Governor Eric Greitens made the following appointments today:
Boone County Clerk
Taylor Burks, of Columbia, was appointed as the new Boone County Clerk. The position became vacant after the resignation of the previous Clerk, Wendy S. Noren.
Burks is the Director of Distribution, Inventory and Asset Management at the University of Missouri System. In 2008, he received his commission in the United States Navy through OCS and as an active duty officer, he achieved the rank of Lieutenant while serving for nearly eight years. He continues to serve as Lieutenant in the United States Navy Reserves. Burks holds a bachelor’s degree in justice systems from Truman State University, a master’s degree in administrative leadership from the University of Oklahoma, and a master’s degree in accounting from Washington University.
Conservation Commission
Nicole Wood was appointed as a member of the Conservation Commission. Wood will be the successor to James Blair.
Wood is the Director of Operations at Woodland Operations and Maintenance, where she is involved in the daily management of 20,000 acres of land. She worked on the establishment of a conservation easement in Texas County targeting the restoration and conservation of the Current River Watershed. Wood serves on the National Wildlife Federation, the Conservation Federation of Missouri, the Parkland Hospital Foundation Board, and the National Wildlife Federation Endowment.
Missouri State Employees Retirement System Board of Trustees
Gary Metzger and Joe Keifer were appointed as members of the Missouri State Employees Retirement System Board of Trustees.
Metzger is the Missouri and Kansas Regional Chairman of Simmons Bank. He previously worked as Chairman, President, and CEO of Liberty Bank for 20 years. Metzger holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from MacMurray College and a master’s degree in economics from Western Illinois University.
Keifer is Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Cornerstone Wealth Management LLC, a comprehensive investment advisory firm in Des Peres. He has worked in the field of financial management since 1998. Keifer holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Missouri – St. Louis.
State Board of Education
Melissa Gelner, Eddy Justice, and Delbert Scott were appointed as members of the State Board of Education.
Gelner is Chief Kinship Officer at Askinosie Chocolate, Executive Director of Chocolate University, and Principal at M Gelner Marketing. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Tulsa.
Justice is Owner and an agent of Eddy Justice State Farm Insurance Agency. He has sustained this position for over 15 years. Justice holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from John Brown University.
Scott is President of Kansas Christian College. He previously served as a Missouri State Senator, and a Missouri State Representative. Scott holds a bachelor’s degree in education, comprehensive social studies, from Southwest Missouri State College.
Shannon County Public Administrator
Teresa Acord, of Eminence, was appointed as the new Shannon County Public Administrator. The position became vacant after the resignation of the previous Public Administrator, Matthew Derryberry.
Acord is an Adult Education and Literacy Instructor at Missouri State University and Owner of The Knapp House Bed and Breakfast. She has previously worked as an Adult Education Instructor for Houston R-I, and as an Adjunct Business Instructor for Southwest Baptist University. Acord holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in business administration, both from Southwest Baptist University.
State Tax Commission
Senator Will Kraus was appointed as a member of the State Tax Commission. Kraus will be the successor of Ryan McKenna.
Senator Kraus represents the Eighth District of Missouri and has been a leader in tax policy during his time in the Missouri State Senate. He served in the United States Army for 25 years. Kraus also previously served as a State Representative. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Central Missouri State University.
University of Missouri Board of Curators
Julia Brncic, Jon Sundvold, and Courtney Lauer were appointed as members of the University of Missouri Board of Curators.
Brncic is Vice President and Associate General Counsel for Express Scripts. She has previously worked as Assistant General Counsel and Senior Council for Express Scripts. Brncic holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Purdue University. She holds a law degree and an executive master’s of business administration degree, both from Washington University.
Sundvold is President and Founder of Sundvold Financial, a registered investment advisory firm established in 1997. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Missouri. Sundvold was a member of the University of Missouri basketball program and went on to play nine years in the National Basketball Association.
Lauer is a student at the University of Missouri, School of Law pursing a Master of Laws degree in dispute resolution. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from Columbia College, and a law degree from the University of Missouri. Lauer assists the Mock Trial team at the University of Missouri.
