Thursday, June 14, 2012
OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Fallin today announced appointments to the State Board of Corrections, the Judicial Nominating Commission, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Commission, the Crime Victims Compensation Board and the Oklahoma Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors. The appointments were confirmed by the state Senate during the 2012 legislative session.
State Board of Corrections
Kevin J. Gross of Tulsa is president and chief executive officer of the Hillcrest Healthcare System in Oklahoma. He is a member of the Board of Directors for the Tulsa Metro Chamber of Commerce and is a board member for the Oklahoma Hospital Association. Gross earned a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and a master’s of business administration from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He is replacing Robert Rainey and will serve as an at-large member of the board.
Mike Roach of El Reno is the director of the Central Oklahoma Metro Interdiction Team at the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office. He previously served as a U.S. marshal and in the Oklahoma City Police Department where he rose to the rank of major. He also served as an investigator at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Roach is replacing David Henneke and will serve as a member from the Third Congressional District.
Steve Burrage of Antlers is chairman of FirstBank of Antlers. He is a certified public accountant (CPA) and previously served as Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector from 2008 until 2010. He’s a former board member of the State Chamber of Oklahoma and a member of the American Institute of CPAs and the Oklahoma Society of CPAs. He earned a degree in accounting from the University of Oklahoma. Burrage is replacing Ted Logan and will serve as an at-large member of the board.
Judicial Nominating Commission
Jim Hamby of Ada is the president and chief executive officer of Vision Bank. He is a past board member of the Oklahoma Bankers Association and currently serves on the association’s government relations committee. Hamby received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and education from East Central University, a master’s in business administration from Baylor University and attended the Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University. He is replacing Patrick Stewart, who resigned, and will serve as a Republican from the Third Congressional District. Hamby’s appointment did not require Senate confirmation.
Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Commission
Rick Stephens of Pryor is the owner and funeral director at Stephens Memorial Chapel. He previously worked as a police officer in the city of Pryor and as an agent at the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. Stephens received a bachelor’s degree from Northeastern State University. He is replacing Owen “Mike” Wilkerson and will serve as a lay member from the Second Congressional District.
Crime Victims Compensation Board
Fred L. Boettcher of Ponca City owns is an attorney and president of the Boettcher Law Group. He has served as chairman and member of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, the Oklahoma State University A&M Colleges Board of Regents, and the Board of Governor for The University Center. Boettcher served in the U.S. Air Force. He earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Louis University and a law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center. He is replacing David Hartwell and will serve as a member who is an attorney.
Oklahoma Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors
Judith Adams of Muskogee is a psychologist and owns a family therapy center. She also serves as an assistant professor at the University of Oklahoma. She is a board member for the Oklahoma Drug and Alcohol Professional Counselor Association–Certification Board, a member of the membership board for the Oklahoma Drug and Alcohol Professional Counselor Association, and is a member of the American Board of Forensic Examiners. Adams earned a bachelor’s degree from Concordia College in Morehead, Minn., a master’s degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and a Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska. She is replacing Rhonda Cochran and serving as a member from a list submitted by the Oklahoma Drug and Alcohol Professional Counselors Association.
Holli Witherington of Ada is the executive director of the Brandon Whitten Institute for Addiction and Recovery at East Central University. She is also an adjunct professor at the university. Witherington has previously worked as an alcohol and drug counselor as well as a probation and parole officer. She received both a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a master’s degree in education from East Central University. Witherington is replacing Kyle McGraw, who resigned, and was selected from a list provided by the Oklahoma Citizens for Advocacy Recovery and Treatment Association.
Bill Sharp of Oklahoma City is the interim facility director and director of behavioral health services at the Canadian County Children’s Justice Center. He is the president of the Oklahoma Drug and Alcohol Professional Counselor’s Certification Board, a member of the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, and the Oklahoma Psychological Association and the American Psychological Association. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Southeastern Oklahoma State University, a master’s in school administration and a master’s in counseling psychology both from the University of Central Oklahoma, a master’s in clinical psychology and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology. He is replacing Jane Lepak and will serve as a member of the Oklahoma Drug and Alcohol Professional Counselor Association.