North Carolina's Governor Josh Stein has made a series of new appointments to various boards and commissions in a move that is characteristic of his administration's ongoing efforts to fill key positions with seasoned professionals and advocates from a diverse range of experiences.
Among those appointed according to the Governor's Office, Joe Sam Queen joins the North Carolina Awards Committee bringing with him a history of service in both legislative chambers and forty years as a registered architect. Margaret Weller Stargell, of New Hanover County, also steps into the Awards Committee, carrying her leadership at the Coastal Horizons Center and the Willie Stargell Foundation on her shoulders. Wendy Brenner, with a track record on the Nature Conservancy of North Carolina rounds out the Committee's list of new faces.
Educational policy takes a front seat with Dr. Elena Ashburn being appointed to the North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service, having served as Governor Stein's Senior Advisor for Education Policy. On the Transportation front, Denver Ralph Huff of Cumberland County will serve on the North Carolina Board of Transportation, bringing with him a background in Fayetteville-based real estate.
The appointments reflect a broad spectrum of expertise and dedication, including that of Dr. Srinivasan Krishnamurthy on the Financial Literacy Council and Stacie Saunders of Buncombe County, appointed to the State Board of Registered Environmental Health Specialist Examiners as a representative of the Department of Health and Human Service Secretary. Stephanie G. McGarrah's role in the Interagency Council for Coordinating Homeless Programs promises a continued emphasis on revitalization efforts, notably in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene's devastating impact on western North Carolina.
Governor Stein's choices for the state's Military Affairs and Veterans Affairs Commissions also underscore a recognition of service and expertise. Lieutenant Col. Walter David Ham, a retired military officer living near Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, and LTC Alexander Mendaloff III, with over three decades of military service, are set to lend their experience to these commissions. Roger P. Farina's role in the Veterans Affairs Commission is slated to continue providing support to veterans in assessing needs and managing beneficial grant packages.
This latest round of appointments reveals Governor Stein's bid to build a diverse group of leadership across key areas affecting North Carolinians. The administration's choices suggest a concerted effort to tap into the wealth of knowledge and experience available across the state to maintain progress and address the various challenges that lay ahead, as per the Governor's Office.
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