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 and Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing.
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. 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.
