Wednesday, March 14, 2012
OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today announced the following appointments to various boards, councils and commissions.
Advisory Council on Workers’ Compensation
Dan Simmons of Oklahoma City is the president of CompChoice, a company that provides managed care services specific to workers’ compensation for employers and employees. He is a board member at the Oklahoma State Chamber of Commerce. Simmons received a bachelor’s degree from St. Mary’s College in St. Louis, Mo. and a doctorate degree in chiropractic medicine from Logan College of Chiropractic. He is being reappointed to the council and will serve as a representative of a predominant statewide broad-based business organization.
Rochelle Guinn of Norman is the assistant general counsel and senior director of employment and labor at Sonic Corporation. She received a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University and a law degree from Oklahoma City University. Guinn is replacing David Stockwell who resigned and will represent employers.
Board of Directors of the Oklahoma Historical Society
Cheryl Evans of Tonkawa is the president of Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa. She has served on the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center Board since 2006. Evans received a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern Oklahoma State University, a master’s degree in communications from Wichita State University and a doctorate in education from Oklahoma State University. She will replace Roger Rinehard and will represent District Six.
Board of Examiners of Speech Pathology and Audiology
Tracy Grammer of Norman is a speech and language pathologist at the University of Oklahoma Medical Center. She is a member of the Oklahoma Speech–Language Hearing Association, the American Speech–Language–Hearing Association and the Oklahoma Academy of Medical Speech–Language Pathologists. Grammer received both a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma. She is being reappointed to the board. Senate confirmation is required.
Board of Regents for Rose State College
Betty J.C. Wright of Oklahoma City is the chief executive officer of Wright Educational Services, a counseling center. She is a retired educator and currently trains teachers on the local, state and national levels. She is being reappointed to the board. Senate confirmation is required.
Board of Regents for Redlands Community College
Richard Ruhl of Kingfisher is the general manager at Pioneer Telephone Cooperative. He also serves on the Redlands Community College Foundation Board of Directors. Ruhl received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma and a master’s in business administration from Oklahoma Christian University. He is replacing Roger Pryor. Senate confirmation is required.
Board of Juvenile Affairs
Ben Brown of Warr Acres is the assistant public defender in the Oklahoma County Public Defender’s Office. Brown earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of New Mexico and a law degree from Oklahoma City University School of Law. He is replacing Gary Taylor who resigned. Senate confirmation is required for this appointment.
Developmental Disabilities Planning Council
Ben Sherrer of Chouteau is an attorney and member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives where he is the Minority Whip. Sherrer earned a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University and a law degree from Oklahoma City University School of Law. He is being reappointed as an at-large member to the council.
Brian Maughan of Oklahoma City is an Oklahoma County Commissioner. He previously served on the council from 2001 to 2003. Maughan earned an associate’s degree from Oklahoma City Community College. He is replacing Suzan Carroll and will serve as an at-large member.
Kaleb Bennett of Oklahoma City is an associate at AH Strategies, a political campaign consultancy firm. He earned bachelor’s degrees in both history and political science from East Central University. Bennett is replacing April Bennett, who resigned, and will serve as a parent or guardian of children with developmental disabilities.
Lisa Copeland of Kingfisher is the county coordinator for Sooner Success, a child study center program. She currently serves at the chairperson for the Kingfisher Community Collaborative and the secretary at the Blaine–Kingfisher Consortium. She is being reappointed to the council and serves as a parent or guardian of children with developmental disabilities.
Forensic Review Board
David Tiller of Norman is a psychiatrist at Oklahoma Health Science Center. He has practiced medicine for nearly 30 years. Tiller earned a bachelor’s degree and a medical degree from Creighton University. He is replacing Steve Norwood and will serve as a licensed mental health professional. Senate confirmation is required.
Rand Baker of Norman is the retired deputy commissioner from the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. He currently works on a family ranching operation and a property management firm. He serves on the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the University of Oklahoma Western History Collection Board of Trustees. Baker received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma and a master’s in public administration from Syracuse University. He is being reappointed and will serve as an at-large member. Senate confirmation is required.
Oklahoma Securities Commission
Charlie Newton of Edmond is the executive vice president of banking relations at Stillwater National Bank. He has served on the commission since 1993. Newton received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma and is a graduate of the Oklahoma Intermediate School of Banking. He is being reappointed to the commission and will serve as a member actively engaged in the securities industry. Senate confirmation is required.
David Newsome of Tulsa is a partner at Hall Estill/Cooper and Newsome, a corporate and securities law firm. Newsome is replacing Armand Paliotta and serves as a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association. Senate confirmation is required.
Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Commission
Steve Niswander of Enid is the vice president of safety policy and regulatory relations at Groendyke Transport. He is a member of the American Trucking Association, American Trucking Research Institute and National Tank Truck Carriers. Niswander received a bachelor’s degree from Phillips University. He is replacing Kathryn Crenwelge and represents regulated industries.
Oklahoma Educational Television Authority
Fritz Kiersch of Oklahoma City is the chair of the Department of Moving Image Arts for the School of Visual Arts at Oklahoma City University. He is a member of the American Association of University Professors and the Director’s Guild of America. Kiersch is replacing Jean Hendrickson and serves as an at-large member who is actively engaged in the profession of education. Confirmation from the Senate is required for this appointment.
Uniform Building Code Commission
Dave Timberlake of Edmond is the chairman of Timberlake Construction. He currently serves as chaiman of the Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission and on the program advisory committee for the Oklahoma State University School of Architecture. He received a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University. Timberlake is being reappointed and will serve as a commercial general contractor. Senate confirmation is required.
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
Dr. Ron White of Oklahoma City, is president and partner at the Oklahoma Heart Hospital Physicians. He served in the U.S. Navy. He received a bachelor’s degree and medical degree from the University of Oklahoma. He is being reappointed to the board. Senate confirmation is required.
Board of Dentistry
Phil Cotten of Norman is the retired chief of police for the Norman Police Department. He is a current member of the Norman Rotary Club. Cotten previously served on the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Commission. He is replacing Jeff Dorris, who resigned. Senate confirmation is required for this nomination.