FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, May 4, 2026
 

RELEASE: Governor Braun Makes Appointments to Various Boards and Commissions

INDIANAPOLIS – Governor Mike Braun today announced new appointments to various state boards and commissions. 

Appointments:

State Armory Board

• Brian Copes
  • Appointment: Term expires 4/30/27
  • Johnson County
• James Zieba
  • Appointment: Term expires 4/30/28
  • Hamilton County
• Joseph Drury (Bison Financial Group)
  • Appointment: Term expires 4/30/29
  • Johnson County
• Brenda Simmons
  • Reappointment: Term expires 4/30/30
  • Hendricks County
• Todd Townsend
  • Reappointment: Term expires 4/30/30
  • Johnson County

Thoroughbred Breed Development Advisory Committee

• Maureen Burger (Burger Racing Stables LLC)
  • Appointment: Term expires 6/30/28
  • Marion County

State Board of Funeral and Cemetery Service

• Pamela Gardner
  • Appointment: term expires 9/30/27
  • Knox County

Natural Resources Foundation Board

• Lisa Ice-Jones (Grouseland Foundation for William Henry Harrison’s Grouseland)
  • Appointment: Term expires 6/30/27
  • Knox County

Commission on Rehabilitation Services

• Kristy Russell (Bosma Enterprises)
  • Appointment: Term expires 12/31/28
  • Hendricks County

Occupational Therapy Committee

• Keisha Creager (Ascension, St. Vincent)
  • Appointment: Term expires 3/31/30
  • Vanderburgh County

Utility Regulatory Commission Nominating Committee

• Suzanne Jaworowski (State of Indiana)
  • Reappointment: Term expires 5/31/30
  • Hamilton County
• Dollyne Sherman
  • Reappointment: Term expires 5/31/30
  • Marion County

Indiana Serve Commission

• Lynda Dunbar (City of Greencastle)
  • Appointment: Term expires 3/31/29
  • Putnam County
• Abigail Gentry (State of Indiana)
  • Appointment: Term expires 3/31/29
  • Boone County

Agricultural Promotion and Regulation Task Force

• Melissa Rekeweg (Agribusiness Council of Indiana)
  • Appointment: Term expires 6/30/27
  • Boone County
• Kelley Sheiss (Sheiss Livestock and Sheiss Farms)
  • Appointment: Term expires 6/30/27
  • Whitley County
• Jackie Ponder Bowman (Bowman Family Holdings, Inc)
  • Appointment: Term expires 6/30/27
  • Johnson County
• Kendell Culp (State Representative and Farmer)
  • Appointment: Term expires 6/30/27
  • Jasper County
• Joseph Miller (Rose Acre Farms)
  • Appointment: Term expires 6/30/27
  • Jackson County
• Sue McCloskey
  • Appointment: Term expires 6/30/27
  • Jasper County

Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission

• Jenny Orsburn (State of Indiana)
  • Appointment: Term expires 4/30/30
  • Porter County
• Robert Ochi
  • Reappointment: Term expires 4/30/30
  • Lake County
• Anthony Broadnax
  • Reappointment: Term expires 4/30/30
  • Lake County

Indiana Emergency Response Commission

• Bob Courtney (City of Madison)
  • Appointment: Serves at the pleasure of Governor
  • Jefferson County

Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board

• Noah Robinson (Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office)
  • Appointment: Term expires 12/31/26
  • Vanderburgh County

Statewide 911 Board

• Philip Goodrich (Comcast)
  • Appointment: Term expires 9/30/28
  • Elkhart County

Worker’s Compensation Board

• Mike Ooley
  • Appointment: Term expires 8/31/30
  • Clark County

Recycling Market Development Board

• Matt Gratz (City of Fort Wayne)
  • Reappointment: Term expires 12/31/29
  • Allen County

Interagency Coordinating Council for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities

• Michele Sulwer (Reach Services)
  • Appointment: Term expires 12/31/28
  • Vigo County
• Deanna Woodruff (Martindale Brightwood Community Development Corportation)
  • Reappointment: Term expires 12/31/27
  • Marion County
• Megan Purcell (Purdue University)
  • Reappointment: Term expires 12/31/27
  • Montgomery County
• Cory Best (State of Indiana)
  • Reappointment: Term expires 12/31/28
  • Marion County
• Naomi Dollens (State of Indiana)
  • Reappointment: Term expires 12/31/28
  • Henry County
• Sonya Rush (State of Indiana)
  • Reappointment: Term expires 12/31/28
  • Marion County
• Jason Berty (Children’s Therapy Connection)
  • Reappointment: Term expires 12/31/27
  • Marion County
• Alyssa Christy (State of Indiana)
  • Reappointment: Term expires 12/31/28
  • Johnson County

State Workforce Development Board

• Shawn Holm-Hansen (IUOE Local 150)
  • Appointment: Term expires 3/31/29
  • Jasper County

Indiana Pesticide Review Board

• Hilary Alderete (State of Indiana)
  • Appointment: Term expires 4/30/30
  • Hamilton County
• Stephen Meyers (Purdue University)
  • Reappointment: Term expires 4/30/30
  • Tippecanoe County
• Lee Green (State of Indiana)
  • Reappointment: Term expires 4/30/30
  • Miami County
• Megan Abraham (State of Indiana)
  • Reappointment: Term expires 4/30/30
  • Hancock County

Soil Conservation Board

• Larry Clemens
  • Appointment: Term expires 3/31/28
  • Steuben County

Education Commission of the State

• Paul Ketcham (State of Indiana)
  • Appointment: Serves at the Pleasure of Governor
  • Ripley County

Turkey Creek Regional Sewer District Board

• Kimberly Cates
  • Appointment: Term expires 4/30/30
  • Kosciusko County
• James Young
  • Reappointment: Term expires 4/30/30
  • Kosciusko County

State Board of Education

• Iris Hammel (TeachMe3D)
  • Reappointment: Term expires 6/30/30
  • St. Joseph County
• BJ Watts (Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation)
  • Reappointment: Term expires 6/30/30
  • Vanderburgh County

Indiana Egg Board

• Blair Kriner (Delco Foods)
  • Reappointment: Term expires 6/30/29
  • Marion County
• Casey Baesler (Baesler’s Market)
  • Reappointment: Term expires 6/30/29
  • Vigo County
• Skye Zakrzewski (Rose Acre Farms)
  • Reappointment: Term expires 6/30/29
  • Jackson County
• Alex Seger (Wabash Valley Produce)
  • Reappointment: Term expires 6/30/29
  • Dubois County
• Margaret Titus
  • Reappointment: Term expires 6/30/29
  • Tippecanoe County

Governor’s Residence Commission

• Abigail Gentry (State of Indiana)
  • Appointment: Serves at the Pleasure of Governor
  • Boone County

Unemployment Insurance Review Board

• Heather Cummings (State of Indiana)
  • Reappointment: Term expires 6/30/29
  • Marion County

Alcohol and Tobacco Commission

• Megan Murphy Garver
  • Appointment: Term expires 4/30/30
  • Marion County

Department of Financial Institutions Board of Trustees

• Emily Pichon (Lake City Bank)
  • Appointment: Term expires 4/30/30
  • Allen County

Indiana Election Commission

• Suzannah Wilson Overholt
  • Reappointment: Term expires 6/30/28
  • Marion County

Union Hospital Board of Directors

• John Pratt (Farmer)
  • Appointment: Serves at the pleasure of Governor
  • Parke County

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