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Gov. Beshear Makes Appointments to Kentucky Boards and Commissions

Government and Politics

June 14, 2024

From: Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear

FRANKFORT, KY - Gov. Andy Beshear has made the following appointments to Kentucky boards and commissions:

Gov. Beshear has reappointed Tonya Clemons, Peter Naake, Amanda Perkins and Thomas Polites as Administrative Law Judges in the Department of Workers’ Claims for terms expiring July 14, 2028.

  • Tonya Clemons of Georgetown will continue to serve as an Administrative Law Judge pending Senate confirmation.
  • Peter Naake of Louisville will continue to serve as an Administrative Law Judge pending Senate confirmation.
  • Amanda Perkins of Lexington will continue to serve as an Administrative Law Judge pending Senate confirmation.
  • Thomas Polites of Lexington will continue to serve as an Administrative Law Judge pending Senate confirmation.

Gov. Beshear has appointed Velvet Dowdy and Thomas Glover as members of the Henderson Community College Board of Directors for terms expiring June 3, 2030.

  • Velvet Dowdy of Henderson is a retired educator. She replaces Ty Rideout, whose term has expired.
  • Thomas “Tom” Glover of Providence is a pharmacist and businessman. He replaces Dwight Williams, whose term has expired.

Gov. Beshear has reappointed Secretary John Hicks, Secretary Holly Johnson and Senior Advisor Rocky Adkins to the Capital Planning Advisory Board for terms expiring March 29, 2028.

  • John Hicks of Frankfort is the Secretary of the Executive Cabinet and the state budget director.
  • Holly McCoy-Johnson of Frankfort is the Secretary of the Finance and Administration Cabinet.
  • Rocky Adkins of Sandy Hook is the Governor’s Senior Advisor.

Gov. Beshear has reappointed David Sloan to the Mine Safety Review Commission for a term expiring May 22, 2028, pending Senate approval.

  • David Sloan of Ft. Mitchell is a partner at O’Hara, Taylor, Sloan & Cassidy. He continues to serve as chair of the Mine Safety Review Commission.

Gov. Beshear has appointed Robert Akin as a member of the Bluegrass State Skills Corporation Board of Directors.

  • Robert Akin of Greensburg is the president of the Bluegrass Central Labor Council. He replaces Gary Farmer, who has resigned, and will serve for the remainder of the unexpired term ending July 5, 2025.

Gov. Beshear has reappointed Brian Clardy and Penelope Peavler and has appointed Chris Hartman as members of the Kentucky Humanities Council for terms expiring Jan. 1, 2028.

  • Brian Clardy of Murray is an associate professor of history at Murray State University.
  • Penelope Peavler of Louisville is the CEO of the Frazier History Museum
  • Chris Hartman of Louisville is the executive director of the Fairness Campaign. He replaces Maddie Shephard, who has resigned and whose term has subsequently expired.

Gov. Beshear has appointed Jonathan Jett as a member of the School Facilities Construction Commission.

  • Jonathan Jett of Hazard is a retired superintendent and current project manager for Partners for Rural Impact. He replaces Denise Dickinson, whose term has expired, and will serve for a term expiring Dec. 31, 2029.

Gov. Beshear has reappointed Kevin Moses, Danny Kelly, Todd Mills and Orris Hayes to the Kentucky Water Well Certification Board.

  • Kevin Moses of Gray is a well driller. He represents water well drillers in Central Kentucky as a member of the Board and will serve for a term expiring Oct. 16, 2025.
  • Danny Kelly of Clinton is the owner of Kelly Well Drilling LLC. He represents water well drillers as a member of the Board and will serve for a term expiring Oct. 16, 2025.
  • Todd Mills of Mayfield is a geologist and driller at Chase Environmental Group Inc. He represents active members in the Kentucky and National Water Well Associations as a member of the Board and will serve for a term expiring Oct. 16, 2026.
  • Orris Hayes of Betsy Layne is a drilling contractor at Hayes Inc. He represents water well drillers in Eastern Kentucky as a member of the Board and will serve for a term expiring Oct. 16, 2025.

Gov. Beshear has reappointed Hans Poppe as a member of the Kentucky State Fair Board to serve for a term expiring May 9, 2028.

  • Hans Poppe of Prospect is an attorney at Poppe Law Firm PLLC. He represents members at-large as a member of the Board and will serve for a term expiring May 9, 2028.

Gov. Beshear has appointed Shari Polur as a member of the Kentucky Assistive Technology Loan Corporation Board of Directors.

  • Shari Polur of Louisville is an attorney practicing elder and special needs law. She replaces Valerie Gilliam, whose term has expired, and represents attorneys with lending experience as a member of the Board. Polur will serve for a term expiring June 3, 2028.

Gov. Beshear has appointed Sean Higgins and has reappointed Stephen Owen and William Jones as members of the Kentucky Center for the Arts Corporation for terms expiring April 29, 2028.

  • Sean Higgins of Louisville is the owner of Mint Julep Experiences. He replaces Laura Barnum whose term has expired.
  • Stephen Owen of Louisville is a real estate agent at Preston Thomas Properties.
  • William Jones of Prospect is an attorney with VanAntwerp Attorneys LLP.

Gov. Beshear has reappointed Aaron Willis and Courtney Bourne as members of the Governor’s Postsecondary Education Nominating Committee for terms expiring April 14, 2030.

  • Aaron Willis of Louisville is a real estate investor with Column Realty.
  • Courtney Bourne of Owenton is an attorney with Bourne Law Office PSC.

Gov. Beshear has appointed Annissa Franklin and has reappointed Patricia Owen, Johnny Collett and Suhas Kulkarni as members of the Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board.

  • Annissa Franklin of Nicholasville is the chief administrative officer of the Urban League of Lexington. She represents workforce as a member of the Board and replaces Amy Luttrell, whose term has expired. Franklin will serve for a term expiring June 12, 2027.
  • Patricia Owen of South Fulton is the career readiness coach for the Four Rivers Career Academy. She represents workforce as a member of the Board and will serve for a term expiring Oct. 7, 2026.
  • Johnny Collett of Georgetown is the deputy director of the University of Kentucky’s Human Development Institute. He represents business as a member of the Board and will serve for a term expiring Oct. 7, 2026.
  • Suhas Kulkarni of Prospect is the program director at Kauffman FastTrac. He represents business as a member of the Board and will serve for a term expiring Oct. 7, 2026.