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:
- Board of Geologist Registration (Elyn G. Potter – Independence)
- Health and Educational Facilities Authority (Jeffrey D. Byrne – Kansas City; Dr. Jacque A. Cowherd – Fulton)
- Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority (Jason S. Bean – Holcomb; William R. Thiel – Marshall)
- Missouri Southern State University Board of Governors (Anita Y. Oplotnik – Fair Grove)
- Truman State University Board of Governors (Dr. Laura A. Crandall – Kirkwood; Jennifer Kopp Dameron – Kansas City)
- University of Central Missouri Board of Governors (Dr. Mary A. Long – Kansas City)
Board of Geologist Registration
The Governor has appointed Elyn G. Potter, of Independence, to the Board of Geologist Registration. The Board of Geologist Registration protects the public, licenses qualified professionals, enforces profession standards, and encourages development and partnerships with existing small businesses.
Potter is a registered geologist who is a senior hydrogeologist with Leggette, Brashears & Graham, in North Kansas City. Her duties involve management of several environmental remediation sites, and she has been with the firm since 2007. Potter obtained her bachelor’s degree in environmental geology and her master’s in geology from the University of Missouri. The Governor has appointed her for a term ending April 11, 2016.
Health and Educational Facilities Authority
The Governor has appointed Jeffrey D. Byrne (D), of Kansas City; and Dr. Jacque A. Cowherd (I), of Fulton, to the Health and Educational Facilities Authority. The authority provides access to capital markets in an effort to lower the cost of health and educational services in Missouri by providing high-quality, readily available, low-cost financing alternatives for Missouri public and private, non-profit health and educational institutions.
Byrne is the founder and CEO of Jeffrey Byrne and Associates, a nationally recognized fundraising and financial development firm specializing in campaigns for nonprofit organizations across the country. Since 2000, those campaigns have raised more than $1.25 billion for more than 320 organizations. Byrne serves as chair of the Giving Institute, which embodies the values of ethics, excellence and leadership in advancing philanthropy. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri and serves on the political science alumni board. The Governor has appointed him for a term ending July 30, 2019.
Dr. Cowherd has served as the superintendent of the Fulton 58 School District since 2009. He previously was deputy superintendent for Columbia Public Schools for six years, and was deputy executive director and chief operating officer of the Missouri School Boards’ Association for 17 years. Dr. Cowherd also was general manager of the software company FairCom Corp. He received his doctorate from the University of Missouri and his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Central Missouri. The Governor has appointed him for a term ending July 30, 2017.
Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority
The Governor has appointed Jason S. Bean (R), of Holcomb; and William R. (Billy) Thiel (I), of Marshall, to the Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority. The authority makes capital available to Missouri farmers, particularly independent producers, agribusinesses and small businesses at competitive interest rates on a scale to make a major impact.
Bean owns and operates a fifth-generation family farm in southeast Missouri that produces soybeans, corn, rice and wheat. He serves or has served on several agricultural boards for soybean, rice and cotton production. Bean also is the chairman of the University of Missouri Fisher Delta Research Center Advisory Board. He obtained his degree in agronomy from the University of Missouri. The Governor has appointed him for a term ending June 30, 2018.
Thiel is a partner for more than 40 years in a family farm that produces corn and soybeans. He is a past president of the Missouri Corn Growers Association and has been active in the National Corn Growers Association. Thiel also has served as chairman of the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council and is a director on the Board of the Rural Electric Association and a member of the Mid-Missouri Energy Board. He was a certified crop advisor from 1995 to 2011. The Governor has appointed him for a term ending June 30, 2019.
Missouri Southern State University Board of Governors
The Governor has appointed Anita Y. Oplotnik (D), of Fair Grove, 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.
Oplotnik is a branch manager in Springfield for the financial advisor firm of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, and has been with the firm since 2005. Prior to that, she was with Bank of America in Springfield from 1989 to 2005. Oplotnik obtained her bachelor’s degree from Missouri Southern State University and her MBA in finance from Missouri State University. The Governor has appointed her for a term ending Aug. 30, 2021.
Truman State University Board of Governors
The Governor has appointed Laura A. Crandall (R), of Kirkwood; and Jennifer Kopp Dameron (D), of Kansas City, to the Truman State University Board of Governors. The board is the highest policy-making body of the university.
Dr. Crandall is an internal medicine physician at ESSE Health – Belleville Internal Medicine in Belleville, Ill. She also is a preceptor for nursing practitioner students at the Barnes Goldfarb School of Nursing, and is on the associate clinical faculty for A.T. Still University in Kirksville, where she went to medical school. Dr. Crandall obtained her undergraduate degree from Truman State University, and she is an alumni ambassador for the college. The Governor has appointed her for a term ending Jan. 1, 2019.
Dameron is the owner of JK Dameron Development LLC, in Kansas City. She was appointed by Kansas City Mayor Sly James to the Tax Increment Financing Commission of Kansas City in November 2015, and served as the chair of the Land Bank Commission from 2012 to 2015. Dameron obtained her undergraduate degree from Truman State, and her law degree from the University of Missouri. The Governor has appointed er for a term ending Jan. 1, 2020.
University of Central Missouri Board of Governors
The Governor has re-appointed Dr. Mary A. Long (D), of Kansas City, to the University of Central Missouri Board of Governors. The board is the highest policy-making body of the university.
Dr. Long is a retired administrator in the Kansas City, Missouri School District and had a 39-year career in education. She also served as coordinator and Dean of Instruction and Student Services for the Metropolitan Community Colleges District. Dr. Long also served a principal at Van Horn High School in Independence. She served as a board member for Societas Docta Inc., a national networking and mentoring organization that supports women of color who are pursuing their doctorate degrees. The Governor has re-appointed her for a term ending Jan. 1, 2017.
