BATON ROUGE — Today, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced his appointments to several Louisiana boards and commissions.
Louisiana Emergency Response Network Board
The Louisiana Emergency Response Network Board serves to defend the public health, safety and welfare by protecting the people of the State of Louisiana against unnecessary deaths and morbidity due to trauma and time-sensitive illness.
Robert K. Wolterman, of New Orleans, was reappointed to the Louisiana Emergency Response Network Board. Wolterman is the Chief Executive Officer of Ochsner Medical Center. As required by statute, he was nominated by and will serve as the representative of the Metropolitan Hospital Council of New Orleans.
William T. Freeman, M.D., of Prairieville, was reappointed to the Louisiana Emergency Response Network Board. Freeman is a physician and the Chief Executive Officer of Freepike Enterprises, Inc. As required by statute, he was nominated by and will serve as the representative of the Louisiana Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians.
Christopher J. Guilbeaux, of Breaux Bridge, was reappointed to the Louisiana Emergency Response Network Board. Guilbeaux is the Deputy Director of Preparedness, Response, and Interoperability at the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP). Additionally, he is a veteran of the United States Army. As required by statute, he was nominated by and will serve as the representative of GOHSEP.
Louisiana State Arts Council
The Louisiana State Arts Council receives applications for matching federal funds available from the National Endowment for the Arts and such other funds made available to the council and make recommendations thereon. The Council reviews and approves or rejects said grant applications from other governmental units, community arts councils, and other private, nonprofit, and tax-exempt groups. Additionally, the Council advises departmental officers on the design and execution of an annual state plan consistent with the goals and policies of the department as provided by federal and state law, rules, and regulations, and submits the plan to the National Endowment for the Arts.
Rodneyna M. Hart, of Baton Rouge, was appointed to the Louisiana State Arts Council. Hart is the Exhibitions Manager of the Louisiana Arts and Science Museum. As required by statute, she was nominated by the Lieutenant Governor.
Volunteer Louisiana Commission
The Volunteer Louisiana Commission is charged with encouraging community service as a means of community and state problem-solving, promoting and supporting citizen involvement in government and private programs, developing a long-term comprehensive vision and plan for action for community service initiatives in Louisiana, acting as the state's policy-making body for the Corporation on National and Community Service, and serving as the state's liaison to national and state organizations that support its mission. Appointments to the commission are made by the Governor in collaboration with the Lieutenant Governor.
Paul A. Pratt, of Shreveport, was appointed to the Volunteer Louisiana Commission. Pratt is the Director of Corporate Government Relations for Chesapeake Energy Corporation. As required by statute, he was nominated by the Lieutenant Governor.
Kellie Duhon, of Crowley, was appointed to the Volunteer Louisiana Commission. Duhon is a Community Relations Consultant for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana. She formerly served as Chief of Staff to former First Lady Supriya Jindal. As required by statute, she was nominated by the Lieutenant Governor.
Lee A. Jeter Sr., of Bossier, was appointed to the Volunteer Louisiana Commission. Jeter is the Executive Director of the Fuller Center for Housing of Northwest Louisiana, Inc., and a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. Additionally, he is a licensed and ordained associate minister at the Fellowship of Christ Missionary Baptist Church in Shreveport. As required by statute, he was nominated by the Lieutenant Governor.
Louisiana Public Facilities Authority
The primary mission of the LPFA is to further education, healthcare, economic development, and job creation in Louisiana in order to make Louisiana a better place to work, live, and raise our families. We fulfill this mission by serving as a conduit issuer of tax-exempt and taxable bonds for Louisiana and its citizens. As a conduit issuer of bonds, the LPFA provides the means for qualifying projects and entities to receive tax-exempt financing and therefore achieve substantial interest cost savings. We also fulfill our mission by offering free college planning resources to students and parents through Lela, the LPFA's education division.
Casey R. Guidry, of Thibodaux, was appointed to the Louisiana Public Facilities Authority. Guidry is a licensed clinical social worker and the CEO of Start Corporation, which serves to promote opportunities that enhance the self-sufficiency of people who are impaired in their abilities to live and function independently..
Larry Ferdinand, of Shreveport, was appointed to the Louisiana Public Facilities Authority. Ferdinand is a licensed real estate broker and the Executive Director of Corporate and Business Relations at Southern University in Shreveport. Additionally, he is a veteran of the United States Army.