[ST. PAUL, MN] – Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan today announced the following appointments to the Board of Nursing, Board of Optometry, Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans, Governor’s Task Force on Broadband, Minnesota Board on Aging, Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing, Minnesota Environmental Quality Board, Minnesota Forest Resources Council, Minnesota Foundation for Student Organizations Board of Directors Board of Directors, Minnesota State Arts Board, State Rehabilitation Council, Statewide Independent Living Council, Technology Advisory Council, the Ombudsman Committee for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, Food Safety and Defense Task Force, and the Occupational Safety and Health Review Board.

Katlynn Gullekson – Bagley, MN
Board of Nursing
Licensed Nurse Practitioner
Effective: January 3, 2023
Term Expires: January 4, 2027
Reappointment

About the Board of Nursing:
The Board of Nursing holds nurses accountable for conduct based on legal, ethical, and professional standards. The board regulates nursing practice through credentialing, education, discipline, and complaint resolution, establishing nursing practice standards, performing data analytics, workforce planning, and other work.

Additional information about the Board of Nursing can be found on the Secretary of State’s website .

Georgiann Jensen-Bohn – Cambridge, MN
Board of Optometry
Optometrist
Effective: January 3, 2023
Term Expires: January 4, 2027
Reappointment

About the Board of Optometry:
The Board of Optometry licenses optometrists, adopts rules, and investigates complaints.

Additional information about the Board of Optometry can be found on the Secretary of State’s website .

Elizabeth Eckman – St. Paul, MN
Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans
Korean Ancestry Group Member
Effective: January 3, 2023
Term Expires: January 4, 2027
Reappointment

About the Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans:
The Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans advises the Governor and the Legislature on issues pertaining to Minnesotans of Asian Pacific ancestry and advocates on behalf of this community on legislative and administrative matters within state government.

Additional information about the Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans can be found on the Secretary of State’s website.

Barbara Dröher Kline – New Prague, MN
Governor’s Task Force On Broadband
Member
Effective: November 28, 2022
Term Expires: April 2, 2023
Replacing: Bernadine Joselyn

About the Governor‘s Task Force On Broadband:
The Governor’s Task Force on Broadband is a multi-stakeholder group that represents the various types of broadband users (residential, business, education, health care, labor, tribal, and local government) and providers (telephone, cable, and cellular companies). The task force advises the Governor and the Legislature on broadband policy, including strategies for achieving the state’s broadband goals, an assessment of digital inclusion issues and mechanisms to address them, and strategies to bring the benefits of universal broadband access to all communities in Minnesota.

Additional information about the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband can be found on the Secretary of State’s website .

James McKinstra – Moorhead, MN
Minnesota Board on Aging
Member
Effective: January 3, 2023
Term Expires: January 4, 2027
Reappointment

About the Minnesota Board on Aging:
The Minnesota Board on Aging develops, coordinates, evaluates, and administers federal and state funds for programs for the aging, makes grants to seven area agencies on aging and nonprofit agencies, and serves as an advocate for older persons.

Additional information about the Minnesota Board on Aging can be found on the Secretary of State’s website .

Dave McAuliffe – North Branch, MN
Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing
Metro Advisory Committee Representative
Effective: January 3, 2023
Term Expires: January 4, 2027
Reappointment

About the Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing:
The Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing serves as the principal agency of the state to advocate on behalf of deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing Minnesotans by working to ensure those persons have equal access to the services, programs, and opportunities available to others.

Additional information about the Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing can be found on the Secretary of State’s website .

Kenneth Foster – Moorhead, MN
Minnesota Environmental Quality Board
Public Member
Effective: November 28, 2022
Term Expires: January 5, 2026
Replacing: Julie Goehring

About the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board:
The Minnesota Environmental Quality Board includes the heads of nine state agencies and public board members from around the state. The board provides leadership and coordination across state agencies on priority environmental issues, serves as a locus for public engagement, and oversees the State’s Environmental Review program. The board carries out a diverse range of projects aimed at shaping environmental policy and programs and engaging Minnesotans.

Additional information about the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board can be found on the Secretary of State’s website .

Timothy Wegner – International Falls, MN
Minnesota Forest Resources Council
Labor Organization Representative
Effective: January 3, 2023
Term Expires: January 4, 2027
Reappointment

About the Minnesota Forest Resources Council:
The Minnesota Forest Resources Council develops and recommends sustainable forest policies, practices, and plans that balance the economic, environmental, and social values of the state’s forest resources.

Additional information about the Minnesota Forest Resources Council can be found on the Secretary of State’s website .

Val Aarsvold – Altura, MN
Minnesota Foundation for Student Organizations Board of Directors
Business, Industry, and Labor Representative – Agriculture
Effective: January 3, 2023
Term Expires: January 4, 2027
Reappointment

Michaela Clubb – Minneapolis, MN
Minnesota Foundation for Student Organizations Board of Directors
Business, Industry, and Labor Representative – Marketing
Effective: January 3, 2023
Term Expires: January 4, 2027
Reappointment

Elizabeth Eckman – St. Paul, MN
Minnesota Foundation for Student Organizations Board of Directors
Business, Industry, and Labor Representative – Service Occupations
Effective: January 3, 2023
Term Expires: January 4, 2027
Reappointment

Kim Hiel – Maple Grove, MN
Minnesota Foundation for Student Organizations Board of Directors
Education Representative – School District Level Administrator
Effective: January 3, 2023
Term Expires: January 4, 2027
Reappointment

About the Minnesota Foundation for Student Organizations Board of Directors:
The Minnesota Foundation for Student Organizations Board of Directors promotes and supports career and technical student organizations as they work to provide student opportunities for leadership, personal development, community service, and career preparation.

Additional information about the Minnesota Foundation for Student Organizations Board of Directors can be found on the Secretary of State’s website .

Ken Martin – Eagan, MN
Minnesota State Arts Board
Member
Effective: January 3, 2023
Term Expires: January 4, 2027
Reappointment

About the Minnesota State Arts Board:
The Minnesota State Arts Board encourages the creation, performance, and appreciation of the arts in the state through administering a series of grants, programs, and services.

Additional information about the Minnesota State Arts Board can be found on the Secretary of State’s website.

Trevor Turner – Minneapolis, MN
State Rehabilitation Council
Current or Former Recipient of Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Effective: January 3, 2023
Term Expires: January 5, 2026
Reappointment

Kyle Van Acker – Ham Lake, MN
State Rehabilitation Council
Governor’s Workforce Development Board Representative
Effective: January 3, 2023
Term Expires: January 5, 2026
Reappointment

About the State Rehabilitation Council:
The State Rehabilitation Council’s duties include guiding decisions about Minnesota’s Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS), coordinating between VRS and centers for independent living and other state councils with interest in issues pertaining to disability and employment, and reporting to the Governor and the U.S. Department of Education on the status of vocational rehabilitation programs.

Additional information about the State Rehabilitation Council can be found on the Secretary of State’s website.

Joseph Dailey – Prior Lake, MN
Statewide Independent Living Council
Member
Effective: January 3, 2023
Term Expires: January 5, 2026
Reappointment

About the Statewide Independent Living Council:
The Minnesota Statewide Independent Living Council (MNSILC) works collaboratively with the Centers for Independent Living to create, monitor, review, and evaluate the State Plan for Independent Living. MNSILC coordinates activities with other entities in the state that provide services similar or complementary to independent living services.

Additional information about the Statewide Independent Living Council can be found on the Secretary of State’s website.

Shireen Gandhi – St. Paul, MN
Technology Advisory Council
Business Planning Member
Effective: November 28, 2022
Term Expires: January 1, 2024
Replacing: Chuck Johnson

Britta Reitan – Minneapolis, MN
Technology Advisory Council
Business Planning Member
Effective: January 3, 2023
Term Expires: January 4, 2027
Replacing: Margaret Kelliher

About the Technology Advisory Council:
The Technology Advisory Council advises the commissioner of Minnesota IT Services on the development and implementation of a state information technology plan, critical information technology initiatives for the state, standards for state information architecture, and management of the state enterprise technology fund.

Additional information about the Technology Advisory Council can be found on the Secretary of State’s website.

Angelique Piper – Ramsey, MN
The Ombudsman Committee for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities
Member – Medical Review Subcommittee
Effective: January 3, 2023
Term Expires: January 5, 2026
Reappointment

Panou Xiong – Minnetonka, MN
The Ombudsman Committee for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities
Member
Effective: January 3, 2023
Term Expires: January 5, 2026
Reappointment

About the The Ombudsman Committee for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities:
The Ombudsman Committee for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities advises and assists the ombudsman in developing policies, plans, and programs to benefit persons with mental illness, developmental disabilities, chemical dependence, and emotional disturbance.

Additional information about the Ombudsman Committee for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities can be found on the Secretary of State’s website .

Ruth Linkenmeyer Meirick – Kasson, MN
Food Safety and Defense Task Force
Statewide General Farm Organization Representative
Effective: November 28, 2022
Term Expires: June 30, 2024
Replacing: Sarah Anderson

About the Food Safety and Defense Task Force:
The Minnesota Food Safety and Defense Task Force advises the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and Legislature on food issues and food safety and serves as a source of information and referral for the public.

Additional information on the Food Safety and Defense Task Force can be found on the Secretary of State’s website.

Robert Sogla – Andover, MN
Occupational Safety and Health Review Board
Chair
Effective: November 22, 2022
Term Expires: January 1, 2024
Replacing: Wayne DeVoe

About the Occupational Safety and Health Review Board:
The Occupational Safety and Health Review Board issues decisions involving untimely contested OSHA citations and proposed penalty cases and reviews appeals of administrative law judge orders involving OSHA citations.

Additional information about the Occupational Safety and Health Review Board can be found on the Secretary of State’s website.

The Governor and Lieutenant Governor are seeking qualified and diverse individuals who are passionate about using their knowledge, skills, and lived experiences to serve the state of Minnesota. A list of boards and commissions, including open positions, can be found on the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website.