Today, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced his appointments to several Louisiana boards and commissions. 

Gov. Edwards announced appointments to the following boards and commissions:

South Tangipahoa Parish Port Commission

The South Tangipahoa Parish Port Commission operates Port Manchac in Tangipahoa Parish. The Commission’s operations include transportation, storage, shipping of products, and leasing of warehouses and docks.

James L. Nelson, M.D., of Hammond, was appointed to the South Tangipahoa Parish Port Commission. Nelson is a retired medical doctor and a veteran of the United States Air Force. As required by statute, he was nominated by the Hammond Chamber of Commerce.

Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council

The Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council is responsible for monitoring and reporting to the governor and the legislature on the implementation and administration of laws pertaining to the administration of workers' compensation claims and making specific recommendations thereon.

Philip G. Hunter, of Alexandria, was appointed to the Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council. Hunter is an attorney and managing partner at Hunter & Beck. He will serve as an attorney who has previously represented claimants in workers’ compensation claims. 

Governor’s Task Force on DWI

The Governor’s Task Force on DWI serves to address the high incidence of driving while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs and to help identify and implement effective DWI countermeasures.

Jerrod D. King, of Pineville, was appointed to the Governor’s Task Force on DWI. King is the Chief of the City of Alexandria Police Department and a veteran of the United States Army. He will serve as a police chief on the task force.

Water Resources Commission

The Water Resources Commission is responsible for working with the Commissioner of Conservation to prevent waste of ground water resources and to prevent or alleviate damaging or potentially damaging subsidence of the land surface caused by withdrawal of ground water 

Ellen J. Torgrimson, of New Orleans, was appointed to the Water Resources Commission. Torgrimson is retired. She formerly worked as a technical editor and production group manager for Daniel B. Stephens & Associates, Inc., an environmental consulting firm.

Governor's Advisory Commission on Coastal Protection, Restoration, and Conservation

The mission of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Coastal Protection, Restoration, and Conservation is to assist the State of Louisiana in the development and implementation of a holistic engineering plan to achieve a sustainable coastal ecosystem, encompassing the entirety of Louisiana’s fragile coast. 

R. King Milling, of New Orleans, was reappointed to the Governor's Advisory Commission on Coastal Protection, Restoration, and Conservation. Milling is a retired attorney and will serve as an at-large member on the commission.

Robin A. Barnes, of New Orleans, was appointed to the Governor's Advisory Commission on Coastal Protection, Restoration, and Conservation. Barnes is the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Greater New Orleans, Inc. She will serve as a representative of business and industry on the commission.

Stephen W. Cochran, of New Orleans, was appointed to the Governor's Advisory Commission on Coastal Protection, Restoration, and Conservation. Cochran is the Associate Vice President for Coastal Resilience at the Environmental Defense Fund. He will serve as a representative of the non-profit corporation community.

Stacy P. Methvin, of Houston, was reappointed to the Governor's Advisory Commission on Coastal Protection, Restoration, and Conservation. Methvin is the Director of Pioneer Natural Resources and Magellan Midstream Partners. She will serve as a representative of the energy production and distribution sector.

Capital Area Human Services District

The Capital Area Human Services District directs the operation and management of community-based programs and services relative to public health, mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse services for the parishes of Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana.

Rikki H. Permenter, Ph.D., of Clinton, was appointed to the Capital Area Human Services District. Permenter is a licensed professional counselor and the owner of Bent Tree Counseling. She will serve as a representative of East Feliciana Parish and a member with professional expertise in the field of addictive disorders.

Tessa W. Young, of Port Allen, was appointed to the Capital Area Human Services District. Yound is an Information and Referral Specialist with Conduent. She will serve as a representative of West Baton Rouge Parish and a member with professional expertise in the field of mental health.

Louisiana State Arts Council

The Louisiana State Arts Council receives applications for matching federal funds available from the National Endowment for the Arts and such other funds made available to the council and make recommendations thereon. The Council reviews and approves or rejects said grant applications from other governmental units, community arts councils, and other private, nonprofit, and tax-exempt groups. Additionally, the Council advises departmental officers on the design and execution of an annual state plan consistent with the goals and policies of the department as provided by federal and state law, rules, and regulations, and submits the plan to the National Endowment for the Arts.

Henry E. Price, of Shreveport, was appointed to the Louisiana State Arts Council. Price is an educator and the Supervisor of Art for the Caddo Parish School Board. As required by statute, he was nominated by an arts organization.

Governor's Advisory Board of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

The Governor's Advisory Board of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention serves to encourage and assist the state, units of local government, and private non-profit agencies in the comprehensive improvement of the juvenile justice system in the State of Louisiana. The Board assists in the establishment of juvenile justice policy by providing advice and counsel to the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement, the Louisiana Legislature, and the Governor of Louisiana on ways and means to facilitate greater juvenile justice system effectiveness.

Travis D. Landt, of Marrero, was appointed to the Governor’s Advisory Board of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Landt is the Lead Security Officer for Merchants SS – Brother Martin High School.

Orlando B. Petrie, of New Orleans, was appointed to the Governor’s Advisory Board of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Petrie is the Senior Director of Program Operations at Father Flanagan Boys Town and a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. 

Antoine D. Pierce, of Baton Rouge, was appointed to the Governor’s Advisory Board of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Pierce is the Director of the Better Boys Initiative, Inc.

Delarious O. Stewart, Ed.D., of Franklinton, was appointed to the Governor’s Advisory Board of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Stewart is a licensed professional counselor and the Clinical Director of AMRI Behavioral Health.

Logan C. Wolf, of Morgan City, was appointed to the Governor’s Advisory Board of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Wolf is a college student and associate at the Gap, Inc.

Morgan City Harbor and Terminal District

The Morgan City Harbor and Terminal District Board of Commissioners manages the Port of Morgan City by regulating the commerce and traffic of the port. It has the power to administer, construct, operate, and maintain wharves, warehouses, landings, docks, sheds, belt and connecting railroads, shipways, canals, channels, slips, basins, locks, elevators, and other structures and facilities necessary and proper for the use and development of the business of the port.

Steven W. Cornes, of Morgan City, was appointed to the Morgan City Harbor and Terminal District Board of Commissioners. Cornes is Project Manager of Conrad Shipyard. As required by statute, he was nominated by the mayor and council of Morgan City.

Louisiana Physical Therapy Board

The Louisiana Physical Therapy Board licenses and regulates physical therapists and physical therapist assistants who wish to work in Louisiana. The Board is mandated to interpret the scope of practice for physical therapy, write regulations, and discipline licensees who have violated the law.

Melissa M. Cox, of Lake Charles, was appointed to the Louisiana Physical Therapy Board. Cox is an educator with the Calcasieu Parish School Board. She will serve as a consumer member on the board.

Louisiana State Board of Private Security Examiners

The Louisiana State Board of Private Security Examiners regulates the contract security guard industry in the state of Louisiana making sure companies register their personnel and obtain the required training as prescribed by law.

Donny L. Pitts, of Shreveport, was appointed to the Louisiana State Board of Private Security Examiners. Pitts is the owner of Guardian CCP, LLC and will serve as a representative of the 5thPublic Service Commission District. 

Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists

The Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists is responsible for licensure and regulation of psychologists within the state.

Amitai Heller, of New Orleans, was appointed to the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists. Heller is an attorney with the Advocacy Center and will serve as a consumer member on the board.

Louisiana Public Facilities Authority

The primary mission of the LPFA is to further education, healthcare, economic development, and job creation in Louisiana in order to make Louisiana a better place to work, live, and raise our families. We fulfill this mission by serving as a conduit issuer of tax-exempt and taxable bonds for Louisiana and its citizens. As a conduit issuer of bonds, the LPFA provides the means for qualifying projects and entities to receive tax-exempt financing and therefore achieve substantial interest cost savings. We also fulfill our mission by offering free college planning resources to students and parents through Lela, the LPFA's education division.

David W. Groner, of New Iberia, was reappointed to the Louisiana Public Facilities Authority. Mr. Groner is an attorney and the president of David Groner, PLC.

Louisiana Real Estate Appraisers Board

The Louisiana Real Estate Appraisers Board is the state government agency that administers and regulates the real estate appraiser licensing and certification program. The board enforces the Louisiana Real Estate Appraisers Law and the Rules and Regulations of the Board and monitors the mode and method by which real estate appraisals are conducted in this state.

Mark A. Major, of Livonia, was appointed to the Louisiana Real Estate Appraisers Board. Major is a Vice President and Senior Lending Officer with Guaranty Bank & Trust Co. As required by statute, he was nominated by the Louisiana Bankers Association.

St. Bernard Port, Harbor and Terminal District

The Board of Commissioners of the St. Bernard Port, Harbor and Terminal District Board has complete jurisdiction to regulate all domestic, coastwise, and intercoastal commerce and traffic of the district, and all commerce and traffic within the district where such is conducted by or a facility wholly owned by the district.

Rachel L. Nunez, of Violet, was appointed to the St. Bernard Port, Harbor and Terminal District. Nunez is a Vice President at Hancock Whitney Bank. As required by statute, she was nominated by a majority of the St. Bernard Parish legislative delegation.