Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan have announced appointments to state groups including the Board of Executives for Long Term Services and Supports, Governor’s Council on an Age-Friendly Minnesota, Governor’s Children’s Cabinet Advisory Council, Governor’s Interagency Coordinating Council on Early Childhood Intervention, Minnesota Assistive Technology Advisory Council. Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing, Board on Aging, Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy, the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership Board, the Governor’s Workforce Development Board, the Governor’s Council on an Age-Friendly Minnesota, and the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband. 

Debra Stock, Maple Grove, replaces Vanessa Allmon as a public member on the Board of Executives for Long Term Services and Supports. A new seat on the board will be filled by Drew Hood, Mankato, as an assisted living director. Jonathan Lundberg, Ramsey, replaces Jennifer Pfeffer as a nonprofit nursing home administrator representative. 

The Board of Executives for Long Term Services and Supports works to protect the public by regulating the practice of nursing home administrators and assisted living directors and investigating and resolving complaints against administrators, health services executives and assisted living directors. 

Russell Pointer, Sr., Lakeville, replaces Anthony Taylor on the Governor’s Council on an Age-Friendly Minnesota. Michelle Stender, Duluth, replaces Debra Howze. 

The Governor’s Council on an Age-Friendly Minnesota works to elevate the voice of older adults in developing the vision and action plan for an age-friendly state. The council also works to engage with community, identify opportunities for and barriers to collaboration and coordination among services and state agencies, promote equity and make progress towards equitable outcomes, and catalyze age-friendly work at the local level. 

Syeda Sabeen Zehra, Maple Grove, replaces Christy Caez Claudio was a parent member on the Governor’s Interagency Coordinating Council on Early Childhood Intervention. The Governor’s Interagency Coordinating Council on Early Childhood Intervention advises and assists the Minnesota Department of Education with fulfilling federal and state early childhood special education obligations for children with disabilities ages 0 up to kindergarten entrance and their families. 

Myrna Peterson, Grand Rapids, replaces Christy Caez Claudio on the Minnesota Assistive Technology Advisory Council. The Minnesota STAR Program’s mission is to help all Minnesotans with disabilities gain access to and acquire the assistive technology they need to live, learn, work, and play. The council provides the STAR program with consumer-responsive, consumer-driven advice for planning, implementing, and evaluating assistive technology activities. 

Sally Prouty, Shoreview, replaces Xavier Arana on the Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing. Dave McAuliffe, North Branch, replaces Christine Morgan as Metro Advisory committee representative. Rebecca Thomas of Ramsey was reappointed 

The Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing serves as the principal agency of the State to advocate on behalf of the deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing Minnesotans by working to ensure those persons have equal access to the services, programs, and opportunities available to others. 

Len Levine of Mendota Heights was named to the Board on Aging, replacing Lance Fang. The Board on Aging develops, coordinates, evaluates, and administers federal and state funds for programs for the aging; makes grants to seven area agencies on aging and non-profit agencies; and serves as advocate for older persons. 

Derrick Crim, Brooklyn Park, was reappointed to the Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy as a licensed alcohol and drug counselor member. Corey Harland, New Brighton, was reappointed as a public member. Landyn Prescott-Miles, Royalton, was reappointed as a professional counselor or licensed professional clinical counselor. The Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy regulates the practices of alcohol and drug counseling and professional counseling/professional clinical counseling in the State of Minnesota. 

Bernie Burnham, St. Paul, replaces Bill McCarthy as Governor’s Workforce Development Board labor representative on the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership Board. Lance Louis, Cold Spring, replaces Rick Trontet as the Governor’s Workforce Development Board business representative. Scott Parker, Mazeppa, was reappointed as Governor’s Workforce Development Board labor representative. The Minnesota Job Skills Partnership Board administers the Job Skills Partnership grant programs which bring employers with specific training needs together with educational or other non-profit institutions which can design programs to meet those needs. 

Sandra Vargas, Golden Valley, replaces Joyce Ancheta on the Governor’s Council on an Age-Friendly Minnesota. The Governor’s Council on an Age-Friendly Minnesota works to elevate the voice of older adults in developing the vision and action plan for an age-friendly state. The Council also works to engage with community, identify opportunities for and barriers to collaboration and coordination among services and state agencies, promote equity and make progress towards equitable outcomes, and catalyze age-friendly work at the local level.