Governor Gretchen Whitmer has announced new appointments and staff members for key positions in her administration. Marlon Brown will take on the role of Director at the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), bringing his extensive experience in public service to the department. Suzanna Shkreli has been selected as the new Commissioner of the Michigan Bureau of State Lottery, with a strong background in juvenile justice reform and government service.

Additionally, several promotions and hires have been made within the executive office, including Shelia Marshall-Curtis as Chief Compliance Officer and Vignesh Meyyappan as Associate Legal Counsel.

Former acting commissioner of the Lottery, Jessica Weare, has accepted a new position within state government.

Governor Grecthen Whitmer has announced several more appointments to various boards and commissions. Among others, commissions of note include the Michigan Board of Medicine, Michigan Task Force on Physician’s Assistants, Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services, Health Information Technology Commission, Michigan Committee on Juvenile Justice, Advisory Council on Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing.

¶Appointments Include:

Michigan Board of Medicine:

• Hassan F. Abdallah: Representing the general public (Succeeds Teresa Robinson)
• Dr. Abdulghani Sankari: Representing physicians (Succeeds Donald Tynes)
• Aurelia Gooden: Representing the general public (Succeeds Mary Stearns)

Michigan Task Force on Physician’s Assistants

• Dr. Mustafa Mark Hamed: Representing the Board of Medicine (Succeeds Bryan Little)

Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services:

• Dr. Yasmina Bouraoui: Representing disability advocacy groups (Succeeds Khodr Farhat)

Health Information Technology Commission:

• Rex Menold: Representing the designee of the Director of DTMB (Succeeds Jack Harris)

Michigan Committee on Juvenile Justice:

• Carol S. Jackson: Representing experience in tribal law enforcement and tribal communities (Succeeds Judge Allie Maldonado)

Advisory Council on Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing:

• Gerid Adams: Designated as chair

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has announced several appointments to boards and commissions, with an emphasis on diversity. Appointments of special notice are as follows.

¶Appointments Include:

Child Lead Exposure Elimination Commission:

• Jane Nickert: Director of nursing at the Washtenaw County Health Department (replaces Chioma Ejiofor).

Health Information Technology:

• Jessica Robinson: Digital inclusion manager for the State of Michigan (succeeds Camille Pasquel Banks).

Governor’s Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect:

• Judge Yasmine Isshak Poles: Judge of the Michigan 6th Circuit Court (reappointed).

Human Trafficking Health Advisory Board:

• Brigette Robarge: Lead mentor for trafficked youth at Common Ground (reappointed).

Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council:

• Joseph Bione: President and founder of the Whitehall Group (new appointee).
• Tiffany Gaiter: Former secondary education teacher (new appointee).

Michigan Board of Medicine:

• Dr. Holly Gilmer: Neurosurgeon (reappointed).
• Dr. Michael Lewis: Anesthesiologist (reappointed).
• Angela Trepanier: Genetic Counselor (reappointed).
• Dr. Brigitte Lorenz: Obstetrician-Gynecologist (new appointee).
• Dr. Stephen Zintsmaster: Radiologist (new appointee).

Michigan Health Endowment Fund Board:

• Zaineb Hussein: Chief of staff for the mayor of the City of Dearborn (represents the nominee of the speaker of the house of representatives).
• David Nyberg: Executive Director of Business Engagement and Economic Development at Northern Michigan University (represents the nominee of the Senate Minority Leader).
• Lynn Chen-Zhang: CEO of Zhang Financial (represents the nominee by House of Representatives Minority Leader).

Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services:

• Karen Wang: Transition specialist for the Michigan Alliance for Families (reappointed).
• William Ernzen: Managing director for Slalom Detroit (reappointed).
• Kellie Blackwell: Michigan Assistive Technology Program Co-Director of the Michigan Disability Rights Coalition (reappointed).
• Brent Mikulski: President and CEO for Services to Enhance Potential in Dearborn (reappointed).
• Carol Bergquist: Director of Vocational Rehabilitation Services for the Hannahville Indian Community (reappointed).