LANSING, MI - On August 1, 2024, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the following appointments to the Hispanic Latino Commission, Michigan Veterans' Facility Authority Board of Directors, Mackinac Straits Corridor Authority, Michigan Interagency Coordinating Council for Infants and Toddlers with Developmental Disabilities, Michigan Board of Audiology, and the Workers' Disability Compensation Agency Funds Administration Board of Trustees.

Today’s appointees represent Michigan’s young professionals, communities of color, seniors, and more. The appointees announced this week build on Governor Whitmer’s work to ensure appointees reflect Michigan’s diverse population. Sixty percent of appointees are women or people of color, and the Whitmer cabinet is the most diverse in Michigan history.

Hispanic Latino Commission

Jose Sanchez III, of Lake Odessa, is the facility coordinator for Michigan Statewide Carpenters and Millwrights. He has previously been a carpenter at William Reichenbach Company. Sanchez III holds a certified welding inspector certificate and earned a journeyman certificate in carpentry at Michigan Statewide Carpenters Apprenticeship, and a level III instructor in workforce development at Pennsylvania State University. Jose Sanchez III is reappointed for a term commencing August 1, 2024, and expiring December 10, 2026.

Florensio Hernandez, of Lansing, is the senior admissions counselor and CRM modernization project team member at Michigan State University. Hernandez holds a Bachelor of the Arts in political science and a Masters of the Arts in higher education administration from Michigan State University. Florensio Hernandez is reappointed for a term commencing August 1, 2024, and expiring December 10, 2026.

Aurora Sauceda, of Flint, is president of Latinos United for Flint. She previously served as the public health navigator program manager for Michigan United. Sauceda holds a Bachelor of Arts in secondary education from the University of Michigan-Flint. Aurora Sauceda is reappointed for a term commencing August 1, 2024, and expiring December 10, 2026.

Yadira Garza-Malone, of Grand Rapids, is the director of development at the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce. She has previously been the director of membership and membership engagement manager at the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, assistant center manager and personal banker at Fifth Third Bank, and sales and service specialist at Bank of America. Garza-Malone holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Cornerstone University and an associate degree in arts from Grand Rapids Community College. Yadira Garza-Malone is appointed for a term commencing August 1, 2024, and expiring December 10, 2026. Yadira Garza-Malone succeeds Jesus M. Hernandez whose term has expired.

David Sanchez, of Detroit, is the senior director of external relations and advocacy at the Children’s Center of Detroit. He previously worked at Planned Parenthood as the director of government relations and has also held organizer and coordinator roles for grassroots and non-profit organizations like the Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation and Service Employees International Union. Sanchez holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Michigan - Dearborn. David Sanchez is appointed for a term commencing August 1, 2024, and expiring December 10, 2026. David Sanchez succeeds Celeste Sanchez Lloyd whose term has expired.

The Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan was created to develop a unified policy and plan of action to serve the needs of Michigan's Hispanic and Latino people. The law directs the Commission to advise the Governor, the Legislature, and the office concerning the coordination and administration of state programs serving the Hispanic and Latino population. 

These appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.

Michigan Veterans' Facility Authority Board of Directors

Bradford Slagle, of Marquette, is the retired CEO of Michigan Veterans Health System and a former administrator for D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette. He holds an Associate of Science in accounting from Bay De Noc Community College, and a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from the University of Michigan. Brad Slagle is reappointed to represent members with professional knowledge, skill, or experience in long-term care, health care licensure or finance, or medicine who are residents of the Upper Peninsula for a term commencing July 11, 2024, and expiring April 15, 2028.

The Michigan Veterans’ Facility Authority Board of Directors governs the Michigan Veterans’ Facility Authority and consists of the Director of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and eight members appointed by the Governor who have professional knowledge, skill, or experience in long-term care, health care licensure or finance, or medicine.  

This appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.

Mackinac Straits Corridor Authority

Ruth Hepfer, of Crystal, works as a senior transportation engineering specialist at Fishbeck. Previously, she worked for the Federal Highway Administration for over 20 years as an environmental/real estate specialist, area engineer and major projects engineer. Hepfer holds an associate’s degree in mathematics and science from Lansing Community College and a Bachelor of Science in engineering with a major in structures and hydraulics from Michigan State University. Ruth Hepfer is appointed to represent republicans for a term commencing August 1, 2024, and expiring December 12, 2026. Ruth Hepfer succeeds Andrew Doctoroff who has resigned. 

The Mackinac Straits Corridor Authority (MSCA) oversees the construction and operation of a tunnel in the bedrock beneath the waters of the Straits of Mackinac. The tunnel will house a replacement segment for the Line 5 petroleum pipelines that currently sit on the bottom of the Straits and will accommodate other utilities to improve infrastructure connections between the peninsulas. MSCA will own the tunnel after its construction and provide independent oversight throughout its life.  

This appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.

Michigan Interagency Coordinating Council for Infants and Toddlers with Developmental Disabilities

Dr. Victoria McIntosh, of Royal Oak, is currently the program coordinator at Michigan Hands & Voices and the recreational director at Royal Oak Football Club. She previously was an adjunct professor at Macomb Community College. Dr. McIntosh holds a Bachelor of Science in biology from Penn State University, and a PhD in physiology from Wayne State University. Dr. Victoria McInotsh is reappointed to represent parents of children of less than the age of 13 for a term commencing August 1, 2024, and expiring October 31, 2027.

The Michigan Interagency Coordinating Council (MICC) is authorized and required by Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) as amended by Public Law 105-17. The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is designated as the lead agency for the state of Michigan. The MICC is charged with advising and assisting MDE in the development and implementation of a statewide, comprehensive, coordinated, multidisciplinary, interagency system that provides early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families.  

This appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate. 

Michigan Board of Audiology

Chelsea A. Conrad, of Royal Oak, is the senior staff audiologist for Henry Ford Health System in Detroit and part time mentor at Wayne State University. Conrad holds a Doctorate of Audiology from the University of Wisconsin. Dr. Chelsea Conrad is reappointed to represent audiologists for a term commencing August 1, 2024, and expiring June 30, 2028.

The Michigan Board of Audiology was enacted as part of the Public Health Code to license audiologists who apply nonmedical and nonsurgical principles, methods, and procedures related to disorders of hearing. The Board promotes and protects the public's health, safety, and welfare, and has the obligation to take disciplinary action against licensees who have adversely affected the public's health, safety, and welfare. 

This appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.   

Workers' Disability Compensation Agency Funds Administration Board of Trustees

Heather Banules, Rochester Hills, is the associate director of Work Connections and Risk Management Services at the University of Michigan. She also serves as an officer on the Michigan Self-Insurers’ Association Board of Managers and a board member of the U-M Center for Occupational Health and Safety Engineering Education and Research Center External Advisory Board. Banules holds an Associate of Applied Science in nursing from Owens Community College, a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Oakland University, and a Master of Science in nursing from Oakland University. Hannah Banules is appointed to represent employers that have been authorized to act as self-insurers for a term commencing August 1, 2024, and expiring April 30, 2028. Hannah Banules succeeds Jerome Hooper whose term has expired.