Raleigh, NC
Mar 10, 2025
Today, Governor Josh Stein announced Boards and Commissions Appointments.
Governor Stein has nominated the following individual to the North Carolina Industrial Commission:
- The Honorable Kenneth L. Goodman of Moore County as a commissioner representing employers. Goodman is a former state representative in the North Carolina General Assembly representing the 66th district. He currently serves as a commissioner of the North Carolina Industrial Commission, where he actively reviews issues on appeal involving but not limited to workers compensation, tort claims, public safety employees’ death benefits, and childhood vaccine related injuries.
Governor Stein has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Commission on Indian Affairs:
- Greg Bryant of Robeson County as Chair. Bryant is an enrolled member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina and health advocate who owns Southeastern Integrated Care, a mental health care facility. He owns a nonprofit organization that feeds 500 people weekly in the Robeson County School system and provides food backpacks for children identified as homeless by the school system to ensure that they have food after school and on weekends. Bryant also sponsors a food truck that feeds the homeless throughout the Robeson County Community
Governor Stein has appointed the following individuals to the North Carolina 911 Board:
- Michael James of Lenoir County as a representative of a county where a primary Public Safety Answering Point is located and is recommended by the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners. James has been the Lenoir County Manager since 2019. He is a board member of the Lenoir-Greene United Way and the Boys & Girls Club Advisory Boards in Union and Lenoir County.
- Jason Weldon Compton of Wake County represents the North Carolina chapter of the National Emergency Number Association. Compton is a leader in information technology safety systems with vast experience serving in local government. He is the Public Safety IT Architect for the Wake County Sheriff’s Office.
Governor Stein has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Cemetery Commission:
- JoAnna LaRay Holloman of Onslow County as an owner or manager of a cemetery. Holloman serves as Administrative Director for more than 10 cemetery locations along North Carolina’s east coast. She started out as an Administrator for Onslow and Seaside Memorial Parks before working her way up to General Manager of those two properties. Holloman has been employed in the cemetery business for 28 years.
Governor Stein has appointed the following individuals to the Governor’s Crime Commission:
- The Honorable Spencer B. Merriweather of Mecklenburg County as the Governor’s designee. Merriweather is the district attorney for the 26th prosecutorial district. He is actively involved within his community serving as a board member of Safe Alliance and executive committee member of the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys.
- Charles Blackwood of Orange County as Chair. Blackwood is a former President of the North Carolina Sheriff’s Association. He is also a recipient of the most prestigious Order of the Long Leaf Pine award.
- The Honorable Matthew Scott of Robeson County as Vice-Chair. Scott serves as district attorney for the 20th prosecutorial district. He is a former Judge Advocate for the United States Army. Scott also served as Special Assistant United States Attorney for the United States Department of Justice.
Governor Stein has appointed the following individual to the State Ethics Commission:
- The Honorable William H. Freeman of Forsyth County as Chair. Freeman served on the district court bench in North Carolina for four years and then served as a Superior Court Judge from 1980 to 2000. After his service as a Superior Court Judge, Freeman has been a mediator/arbitrator, mediating over 2000 cases in the Piedmont region.
Governor Stein has appointed the following individuals to the Information Technology Strategy Board:
- Dwayne Campbell of Cumberland County as a North Carolina citizen with a background in and familiarity with business system technology, information systems, or telecommunications. Campbell is the strategic and technology consultant for Fayetteville State University. He is the former Chief Information Officer for the City of Fayetteville. Campbell serves his community with excellence as Board President of the Metro Kappa Foundation and Advisory Board member of the Fayetteville State Broadwell College of Business and Economics.
- Satish S. Garimella of Wake County as a North Carolina citizen with a background in and familiarity with business system technology, information systems, or telecommunications. Garimella is Mayor Pro-Tem of Morrisville. He is the Senior Technical Product Manager of GSK. He actively serves on the North Carolina League of Municipalities Board of Directors, WakeMed Health and Hospitals Board of Directors, and the Go Triangle Transit Advisory Committee.
Governor Stein has appointed the following individuals to the North Carolina Soil and Water Conservation Commission:
- Barbara Bleiweis of Mecklenburg County as Chair. Barbara has served as the supervisor for the Mecklenburg Soil and Water Conservation district since 2017. She has focused on increasing community education and awareness of soil health and water quality. Bleiweis serves on the Executive Board for the North Carolina Soil and Water Conservation Districts, the North Carolina Foundation for Soil and Water Conservation, and the Water and Climate Committee for the National Association of Conservation Districts.
- Dr. Porché L. Spence of Wake County as an at-large member. Dr. Spence currently teaches as the Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Design at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University in Greensboro. She has written 15 peer reviewed journal publications and has received over 20 distinguished honors, awards, and scholarships.
Governor Stein has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Turnpike Authority:
- The Honorable Larry D. Hall of Durham County as an at-large member. Hall is an attorney with Berman and Associates P.A. in Durham. He served North Carolina as a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from 2006-2017; serving as the Leader of the House Democratic Caucus from 2013-2017. Hall also served as Deputy Commissioner of the North Carolina Industrial Commission and Secretary for the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs from 2017-2021.