Governor Stein Announces Boards and Commissions Appointments

Today Governor Josh Stein announced appointments to boards and commissions.

Governor Stein has appointed the following to the Governor’s Advisory Committee on Western North Carolina Recovery:  

• Leah Wong Ashburn of Buncombe County as an at-large member. Leah is the second-generation family owner, president, and CEO of Highland Brewing Company in Asheville. Her past board service includes the NC Brewers Guild, Asheville Chamber, Buncombe County Tourism, AB Tech Community College, and RiverLink. She currently serves on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Board of Visitors. 

Governor Stein has appointed the following to the Juvenile Justice Planning Committee:

• The Honorable Jimmie Cornell Silver of Halifax County as an elected official representing general-purpose local government. Silver is a highly accomplished U.S. Army and Gulf War veteran with a distinguished career spanning more than 30 years in law enforcement, military service, and public safety. Silver serves on the Upper Coastal Plain Council of Government and the newly formed Veterans Council for Halifax County. He is committed to fostering leadership and excellence in law enforcement and public safety across North Carolina and beyond. 
• Deana Joy of Alamance County as an individual with expertise in addressing the challenges of sexual abuse exploitation and traumas. She began by working with victims of sexual violence and had the responsibility of volunteer recruitment, training, and oversight of the 24-hour crisis line. Deana currently serves as the Chair of the Children’s Justice Act for the Governor’s Crime Commission.  
• Jemarion Young of Mecklenburg County as a member involved with a nonprofit faith-based group or community group. Young is a nonprofit executive and youth development leader who serves as Vice President of Teen Experience for the YMCA of Greater Charlotte, where he leads strategic initiatives that expand access, uplift teen voice, and strengthen community collaboration.  
• Kenyon Lake of Buncombe County as a member of a nonprofit program providing alternatives to suspension or expulsion. Lake has 20 years of experience in Child Protective Services and Community Engagement. As the founder and executive director of KL Training Solutions, Keynon leads one of western North Carolina’s largest youth-led, Black-led organizations. KLTS is home to eight major initiatives that support historically underserved youth and families through mentorship, education, job training, and violence prevention. 

Governor Stein has appointed the following to the NCWorks Commission:

• Anita Bachmann of Guilford County as a business industry representative. Bachmann is a health care executive with extensive experience aligning economic development, health care, and workforce strategies with community needs. As CEO of UnitedHealthcare of North Carolina, Bachman has led cross-sector partnerships and investments to strengthen talent pipelines, expand access to health care and support workforce development across the state. 

Governor Stein has appointed the following to the North Carolina Board of Funeral Service:  

• Jonathan Holland of Union County as a member recommended by the NC Funeral Directors Association. Holland owns and operates Holland Funeral Service & Crematory. He serves on the North Carolina Board of Funeral Service. 
• Anthony French Worley of Sampson County as a member recommended by the Funeral Directors and Morticians Association of NC Inc. Worley has been a funeral service licensee licensee for 32 years. He served as the 55th state president of the Funeral Directors and Morticians Association of North Carolina and past District III Governor for the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association. 
• Cheryl Vanessa Anderson of Cabarrus County as a member recommended by the Funeral Directors and Morticians Association of NC Inc. Anderson has served as the manager for Roberts Funeral Service in Mocksville since 2021. She previously was the secretary/treasurer for the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice. 

Governor Stein has appointed the following to the North Carolina Board of Physical Therapy Examiners:  

• Neisha Wetzel of Hoke County as a physical therapist chosen from a list compiled by the NC Physical Therapy Association. Wetzel is a licensed physical therapist in North Carolina with 18 years of experience and is dual board-certified as an orthopedic and geriatric clinical specialist. She is the co-owner of Advanced Physical Therapy Solutions, with clinics in Fayetteville and Hope Mills, and she serves as an adjunct professor at Methodist University.  

Governor Stein has appointed the following to the North Carolina Brain Injury Advisory Council:  

• Dr. Jennifer Kimbrough of Guilford County as executive director or designee of the Brain Injury Association of NC. Dr. Kimbrough is a leader in public health expertise with more than 30 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, research, grants, and education initiatives. She has led cross-sector partnerships focused on integrating service delivery with research translation and advocacy, with an eye toward advancing equity. 

Governor Stein has appointed the following to the North Carolina Hearing Aid Dealers and Fitters Licensing Board:  

• Julie Ann Palazzolo of Mecklenburg County as a hearing aid specialist. Palazzolo is a dedicated senior clinical audiologist skilled in conducting thorough audiological assessments and providing patient education on hearing loss. She is committed to community outreach efforts that promote hearing health awareness and improve patient outcomes. 

Governor Stein has appointed the following to the North Carolina Interagency Coordinating Council for Children from Birth to Five with Disabilities:  

• Thais Michelle Carrero of Wake County as a parent of a disabled child under age 6. Carrero serves as an EarlyWell strategist at the North Carolina Early Childhood Foundation. She has a wealth of nonprofit experience and is a leader with a proven ability to gain community support, develop partnerships, and build coalitions.  
• Catrina Buchanan of Graham County as a parent of a disabled child under age 12. Buchanan serves as a pediatric medical assistant at Tallulah Community Health with four years of hands-on experience in providing exceptional care to infants, children, and adolescents. 
• Amber Nicole Dunn of Mecklenburg County as a parent of a disabled child under age 12. Dunn serves as an event moderator and facilitator for the United States Postal Service in Charlotte. She is also the executive director of the nonprofit Strong Warrior Society.  
• Nikki L. Hinnant of Wake County as a representative of a state agency providing early intervention services. Hinnant is a dedicated employee of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services with 19 years of experience providing early intervention service coordination to children from birth to age three with special needs through the Sandhills Children’s Developmental Services Agency. 

Governor Stein has appointed the following to the North Carolina Interagency Council for Coordinating Homeless Programs:

• The Honorable Jordan A. Lopez of Mecklenburg County as a North Carolina House of Representatives member. Representative Lopez represents the 112th district, which encompasses part of Mecklenburg County. In his first term, Representative Lopez has worked to oppose the criminalization of homelessness and expand housing affordability and food access. He is the proud product of Charlotte Mecklenburg public schools, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and North Carolina Central University. 

Governor Stein has appointed the following to the North Carolina Recreational Therapy Licensure Board:

• Casey A. Smith of Burke County as a therapeutic recreation assistant. A licensed recreational therapy assistant at Broughton Hospital in Morganton, Smith strives to promote maximum engagement and leisure awareness in patients across the demographic spectrum through leisure education, team building, and psycho education. 

Governor Stein has appointed the following to the North Carolina Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission:

• Nicole Eileen Sullivan of Wake County as a public member. Sullivan retired as the Deputy Secretary for Analysis, Programming, and Policy at the North Carolina Department of Public Safety. She is a corrections expert with 17 years of supervisory experience and more than 25 years of innovative reentry, policy, and reform leadership.  

Governor Stein has appointed the following to the North Carolina State Health Coordinating Council:  

• Dr. Siddhartha Rao of Wake County as a physician. Dr. Rao is a board-certified interventional cardiologist and founder of Rao Clinic, a multispecialty medical group based in Cary. He has extensive experience delivering specialty care in rural and underserved communities across eastern and rural North Carolina.  
• James Cooper Linton, MSHA, MBA of Orange County as a representative of hospice. Linton is a seasoned health care executive with deep expertise in home-based care delivery, hospice services, and innovative care-model development. He serves as the associate vice president/entity leader for Duke HomeCare & Hospice. 
• Dr. Marcus Plescia of Mecklenburg County as an at-large member. Dr. Plescia is a board-certified family physician with more than two decades of experience in clinical practice. He has held government public health leadership roles at the county, state, and federal levels.  
• Dr. Cheryl A. Siegel, DDS of Wake County as an at-large member. Dr. Seigel is a practicing dentist in Raleigh, active in many levels of dental organizations from local to international. She also serves as an adjunct professor at UNC Adams School of Dentistry (ASOD) supporting the Moldova/UNC Dental Global Program. 
• Danielle C. Gray of Wake County as an at-large member. Gray is executive vice president of corporate and external affairs for UnitedHealth Group, where she leads the company’s government affairs, communications, research, and philanthropic and social responsibility functions. She has also served as chief legal officer at Walgreens Boots Alliance and chief administrative and legal officer at Blue Cross NC.  

Governor Stein has appointed the following to the North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences Advisory Commission:

• Julia Clinard Townsend of Forsyth County as an at-large member. Townsend is the founder and board co-president of REACH Women’s Network, a board of trustee member at Winston-Salem State University, and a board member of the YMCA of Northwest North Carolina and the Twin City Foundation. 

Governor Stein has appointed the following to the North Carolina Zoological Park Council:  

• Christine A. Evans of Wake County as an at-large member. Evans is the vice president of public affairs for Blue Cross NC, where she oversees government affairs, health policy, and growth strategy, and she serves as a Trustee for Elizabeth City State University. She has more than 20 years of experience transforming health care in North Carolina. 

Governor Stein has appointed the following to the Roanoke River Basin Bi-State Commission:

• The Honorable Terence J. Everitt of Wake County as a member of the North Carolina Senate. Senator Everitt represents the 18th District, which includes all of Granville County and northern Wake County. He brings a background in law and small business representation to his work. Everitt lives in Wake Forest and is a graduate of The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law.  
• The Honorable Brannon Ray Jeffers of Person County as a member of the NC House of Representatives. Representative B. Ray Jeffers represents the House’s 2nd District and brings a strong commitment to public service and regional collaboration. He has previously worked as a Person County commissioner (and as the 97th president of the NC Association of County Commissioners). He is a graduate of Person County Schools, Piedmont Community College, and North Carolina Agriculture & Technical State University. 

Governor Stein has appointed the following to the Tobacco Trust Fund Commission:

• Thaddeus Pender Sharp III of Wilson County as a flue-cured tobacco farmer. Sharp and his family have grown and harvested tobacco for six generations. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the NC Agricultural Foundation.  

Governor Stein has appointed the following to the North Carolina Human Resources Commission:  

• Alfred “Al” T. Davis of Cumberland County as a veteran nominated by the Veteran Affairs Commission. Davis currently manages the activities of the Region 3 Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Service. He is a dedicated professional who brings integrity and a “people first” approach to the workplace. 

Governor Stein has appointed the following to the Statewide Independent Living Council:  

• Amanda Jarrell of Union County as a parent of an individual with a disability. Jarrell is a South Charlotte Realtor and devoted mom to two children, including a son with complex medical and special needs. Her lived experience as a special needs parent shapes how she leads with empathy, clarity, and advocacy, guiding her work as a trusted resource for families and a committed voice in her community.