RELEASE: Governor Whitmer Makes Appointments to Boards and Commissions

October 26, 2023?

Governor Whitmer Makes Appointments to Boards and Commissions?

LANSING, Mich. ? Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the following appointments to Natural Resource Commission, Michigan State Waterways Commission, Michigan Board of Nursing, Collection Practices Board, Michigan Board of Counseling, Michigan Veteran Facility Authority Board of Directors, Mental Health Diversion Council and Barrier Free Design Board.?

Today?s appointees represent Michigan?s young professionals, communities of color, seniors, and more. The appointees announced this week build on Governor Whitmer?s work to ensure appointees reflect Michigan?s diverse population. Sixty percent of appointees are women or people of color, and the Whitmer cabinet is the most diverse in Michigan history.?

Natural Resource Commission?

Pete Eardley, of Grand Rapids, is the chairman of the board and owner of Cavallo, a software technology company. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Michigan State University. He and his wife also own and operate Oak Heart Lodge, a philanthropic project where they host 6-12 disabled veterans for 5 days and 4 nights and provide guided fishing, housing and meals. They are scheduled to host 36 weeks? worth of groups next year. Mr. Eardley is appointed for a term commencing October 26, 2023, and expiring December 31, 2023. He succeeds Leslie Love who has resigned.??

The Michigan Natural Resources Commission (NRC) has exclusive authority to regulate the taking of game and sportfish and is authorized to designate game species and authorize the establishment of the first open season for animals through the issuance of orders.?

This appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.?

Michigan State Waterways Commission?

Erik Krueger, of Holland, is the VP of sales for Jefferson Beach Yacht Sales. Krueger has spent his entire life on the water and is the fourth generation in his family working in the boating industry. He started a small business washing boats at age 14 and received his 100 Ton U.S.C.G. Captain?s License by age 18. He has made numerous trips delivering vessels to and from the Great Lakes, East Coast and Florida. He attended Michigan State University. Mr. Krueger is appointed to represent the marine-trades industry, for a term commencing October 26, 2023, and expiring September 18, 2026. He succeeds Mary Rising whose term has expired.?

Craig Lehrke, of Moran, is the owner of Mackinac Sailing. He is also a retired school administrator, a 28-year veteran of the U.S. Navy, and a former Mackinac County Commissioner. He is a graduate of Central Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Geography. He also holds a Master of Education from Saginaw Valley State, and a National Security and Strategic Studies diploma from the U.S. Naval War College. Additionally, Lehrke has earned a U.S. Coast Guard Master?s Captain License with an Auxiliary Sail Endorsement and has extensive training in Emergency/Crisis Management at the Michigan State Police Academy, FEMA Institute, and National Fire Academy. Mr. Lehrke is reappointed for a term commencing October 26, 2023, and expiring September 18, 2026.??

The Michigan State Waterways Commission is responsible for the acquisition, construction, and maintenance of recreational harbors, channels, docking and launching facilities, and administration of commercial docks in the Straits of Mackinac.?

These appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.?

Michigan Board of Nursing?

Dr. Marcia Ditmyer, Ph.D., of Frankenmuth, is the Dean of the College for Health and Human Services at Saginaw Valley State University. Dr. Ditmyer earned her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Wayne State University, her Master of Business Administration from Central Michigan University, a Master of Science in Community Health and Wellness Promotion from the California College for Health Sciences, and her Ph.D. from the University of Toledo. She is appointed to represent the general public, for a term commencing October 26, 2023, and expiring June 30, 2027. She succeeds Nora Maloy whose term has expired.????

The Michigan Board of Nursing was created to establish qualifications for nurse licensure, to establish standards for education and approve nurse education programs, develop, and implement criteria for assurance of continued competency, and take disciplinary action against licensees when the health, safety, and welfare of the public has been adversely affected.?????

This appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.?

Collection Practices Board?

Michael Hiller, of Brighton, is the Vice President of Collections for American Profit Recovery, where he has worked since 2005. Hiller earned his Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Central Michigan University and his Master of Arts in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from University of Detroit Mercy. He is reappointed to represent professionals, for a term commencing October 26, 2023, and expiring June 30, 2027.??

The Collection Practices Board works to license and regulate collection agencies operating in Michigan. The board works with the department to oversee the practice of approximately 713 collection agencies and 525 collection agency managers.?

This appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.?

Michigan Board of Counseling?

Dr. Courtenay Hae-Barrett Morsi, Ph.D., of Okemos, is an Assistant Professor in the School Psychology program at Michigan State University. Dr. Morsi holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Emory University, a Master of Arts in School Psychology, and a Ph.D. in School Psychology from University of Maryland. She is appointed to represent individuals engaged primarily in teaching, training, or research in counseling, for a term commencing October 26, 2023, and expiring June 30, 2027. She succeeds Janet Glaes whose term has expired.??

The Michigan Board of Counseling works to oversee the practice of approximately 9,099 Counselors across the state of Michigan. Underlying all duties is the responsibility of the Board to promote and protect the public's health, safety, and welfare. The Board also has the obligation to take disciplinary action against licensees who have adversely affected the public's health, safety, and welfare.

This appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.?

Veteran Facility Authority Board of Directors?

Dr. David Rutledge, of Ypsilanti, is the Griffin Endowed Chair in Political Science at Central Michigan University, a former State Representative, and a veteran Captain of the United States Air Force. Dr. Rutledge is reappointed to represent members with professional knowledge, skill, or experience in long-term care, health care licensure or finance, or medicine who represent the interests of one or more congressionally chartered veterans' organizations, for a term commencing October 26, 2023, and expiring April 15, 2027.??

The Michigan Veterans? Facility Authority Board of Directors governs the Michigan Veterans? Facility Authority and consists of the Director of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and eight members appointed by the Governor who have professional knowledge, skill, or experience in long-term care, health care licensure or finance, or medicine.???

This appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.??

Mental Health Diversion Council??

Steve Kempker, of Zeeland, is the Ottawa County Sherriff. He has also served as Captain, Administrative Lieutenant, and Operations and Services Lieutenant within the Law Enforcement Division. He is a graduate of Muskegon Community College, Kalamazoo Valley Police Academy, Michigan State University Accident Reconstruction, and the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command. Mr. Kempker is reappointed to represent county sheriffs, for a term commencing October 26, 2023, and expiring January 30, 2027.???

The Mental Health Diversion Council is an advisory body to the Governor within the Department of Health and Human Services charged to advise and assist in the implementation of a diversion action plan and provide recommendations for statutory, contractual, or procedural changes to improve diversion.????

This appointment is not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.?

Barrier Free Design Board??

Paul D. Ecklund, of Portage, is an ADA specialist and systems advocate at the Disability Network for Southwest Michigan. He received his bachelor?s degree in environmental studies from the University of Iowa and his Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health from Western Michigan University. Mr. Ecklund is reappointed to represent visually impaired individuals for a term commencing November 1, 2023, and expiring October 31, 2026.???

Ronald R. Campbell, of Davison, is the principal planner and preservation architect for Oakland County Planning and Economic Development. Mr. Campbell is a registered architect in the State of Michigan and a federal qualified historic architect. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Architecture. Mr. Campbell is reappointed to represent registered architects for a term commencing November 1, 2023, and expiring October 31, 2026.?

The Barrier Free Design Board has the responsibility to receive, review, and process requests for exceptions to the barrier free design specifications, and requires appropriate equivalent alternatives when exceptions are granted. The Board receives, processes, and makes recommendations for barrier free design rules.???

These appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.?

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