RALEIGH, NC -- On Aug 5th, Governor Roy Cooper announced Boards and Commissions appointments.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Addictions Specialist Professional Practice Board:

• Lauren Lucile Quick-Graham of Morrisville as a member selected from the allied mental health, substance use disorder and developmental disabilities treatment and prevention profession. Quick-Graham is an LCSW abstractor with the NC Maternal Mortality Review Committee within the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. She has over 13 years of experience working in perinatal health and substance use.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Governor's Advisory Council on Aging:

• Dr. Sudha Shreeniwas of Greensboro as a member at-large. Dr. Shreeniwas is a professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Her research focus is Gerontology, specifically the wellbeing of older immigrants and refugees.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Commission for the Blind:

• David Dean Oberhart of Durham as a member of the blind community and representative of the Statewide Independent Living Council. Oberhart is the team lead of call center 211 at United Way of North Carolina.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Building Code Council:

• Derrick Fitzgerald Thompson of Fayetteville as a municipal elected official or city manager. Thompson is a Fayetteville City Councilman representing District 6. Thompson retired from the United States Army after 21 years of service. He was a mail carrier for the United States Postal Service for 15 years.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina State Board of Certified Public Accountant Examiners:

• Dr. Kecia Williams Smith of Greensboro as a certified public accountant. Dr. Smith is an Associate Professor and Director of the Master of Accountancy Program in the Department of Accounting and Finance at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. She previously served on the accounting faculty at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Child Care Commission:

• Jessica Porter of Raleigh as a parent of a child in day care. Porter is a Client Success Manager at Pitney Bowes. Porter is the former Senior Client Engagement Manager at SignalPath and a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners:

• Agatha Martin Grimes of Greensboro as a licensed cosmetologist. Grimes is the owner of Pink Cupcake Salon and has over 20 years of experience in the field of cosmetology. Grimes is the 21st National President of Las Amigas, Incorporated, an organization that aims to promote growth in communities.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to serve as Chair of the following County Boards of Elections:

• William Ray Bateman of Andrews as the Cherokee County Board of Elections Chair. Bateman has 37 years of experience as an election day precinct official, Judge, Chief Judge, and One-Stop Voting Site Worker.
• Ella Fields-Bunch of Hertford as the Perquimans County Board of Elections Chair. Fields-Bunch is the Human Resources Director and Title IX Coordinator at the College of The Albemarle. Previously, she was the Chief Human Resources/Public Information Officer for Bertie County Schools.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Credit Union Commission:

• Michael Conlon of Cary as a public member. Conlon is the President and majority owner of the Affordable Communities Group, LLC. He is also the President and majority owner of Carolina Turnkey Properties, LLC.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing:

• Rey Manuel Castillo of Swannanoa as a parent of a deaf child in the western area. Castillo is an ASL Instructor at Blue Ridge Community College. Growing up with Deaf parents, Castillo has become a passionate advocate for the Deaf community with the aim of furthering ASL education. In addition to his time spent as an ASL Instructor, Castillo serves as a member of the NC School for the Deaf Board of Trustees.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Board of Dietetics/Nutrition:

• Babbi Hawkins of Summerfield as a licensed dietitian/nutritionist and educator with a college or university specializing in the field of dietetics/nutrition. Hawkins is an Academic Professor and Director of the Dietetic Internship Program at the University of North Carolina Greensboro.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Executive Mansion Fine Arts Committee:

• Chancy Kapp of Raleigh as a member at-large. Kapp retired from the North Carolina Community College System, where she worked in public affairs, media relations and statewide fundraising. Kapp is past president of the Raleigh Fine Arts Society, past chair of the North Carolina Museum of History Associates, and a current board member of the State Capitol Foundation.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Board for Licensing of Geologists:

• Joan Ann Smyth of Boone as a consulting geologist. Symth is the Vice President and Senior Hydrogeologist at Smith and Gardner Engineers. She has over 30 years’ experience overseeing and performing hydroelectrical studies.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Grievance Resolution Board:

• Jennifer Walsh of Whiteville as a person of knowledge and experience in one or more fields under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Department of Adult Correction. Walsh retired from her role as Warden at Columbus Correctional Institution after serving as associate warden for custody and operations at the prison since 2010.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Hearing Aid Dealers and Fitters Licensing Board:

• Barrett Berry of Charlotte as a public member with no ties to the hearing aid business nor is an audiologist. Berry is the Co-owner of Solution Partnerz, LLC., and is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Empowered Living Community Economic Development. He also serves as the Lead Pastor at Empowered Living Ministries.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the Historic Bath Commission:

• Joseph Lanier Riddick III of Raleigh as a member at-large. Riddick is a partner at 125 S Main LLC and has over 20 years of experience in sales, marketing, product design, construction, installation, and surveying. He is the former Vice President of Sales for Capital Sign Solutions.
• Mary Davie Speckhard of Greensboro as a member at-large. Speckhard retired with more than 10 years of service to the Canterbury School of Greensboro North Carolina as one of their first grade teachers.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Industrial Commission:

• James C. Gillen of Hendersonville as a commissioner representing employers. Gillen served as the Deputy Commissioner for the Industrial Commission in 2005 and was reappointed to office in 2015. Prior to working as a Deputy Commissioner, Gillen worked for the Industrial Commission as a Law Clerk and as a Special Deputy Commissioner in the Executive Secretary’s Office.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors:

• Frances Vanessa Diggs of Burlington as a public member. Diggs is a Community Advocate for Promise Messengers Inc., an organization that organizes free community-based summer school, afterschool, and mentoring programs. She retired after working in various roles in education for 41 years.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission:

• Willie Thomas Closs, Jr. of Durham as a member at-large. Closs is a financial consultant and the founder of his own corporate and institutional financial consulting firm. Closs has over 25 years of experience in aiding organizations with financial management and improving their organizational operating results.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the North Carolina Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission:

• Marcus R. Bass of Raleigh as a member at-large. Bass is the Executive Director of Advance Carolina and Deputy Director of the NC Black Alliance working to educate and empower voters across the state.
• Phyllis Mack Horton of Hillsborough as a member at-large. Horton is assistant manager for product management at Pearson. She also serves as a member of the Historic Hillsborough Commission.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Museum of Art Board of Trustees:

• Sally Plyler of Raleigh as the 2nd congressional district representative. Plyler is a Real Estate Broker for Berkshire Hathway HomeServices York Simpson Underwood Realty. She is the former owner and operator of Midtown Art Consulting, procuring and installing artwork for corporate and residential clients.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the North Carolina State Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators:

• Lambert Franklin Guinn of Charlotte as a public member. Guinn is a Partner at Flannery Georgalis, LLC. Guinn previously served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
• Seth Prior Hunt, Jr. of Morganton as a public member. Hunt retired as a Special Executive to the Facility Director at J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center. He is the former CEO of Broughton Hospital and current chairman of the Burke County Board of Education.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina State Board of Opticians:

• Lorie M. Spratley of Charlotte as a public member. Spratley is the Chief Operating Officer at Bright Hope Capital, LLC, a venture capital firm. She is the former Executive Director of Internal Audit at JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Pesticide Board:

• Dr. Dianne Farrer of Zebulon as a representative of the Department of Agriculture. Farrer is an Environmental Programs Specialist for the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Council on Sickle Cell Syndrome:

• The Honorable Terry M. Brown, Jr. of Charlotte as a state and local official concerned with public health, social services, and rehabilitation. Brown currently serves as North Carolina House Democratic Whip and has been serving in North Carolina House of Representatives since 2020. Brown has been recognized as one of the top 30 under 30 and Forty Under 40 in both the business and civic communities of Mecklenburg County. He is an active litigation attorney with a focus on commercial business litigation with international law firm Winston & Strawn LLP.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Partnership for Children, Incorporated:

• Dr. Ereka R. Williams of Greensboro as a member representing a philanthropic agency. Dr. Williams is the Vice President of Impact Education at Dogwood Health Trust Foundation. She is the former Associate Provost for Academic Strategy and Institutional Effectiveness at Winston Salem State University and has provided over 29 years in education.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board:

• Yolanda Nichole Brown of Durham as a public member. Brown is the founder and President of Yolanda Nichole Solutions. She has 20 years of experience in aiding small businesses and non-profit organizations with achieving operational excellence and increasing their revenue.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Supplemental Retirement Board of Trustees:

• Charles Perusse of Raleigh as a member experienced in finance and investments, retired from state or local government. Perusse is the Interim Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration, and Chief Financial Officer at the University of Louisville. He has extensive experience serving in various governmental roles throughout North Carolina state government for the past 31 years. 

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Underground Damage Prevention Review Board:

• John Paul Hunter of Goldsboro as a highway contractor licensed under G.S. 87-10(b)(2) who does not own or operate facilities. Hunter works for T.A. Loving Company as the Senior Vice President of their Civil Infrastructure Group. Hunter also serves on the board of the National Utility Contractors Association and served as President in 2022.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Board:

• Dr. Andrea R. Gentry-Apple of Mebane as a licensed veterinarian. Dr. Gentry-Apple is the Laboratory Animal Science Undergraduate Program Coordinator and Coordinator of Veterinary Education at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. She previously served as an Assistant Professor of Animal Science in the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences.

Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service Board:

• Rose Thompson of Clayton as a representative of a community-based, nonprofit agency or organization within the State. Thompson is the Executive Director of Activate Good, an organization that facilitates volunteerism in the Triangle.
• Ziev Dalsheim-Kahane of Durham as the designee from the Governor’s Office. Dalsheim-Kahane serves as a policy advisor to Governor Cooper on criminal justice and public safety issues. He previously participated in community service through AmeriCorps as a Teach for Americacorps member.