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

Louisiana Board of Pharmacy
The Louisiana Board of Pharmacy serves to protect the public health, safety and welfare by the effective control and regulation of the practice of pharmacy; the licensure of pharmacists; and the licensure, permitting, certification, registration, control and regulation of all persons and sites, in or out of this state, that sell drugs or devices to consumers and/or patients, or assist in the practice of pharmacy, within the state. The board also serves as the controlled substance authority for the state, issuing controlled dangerous substance licenses to all qualified applicants desiring to manufacture, distribute, prescribe or dispense controlled dangerous substances within the state. Further, the board monitors its clients for compliance with the laws and rules relative to their activities with controlled dangerous substances. 

Sajal K. Roy, PharmD, from Madisonville has been appointed to the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy. Dr. Roy is the Vice President of Operations with Factor One Source/FAST Pharmacy.  He will represent the first pharmacy district.

State Licensing Board for Contractors 
The purpose of the State Licensing Board of Contractors is the protection of the health, safety, and general welfare of citizens dealing with persons engaged in the contracting vocation, and affording citizens an effective and practical protection against incompetent, inexperienced, unlawful, and fraudulent acts of contractors with whom they contract. The Board also monitors construction projects to ensure compliance with the statutory and regulatory licensure requirements.

Chester “Lee” Mallett of Iowa has been re-appointed to the State Licensing Board for Contractors. Mallett is the Owner/President of Mallett Buildings.  He will serve on the board as a subcontractor in the construction industry in a field other than electrical or mechanical construction. He will represent the third congressional district of Louisiana.

Victor Frederick Weston of Baton Rouge has been re-appointed to the State Licensing Board for Contractors. Weston is an estimator with Tri-State Trenchless, LLC. He was nominated by the Louisiana Associated General Contractors and will represent the sixth congressional district in building or industrial construction.

Joel David Rushing of Denham Springs has been appointed to the State Licensing Board for Contractors. He is Senior Vice President of Construction with Turner Industries. Rushing was nominated by the LA Associated Builders and Contractors and will represent the sixth congressional district in building or industrial construction.

Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners
The Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners safeguards the public health, safety, and welfare of the people of this state against unauthorized, unqualified, and improper practice of social work through proper regulatory authority.

Latonya S. Charles of Alexandria has been appointed to the Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners. Charles is an administrator with Bayou Mental Health Services, LLC and will serve as a Licensed Master's Social Worker.

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.

Temisha V. Sonnier of Oberlin has been appointed to the Developmental Disabilities Council. 

Melissa O. Bayham of Addis has been re-appointed to the Developmental Disabilities Council.  Ms. Bayham is Rehabilitation Services Director for the Louisiana Workforce Commission.  She will represent rehabilitation services on the board.

Dr. Phillip Wilson of New Orleans has been appointed to the Developmental Disabilities Council.  Dr. Wilson is a Professor with the LSU Health Sciences Center and will represent the LSU Health Science Center Human Development Center.

Jamie B. Wong of Baton Rouge has been re-appointed to the Developmental Disabilities Council. Wong is Director of Special Education with the Louisiana Department of Education and Director-Elect of the National Association of State Directors of Special Education. She will represent the Department of Education.

Mary V. Tarver of Alexandria has been re-appointed to the Developmental Disabilities Council and will continue serving as a parent of an adult with developmental disabilities. 

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.

D. Chance McNeely of Baton Rouge has been appointed to the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists.  McNeely is the Executive Director of the Louisiana Motor Transport Association, and he will serve as a consumer member.

Palliative Care Interdisciplinary Advisory Council
The Palliative Care Interdisciplinary Advisory Council’s mission is to improve the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with life-threatening illnesses, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial, and spiritual.  

Dr. Mordecai Portash of New Orleans has been appointed to the Palliative Care Interdisciplinary Advisory Council. Potash is as Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry with Tulane University and was appointed by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners. He will serve as a physician member board-certified in pain management.

Christine B. Guidry of Denham Springs was appointed to the Palliative Care Interdisciplinary Advisory Council. She is a palliative care nurse with the Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center and was appointed by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing. She will serve as an advanced practice RN board certified in hospice and palliative care.

Father Cary Bani of St. Francisville was appointed to the Palliative Care Interdisciplinary Advisory Council. Father Bani is a priest at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church and will serve as a spiritual care advisor with experience providing palliative care.

Louisiana Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
The Louisiana Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, created by the legislature, provides regulatory authority over persons offering speech-language pathology and audiology services to the public in order to safeguard the public health, safety, and welfare, to protect the public from incompetent, unscrupulous, and unauthorized persons, and from unprofessional conduct by speech-language pathologists and audiologists, and speech-language pathology assistants.

Deanna B. Hardy of Haughton has been appointed to the Louisiana Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Hardy is a professor of mathematics at the Bossier Parish Community College and will serve as a consumer member.

Commission on Perinatal Care and Prevention of Infant Mortality
The Commission on Perinatal Care and Prevention of Infant Mortality is responsible for researching and reviewing all state laws, regulations, guidelines, policies, and procedures that impact perinatal care and, where appropriate, making recommendations to the legislature and secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals. In addition, the commission is responsible for providing a plan that the state can adopt to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies, sick infants, and infant mortalities.

Leslie H. Lewis, MPH, LDN, RD, has been appointed to the Commission on Perinatal Care and Prevention of Infant Mortality. She is a Program Manager 2 with the Louisiana Department of Health, Bureau of Nutrition Services and will serve on the commission as a nutritionist.

Employment Security Board of Review
The Employment Security Board of Review acts as the higher authority review for unemployment insurance decisions made by the Louisiana Workforce Commission's lower authority appeals referees.

Sailor Jackson, Jr. of Baton Rouge has been appointed to the Employment Security Board of Review. Jackson is a retired Director of Special Projects with the Secretary of State and will serve on the board and represent labor.

Addictive Disorder Regulatory Authority
The Addictive Disorders Regulatory Authority licenses and regulates addictive disorder counselors and prevention professionals in the State of Louisiana.

Reverend Chris Andrews of Baton Rouge has been appointed to the Addictive Disorder Regulatory Authority. Rev. Andrews is the Executive Director of Rebuilding Together Baton Rouge and he will serve as an at-large consumer.

Catherine M. Lemieux, PhD, of Baton Rouge was re-appointed to the Addictive Disorder Regulatory Authority.  Dr. Lemieux is the Margaret Champagne Womack Professor in Addictive Disorders for LSU. She was nominated by the Louisiana Association of Substance Abuse Counselors and Trainers, Inc. and will serve in the role requiring significant experience or knowledge in the area of opiate replacement therapy.

Louisiana Workers' Compensation Corporation
LWCC provides competitive workers’ compensation insurance to Louisiana employers, helps prevent on-the-job injury and illness, and gives injured workers the best opportunity to return to work.

Angele D. Kelley of Baton Rouge has been re-appointed to the Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Corporation (LWCC). Kelley is President and CEO of The Davis Kelley Group, LLC and is the current vice-chair of LWCC. She will serve in an at-large role.

Louisiana Emergency Response Network (LERN)
The Louisiana Emergency Response Network Board serves to defend the public health, safety and welfare by protecting the people of the State of Louisiana against unnecessary deaths and morbidity due to trauma and time-sensitive illness.

Dr. Paul B. Gladden of New Orleans has been re-appointed to the Louisiana Emergency Response Network Board. Dr. Gladden is an Orthopaedic Trauma Surgeon with Tulane University. He will represent the Louisiana State Medical Society.

Judiciary Commission of Louisiana
The Judiciary Commission of Louisiana was created in 1968 by an amendment to the Louisiana Constitution of 1921 and continues in existence by Article 5, Section 25 of the 1974 Constitution. The members of the Judiciary Commission serve as an extension of the eyes and ears of the Justices of the Louisiana Supreme Court. They are the independent and preliminary “fact finders.” They conduct inquiries and investigations into alleged violations of the ethical rules for state judicial officers contained in Article 5, Section 25 of the Constitution or the Louisiana Code of Judicial Conduct to determine whether to recommend to the Supreme Court that a judicial officer be publicly disciplined. 

Robert “Rob” Ackerman of Metairie has been appointed to the Judiciary Commission of Louisiana. Ackerman is an expert in warehousing, transportation and operations. He was selected by the Louisiana District Judges Association.

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