Baton Rouge - Today, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced his appointments to several Louisiana boards and commissions.
Gov. Edwards announced appointments to the following boards and commissions:
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.
Hilary C. Bordelon, of Slidell, was appointed to the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council. Ms. Bordelon is a self-employed independent provider for Early Steps.
Jill E. Eglé, of New Orleans, was appointed to the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council. Ms. Eglé is a volunteer and advocate for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Louisiana Emergency Response Commission
The Louisiana Emergency Response Commission (LERC) coordinates and supervises implementation of the federal hazardous materials Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act within Louisiana. The LERC develops, coordinates, and leads the state emergency management program, enabling effective preparation for, response to, and recovery from emergencies and disasters in order to save lives, reduce human suffering, and minimize property loss.
Chris J. Guilbeaux, of Breaux Bridge, was reappointed to the Louisiana Emergency Response Commission. Mr. Guilbeaux is the deputy director of preparedness, response and interoperability for the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.
Governor’s Council on Homelessness
The Governor’s Council on Homelessness serves to advise the Governor on issues of concern to Louisiana citizens concerning homelessness. The council will review and update Louisiana’s Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness and monitor implementation of Louisiana’s Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness. The council serves as a resource for information about access to available services for the homeless population, including housing and transportation options for the homeless.
Martha J. Kegel, of New Orleans, was appointed to the Governor’s Council on Homelessness. Ms. Kegel is the Executive Director for UNITY of Greater New Orleans.
John K. Kelly Grand Bayou Reservoir District
The John K. Kelly Grand Bayou Reservoir District provides raw water for the use of rural and municipal water systems in Red River Parish and adjacent areas.The district also provides water recreational opportunities for the public.
Antony D. Thomas, of Hall Summit, was appointed to the John K. Kelly Grand Bayou Reservoir District. Mr. Thomas works in inside sales with IES in Shreveport.
Red River Waterway Commission
The Red River Waterway Commission provides both recreational and commercial opportunities to Louisiana residents. The Red River is a vital source for economic development essential to the future of our state.
Charles R. Greer, of Natchitoches, was appointed to the Red River Waterway Commission. Mr. Greer is a retired enforcement director for the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.
Pilotage Fee Commission
The Pilotage Fee Commission exists to establish and fix rates and fees charged by commissioned river pilots working on the Mississippi and Calcasieu rivers in the State of Louisiana.
Robert D. Schromm, of Baton Rouge, was appointed to the Pilotage Fee Commission. Mr. Schromm is a staff attorney and manager of governmental affairs for the Louisiana Chemical Association. He will serve as an alternate member representing industry.
Traumatic Head and Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund Advisory Board
The Traumatic Head and Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund Advisory Board provides services in a flexible, individualized manner to Louisiana citizens with traumatic head or traumatic spinal cord injuries.The board administers a program which enables individuals to return to a reasonable level of functioning and independent living in their communities.
Andrew O. Kuyoro, of Baton Rouge, was reappointed to the Traumatic Head and Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund Advisory Board. Mr. Kuyoro is an engineering tech with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. He will continue to serve as a family member of a survivor of a spinal cord injury.
Louisiana Liquefied Petroleum Gas Commission
The Louisiana Liquefied Petroleum Gas Commission’s mission is to promulgate and enforce rules that allow for the safest possible distribution, handling, and usage of liquefied petroleum gases and anhydrous ammonia, necessary for the protection, safety and security of the public. The commission accomplishes this through inspections of storage facilities and equipment, as well as examination of personnel engaged in the industry.
Ira E. Cleveland Jr., of Amite, was appointed to the Louisiana Liquefied Petroleum Gas Commission. Mr. Cleveland is a retired general manager of Lacox Propane Gas Co., Inc.
Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System
The Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System is responsible for supervising and managing the following universities: Grambling State University, Louisiana Tech University, McNeese State University, Nicholls State University, Northwestern State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, University of Louisiana at Monroe and University of New Orleans.
Jimmy D. Long Jr., of Natchitoches, was appointed to the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System. Mr. Long is an attorney and the owner of Jimmy D. Long Jr., LLC. He will serve as a representative of the 4th Congressional District.
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.
Kathrine A. Tubbs, of Bastrop, was reappointed to the Morehouse Parish Board of Election Supervisors.
Brenda Bailey Traylor, of Shreveport, was appointed to the Caddo Parish Board of Election Supervisors.
Louisiana Cancer and Lung Trust Fund Board
The Louisiana Cancer and Lung Trust Fund Board serves to determine policy for the Louisiana Tumor Registry and distribute state funds for cancer research.
Kristi I. Rapp, Pharm.D, of Darrow, was appointed to the Louisiana Cancer and Lung Trust Fund Board. Dr. Rapp is a clinical associate professor and chair at Xavier University of Louisiana’s College of Pharmacy. She was nominated by and will serve as a representative of Xavier University of Louisiana’s College of Pharmacy.
Glenn M. Mills, M.D., of Shreveport, was reappointed to the Louisiana Cancer and Lung Trust Fund Board. Dr. Mills is the chief of the section of Hematology and Oncology at LSU Health Shreveport and the director of the Feist-Weiller Cancer Center. He was nominated by and will serve as the representative of the LSU Medical School at Shreveport.
Prison Enterprises Board
The Prison Enterprises Board operates in an advisory capacity to advise the Department of Corrections Secretary and the Administration of Prison Enterprises regarding the management of both the Agricultural and Industrial Programs which are operated by Prison Enterprises at the various state correctional facilities throughout Louisiana.
Timothy B. Travis, of Ethel, was appointed to the Prison Enterprises Board. Mr. Travis is a retired sales and marketing manager for Louisiana Prison Enterprises.
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.
Richard A. O’Brien, of Denham Springs, was appointed to the Veterans Affairs Commission. Mr. O’Brien is the state legislative officer for the Military Order of the Purple Heart and a Veteran of the United States Navy. He will serve as a representative of the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
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, was appointed to the Louisiana Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Ms. Hardy is an associate professor of mathematics at Bossier Parish Community College and will serve as an at-large representative on the board.
Military Family Assistance Board
The Military Family Assistance Board is responsible for establishing rules for funding need-based claims submitted by families of activated military personnel and travel assistance for deployed military personnel.
Matthew C. Farlow, of Baton Rouge, was appointed to the Military Family Assistance Board. Mr. Farlow is a veteran of the United States Air Force and is the department adjutant for the American Legion. He will serve as an honorably discharged veteran of the Louisiana National Guard or the active or other reserve components of the U.S. Armed Forces, as required by statute.
Louisiana Naval War Memorial Commission
The Louisiana Naval War Memorial Commission was created within the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. The Commission has control over the destroyer USS KIDD and other property acquired for use as a permanent public Naval and Marine Corps Memorial.
Bobbie J. Pugh, of Baton Rouge, was reappointed to the Louisiana Naval War Memorial Commission. Ms. Pugh is the owner of Anchor Management.
Tensas Basin Levee District
The Tensas Basin Levee District provides flood protection for a large portion of Southeast Arkansas and Northeast Louisiana. The district serves to construct, operate, and maintain flood control structures including 434 miles of levee, 361 miles of flood control channels, 135 floodgates, 7 storm water pumping stations and 15 dams (weirs).
Charles R. Venable, of Monroe, was reappointed to the Tensas Basin Levee District. Mr. Venable is a retired farmer and will continue to serve as a representative of Ouachita Parish. As required by statute, he was nominated by a legislator representing Ouachita Parish.
Michelle R. Collum, of Oak Grove, was appointed to the Tensas Basin Levee District. Ms. Collum is a managing owner of Oak Grove Inn and Suites and will serve as a representative of West Carroll Parish. As required by statute, she was nominated by a legislator representing West Carroll Parish.
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.
Maria A. Losavio, of Alexandria, was appointed to the Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council. Ms. Losavio is an attorney and the owner of the Losavio Law Office, LLC. She will serve as the representative of the 4th Public Service Commission District.