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

Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters 
The Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters is charged with encouraging proficiency in the practice of shorthand reporting as a profession, promoting efficiency in court and general reporting, and extending protection afforded by a standardized profession to the courts and the public.

Vincent P. Borrello Jr., of New Orleans, was reappointed to the Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters. Borrello is a certified shorthand reporter with the Orleans Criminal District Court.

Phillip A. Kaufman, of Lafayette, was appointed to the Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters. Kaufman is a certified shorthand reporter and the President and CEO of goDEPO Court Reporting, Video & Litigation Support Services.

 

Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council
The Louisiana Developmental Disability Council’s mission is to lead and promote advocacy, capacity building, and systemic change to improve the quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

Darlene M. Budgewater, of Baton Rouge, was reappointed to the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council. Budgewater is the Medicaid Deputy Director for the Louisiana Department of Health.

Mitchell D. Iddins, of Shreveport, was reappointed to the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council. Iddins is the Director of Independent Living Programs at New Horizons Independent Living Center.

Ernice M. Jones, of New Orleans, was appointed to the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council. Jones is the Regional Director of 1st A Southeast INCS.

Hyacinth C. McKee, DBH, of Slidell, was appointed to the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council. McKee is a licensed clinical social worker and Assistant Professor of Social Work at Southern University at New Orleans.

Crystal H. White, of Prairieville, was appointed to the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council. White is a program manager with the McClindon Family Foundation.

 

Louisiana Emergency Medical Services Certification Commission
The Louisiana Emergency Medical Services Certification Commission has the responsibility to establish and publish standards of out-of-hospital practice; regulate the scope of practice of Emergency Medical Services professionals; discipline and regulate the practice of Emergency Medical Services professionals; and establish standards for educational programs preparing individuals for out of hospital practice.

Lance E. Stuke, M.D., of New Orleans, was reappointed to the Louisiana Emergency Medical Services Certification Commission. Stuke is a surgeon and Associate Professor of Surgery at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center.

 

Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners
The Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners is responsible for the regulation of Provisional Licensed Professional Counselors or PLPCs (formerly Counselor Interns), Provisional Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists or PLMFTs (formerly MFT Interns), Licensed Professional Counselors or LPCs, and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists or LMFTs.

Ronald D. Cathey, of Simsboro, was reappointed to the Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners. Cathey is a licensed marriage and family therapist and the Director of Counseling and Career Services at Louisiana Tech University. As required by statute, Cathey was nominated by the Louisiana Association of Marriage and Family Therapy and will serve as a licensed marriage and family therapist on the Board.

 

Early Identification of Deaf or Hard of Hearing Infants Advisory Council
The Early Identification of Deaf or Hard of Hearing Infants Advisory Council advises the Office of Public Health on various aspects of the development and implementation of the Early Identification of Hearing Impairment in Infants Law, which includes making recommendations on risk factors for hearing loss, program standards and quality assurance, program integration with community resources, materials for distribution, and program implementation and follow-up.

Jimmy C. Gore, of Baton Rouge, was appointed to the Early Identification of Deaf or Hard of Hearing Infants Advisory Council. Gore is retired. He formerly was an ESL instructor at Gallaudet University. As required by statute, Gore was nominated by and will serve as a representative of the Louisiana Association of the Deaf.

 

Patient's Compensation Fund Oversight Board
The purpose of the Patient's Compensation Fund Oversight Board is to guarantee that affordable medical malpractice coverage is available to all Louisiana private healthcare providers and to provide a certain, stable source of compensation for legitimate injured parties of medical malpractice.

Gregory L. Waddell, of Baton Rouge, was appointed to the Patient’s Compensation Fund Oversight Board. Waddell is an attorney and the Vice-President of Legal, Regulatory, and Governmental Affairs at the Louisiana Hospital Association.

Sydney Deville Cohen, M.D., of New Orleans, was appointed to the Patient’s Compensation Fund Oversight Board. Cohen is a physician with the Daughters of Charity of New Orleans.

Christopher M. Foret, M.D., of Franklinton, was reappointed to the Patient’s Compensation Fund Oversight Board. Foret is a physician with St. Tammany Parish Hospital.

 

State Mineral and Energy Board
The State Mineral and Energy Board is responsible for leasing state lands for mineral exploration and development. The board reviews existing mineral leases for proper maintenance, development, and operations; reviews payments pursuant to state leases; and documents agreements affecting state leases, including unitization, compromise, consent letters, and assignments.

Byron L. Lee, of Marrero, was appointed to the State Mineral and Energy Board. Lee is a senior partner at LSA Plus Partners, LLC, and a managing partner at Lee Greer Claims Group, LLC.

 

Crime Victims Reparations Board
The Crime Victims Reparations Board assists victims of violence and their families with the emotional, physical, and financial aftermath of crime. The Louisiana Crime Victims Reparations Fund helps innocent victims and their families when they have no other means of paying for the financial cost of crime.

Angela M. Henderson, of Shreveport, was appointed to the Crime Victims Reparations Board. Henderson is the Assistant Executive Director and Sexual Assault Program Director of Project Celebration, Inc. She will serve as a representative of the 4th Congressional District.

 

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