Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland announced today appointments to several state boards and commissions.
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has extensive regulatory powers over the electric, gas, telephone, and water companies and over public transportation. Its powers are mainly used to protect consumers from health dangers and price increases.
Alan Schriber, of Cincinnati, was reappointed as chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO). He has served as chairman of the PUCO since 1999 and he had previously served the PUCO as a commissioner from 1983-1989. Additionally, Schriber served Miami University as an assistant professor from1977-1983 and as the president of ARS Broadcasting from 1989-1997. Schriber received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin, a master’s degree from Miami University, and a doctorate from Indiana University.
The Ohio Civil Rights Commission, through the adoption of rules and regulations, works toward better enforcement of Ohio’s Civil Rights’ statutes. It reviews and, if necessary, takes court action against discrimination in housing, employment, union activities and public accommodations.
Eddie Harrell, Jr., of Columbus, was designated chairperson of the Ohio Civil Rights Commission. He has served as the president and CEO of the Columbus Urban League since 2006. He was previously the executive director of I KNOW I CAN and the former Project GRAD Columbus, programs that worked together to provide Columbus City School District students with a quality public education that prepared them to enter college. Harrell also currently serves on the Otterbein College Board of Trustees, as well as on the boards of directors for COSI , Columbus City Schools Education Foundation, and KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program.) He received a bachelor’s degree from Otterbein College and an MBA from Ashland University.
The University of Cincinnati Board of Trustees is responsible for hiring, fixing compensation of, and removing employees of the university as it deems necessary for the good of the institution. It shall do all else necessary to ensure the successful and continuous operation of the university.
Stanley Chesley, of Cincinnati, currently serves as the president of Waite, Schneider, Bayless & Chesley L.P.A and as a board member of the University of Cincinnati Foundation. He had previously served as the chairman of the Ohio Supreme Court’s Board of Commissioners of Grievances and Discipline from 1994-1995. Chesley received a bachelor’s degree and law degree from the University of Cincinnati.
The Belmont Technical College Board of Trustees has the power to establish and operate a technical college within a designated district and is responsible for setting the school’s tuition, fees and employee salaries.
Pandora Neuhart, of Woodsfield, has served as the auditor for Monroe County since 1998. She has also served as a member of the Monroe County Chamber of Commerce since 1990. Neuhart received an associate’s degree from Belmont Technical College in 1973.
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College has the power to establish and operate a technical college within a designated district and is responsible for setting the school’s tuition, fees and employee salaries.
Margy Waller, of Cincinnati, has served as the vice president for the Arts and Culture Partnership of the Fine Arts Fund and as the executive director of the Mobility Agenda. She had previously served as a senior advisor on domestic policy under the Clinton-Gore administration. Waller received a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and her law degree from The Ohio State University.
The Owens State Community College Board of Trustees has the power to establish and operate a technical college within a designated district and is responsible for setting the school’s tuition, fees and employee salaries.
David Habegger, of Oregon, has served as the scholarship coordinator and guidance counselor at Oregon Clay High School since 1990 and 1996, respectively. He had previously served as the president of the Oregon City Federation of Teachers. He was inducted to the Ohio High School Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame in 2008. Habegger received a bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University in 1973 and a master’s degree from the University of Toledo in 1977.
The Rehabilitation Service Commission develops programs beneficial to the handicapped.
Jack Licate, of Shaker Heights, has served as the president of Jack A. Licate & Associates since 2004. He had previously served as the vice chairman of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation’s Division of Institutional Relations and Development from 1997-2004. Licate has also served as a member of MetroHealth System’s board of trustees since 2005. He received a bachelor’s degree from St. Louis University in 1962 and a master’s degree and a doctorate from the University of Chicago in 1967 and 1975, respectively.
The Public Benefits Advisory Board advises the director of the Department of Development of the universal service fund and the low-income customer assistance programs and advises the director on the director’s recommendation to the commission regarding the appropriate level of the universal service rider.
Nolan Moser, of Columbus, has served as the air and energy program manager for the Ohio Environmental Council since 2008. He had previously served as a law fellow for the Ohio Environmental Council from 2007-2008. Moser received a bachelor’s degree from Austin College in 2003 and a law degree from Case Western Reserve University in 2006.
The Southern Ohio Agriculture and Community Development Foundation endeavors to replace the production of tobacco in southern Ohio with the production of other agricultural products and to mitigate the adverse economic impact of reduced tobacco production in the region by preparing, implementing, and keeping current a plan to develop means for tobacco growers to grow other agricultural products voluntarily.
Eric Wolfer, of Fayetteville, has served as the co-owner of Wolfer Farms since 1995. He has also served as a member of the Ohio Farm Bureau Board of Directors since 1999 and as a member of the Clermont County Farm Bureau Board of Directors since 1994. Wolfer received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Cincinnati in 1995.
The Ohio Board of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology adopts rules to ensure ethical standards of practice by speech pathologists and audiologists and determines the nature and scope of examinations to be administered to applicants for licensure.
Jane Kukula, of Mentor, currently serves as the president and as an audiologist for Advanced Audiology Concepts. Kukula holds licensures from the Ohio Board of Speech Language Pathology, Audiology, and the American Board of Audiology. She is a fellow with the American Academy of Audiology and is the founding president of the Northern Ohio Academy of Audiology. Kukula received a bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Cleveland State in 1977 and 1979, respectively. She received a doctorate from the University of Florida in 2002.
The Public Employees Retirement System Board is responsible for the administration and management of the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS).
Lennie Wyatt, of Monroe, serves as the chairman for the Central Ohio Food Pension Fund, senior labor trustee for the Food and Non-Food Pension Fund, and a member of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union’s Southwest Ohio Health and Welfare Fund. Wyatt received a bachelor’s degree from Antioch University in 1984.
The Governor’s Council on People with Disabilities cooperates with all employers both public and private in locating or developing employment opportunities for the disabled and assisting in the creation of committees at the community level.
Renee Lynn Nemeth, of Cleveland, has served as the outreach coordinator for the School of Nursing at the Cleveland State University since 2002. She had previously served as an administrative assistant and recruitment specialist for the University Hospitals of Cleveland. She received a bachelor’s degree from Ohio University in 1998 and a master’s degree from Cleveland State University in 2004.
Jermaine Brown, of Reynoldsburg, has served as an adjunct professor for Columbus State Community College since 2005 and as marketing liaison at the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction since 2007. Brown has also served as an advisory board member for the WrightChoice internship program. He received a bachelor’s degree from New Jersey City University in 1993 and a master’s degree from The Ohio State University in 2002.
Darrell Doudt, of Fairlawn, has served as a distribution clerk at the United States Post Office in Akron and as an instructor in American Sign Language at the Maplewood Adult Career Center since 1986 and 2007, respectively. Doudt is on the board of trustees for Columbus Colony and serves as an American Sign Language mentor. He is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Kent State University.
The Commission on Minority Health was established to promote health and the prevention of disease among members of minority groups. Each year the commission distributes grants from available funds to community-based health groups to be used to promote health and the prevention of disease among members of minority groups.
Yvette Livers, of Pickerington, has served as the central region vice president for the American Cancer Society. She had previously served as the chief executive officer for the Girl Scouts-Heart of Ohio. She received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Louisville.
Viola Gomez, of Rawson, has served as the director of grants and programs at Rural Opportunities since 2008. She also serves on the board of the Ohio Department of Health AIDS Advisory and Community Health Services. She attended Texas Southwest College and is currently attending North Central State College.
The Board of Tax Appeals determines what property is exempt from taxation, holds hearings and renders decisions on the actions of county budget commissions, assessors, the tax commissioner, and uniformity of rules.
Michael Johrendt, of Columbus, currently serves as a partner with the law firm of Johrendt, Cook & Eberhart. He has also served as the director of Columbus First Bank since 1997. He had previously served as a special counsel for the Ohio Attorney General from 1995-2006. Johrendt received a bachelor’s degree and a law degree from the Ohio State University in 1974 and 1977, respectively.
The State Personnel Board of Review hears appeals of reductions in pay, job abolishment, layoffs, suspensions, discharges, assignments and reassignments of public employees in the classified civil service.
Dwight Tillery, of Cincinnati, has served as the president of the Center for Closing the Health Gap in Greater Cincinnati since 2004 and as a consultant for Tillery & Associates since 1999. He had previously served as the mayor of the City of Cincinnati from 1991-1993. Tillery received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Cincinnati in 1970 and a law degree from the University of Michigan in 1972.
The Third Frontier Advisory Board advises the Third Frontier Commission on various items, including the strategic planning, general management and coordination of programs administered by the Commission.
Barbara Snyder, of Cleveland Heights, has served as the president of Case Western Reserve University since 2006. She had previously served as the executive vice president and provost for the Ohio State University from 2004-2007 and as a professor at Moritz College of Law at the Ohio State University from 1990-2007. Snyder received a bachelor’s degree from the Ohio State University and a law degree from the University of Chicago.
The Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board oversees the grading of examinations of individuals applying to be professional counselors, social workers, or independent social workers and determines if an applicant is qualified for practice.
Jennifer Riesbeck-Lee, of Heath, has served as a contracted child abuse and neglect educational trainer since 2002. She had previously served as a case worker for the Licking County Department of Job and Family Services from 1995-2004. She had also previously served as a social worker for Catholic Charities from 1994-1995. Riesbeck-Lee received a bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University in 1993.
Victoria White Kress, of Youngstown, has served as an associate professor of counseling and special education for Youngstown State University since 2001. She had previously served as an assistant professor at the University of North Carolina from 2000-2001. Kress has served as a counselor at Community Counseling Clinic since 2008. She received a bachelor’s degree from Baldwin Wallace College in 1993 and a master’s degree and doctorate from the University of Akron in 1995 and 1999, respectively.
The State Board of Psychology licenses all persons who desire to engage in the practice of psychology in Ohio.
Suzanne LeSure, of Fairview Park, has served as the chief executive officer of Cornerstone Comprehensive Psychological Services since 1985 and as a co-director of the Cornerstone Wellness Center since 2000. She is a former president of the Medina County Mental Health Professionals Association and has served as a member of the American Psychological Association since 1985. LeSure received a bachelor’s degree from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1969 and a master’s degree and a doctorate from Syracuse University in 1976 and 1983, respectively.
The State Board of Nursing provides for the examination, regulation, licensing, and registration of nurses, nursing school curriculum standards and inspection of the schools.
Johnnie Maier, of Massillon, has served as the clerk of court for the Massillon Municipal Court since 2000. He has also served as a member of the Stark County Board of Elections since 2006. Maier had previously served as a state representative in the Ohio General Assembly from 1991-1999. He received a bachelor’s degree from Kent State University in 1976.