Gov. Cooper's Appointees to Utilities Commission Confirmed | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Press Release:

Governor Also Announces New Appointments to State Boards and Commissions

    RALEIGH: Governor Roy Cooper today applauded confirmation of his appointees to the Utilities Commission and announced dozens of new appointees to state boards and commissions.

    The following appointees have been confirmed as members of the Utilities Commission:

• ToNola D. Brown-Bland of Burlington as an at-large member. ToNola is Chair of the National Regulatory Research Institute, Incorporated. Brown-Bland has served on the Utilities Commission since 2009. She previously worked as an Associate General Counsel for the City of Greensboro Attorney's Office and as an Attorney for the North Carolina Utilities Commission.
• Charlotte A. Mitchell of Raleigh as an at-large member. Mitchell is an attorney at a private practice in Raleigh. Mitchell has an environmental regulatory practice and assists clients with permitting, rulemaking and legislation advocacy, project development, and interface with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality as well as the Environmental Protection Agency.

    "Making sure our public utilities are reliable and affordable is critical and I trust these highly qualified new members to advocate for North Carolina's best interest on the Utilities Commission," Gov. Cooper said.

    Gov. Cooper today also announced 48 new appointments to state boards and commissions.

    "This dedicated, diverse group of individuals come from communities across our state, and I appreciate their service on behalf of all North Carolinians," Gov. Cooper said.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Agriculture Board:

• Franklin R. Allen of Biscoe as the forestry member. Allen is President of Uwharrie Lumber Company and was President and Chairman of the North Carolina Forestry Association. Allen's community involvement extends from volunteer fireman to Chair of the First Montgomery Memorial Hospital.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to Tribal Indian Gaming Compact:

• Gordon S. Myers of Fairview as an at-large member. Myers is Owner of GSM & Associates, Inc. a consulting and government relations firm. Myers was the founder of First Commercial Bank of Asheville.
• William C. Owens of Elizabeth City as an at-large member. Owens was a County Commissioner for eighteen years and previously served in the North Carolina House of Representatives and the National Guard. Owens served on the N.C. Economic Development Board for twenty-four years.

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

• Kenneth Foster of Wilkesboro as an at-large member. Foster is retired from 35 years of service with Wilkes County Schools. He is Wilkes County's delegate to the Senior Tar Heel Legislature and serves on the council of the High Country Area Agency on Aging.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the Marine Fisheries Commission:

• Sammy Corbett of Hampstead as a commercial dealer or processor. Corbett holds a Fish Dealer License and works as a full-time commercial fisherman, primarily for blue crab, oysters and clams. He started his career in 1976 as a first mate on a charter boat before moving over to commercial fishing in 1980.
• Cameron Boltes of Washington as a recreational industry representative. Boltes is a Captain, Product Development Manager, and Properties Manager for Grady-White Boats. He previously served as the Program Director for Reality Ministries in Durham. Boltes graduated from NC State.
• Pete Kornegay of Camden as a scientist. Kornegay spent over 30 years with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission serving in roles including fisheries biologist, Anadromous Fisheries Coordinator, and Coastal Region Supervisor. He holds master's and bachelor's degrees in biology.

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

• Courtney Crowder of Raleigh as an at-large member. Crowder founded Crowder Consulting and previously served as Legislative Director and Senior Advisor to Governor Beverley Perdue. Crowder also counseled corporate, nonprofit and governmental organizations while working at Capstrat.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Geographic Information Coordinating Council:

• Alex Rankin of Concord as Chair. Rankin is the President at Concord Engineering and Surveying, Inc. He previously served as Chair of the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce. Rankin is a graduate of NC State.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the North Carolina Agriculture and Forestry Awareness Study Commission:

• David Burns of Laurinburg as an at-large member. Burns is a former chairman of the Scotland County Commissioners and a former member of the North Carolina Board of Transportation. He is Chairman of the Board, President and CEO for Z.V. Plate, Inc. and was Vice-President and Chairman of the board for Scottish Food Systems, Inc.
• Albert Beatty of Harrells as an at-large member. Beatty is the president and owner of A.A. & S. Farms, Inc. and worked for E. I. DuPont for 28 years. Beatty has served on the Bladen Community College Foundation Investment Committee and the Bladen County Economic Development Board.
• Melvin Mitchell of Rocky Mount as an at-large member. Mitchell is president of Melvin M. Mitchell Agency, Inc. and Allstate Insurance Company. He is a member of the board of directors and founding partner of Providence Bank and serves on the Nash UNC Healthcare System Board of Commissioners.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the North Carolina Criminal Justice Information Network Governing Board:

• Kimberly Lisa Quintus of Clayton as representative of Public Safety. Quintus is the Director of Policy, Training, and Strategic Planning for Juvenile Justice within the Department of Public Safety. Quintus holds a Master of Public Administration from East Carolina University.
• Wyatt A. Pettengill of Raleigh as an employee of Public Safety. Pettengill is a Special Agent in Charge in the Criminal Information and Identification Section of the SBI. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees at NC State.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to Public School Forum:

• LaTanya Pattillo of Raleigh as an at-large member. Pattillo is the Teacher Advisor in the Governor's Office. She taught business at East Columbus High School in Columbus County most recently. Pattillo is a graduate of American University and is a Kenan Fellow at NC State.
• Geoffrey M. Tennant of Tryon for an at-large member. Tennant worked as a teacher, administrator and coach at Tryon City Schools and has served four years in the military. Tennant is the Chairman of the Polk County Board of Education.
• Amanda D. Bell of Reidsville as an at-large member. Bell has worked for the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School District as a Teacher, Administrator, Assistant Principal and Principal. Bell is the Chair of the Rockingham County School Board of Education.

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

• Paige Hardy of Morrisville as a person or relative of a person with sickle-cell disease. Hardy is the Co-Owner and Property Manager of LCCP Joint Venture Group. Hardy graduated from NC State.
• Dr. Ify Osunkwo of Charlotte as an at-large member. Osunkwo is the Medical Director of the sickle cell disease enterprise for Carolinas Healthcare System and the Levine Cancer Institute in Charlotte. She is a lifespan hematologist and sickle-cell disease expert with over 25 years of experience in the management of adults and children with sickle-cell disease.
• Tara Foster of Arden as an at-large member. Foster is a social work supervisor for Buncombe County Health and Human Services. She has nearly 25 years of service with the Buncombe County HHS and NCDHHS Division of Social Services. Foster earned a master's from UNC-Chapel Hill and a bachelor's from NC State.
• Sharon Brown of Elizabeth City as an at-large member. Brown is the Business and Computer System Technologies Department Chair for the College of The Albemarle. Brown earned a master's from Hampton University and a bachelor's from Elizabeth City State University.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the African American Heritage Commission:

• Deloris Rhodes of Wilmington as an at-large member. Rhodes is Outreach Liaison for the Watson College of Education and UNCW. She is a former teacher, guidance counselor, principal, and assistant superintendent. Rhodes is a founding member of the North Carolina Dropout Prevention Coalition.
• Dr. Tamara Holmes Brothers of Fayetteville as an at-large member. Dr. Brothers is Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations at Fayetteville State University. She was previously Graduate Consultant and Education Program Facilitator at the Hampton University Archives.

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

• Jennie H. Hayman of Raleigh as Chair. Hayman was an Assistant Attorney General with the NC Department of Justice. Hayman served as Chair of the NC Museum of History Associates and is a member of the Raleigh Fine Arts Society.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Alamance Community College Board of Trustees:

• Anthony E. Foriest of Graham as an at-large member. Foriest represented Alamance and Caswell counties in the NC General Assembly. He is actively involved in his community and currently serves on the boards of Allied Churches of Alamance County, Alamance Regional Charitable Foundation, Lutheran Retirement Ministries, and the Executive Committee of Alamance Archives.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Edgecombe Community College Board of Trustees:

• Timmy Leon Cordell of Rocky Mount as an at-large member. Cordell is a case worker at the Edgecombe Department of Social Services. Cordell was a youth service counselor technician at the Edgecombe Youth Development Center, and a graduated of the Citizens Police Academy.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Guilford County Community College Board of Trustees:

• Matt Soule of Greensboro as an at-large member. Soule is President of Ennis-Flint, the world's largest manufacturer of pavement marking products. Before Ennis-Flint, Soule was a partner at Wachovia Capital Partners in Charlotte. Soule is a graduate of the UNC-Chapel HIll, where he was a Morehead-Cain Scholar, and Northwestern University.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the Halifax Community College Board of Trustees:

• Mary Mebane of Enfield as an at-large member who has served the educational system in North Carolina for 40 years. Mebane has been a classroom teacher, instructional specialist, assistant principal, principal, and director of curriculum and instruction for pre-kindergarten through grade eight.
• Fannie Greene of Garysburg as an at-large member. Green is a Northampton County Commissioner. She is a committed volunteer for Project LIFT which provides court order counseling and life coaching to minors.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Haywood Community College Board of Trustees:

• Jane Hipps of Waynesville as an at-large member. She is a registered nurse practitioner and a former teacher and school psychologist.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Johnston Community College Board of Trustees:

• Suefan Johnson of Smithfield as an at-large member. Johnson is a first-grade teacher at South Smithfield Elementary School. Johnson is actively involved in the community and serves as a board member for Harbor, Inc. and the Partnership for Children of Johnston County.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Mitchell Community College Board of Trustees:

• Mayor Constantine Kutteh of Statesville as an at-large member. Kutteh is a managing partner at Pope, McMillan, Kutteh, & Schieck. He is also currently the mayor of Statesville and a member of the Statesville City Council since 1989.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Piedmont Community College Board of Trustees:

• Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Wendell Foster of Ruffin as an at-large member. Foster is a Retired Lieutenant Colonel and paratrooper assigned to the 18th Airborne Corp General Staff at Fort Bragg. Foster serves on the Board of Directors for Dillard Education, Economic and Development Service, (DEEDS) Inc., and the Farmers Progressive Group. Foster is a lifetime member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., the NAACP, the American Veterans Association and American Legion Post 210.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the Pitt Community College Board of Trustees:

• Charles Ellis of Greenville as an at-large member. Ellis was previously co-managing partner at Ward and Smith, P.A. Ellis currently serves as a council member for the North Carolina Bar Association and on the Advisory Board of Directors for the Lenoir Community College Paralegal Program. He has also been president of the Pitt County Bar Association.
• Shirley Carraway of Winterville as an at-large member. Dr. Carraway previously was the North Carolina Liaison for the Southeast Comprehensive Center, an affiliate of the American Institute of Research. Dr. Carraway also served as Superintendent of Orange County Public Schools and Director of Special Projects at East Carolina University.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Randolph Community College Board of Trustees:

• Robert Morrison of Asheboro as an at-large member. Morrison is a public policy opinion columnist for the Asheboro Courier-Tribune who also serves on the boards of the Randolph-Asheboro YMCA and the City of Asheboro ABC. Morrison previously was president and CEO of Randolph Hospital.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Roanoke-Chowan Community College Board of Trustees:

• Kimberly Turner of Woodland as an at-large member. Turner has worked for Northampton County since 2003, where she is currently County Manager.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Sampson Community College Board of Trustees:

• Barbara Faison of Clinton as an at-large member. She worked at the Sampson County Department of Health for 20 years and has served as the treasurer of the Sampson County HIV Taskforce.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Sandhills Community College Board of Trustees:

• Helen Probst Mills of Pinehurst as an at-large member. Probst Mills is a lawyer with expertise in derivative and foreign exchange transactions. She is the Acting President of the University of Chicago Alumni Club of North Carolina and previously served as chair of the Chicago Society. Probst Mills established the Mills Odyssey Scholarship Fund with her husband, Stuart Mills.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Southeastern Community College Board of Trustees:

• Emma Shaw of Riegelwood as an at-large member. Shaw is a Columbus County Schools teacher since 1985. She is a member of the Columbus County Healthy Carolinians Advisory Board and a NCAE State Convention Delegate. Shaw previously was president of the Columbus County Association of Educators from 2015-2017.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the South Piedmont Community College Board of Trustees:

• Fred Davis of Wadesboro as an at-large member. Davis is the Principal for Wadesboro Primary School and has worked for Anson County Schools in various positions since 1989. Davis previously served as an assistant principal for Wadesboro Primary School and Anson High School. Davis is also a Wadesboro Town Councilman.

    Gov. Cooper has re-appointed the following individual to the Surry Community College Board of Trustees:

• Barbara Harrell of Elkin as an at-large member. Harrell is the co-owner of DB Designs. She previously served as President of the North Carolina School Boards Association and as Chairman of the Elkin City Board of Education. She also was a member of the Surry Community College Board from 1999-2016.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Tri-County Community College Board of Trustees:

• Brandon Lovin of Robbinsville as an at-large member. Lovin is the President and founder of the Lovin Contracting Company. He has more than 23 years of experience in the contract mowing industry. Lovin is an active volunteer and coach in his community.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Vance-Granville Community College Board of Trustees:

• Xavier Wortham of Granville County as an at-large member. Wortham has been the Executive Director of the Oxford Housing Authority since 1992. He is a Granville County Citizen of the Year, the 2013 recipient of the John Penn Award and the 2010 recipient of New Life Church's 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Award.
• Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Wilkes Community College Board of Trustees:
• Arnold Lakey of North Wilkesboro as an at-large member. Lakey worked for Lowe's Companies for 41 years and was Vice President of Lowe's Corporate Credit before his retirement in 1998. Lakey has been an active member in the community, serving on numerous local boards, including the Wilkes Regional Medical Center Hospital Board, Wilkes Heritage Museum and the Cultural Arts Council of Wilkes.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Wilson Community College Board of Trustees:

• Millicent Graves of Wilson as an at-large member. Graves is an attorney for Nash County DSS and has extensive experience in family law, juvenile law and other civil-related cases. Graves previously managed her own private practice for 12 years, and is a current member of the Wilson Area Habitat for Humanity Board of Director.

• Contact: Ford Porter
•     govpress@nc.gov