JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Gov. Jay Nixon today announced his appointments to six boards and commissions; the appointees will be subject to confirmation by the Missouri Senate. The appointees, along with their boards and hometowns, are:
n Children’s Trust Fund Board (Jeffrey Wright – Turney)
n Missouri Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Professional Land Surveyors and Landscape Architects (Sherry Cooper – Chesterfield)
n Missouri Southern State University Board of Governors (Alison R. Hershewe – Joplin)
n Petroleum Storage Tank Insurance Fund Board of Trustees (James L. Greer – Columbia)
n St. Louis City Board of Election Commissioners (Paul M. Maloney – St. Louis)
n State Board of Pharmacy (Dr. Christian S. Tadrus – Moberly)
In addition to the gubernatorial appointments, the Governor also announced the appointment of Michael Burke, of Kansas City; and Patt Ann Sharp, of Kennett, to the Missouri State Council on the Arts by the Director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development,Mike Downing. Information on those appointments is at the end of the news release.
Children’s Trust Fund Board
The Governor has appointed Jeffrey M. Wright, of Turney, to the Children’s Trust Fund Board. The Children’s Trust Fund works to prevent or alleviate child abuse and neglect by planning and policy development; ensuring appropriate funding of results-oriented programs, training programs for prevention professionals, and research; promoting public awareness and education; and assisting in the integration of statewide prevention efforts.
Wright is the president of UAW Local 249 and represents 10,000 active and retired members of the local at the Ford Motor Kansas City Assembly Plant. He also is the vice-president of the Midwest UAW Community Action Program, which works to improve the lives of working families. Wright is a member of the Lathrop School Board. The Governor has appointed him for a term ending Sept. 15, 2015.
Missouri Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Professional Land Surveyors and Landscape Architects
The Governor has re-appointed Sherry Cooper, of Chesterfield, to the Missouri Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Professional Land Surveyors and Landscape Architects. The board protects the public from incompetence, misconduct, gross negligence, fraud, misrepresentation or dishonesty; licenses only qualified professionals by examination and evaluation of competency; enforces standards by implementing legislation and administrative rules; and encourages economic development and partnerships with existing small businesses.
Cooper recently retired from the St. Louis-based American Optometric Association, where she served for more than 22 years as Associate Director of State Government Relations. Cooper is a graduate of Saint Louis University. The Governor has re-appointed her as the public member for the board for a term ending Aug. 18, 2018.
Missouri Southern State University Board of Governors
The Governor has appointed Alison R. Hershewe (D), of Joplin, to the Missouri Southern State University Board of Governors. The Board of Governors acts on behalf of the people of Missouri to oversee the successful implementation of well-planned and sound academic programs of higher learning for the benefit of the students of the college.
Hershewe has operated her own law practice in Joplin for more than 20 years, and has been active in organized efforts to help Joplin in its recovery and rebuilding from the 2011 tornado. She obtained her bachelor’s degree from Missouri Southern State University and her law degree from the University of North Carolina. The Governor has appointed Hershewe for a term ending Aug. 30, 2020.
Petroleum Storage Tank Insurance Fund Board of Trustees
The Governor has appointed James L. Greer, of Columbia, to the Petroleum Storage Tank Insurance Fund Board of Trustees. The board works to ensure that monies from the Fund are effectively used to clean up the environment; that Fund participants receive timely, professional services; and that the Fund’s resources are economically used in order to benefit the maximum number of Missourians.
Greer is the vice-president of supply and distribution for MFA Oil Co. He has been with the company in various management positions since 1993. Greer is active in leading youth sports in central Missouri. The Governor has appointed him for a term ending Feb. 6, 2017.
St. Louis City Board of Election Commissioners
The Governor has appointed Paul M. Maloney (R), of St. Louis, to the St. Louis City Board of Election Commissioners. The board conducts all public elections in St. Louis City.
Maloney is a partner at the law firm Garvin and Maloney, and has been a practicing attorney since 1973. His law practice currently focuses on general civil practices, including banking, real estate, mortgage banking, general corporate law, probate and estate planning, and the drafting and negotiating of corporate documents. Maloney obtained both his undergraduate and law degrees from Saint Louis University. The Governor has appointed him for a term ending Jan. 10, 2017.
State Board of Pharmacy
The Governor has appointed Dr. Christian S. Tadrus, of Moberly, to the State Board of Pharmacy. The board issues renewal and original licenses to pharmacists, pharmacies, drug distributors, intern pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. The board is also responsible for assuring safe, competent pharmacy services for the citizens of Missouri, and reviews complaints, investigates reports, and schedules fact-finding meetings with pharmacists regarding their pharmacy practices. The board also files complaints with the Administrative Hearing Commission against licensees and has the power to take disciplinary action if the AHC finds a violation of the law occurred.
A licensed pharmacist, Dr. Tadrus is the owner of Sam’s Health Mart Pharmacies in Moberly. He has served on several workgroups and committees under the Board of Pharmacy and the Missouri Pharmacy Association, and is a former president of the Missouri Pharmacy Association. Dr. Tadrus has served as an adjunct instructor at both the University of Missouri School of Pharmacy in Kansas City and at the St. Louis College of Pharmacy, where he obtained his bachelor’s and doctorate degrees in pharmacy. The Governor has appointed him for a term ending June 10, 2020.
Missouri State Council on the Arts
DED Director Downing has appointed Michael Burke, of Kansas City; and Patt Ann Sharp, of Kennett, to the Missouri State Council on the Arts. The council promotes the growth, development and appreciation of the arts in Missouri by offering technical and financial assistance to organizations partaking in arts projects. The council matches local funding to promote local initiatives but not replace them.
Burke is a director and CEO of Burke Payne LLC. He served as the chair of the Mayor’s Task Force for the Arts and has served in several capacities on behalf of the city of Kansas City, including as First District City Councilman. His term ends Oct. 13, 2019.
Sharp is a full-time instructor in the Department of Political Science, Philosophy and Religion, School of Extended Learning at Southeast Missouri State University. She was an English and journalism teacher at Kennett High School for 18 years, and is a past member of the Missouri State Board of Education. Her term ends Oct. 13, 2019.
