Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland announced today appointments to several boards and commissions.
The Technical Advisory Council on Oil and Gas will advise the chief of the Division of Oil and Gas on technical matters which may arise concerning oil and gas production, drilling, and exploration.
Roy Rushing, of Dublin, has been named to the Technical Advisory Council on Oil and Gas. Rushing is currently the president of the Ohio Gas Association, an organization primarily concerned with public safety and awareness, as well as monitoring and reporting on regulatory and legislative activities.
Gloria Fauss, of Utica, has been named to the Technical Advisory Council on Oil and Gas. Fauss has served as the national director of state government and community relations for the Nature Conservancy, an international conservation organization. Fauss also served with the National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology. Fauss is currently the director of government affairs for the SEIU District 1199.
The Miami University Board of Trustees has the authority to hire and set the compensation of the president, professors and employees of Miami University. The Board of Trustees is charged with maintaining the successful operation of the college.
Peter Lawson Jones, of Cleveland, has been named to the Miami University Board of Trustees. Jones served in the Ohio House of Representatives from 1997 to 2002 and was a member of the Primary and Secondary Education Subcommittee of the Finance and Appropriations Committee. Jones served on the city council of Shaker Heights from 1984 to 1991, including a stint as vice mayor from 1988 to 1989. Jones received his bachelor’s and juris doctor degrees from Harvard University.
Kerry McCormack, of Cleveland, has been named to the student trustee spot on the Board of Trustees. McCormack is a first-year student at Miami University and graduate of St. Joseph High School in Cleveland where he won numerous awards for leadership and was active in athletics and school service.
The Private Investigation and Security Services Commission advises the director of public safety on matters related to the regulation of private investigation and the business of security services. The commission advises the director on the format, content, and all other aspects of all private investigation and security services licensure examinations.
Jay McDonald, of Marion, has been reappointed to the Private Investigation and Security Services Commission. McDonald currently serves as one of the four law enforcement representatives on the commission, representing police officers. McDonald is a lieutenant with the Marion Police Department and the secretary of the Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio.
The State Dental Board sets the standards for all licensing exams and issuance and revocation of licenses. The State Dental Board also must approve the curriculum of all of Ohio’s dentistry schools.
William Leffler, DDS, of Canton, has been named to the Ohio State Dental Board. Leffler operates Leffler Family Dentistry in Massillon. Leffler is a past president of the Stark County Dental Society as well as a member of the American Dental Association’s Council on Ethics, Bylaws and Judicial Affairs. Leffler graduated from the Ohio State University College of Dentistry and also holds a law degree from the University of Akron School of Law.
The National Museum of Afro-American History and Culture Planning Council meets with and advises the Ohio Historical Society in the course of establishment and maintenance of the National Museum of Afro-American History and Culture near Wilberforce University.
Betty J. Simmons-Talley, of Columbus, has been named to the National Museum of Afro-American History and Culture Planning Council. Simmons-Talley has been a bus driver with the Columbus Public Schools since 1979 and has served as the president of the Columbus School Employee Association. Simmons-Talley also marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from Selma, Alabama to Montgomery, Alabama.
Carl Russell, of Cleveland Heights, has been appointed to the National Museum of Afro-American History and Culture Planning Council. Russell is a retired laborer and member of the Executive Board of Local 310 Laborers International in Cleveland. Russell has also been active with the NAACP as a coordinator of the 2002 NAACP Voter Fund.
The Wildlife Council advises the Department of Natural Resources on policies of the Division of Wildlife, as well as investigating and making recommendations in matters pertaining to preservation. The council issues orders for the management of wildlife based upon public hearings and supervises the wildlife in state parks, as well as approves all proposed rulings and regulations of the Division of Wildlife.
Dominic Marchese, of Farmdale, has been named to the Wildlife Council to serve as a representative of the farming community. Marchese has been the owner and operator of Manna Farms in Farmdale for 35 years. Marchese is a veteran of the United States Navy and served as a lieutenant in the Warren Fire Department where he worked from 1966 to 1991. Marchese is also active in the Trumbull County Farm Bureau and has served on bureau’s Board of Trustees.
The Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board regulates the licensure and certification process of chemical dependency counselors and specialists, approves educational coursework and investigates ethical complaints against licensees. The board also regulates the prices of chemical dependency counseling and alcohol and other drug prevention services.
Diane Fidelibus, of Bexley, has been appointed to the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board. Fidelibus is a licensed independent chemical dependency counselor and prevention specialist. Fidelibus is currently the clinical coordinator for the mental health/chemical dependency/mental retardation program at Columbus State Community College. Fidelibus graduated from Ohio Dominican College in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree in social welfare and from the University of Dayton with a master’s degree in education and social agency counseling.
The Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission works for greater access to the public of the arts and professional sports through the operation and management of Ohio cultural and sports facilities, as well as through education.
Otto M. Budig, Jr., of Cincinnati, has been reappointed to the Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission. Budig is a Cincinnati-area businessman that is active in the Cincinnati arts community. He serves on the board of the Cincinnati Ballet, the Cincinnati Arts Association, Cincinnati Museum Center, and the Ensemble Theater.
The Housing Trust Fund Advisory Committee is charged with assisting the Ohio Department of Development and the Housing Finance Agency in identifying the housing needs and priorities of the state. The committee also reports on how programs, such as the Low-and-Moderate Income Housing Trust Fund, can more effectively benefit low and moderate income individuals and families. The committee advises the director of the Department of Development as to when and how money within the Housing Trust Fund should be allocated.
Cheryl Ann Thiesssen, of Wellston, has been reappointed to the Housing Trust Fund Advisory Committee. Thiessen is currently the executive director of Jackson-Vinton Community Action, Inc., a non-profit agency that provides support services to low income individuals and families in the areas of primary medical care, housing, energy costs, and aid to low-income mothers with infants or toddlers. Thiessen has also served on the boards of the Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development and the Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies.
Debbie Lieberman, of Clayton, has been appointed to the Housing Trust Fund Advisory Committee. Lieberman currently serves as a Montgomery County Commissioner. Lieberman has worked for the Legal Aid Society of Dayton and has experience in residential and commercial real estate development. Lieberman also served as the director of real estate for the Montgomery County Auditor’s Office before being named the chief deputy auditor in 2001.
The Recreation and Resources Commission advises the director of the Department of Natural Resources on any plans and programs for the management, development, utilization and conservation of the state’s natural resources.
Fran Buchholzer, of Akron, has been reappointed to the Recreation and Resources Commission, to which she was first appointed in 2004. Buchholzer is a former director of the Department of Natural Resources under Governor George Voinovich. Buchholzer served as one of three commissioners for Metro Parks serving Summit County, overseeing and setting policy for the operation of the county’s Metropolitan Park System.
The Ohio Veterans’ Home Board of Trustees governs the conduct, care, and property of the Ohio Veterans’ Homes in Sandusky and Georgetown.
Robert Dean, of Warren, has been appointed to the Ohio Veterans’ Home Board of Trustees. Dean served in the United States Air Force from 1962 to 1982, earning numerous commendations and twice being selected as non-commissioned Officer of the Year. Dean has worked for the Cleveland-Cuyahoga Port Authority since 1993, currently serving as the facility security officer, directing and managing the port authority’s homeland security plan and also serves as city councilmember-at-large for the Warren City Council.
The Emergency Response Commission aims to improve statewide preparedness and response to emergencies and promote public awareness of potential hazards. The commission consists of representatives from professional and volunteer firefighters, county emergency and local emergency response agencies, environmental advocacy groups, and petroleum refiners or chemical manufacturers.
Vernon K. Higaki, of Macedonia, has been named to the Emergency Response Commission. Higaki is currently the manager of Fleet Emergency Preparedness, and has served since 1999 on the Nuclear Industry Task Force, which works with the Nuclear Energy Institute in Washington, D.C., to develop regulatory requirements.
The Ohio Optical Dispensers Board handles the processing of licensure applications for dispensing opticians, schedules and administers qualifying examinations for licensure, revokes or suspends licenses, and issues licenses to qualified individuals.
James Fortune, of Youngstown, has been named to the Ohio Optical Dispensers Board. Fortune served 20 years on the Youngstown City Council, serving on numerous committees including the Public Utilities and Safety Committee and the Education Committee. Fortune is a United States Army veteran and a lifelong resident of Youngstown.