December 11, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 11, 2019
Governor Whitmer Makes Appointments to Boards and Commissions
LANSING, Mich. – Governor Gretchen Whitmer today announced the following appointments to the Michigan Blueberry Commission, Board of Mechanical Rules, Michigan Board of Psychology, Electronic Recording Commission, State Historical Records Advisory Board, and Michigan Infrastructure Council.
Michigan Blueberry Commission
Robert C. Bodtke, of South Haven, is the owner and operator of Cornerstone Ag Enterprises. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology from Cornerstone University. Mr. Bodtke is appointed to represent District 2 growers for a term commencing January 1, 2020 and expiring December 31, 2022. He succeeds Steven Hunt whose term expires December 31, 2019.
Creela O. Hamlin, of South Haven, is the owner of Lake Michigan Berry, LLC and the southwest Michigan representative and commodity development associate for Peterson Farms, Inc. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Management from Grand Valley State University. Mrs. Hamlin is reappointed to represent at-large growers for a term commencing January 1, 2020 and expiring December 31, 2022.
Carly Jo Parsley, of Bloomingdale, is a partner with Brookside Farms, LLC. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Marketing from Cornerstone University. Mrs. Parsley is appointed to represent District 2 growers for a term commencing January 1, 2020 and expiring December 31, 2022. She succeeds James Sumners whose term expires December 31, 2019.
The Michigan Blueberry Commission is housed within the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and was created through the farmer-initiated process outlined in the Agricultural Commodities Marketing Act. The Commission was created with the goal of improving the economic position and competitiveness of the Michigan blueberry industry by supporting research, education, and promotion program.
These appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
Board of Mechanical Rules
Thomas B. Halligan, of Fenton, is the construction sales manager for Goyette Mechanical of Flint. Mr. Halligan is appointed to represent hydronic heating and cooling process piping for a term commencing December 11, 2019 and expiring July 30, 2023. He succeeds Robert Fosburg whose term expired October 1, 2019.
Michelle Hanlon, of Farmington Hills, is a strategy manager for DTE Energy. Ms. Hanlon is appointed to represent energy producing utilities for a term commencing December 11, 2019 and expiring July 30, 2023. She succeeds Catherine Gay whose term expired October 1, 2019.
Jason L. Finch, of Fremont, is the business agent for Plumbers, Fitters, and Service Trades Local 174. Mr. Finch is appointed to represent the general public for a term commencing December 11, 2019 and expiring July 30, 2023. He succeeds Christopher Freeman whose term expired October 1, 2019.
The Board of Mechanical Rules was created to make recommendations for mechanical code rules, issue mechanical contractor's licenses to qualified applicants, and make all orders, rules, and regulations necessary for enforcement of the provisions of the act.
These appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
Michigan Board of Psychology
Frances R. Brown, Psy.D., of Beverly Hills, is a licensed psychologist and the president and chief executive officer of the Michigan School of Psychology. She earned her Doctor of Clinical Psychology and Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from the Michigan School of Psychology. Dr. Brown is appointed to represent psychologists for a term commencing January 1, 2020 and expiring December 31, 2023. She succeeds Valencia Agnew whose term expires December 31, 2019.
Byron C. Douglas, Ph.D., of Ypsilanti, is a retired psychologist for Huron High School in Ann Arbor. He earned his Ph.D. and Master of Science from St. Louis University. Dr. Douglas is appointed to represent psychologists for a term commencing January 1, 2020 and expiring December 31, 2023. He succeeds Eric Ozkan whose term expires December 31, 2019.
Gary W. Harper, Ph.D., of Ann Arbor, is a professor at the University of Michigan School of Public Health and faculty for the University’s African Studies Center, Center for Sexuality and Health Disparities, and Center for Research on Ethnicity, Culture and Health. He earned his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and Master of Science in Psychology from Purdue University. Dr. Harper is appointed to represent the general public for a term commencing January 1, 2020 and expiring December 31, 2023. He succeeds Lt. Col. Michael Connelly whose term expires December 31, 2019.
Para D. Knight, of Farmington Hills, is a retired church administrator for New Seasons Ministries in Detroit. Ms. Knight is appointed to represent the general public for a term commencing December 11, 2019 and expiring December 31, 2021. She succeeds Sarah Eckenwiler who has resigned from the Board.
Charmeka Whitehead-Newton, Ph.D., of Caledonia, is a psychologist and clinical supervisor for Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services and adjunct faculty for the Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology Department at Western Michigan University. In addition, she operates her private practice Legacy Mental Health, LLC. She earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Western Michigan University. Dr. Whitehead-Newton is appointed to represent psychologists for a term commencing January 1, 2020 and expiring December 31, 2023. She succeeds Valerie Shebroe whose term expires December 31, 2019.
The Michigan Board of Psychology was created to work with the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs to promulgate rules and grant licenses to professionals in the field of psychology.
The Board has a duty to promote and protect the public's health, safety, and welfare. The Board implements this responsibility by ascertaining minimal entry level competency of health practitioners and by taking disciplinary action against licensees who have adversely affected the public's health, safety, and welfare.
These appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
Electronic Recording Commission
Sara Dolan, of DeWitt, is the chief financial officer at MSU Federal Credit Union. Ms. Dolan is appointed to represent an individual engaged in the business of banking for a term commencing January 2, 2020 and expiring January 1, 2022. She succeeds Donna Krall whose term expires January 1, 2020.
Derrick Quinney, of Lansing, is the register of deeds for Ingham County. Mr. Quinney is appointed to represent county registers of deeds for a term commencing January 2, 2020 and expiring January 1, 2022. He succeeds Teresa Walker whose term expires January 1, 2020.
Dominic Rios, of Holt, is a shareholder attorney with Loomis, Ewert, Parsley, Davis & Gotting, P.C. He holds a Juris Doctor degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Mr. Rios is appointed to represent an attorney licensed to practice law in the state and whose expertise emphasizes real property matters for a term commencing January 2, 2020 and expiring January 1, 2022. He succeeds Christian Meyer whose term expires January 1, 2020.
The Electronic Recording Commission keeps the standards and practices of county registers of deeds in this state in harmony with the standards and practices of offices of county registers of deeds in other jurisdictions. The Commission keeps the technology used by county registers of deeds in this state compatible with technology used by offices of county registers of deeds in other jurisdictions.
These appointments are not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
State Historical Records Advisory Board
Lance M. Werner, of Rockford, is the executive director of the Kent District Library. He holds a master’s degree in Library and Information Science from Wayne State University and a Juris Doctor degree from the Michigan State University College of Law. Mr. Werner is appointed for a term commencing January 1, 2020 and expiring December 31, 2023. He succeeds James Cameron whose term expires December 31, 2019.
The State Historical Records Advisory Board serves as a central advisory body for historical records planning and for National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC)-funded projects in the state. The Board acts as a coordinating body to facilitate cooperation and communication among historical records repositories and information agencies within the state, and as a state-level review body for grant proposals that meet NHPRC grant program guidelines.
This appointment is not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
Michigan Infrastructure Council
Jon Kangas, of Marquette, is the superintendent of public works for Marquette Charter Township and the former township manager for the Charter Township of Chocolay. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Michigan Technological University. Mr. Kangas is reappointed for a term commencing January 1, 2020 and expiring December 31, 2022.
John H. Daly III, Ph.D., of Flint, is the director of transportation infrastructure for the City of Flint and the former manager-director of the Genesee County Road Commission. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Public Administration and Management from Walden University. Dr. Daly is reappointed by Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich for a term commencing January 1, 2020 and expiring December 31, 2022.
Kathleen Lomako, of Livonia, is the executive director of SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments. She holds a bachelor’s degree in urban planning from Michigan State University and a master’s degree in urban planning from Wayne State University. Ms. Lomako is reappointed by House Minority Leader Christine Greig for a term commencing January 1, 2020 and expiring December 31, 2022.
The Michigan Infrastructure Council was created to bring together local utility and infrastructure owners, regional representatives, finance and policy experts, and state department leaders to coordinate infrastructure-related goals and develop a long-term strategy for Michigan’s infrastructure assets. The Council will construct the statewide asset management database, facilitate the data collection strategy, and produce a 30-year infrastructure investment and management strategy for the state of Michigan.
These appointments are not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
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