Today, Governor Roy Cooper announced his nominations and appointments to 19 boards, commissions, and councils.
“I am grateful that these well-qualified North Carolinians will help me lead our state forward through their service on these critical state boards and commissions,” said Governor Cooper.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the Cape Fear Navigation and Pilotage Commission:
• Henry Foy of Wilmington as a New Hanover County Resident. Foy is a retired attorney who has represented clients including Brunswick County, CSX Railroad, and Atlantic Telephone Membership Corporation.
• Louis Batuyios of Wilmington as a New Hanover County Resident. Batuyios is the owner of International Shipping Co., Inc. and has been in the shipping business for over 45 years.
• Dr. Kurt Scheetz of Southport as a Brunswick County Resident. Scheetz works at his own private practice, Scheetz & Bachara Family Dentistry.
• Dave Gardener of Surf City as a Representative of Maritime Interests. Gardener has deep sea experience with Keystone Shipping, Gulf Coast Trailing, Dutra and B&B Dredging, and has also spent 18 years as owner/operator of a fleet of ocean going passenger fishing vessels. In addition, Gardener has 8 years of experience in the Naval Reserve.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Institute of Medicine:
• Dr. Goldie Byrd of Durham as a member At-large. Dr. Byrd is the Founding Director for the Center for Outreach in Alzheimer’s, Aging and Community Health at NC A&T State University where she served as the Chair of the Department of Biology and the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina State Water Infrastructure Authority:
• Juhann Waller of Greensboro as an engineer in the private sector. Waller is a registered Professional Engineer in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. He is the founder of JC Waller & Associates, PC, and an adjunct faculty member at NC A&T.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the North Carolina Water Treatment Facility Operators Certification Board:
• Angela Christian of Newport as a manager of NC municipality using a treated groundwater supply. Christian is the Town Manager for the Town of Newport. Prior, she was the Chief Operations Officer and Deputy County Manager for the Onslow County Government.
• Samuel Call of Wilkesboro as a director of utilities with an NC municipality. Call is the Utility Director for the Town of Wilkesboro. Prior, he worked as a Water Plant Superintendent, a Water Plant Operator, and a Waste Water Operator for the Town of Wilkesboro.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the North Carolina Child Care Commission:
• Lanier DeGrella of Durham as a Public Member. DeGrella was the North Carolina Statewide Infant Toddler Quality Enhancement Project Manager for the Child Care Services Association. She previously served as Deputy Director of the Indiana Bureau of Child Development.
• Beth Messersmith of Durham as a Parent of a child in daycare. Messersmith is the Senior Campaign director for MomsRising.org.
• Rhonda Rivers of Charlotte as a For-Profit facility operator. Rivers is the Director of Curriculum and Training/Village Preschool Director for Rainbow Station.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners:
• Sheena M. Petty of Clayton as a Licensed Cosmetologist. Petty currently works at Hair The Avenue, Inc., a business she developed and started in 2015. Previously, Petty worked as an independent contractor, hair & make-up artist, and as a Cosmetologist.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Board:
• Dr. Azure Holland of Raleigh as a licensed veterinarian. Holland is the Owner-Practitioner for Azure Holland, A Mobile Veterinary Service. Prior, Holland worked at VCA Triangle Tower Animal Hospital.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the North Carolina Coastal Resources Commission:
• Bob Emory of New Bern to the Coastal Forestry seat. Emory previously worked with Weyerhaeuser Company, and held positions in land acquisition, land use, and logging and wood procurement. He previously served on the Coastal Resources Commission for 20 years.
• Councilwoman Renee Cahoon of Nags Head as a member of local government within the coastal area. Cahoon works at R.V. Cahoon, Inc., a retail and rental business. Cahoon has served on the Coastal Resources Commission for 16 years.
• Robin Smith of Chapel Hill as a member with experience in marine-related science. Smith is a lawyer with over 25 years of experience in environmental law and policy. Now in private practice, Smith previously served North Carolina as Assistant Secretary for Environment and as a Special Deputy Attorney General.
• Mayor Trace Cooper of Atlantic Beach as coastal property owner. Cooper is serving his sixth term as Mayor. He is the founder of Cooper Development Company, which focuses on hospitality projects and other sustainable, community-oriented development.
• Lauren Salter of Williston as a commercial fishing representative. Previously, Salter worked at the North Carolina Fisheries Association and the NC Division of Marine Fisheries.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the North Carolina Oil and Gas Commission:
• Councilwoman Rebecca Wyhof Salmon of Sanford as an elected official of a municipal government. Salmon is the President of Blue Roof Strategies, LLC. Prior, Salmon served as the Vice President of the North Carolina Telecommunications Industry Association.
• Dr. Jim Zhang of Chapel Hill as a member experienced in public health. Zhang is a professor at Duke University. Prior, Zhang taught at several universities internationally in Global Public Health departments, specifically in departments for Environmental and Occupational Public Health.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Tennessee Valley Authority Regional Resource Stewardship Council:
• Randy Wiggins of Murphy as North Carolina’s representative. Wiggins serves as County Manager for Cherokee County. He worked previously as County Finance Officer for Cherokee County.
Gov. Cooper has reappointed the following individual to the Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Board of Trustees:
• Mary Ann Rice of Asheville as a member at-large. Rice is Senior Vice President for the State Employees Credit Union Asheville-Biltmore Village branch. Rice currently serves as Chair of the A-B Tech Board of Trustees. Prior, she served on the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, the University of North Carolina at Asheville Foundation Board and the Board of Directors for the United Way.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Caldwell Community College Board of Trustees:
• James Sponenberg of Lenoir as a member At-large. Sponenberg is employed at The Property Shop where he works as a realtor/broker. Prior, Sponenberg spent time as President/CEO of Parkway Bank and Senior Vice President/Market President of CertusBank.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Gaston College Board of Trustees:
• Sheriff Alan G. Cloninger of Dallas as a member At-large. Cloninger is the Gaston County Sheriff and previously served as police officer with the Gaston County Police Department. Cloninger is a licensed attorney and also serves on the Governor’s Crime Commission.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Martin Community College Board of Trustees:
• Nancy Joyner of Windsor as a member at-large. Joyner has served as a Special Education teacher, a math and science teacher, and a school counselor and she currently works in real estate.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the McDowell Technical Community College Board of Trustees:
• Susan English of Marion as a member at-large. English spent 28 years as a nurse with the McDowell Hospital. She also taught nursing at McDowell Tech Community College.
Gov. Cooper has reappointed the following individual to the Pitt Community College Board of Trustees:
• Randy Walters of Farmville as a member at-large. Walters serves on the Board of Trustees at Pitt Community College. He is the President of Farmville Furniture Company and also serves as Chair of the Pitt County Development Commission Board.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Robeson Community College Board of Trustees:
• Kyle R. Chavis of Lumberton as a member at-large. Chavis currently is the Chief Executive Officer of Lumbee Guaranty Bank. Prior, Chavis served as Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of Lumbee Guaranty Bank for the past 8 years.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Wake Technical Community College Board of Trustees:
• Edward D. Paradise of Cary as a member at-large. Paradise serves as Vice President of Engineering for the Security and Trust Organization at Cisco and as the Site Executive for their Research Triangle Park Campus. Paradise also serves on the advisory boards for Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, Triangle Family Services, and Bull City Ventures.
Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Wilkes Community College Board of Trustees:
• Sylvia D. Robinson of North Wilkesboro as a member at-large. Robinson served in Wilkes County public schools as a teacher, coach, department chair, and mentor for young teachers for over thirty-two years. Robinson is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and has served on the Wilkes Community College Board of trustees, Wilkes County Board of Health, and the Community Health Board.