Governor McCrory Announces Appointments | Eastern North Carolina Now

For Immediate Release:

    Raleigh, N.C.     Today, Governor McCrory announced the following nominations to serve on the State Board of Education for confirmation by the North Carolina General Assembly:

Board of Education, Members

    •   Appoint A.L. "Buddy" Collins (Forsyth County) - Collins is an attorney in Kernersville. He also serves as a member of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education and has been the board's Building Committee Chair since 2002. In 2008, Collins was awarded the Friend of Education Award by the Forsyth County Association of Educators. Collins will replace Christine Greene on the Board, serving as a representative of District 5.

    •   Appoint Dr. Olivia Oxendine (Robeson County) - Oxendine is a professor in the Department of School Administration and Counseling at UNC at Pembroke. Prior to her time at Pembroke, Oxendine served as Curriculum Director for the Hoke County School System. She received her doctorate in Educational Leadership and Cultural Foundations from UNC at Greensboro. Oxendine will replace Shirley Harris, serving as a representative of District 4.

    •   Appoint Marcella Ramirez Savage (Union County) - Savage is a member of the Union County Board of Education. She was elected Vice-Chair of the Board in December 2012. Savage serves as Marketing Director for Chick-fil-A. Savage will replace Melissa Bartlett on the Board, serving as a member-at-large.

Governor McCrory announced the following direct appointments to the Board of Travel and Tourism:

Board of Travel and Tourism, Rural Area Representative

    •  Appoint Art Schools (Carteret County) - Schools serves as Mayor of Emerald Isle, NC. He has worked as a CPA and as a U.S. Air Force Hospital Administrative Officer. Schools will replace Vimal Kolappa on the Board.

Board of Travel and Tourism, Cultural Resources and Activities Representative

    •  Appoint Sabrina Bengel (Craven County) - Bengel is President of New Bern Tours & Convention Services. She has served as Chairman and past President of the Friends of the New Bern Firemen's Museum. She currently serves on the Travel and Tourism Board as an appointee of Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger. Bengel will replace Chris Cavanaugh on the Board.

Board of Travel and Tourism, Urban Area Representative

    •   Appoint Vinay Patel (Mecklenburg County) - Patel is President and CEO for SREE Hotels and is responsible for day-to-day operations and sales for the portfolio. He served as Vice President for Microtel Inn & Suites prior to joining SREE Hotels. Patel will replace Susan Spangler on the Board.


North Carolina Special Superior Court Judge

    •   Appoint Lisa Bell (Mecklenburg County) - Judge Bell has served as a District Court Judge since 1998 and as Chief District Court Judge since her appointment in 2009. Bell has presided in every area of District Court jurisdiction and has implemented various new policies and processes for her district. Prior to her judgeship, Bell served as an attorney in Family Court. She is a member of the North Carolina Association of District Court Judges.


Banks Commission, Commissioner

    •   Appoint Ray Grace (Wake County) - Grace is the acting Commissioner of Banks. He has over 40 years of banking experience and served as Director of Bank Applications prior to his time as Commissioner. He helped form the North Carolina Bank Directors' College and also helped to establish 95 de novo North Carolina state banks.

    Contact: Crystal Feldman     govpress@nc.gov