the Executive Director of Guilford Adult Health, Inc. She worked as the Program Manager for Guilford Community Care Network and the Executive Director for the Guilford Coalition on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the Governor’s Advisory Council on Aging:

• Paula Kohut of Wilmington as a member at-large. Kohut is an attorney primarily focused in wills and trusts, elder law, and estate planning. Kohut has been a board member and treasurer of the North Carolina ACLU and the North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys.
  The Honorable Annie Mobley of Garner as a member at-large. Mobley was a North Carolina State Representative from 2007 to 2015. Her organizational affiliations include Lillian’s List and Delta Sigma Theta, Inc.
• Roger Manus of Raleigh as a member at-large. Manus is director of the Senior Law Clinic at the Campbell University School of Law. He was appointed Chair of the Council on Aging in 2017.
• Tom Rothrock of Charlotte as a member at-large. Rothrock had a long career in sales with an emphasis on account management products for aging populations. He is a volunteer on the Mecklenburg Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Home Inspectors Licensure Board:

• Chad D. Collins of Hillsborough as a member At-large. Collins is the President of Collins Design-Build, Inc., located in Durham, NC. Prior, he served as a managing partner, a builder, an estimator/purchaser, and an area and project manager.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the Emergency Response Commission:

• Ross Bulla of Charlotte as a member at-large. Bulla is the founder and president of The Treadstone Group, Inc., which focuses on resolving global security risks and infringements of their client’s intellectual property rights. Bulla has served as a volunteer professional in the rescue, EMS, and fire services.
• Chief Eddie M. Buffaloe, Jr. of Elizabeth City as the Chief of Police. Buffaloe is the Chief of Police for the Elizabeth City Police Department and serves as the Sergeant-at-Arms for the North Carolina Association of Chiefs of Police. Previously, Buffaloe worked as a Correctional Officer, Drug Enforcement Supervisor, and Lead Investigator.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Medical Care Commission:

• Stephen Morton of Durham as a member at-large. Morton is the Chief Executive Officer for Navion Senior Living. He has managed more than 100 senior housing communities across the state of North Carolina with 9,000 residents and 7,000 employees throughout his career.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board:

• John Blevins of Jefferson as a public member. Blevins is the Director of the Wilkes County Department of Social Services. He previously worked for the Alleghany County, Catawba County, and Ashe County Departments of Social Services in various capacities. 
• Mathias Bishop of Cary as a public member. Bishop is a Staff Assistant at a Social Security Administration and serves as the liaison to the North Carolina State Agencies. He previously served on the North Carolina Human Relations Commission.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the North Carolina Appraisal Board:

• Michael R. Warren of Indian Beach as a Real Estate Appraiser. Warren operates his own appraisal services, Mike Warren Appraisal Services, LLC. Prior, Warren worked as a registered appraisal trainee and a consultant. 
• Viviree P. Scotton of Chapel Hill as a Real Estate Appraiser. Scotton is a Realtor, Broker, and State Certified Residential Appraiser at his company, Scotton Real Estate Co. Prior, Scotton worked as a Retirement Specialist and a Market Research Analyst.  

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission:

• Chief Cerelyn ‘CJ’ Davis of Durham as Police Chief. Davis began her career with the Atlanta Police Department, accumulating with her serving in the role of Deputy Chief, before accepting her position in Durham in 2016.
• Andrew D. Hendry of Pinehurst as a citizen. Hendry was the Vice Chairman of Colgate-Palmolive Company, where he led Colgate’s global legal organization. Hendry served on the American Bar Association’s Committee on Substance Abuse and now serves on the Development Committee for the American Law Institute.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Governor’s Advisory Council on Hispanic/Latino Affairs:

• Anabel Franceschini Rosa of Durham as a member at-large. Rosa is an attorney at The Law Offices of James Scott Farrin and serves as Chair of the Mayor of Durham’s Hispanic Latino Committee. Before her legal career, Rosa was a reporter and then became the Assistant Press Secretary for the Mayor of New York City. 

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the Marine Fisheries Commission:

• Rob Bizzell of Kinston as a Recreation Sports Fisherman & Chair. Bizzell is the Founder of Realo Discount Drug Stores, and the co-founder of Carolina Home Medical. Bizzell served as the President for the North Carolina Pharmaceutical Association and Chair of the Marine Fisheries Commission.
• Mike Blanton of Elizabeth City as a Commercial Fisherman. Blanton fishes full-time in the Albemarle Sound. He currently serves at the proxy for the North Carolina Legislative Appointee to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
• Tom Hendrickson of Zebulon and Harkers Island as a member at-large. He is an attorney and businessman who works in real estate development, commercial real estate investment and management, including apartments in New Bern and affordable housing in Charlotte. He also serves on the Global Transpark Authority and was the Founding Chairman of North State Bank.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Cape Fear Community College Board of Trustees:

• Bruce Moskowitz of Wilmington as a member at-large. Moskowitz is the founder of Sterling Wealth Management. Moskowitz has also served on the boards of the University of North Carolina Wilmington Foundation, New Hanover Regional Medical Center Foundation, North Carolina Holocaust Council, North Carolina Hillel, and B’nai Israel Synagogue. 

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Central Carolina Community College Board of Trustees:

• James C. Kelly, Jr. of Sanford as a member at-large. Kelly is the CEO and Co-Founder of Tree Frog Properties. Previously, Kelly worked for the North Carolina Department of Revenue. Kelly is also a member of the Lee County Chamber of Commerce and the Lee County Education Foundation. 

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Davidson County Community College Board of Trustees:

• Tonya Lanier of Lexington as a member at-large. Lanier is a legal assistant., Lanier also serves on several boards and commissions such as: Davidson County Genealogical Society, Davidson County Family Services, Lexington Civic Center Board, the Foundation Board for Davidson County Community College and is a member of the Lexington City Council.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Isothermal Community College Board of Trustees:

• Jacqueline L. Godlock of Forest City as a member at-large. Godlock is a Business Relations Specialist for the NC Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services. Godlock serves on the Rutherford Hospital Board of Trustees and serves as a McNair Mentor. 

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Montgomery Community College Board of Trustees:

• Robert Harris of Mt. Gilead as a member at-large. Harris is a Sales Manager for Jordan Forest Products, LLC, and has 22 years of experience working in private business. Harris has also served on the local Homeowner Association board. 

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Western Piedmont Community College Board of Trustees:

• Amy J. Kincaid of Morganton as a member at-large. Kincaid works as the Program Supervisor for Guardian ad Litem, NC Administrative Office of the Courts. Prior, Kincaid was a paralegal for the Burke County Department of Social Services. Kincaid also served on the Jaime Torres Ministries Board.