Governor Cooper Announces State Boards and Commissions Appointments

Today, Governor Roy Cooper announced nominations and appointments to North Carolina boards and commissions.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Employment Security Board of Review on an interim basis, pending confirmation by the General Assembly:

• Regina Smith Adams of Durham as a representative of employees. Adams has been a staff attorney for the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Division of Employment Security for more than 10 years. Prior to that role, Adams spent 20 years with the Employment Security Commission of North Carolina as a staff attorney and appeals referee.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the North Carolina Oil and Gas Commission on an interim basis, pending confirmation by the General Assembly:

• The Honorable Karen A. Howard of Pittsboro as a member of a county board of commissioners of a county located in a region of North Carolina that has oil and gas potential. Howard is a Chatham County Commissioner and is a retired attorney. She previously served on the Chatham County Board of Education and was chair of that board from 2013-2014.
• Dr. William Vizuete of Chapel Hill as a member with experience in matters related to public health. Vizuete is an associate professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering for the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. He is also the founder and chief scientific officer of BioDeptronix LLC.
• John D. White II of Greensboro as a representative of a publicly traded natural gas company. White is the chief state and local government affairs manager for Dominion Energy. He serves as an expert in infrastructure policy and the intersection between development and state government issues.

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

• Amir Henry of Winston-Salem as the Police Chief. Henry is the current Chief of Police for Winston-Salem State University’s Police and Public Safety Department. He previously served as a State Trooper for North Carolina State Highway Patrol and Battalion Communication Supervisor for the United States Marine Corps.

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

• The Honorable Zack Hawkins of Durham as a parent/guardian of a child with a developmental disability or immediate relative/guardian of an adult with a mental illness or developmental disability. Hawkins currently serves as the Durham representative for the North Carolina House of Representatives. In addition to his other efforts, Hawkins passed an amendment to solve innovation waiver crises for families with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the State Board of Education:

• John M. Blackburn of Linville as the 7th Education District Representative. Blackburn was the President and General Manager of Linville Resorts, Inc. He serves as chair of the Linville Foundation and Linville Volunteer Fire Department Trust. Blackburn previously served on the Appalachian State University’s Board of Trustees.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Emergency Response Commission:

• Roger E. Hawley of Raleigh as a Chief of Police. Chief Hawley is the North Carolina State Capitol Police Chief. He served 32 years with the Wake County Sheriff’s Office where he attained the rank of Major over the Patrol and Criminal Investigation Divisions. 

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the Financial Literacy Council:

• Heather B. Horton of Raleigh as a member responsible for programs related to financial education or services and representative from the Department of Commerce. Horton is the Chief Financial Officer for the Department of Commerce. She is also treasurer of the Justice Matters Board of Directors.
• Amalia Mercedes Restucha-Klem of Raleigh as a member responsible for programs related to financial education services and representative from the Department of Justice. Restucha-Klem is an Assistant Attorney General at the Public Protection Section of the North Carolina Department of Justice. In this role, she conducts outreach to vulnerable populations and works on various civil rights and public safety policy initiatives, including adult abuse, consumer protection and criminal justice reform.  
• Lori M. Carlin of Pittsboro as a member responsible for programs related to financial education or services and representative from the Department of Public Instruction. Carlin is the current Section Chief for Arts Education and Social Studies for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Carlin is an academic writer and instructor with over twenty years of experience and has won multiple awards for her talents.
• Melissa Marie Hart of Raleigh as a member responsible for programs related to financial education or services and representative from the University of North Carolina. Hart is a senior lecturer at North Carolina State University. She was nominated for the Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor Award in 2016.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina State Licensing Board for General Contractors:

• Carl Daniel of Charlotte as a public member. Daniel retired in 2015 after more than 30 years of experience in the utilities industry. He is also a member of the American Water Works Association, the Water Environment Federation, and North Carolina Waterworks Operators Association.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Hearing Aid Dealers and Fitters Licensing Board:

• David C. Roberts of Lewisville as a hearing aid specialist licensed for at least three years prior to appointment. Roberts serves as the account manager with Oticon, serving the Greensboro, Winston Salem, and High Point areas of North Carolina. Roberts has over fifteen years of experience assisting communities affected by hearing loss including efforts to increase the dispersion of hearing aids in overlooked communities.

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

• David O’Neal of Raleigh as the State Purchasing Officer. O’Neal took over as the State Procurement Officer in 2021 after four years with the Department of Administration. He received the Local Government Federal Credit Union Fellows Award in 2013 from UNC School of Government.
• Don Shin of Durham as a minority category HUB owner. Shin is the CEO and founder of CrossComm, which has been leading technology innovation for over twenty years. His firm was recognized by the United States Department of Commerce as the Minority Technology firm of the Year in 2015.
• Michael J. Shumsky of Raleigh as the Director of the State Construction Office. Shumsky oversees operations as it relates to planning, designing, and construction of state facilities. He was previously the design build engineer for the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
• William Anthony Hayes of Creedmoor as a minority category HUB owner. Hayes currently serves as the Operations Executive Consultant for CMC Building, Inc. He also served as Board Chairman and Interim CEO of the Carolina Small Business Development Fund.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the North Carolina Interagency Council for Coordinating Homeless Programs:

• Laura Hope Hogshead of Efland as the Secretary of Public Safety or designee and as co-chair. Hogshead is the current Director of the North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency. She worked at numerous agencies dedicated to fighting poverty and homelessness such as the U.S. Department of Housing and Development, the UNC Chapel Hill Center on Poverty, Work, and Opportunity, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
• William C. Ray of Chapel Hill as the Director of Emergency Management or designee. Ray was previously the chief of staff for the Division of Emergency Management and assistant director for planning and homeland Security.
• Erika Ferguson Walsh of Raleigh as the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services or designee and as a co-chair. Walsh is the Director of the Office of Healthy Opportunities for the Department of Health and Human Services.
• Marionna C. Poke-Stewart of Raleigh as the Chief Deputy Secretary for Opportunity and Well-Being for the Department of Health and Human Services, or designee. Poke-Stewart is the Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity at the State Department of Health and Human Services.
• Deepa Avula of Raleigh as the Chief Deputy Secretary for Health for the Department of Health and Human Services, or designee. Avula is the Chief Operating Officer for the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services. Deepa led the national response related to COVID-19 and behavioral health implications including the establishment of the Provider Relief Fund providing thousands of providers across the country funding to remain sustainable during the pandemic.
• Shannon Brown Dowler of Marshall as the Deputy Secretary for Medicaid for the Department of Health and Human Services, or designee. Dowler is Chief Medical Officer for the Division of Health Benefits. She is a member of the CDC/HRSA committee on HIV, Viral Hepatitis, and STD Prevention and Treatment.
• Andrea T. Allard of Youngsville as the Secretary of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs or designee. Allard is the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Director of Transition Services. She was the former Executive Assistant for the department.
• Lanier T. McRee of Raleigh as the State Budget Director of the Office of State Budget Management or designee. McRee is the Assistant State Budget Officer. She is the President-elect for the Junior league of Raleigh.
• Stephanie G. McGarrah of Durham as the Director of the North Carolina Pandemic Recovery Office or designee. McGarrah currently oversees the management of $11 billion in federal coronavirus relief and recovery funds for North Carolina as a section of the State Office of Budget and Management. She was formerly an independent consultant conducting needs assessments of statewide and regional health care workforce with North Carolina Area Health Education Centers.
• Scott Farmer of Clayton as the Executive Director of the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency or designee. Farmer has been with the Housing Finance Agency since 1999, serving as executive director since January 2017 and as director of rental investment from 2005 to 2016. He was a member of the National Association of Home Builders Housing Credit Work Group.
• Dr. Levy Brown of Youngsville as the member from North Carolina Community College System. Brown is the Senior Vice President and Chief Academic Officer for the North Carolina Community College System. He received the 40 under 40 Alumni Leadership Award from East Carolina University in 2016.
• Dr. Robert P. Taylor of White Lake as the Superintendent of Public Instruction or designee. Taylor was the Bladen County Schools Superintendent and has been heavily involved in the education field supporting all youth since 1999.
• Andrea S. Kurtz of Winston Salem as the member representing homeless Continuums of Care. Kurtz is the Senior Director of Housing Strategies for United Way of Forsythe County. She is also a volunteer attorney for domestic violence and disaster relief.
• Brooks A. McKinney of Greensboro as a member representing a hospital or health system. McKinney is the Director of Vulnerable Populations at Cone Health and Hospitals. She is a member on the board of directors for the National Health Care for the Homeless Council.
• Mellin L. Parker of Winston-Salem as a member from local government. Mellin currently serves as the Planning Senior Project Supervisor for the City of Winston-Salem. She has extensive experience in organizing community housing programs as well as assessing community and financial needs in various cities for over two decades.
• Emily Blue Locklear of Pembroke as a member from a non-profit agency that provides services to people experiencing homelessness or are at risk. Locklear is the regional lead for the Southeast Regional Committee of the North Carolina Balance of State Continuum of Care.
• Amy Modlin of Greenville as the Member from non-profit agency providing services to people experiencing homelessness or at risk; representing victim services and/or permanent supportive housing. Modlin is Head of Housing at Trillium Health Resources. She was a housing coordinator for several LME/MCOs in the eastern part of the state.
• Deronda Metz of Charlotte as a member from a non-profit agency that provides services to people experiencing homelessness or are at risk. Metz is the Director of Social Services for the Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte. She has dedicated herself to fighting poverty and homelessness in her community through her work.
• Ryan J. Fehrman of Durham as a member from the North Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness. Fehrman currently serves as the as the chair of the Local Emergency Food and Shelter Board.
• Marsha R. Basloe of Durham as a member with expertise in services for young children under six in families experiencing homelessness. Basloe is the President and CEO of Child Care Services Association. She has worked as an advocate of child homelessness through various programs such as the U.S. Interagency Workgroup on Family Homelessness and the Office of Early Childhood Development at the Administration for Children and Family.
• Pamela Suggs Story of Fayetteville as a member with expertise in services for public school students in families experiencing homelessness. Story is the Social Work Coordinator/Homeless Liaison for Cumberland County Schools. She is the recipient of the North Carolina Homeless Liaison of the Year Award for 2021-2022.
• Frederick G. Mills, Sr. of Raleigh as a member from the business community that develops affordable housing. Mills has managed and developed over seventy affordable multifamily communities. He previously served as Vice President and Director of the North Carolina Home Builders Association.
• David L. Nash of Asheville as a member representing the public housing authorities. Nash is currently the Chief Operating Officer of the Housing Authority of the City of Asheville, where he oversees the operations of the largest public housing agency in western North Carolina.
• Jeffrey Rawlings of Smithfield as a member representing someone with lived experience of homelessness. Rawlings is the Coordinated Entry Director at JLH Community Action, where he organizes and analyses the region’s homelessness entry system.
• The Honorable Natalie S. Murdock of Durham as a North Carolina Senator. Murdock represents Durham County within district 20. She also works as a Principal and Chief Strategist at Murdock Anderson Consulting.
• The Honorable Paul A. Lowe, Jr. of Winston-Salem as a North Carolina Senator. Senator Lowe has served as a Senator for district 32 of Forsyth County since 2015. He was previously the chairman of the North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus.
• The Honorable John Autry of Charlotte as a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives. Autry is the current representative from district 100 in Mecklenburg County. He previously served on the Mecklenburg Soil and Water Conservation Board of Supervisors.
• The Honorable Shelly Willingham of Rocky Mount as a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives. Willingham represents district 23 in Edgecombe and Martin County. He has served on the North Carolina Association of ABC Boards, Twin County Day Reporting Center Advisory Board, and State Advisory Committee North Carolina Extension.
• Valerie Delores Moore-Fegans of Raleigh as the Secretary of Commerce or designee. Moore-Fegans is the Interim Director and Section Chief of Community Development Block Grant. She has over thirty years of experience in housing and community development.
• Secretary Pamela B. Cashwell of Raleigh as the Secretary of Administration or designee. Cashwell oversees the state agency whose mission is to serve as a business manager for the state of North Carolina and a voice for underserved communities through its advocacy programs and boards and commissions.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Military Affairs Commission:

• George G. Bonner of Manteo as a retired member of the Coast Guard. Bonner is the Director of Renewable Ocean Energy for the University of North Carolina System. He dedicated over thirty years to the United States Coast Guard, where he led several efforts to support sustainable coastal infrastructure.

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

• Timothy R. McAuley, Sr. of Mount Gilead as a member at-large. McAuley is the Production Supervisor and Scheduler at Paperworks Industrial. He also serves as a Mount Gilead Town Commissioner, the Mount Gilead Mayor Pro Tem, and as the Highland Community Center President. McAuley previously served on the Mount Gilead Planning Board.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the NCWorks Commission:

• John Wesley Davis IV of Winston-Salem as a business representative from the military or business. Davis worked at Alex Brown Investments for more than ten years as their vice president and client advisor, and now director. He also serves on the Board of Trustees for Summit School, UNC School of the Arts, and the YMCA of Northwest North Carolina.  

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the State Board of Proprietary Schools:

• Luis G. Lobo of Charlotte as a member at-large. Lobo recently left TRUIST after more than 20 years, where he was most recently Executive Vice President and Multicultural Banking Manager.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the North Carolina Board of Science, Technology, and Innovation:

• Gagan Gupta of Durham as a representative of private industry. Gupta is an attorney at Paynter Law Firm PLLC in Raleigh and Hillsborough. Gupta helped launch a solar energy startup in West Africa and currently assists North Carolina companies of all sizes in complex legal disputes, including those arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Yonnie Butler of Mebane as representative of the North Carolina Community College System. Butler is currently the Executive Director of the Biotechnology Center of Excellence at Alamance Community College. He has over two decades of experience in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and business development.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the Uniform Laws Commission:

• Maxine N. Eichner of Chapel Hill as an North Carolina resident licensed to practice law. Eichner is the Graham Kenan Distinguished Professor of Law at the University Of North Carolina School of Law. Eichner writes on issues at the intersection of law and political theory, focusing particularly on family relationships, social welfare law and policy. She was the Reporter for the Uniform Law Commission’s Uniform Deployed Parents Custody and Visitation Act, which has now been passed in ten states. 
• Nita A. Farahany as an North Carolina resident licensed to practice law. Farahany is a Robinson O. Everett Distinguished Professor of Law and Philosophy at Duke University. She is the founding director of the Duke Initiative for Science and Society and is the Chair for the Duke MA in Bioethics and Science Policy. She is a member of the standing committee on Biotechnology Capabilities and National Security Needs at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. 

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Commission of Volunteerism and Community Service:

• The Honorable Timothy Edwards Radford of Murphy as a representative of local government in the state. Radford is the mayor of Murphy. Radford is a past president of the Murphy Rotary Club and was the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce’s 2019 Citizen of the Year.

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

• John Boswell of Raleigh as an at-large member. Boswell is the Chief Operating Officer of Zoe Empowers where he dedicates himself to empowering children in life-threatening poverty.

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