BATON ROUGE, La. — Today, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced his appointments to the following Louisiana boards and commissions.

Children's Cabinet Advisory Board 

The Children’s Cabinet Advisory Board provides information and recommendations from the perspective of advocacy groups, service providers and parents.

Constance A. Bellone of Madisonville has been appointed to the Children’s Cabinet Advisory Board. Dr. Bellone is the CEO of Health & Education Alliance of Louisiana. She will represent the Louisiana School-Based Health Alliance (formerly the Louisiana Assembly on School-Based Health Care.)

Cynthia F. DiCarlo of Prairieville has been appointed to the Children’s Cabinet Advisory Board. Dr. DiCarlo is a professor with Louisiana State University. She will serve at large.

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.

Shannon E. Bibbins of Pontchatoula has been appointed to the Developmental Disabilities Council. Dr. Bibbins is deputy director of the Louisiana Department of Health. She will serve as a representative of a principal state agency, the Bureau of Health Services Financing, Louisiana Department of Health.

Louisiana Board of Drug and Device Distributors

The Louisiana Board of Drug and Device Distributors issues licenses for and regulates the distribution of legend drugs and legend devices by distributors within and into the state of Louisiana in order to safeguard life and health and to promote the public welfare.

Chad D. Gielen of Crowley has been reappointed to the Louisiana Board of Drug and Device Distributors. Gielen is the president and CEO of Louisiana Wholesale Drug Co., Inc. He will represent the Louisiana Association of Wholesale Drug Distributors.

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. 

Ashley J. Argrave of Baton Rouge has been appointed to the Early Identification of Deaf or Hard of Hearing Infants Advisory Council. Ms. Argrave is a deaf education teacher and audiologist with Deaf Education Network Louisiana LLC. She will serve as a teacher or administrator certified in the education of people who are deaf. 

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 reappointed 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.

Dr. Richard M. Zweifler of New Orleans has been reappointed to the Louisiana Emergency Response Network Board. Dr. Zweifler is the associate medical director and system chair of neurology for Ochsner Health System. He will represent the American Stroke Association.

Human Trafficking Prevention Commission Advisory Board

The Human Trafficking Prevention Commission Advisory Board was created to provide information and recommendations to the Human Trafficking Prevention Commission from the perspective of advocacy groups, service providers, and victims.

Jennifer A. Dexter of Slidell has been appointed to the Human Trafficking Prevention Commission Advisory Board. Ms. Dexter is the executive director of Louisiana Alliance of Children’s Advocacy Centers. She was nominated by the Louisiana Children’s Advocacy Centers.

Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice

The Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice serves to improve the operations of the criminal justice and juvenile justice system and promote public safety by providing progressive leadership and coordination within the criminal justice community.

Carl K. Dunn, Sr. of Baker has been appointed to the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice. Dunn is the chief of police in the city of Baker. He will serve as a chief of police.

Jason R. Parker of Minden has been appointed to the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice. Parker is sheriff of Webster Parish. He will serve as a sheriff.

Law Enforcement Executive Management Institute

The purpose of the Law Enforcement Executive Management Institute Governing Board is to promote the public peace, by establishing training programs for municipal chiefs of police to provide management courses and skills to enhance the safety of the citizens of Louisiana and the enforcement of state laws.

David C. Butler Jr. of Woodworth has been reappointed to the Law Enforcement Executive Management Institute. Butler is mayor of the Town of Woodworth. He will serve as a mayor representing the Louisiana Municipal Association.

Louisiana Naval War Memorial Commission

The Louisiana Naval War Memorial Commission was created within the Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism. The Commission looks after the destroyer the USS Kidd and other property acquired for use as a permanent public Naval and Marine Corps Memorial.

Donald J. Miller II of Baton Rouge has been appointed to the Louisiana Naval War Memorial Commission. Mr. Miller is senior director of business recruitment for the Baton Rouge Area Chamber. He will serve at large.

State Board of Optometry Examiners

The Louisiana State Board of Optometry Examiners is responsible for licensing and regulating optometrists in the state.

Paul B. LaPoint Sr, O.D. of Bunkie has been appointed to the the Louisiana State Board of Optometry Examiners. Dr. LaPoint is an optometrist with LaPoint Eye Clinic in Bunkie. He will serve at large.

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.  

Gordon P. “Trey” Gibson III of Bossier City has been appointed to the Palliative Care Interdisciplinary Advisory Council. Mr. Gibson is an instructor with LSU Shreveport. He will serve as a patient or family advocate independent of a hospital or healthcare facility.

Susan E. Nelson, M.D. of New Orleans has been appointed to the Palliative Care Interdisciplinary Advisory Council. Dr. Nelson is system chair for Palliative Medicine and Bioethics, and Medical Director of Post-Acute Care with Ochsner Health Systems. She will serve as a Palliative care administrator with current operational experience managing a palliative care program.

Parish Boards of Election Supervisors

The purpose of the board in each parish is to oversee and supervise all elections within the parish to ensure the safety and accuracy of the democratic process. The Board of Election Supervisors oversees the preparation and conducting of each election in the parish. Each parish’s board is composed of the parish’s registrar of voters, the parish’s clerk of court, the chairman of the parish executive committee of each recognized political party, and one member appointed by the governor.

Geraldine G. Drake of Welsh has been appointed to the Parish Boards of Election Supervisors. Ms. Drake is a retired program technician with the USDA Farm Service Agency. She will represent Jefferson Davis Parish.

Dacia J. Smith of New Orleans has been appointed to the Parish Boards of Election Supervisors. Ms. Smith is the chief deputy of the Second City Court Clerk’s Office. She will represent Orleans Parish.

Patient’s Compensation Fund Oversight Board

The Patient’s Compensation Fund is an off-budget unit of the state which is 100 percent self-funded and not pooled in the general fund. The Fund was created in 1975 to provide an affordable and guaranteed medical malpractice coverage system for the private healthcare providers in the state. It basically plays the role of an “excess insurer” of private healthcare providers. The law allows a provider to have financial responsibility for the first $100,000 of exposure per claim whether through insurance or security deposit and enroll in the Fund for the excess coverage and be under an umbrella of the cap on damages. The vast majority of health care providers are enrolled in the Patient’s Compensation Fund and pay surcharges for the coverage and protection provided. The Patient’s Compensation Fund provides protection for the healthcare system, keeping costs down, and providing a guaranteed pool of funds to pay those citizens injured from medical malpractice of private health care providers.

Marcus C. Naquin of Hammond was reappointed to the Patient’s Compensation Fund Oversight Board. Mr. Naquin represents health care providers contributing the 3rd greatest percentage of the fund's aggregate surcharges. He was nominated by the LA Nursing Home Association. 

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.

Deandra M. Narcisse of Lafayette has been appointed to the Louisiana Physical Therapy Board. Ms. Narcisse is an instructional coach with the St. Martin Parish School Board. She will serve as a consumer member.

Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners

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

Melissa S. Haley of New Orleans has been appointed to the Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners. Ms. Haley is vice president of program operations with Volunteers of America Southeast Louisiana. She will serve as a licensed master of social work.

Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority - East

The Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East sets policy and manages flood protection operations in Jefferson, Orleans and St. Bernard Parishes on the east bank of the Mississippi River.  Specifically, the Flood Protection Authority is responsible for flood protection systems; the new Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System (HSDRRS); the Mississippi River and Tributaries (MR&T) Levee System; and the Interior Non-Federal Levee Systems.

Deborah M. “Debbie” Settoon of Kenner has been appointed to the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority – East.  Ms. Settoon is a retired registered civil and environmental engineer.  She will serve as an engineer or a professional in a related field such as geotechnical, hydrological, or environmental science and a resident of Jefferson Parish. 

Veterans Affairs Commission

The Veterans Affairs Commission is responsible for adopting and promulgating rules and regulations governing the operations of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Additionally, the Commission advises the department's Secretary of problems concerning the welfare of veterans and makes and publishes annual and special reports to the Governor concerning the operations of the department.

H. Paul Hermann Jr. of Ponchatoula has been reappointed to the Veterans Affairs Commission. Mr. Hermann is CEO of the Disabled American Veterans, Department of Louisiana Adjutant. He will represent disabled veterans.

Richard A. O’Brien of Denham Springs has been reappointed to the Veterans Affairs Commission. Mr. O’Brien is vice chair of the Veterans Affairs Commission and Louisiana State Junior Vice Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart. He will represent the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

Linda H. Resendez of Benton has been appointed to the Veterans Affairs Commission. Ms. Resendez is an occupational therapist with the Homeless Veterans Program. She will represent the American Legion.

Water Resource 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.

Mark D. Frey of Morganza has been appointed to the Water Resource Commission. Mr. Frey is the owner of Four Oaks Farm. He will represent the Louisiana Farm Bureau.

Louisiana Women's Policy and Research Commission 

The Louisiana Women’s Policy and Research Commission serves to research, collect facts and statistics, and make special studies of conditions pertaining to the employment, health, safety and financial status of women in the state of Louisiana.

Suzette Caleo, Ph.D. of Baton Rouge has been appointed to the Louisiana Women's Policy and Research Commission. Dr. Caleo is associate professor of public administration with Louisiana State University. She will serve as a member with experience in gender studies. 

Hyacinth C. McKee, DBH of Slidell has been appointed to the Louisiana Women’s Policy and Research Commission. Dr. McKee is an associate professor with Herzing University.

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