ST. PAUL, MN - Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan today announced the following appointments to the Board of Executives for Long-term Services and Supports; Board of Medical Practice; Board of Nursing; Board of Pharmacy; Governor’s Committee on the Safety, Health, and Wellbeing of Agricultural and Food Processing Workers; Governor’s Council on Age-Friendly Minnesota; Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine; Public Employees Retirement Association; and the State Capitol Preservation Commission.

Fredrick Dawe - Minneapolis, MN
Board of Executives for Long-term Services and Supports
Public Member
Effective: February 26, 2025
Term Expires: January 1, 2029
Reappointment

Sandra Turbes - Northfield, MN
Board of Executives for Long-term Services and Supports
Doctor
Effective: February 26, 2025
Term Expires: January 1, 2029
Replacing: Jane Pederson

About the Board of Executives for Long-term Services and Supports:
The Board of Executives for Long-term Services and Supports licenses administrators of nursing homes and assisted living facilities, conducts studies of nursing home and assisted living administration; approves continuing education programs for administrators; and investigates complaints and allegations of rule violations.?

Additional information about the Board of Executives for Long-term Services and Supports can be found on the Secretary of State’s website .

Leopold Arko IV - Lauderdale, MN
Board of Medical Practice
Physician
Effective: February 26, 2025
Term Expires: January 1, 2029
Replacing: Cheryl Bailey

Tenbit Emiru - Plymouth, MN
Board of Medical Practice
Physician
Effective: February 26, 2025
Term Expires: January 1, 2029
Reappointment

Bruce Sutor - Rochester, MN
Board of Medical Practice
Physician
Effective: February 26, 2025
Term Expires: January 1, 2029
Reappointment

About the Board of Medical Practice:
The Board of Medical Practice licenses and registers physicians, physician assistants, respiratory therapists, acupuncturists, athletic trainers, genetic counselors, naturopathic doctors, and traditional midwives; and enforces the relevant practice acts.?

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

Jacqueline Cunningham - Minneapolis, MN
Board of Nursing
Public Member
Effective: February 26, 2025
Term Expires: January 1, 2029
Reappointment

Katherine Lynch - Roseville, MN
Board of Nursing
Licensed Practical Nurse
Effective: February 26, 2025
Term Expires: January 1, 2029
Reappointment

Jessica Miehe - White Bear Lake, MN
Board of Nursing
Registered Nurse
Effective: February 26, 2025
Term Expires: January 1, 2029
Reappointment

About the Board of Nursing:
The Board of Nursing oversees and ensures the safe practice of nursing in Minnesota. The board holds nurses accountable for conduct based on legal, ethical, and professional standards. The board regulates nursing practice through credentialing, education, discipline/complaint resolution, and nursing practice standards.

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

Ben Maisenbach - Rosemount, MN
Board of Pharmacy
Pharmacist
Effective: February 26, 2025
Term Expires: January 3, 2028
Reappointment

Brandon Ordway - Maplewood, MN
Board of Pharmacy
Pharmacist
Effective: February 26, 2025
Term Expires: January 3, 2028
Replacing: Rabih Nahas

About the Board of Pharmacy:
The Board of Pharmacy regulates the pharmacy profession and the quality, labeling and distribution of drugs. It also administers the Minnesota Prescription Monitoring Program, the Minnesota Insulin Safety Net Program, and the Opiate Product Registration Fee Program.?

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

Patrice Bailey - Saint Paul, MN
Governor's Committee on the Safety, Health, and Wellbeing of Agricultural and Food Processing Workers
Department of Agriculture Commissioner or Designee
Effective: February 26, 2025
Term Expires: April 3, 2027
Replacing: Andrea Vaubel

Dan Glessing - Eagan, MN
Governor's Committee on the Safety, Health, and Wellbeing of Agricultural and Food Processing Workers
Minnesota Farm Bureau President or Designee
Effective: February 26, 2025
Term Expires: April 3, 2027
Replacing: Kevin Paap

Emilia Gonzalez-Alvalos - Minneapolis, MN
Governor's Committee on the Safety, Health, and Wellbeing of Agricultural and Food Processing Workers
Unidos MN Executive Director or Designee
Effective: February 26, 2025
Term Expires: April 3, 2027
Reappointment

Rodolfo Gutierrez - Saint Paul, MN
Governor's Committee on the Safety, Health, and Wellbeing of Agricultural and Food Processing Workers
HACER Executive Director or Designee
Effective: February 26, 2025
Term Expires: April 3, 2027
Reappointment

Marc Major - Saint Paul, MN
Governor's Committee on the Safety, Health, and Wellbeing of Agricultural and Food Processing Workers
Department of Employment and Economic Development Commissioner or Designee
Effective: February 26, 2025
Term Expires: April 3, 2027
Replacing: Hamse Warfa

Allysa Wetzel-Moore - Saint Paul, MN
Governor's Committee on the Safety, Health, and Wellbeing of Agricultural and Food Processing Workers
Minnesota Housing Finance Agency Commissioner or Designee
Effective: February 26, 2025
Term Expires: April 3, 2027
New Seat

Maureen Ramirez - Saint Paul, MN
Governor's Committee on the Safety, Health, and Wellbeing of Agricultural and Food Processing Workers
Department of Labor and Industry Commissioner or Designee
Effective: February 26, 2025
Term Expires: April 3, 2027
Replacing: Nicole Blissenbach

Elise Sporre - Saint Paul, MN
Governor's Committee on the Safety, Health, and Wellbeing of Agricultural and Food Processing Workers
Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services AWP Project Manager or Designee
Effective: February 26, 2025
Term Expires: April 3, 2027
Replacing: Colin Laffey

Naomi Trevino - Minneapolis, MN
Governor's Committee on the Safety, Health, and Wellbeing of Agricultural and Food Processing Workers
Department of Education Commissioner or Designee
Effective: February 26, 2025
Term Expires: April 3, 2027
New Seat

Gary Wertish - Saint Paul, MN
Governor's Committee on the Safety, Health, and Wellbeing of Agricultural and Food Processing Workers
Minnesota Farmers Union President or Designee
Effective: February 26, 2025
Term Expires: April 3, 2027
Reappointment

Rena Wong - Brooklyn Center, MN
Governor's Committee on the Safety, Health, and Wellbeing of Agricultural and Food Processing Workers
United Food and Commercial Workers Local 663 Director of Organizing or Designee
Effective: February 26, 2025
Term Expires: April 3, 2027
Reappointment

Erik Zabel - Saint Paul, MN
Governor's Committee on the Safety, Health, and Wellbeing of Agricultural and Food Processing Workers
Department of Health Commissioner or Designee
Effective: February 26, 2025
Term Expires: April 3, 2027
Replacing: Susan Bishop

About the Governor’s Committee on the Safety, Health, and Wellbeing of Agricultural and Food Processing Workers:
The Governor’s Committee on the Safety, Health, and Wellbeing of Agricultural and Food Processing Workers protects and promotes the safety, health, and wellbeing of agricultural and food processing workers; develops a system for effective communication between state agencies, community organizations, advocacy groups, and agricultural and food processing employers and workers; and provides a forum to engage, collect and analyze data and information, coordinate resources, and plan for future agricultural growing, food production, and processing seasons.

Additional information about the Governor's Committee on the Safety, Health, and Wellbeing of Agricultural and Food Processing Workers can be found on the Secretary of State’s website .

Sherrie Pugh - Saint Paul, MN
Governor's Council on Age-Friendly Minnesota
Chair
Effective: February 26, 2025
Term Expires: January 3, 2028
Reappointment

About the Governor’s Council on Age-Friendly Minnesota:
The Governor's Council on an Age-Friendly Minnesota was established to coordinate work across sectors, including state government, nonprofits, communities, businesses, and others to ensure Minnesota is an age-friendly state.

Additional information about the Governor’s Council on Age-Friendly Minnesota can be found on the Secretary of State’s website .

Mahlon Bauman - Buffalo, MN
MN Board of Veterinary Medicine
Public Member
Effective: February 26, 2025
Term Expires: January 1, 2029
Reappointment

About the MN Board of Veterinary Medicine:
The board of Veterinary Medicine licenses and regulates veterinarians, registers veterinary corporations, and investigates complaints against veterinarians and unlicensed persons practicing veterinary medicine.?

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

Barbara Johnson - Minneapolis, MN
Public Employees Retirement Association
Representative of Cities
Effective: February 26, 2025
Term Expires: January 31, 2029
Reappointment

David Minke - Pine City, MN
Public Employees Retirement Association
Representative of Counties
Effective: February 26, 2025
Term Expires: January 31, 2029
Replacing: Scott Schulte

About the Public Employees Retirement Association:
The Public Employees Retirement Association provides retirement, survivor, and disability benefits for public employees of county and local government. The management of the public employee’s retirement fund is vested in a board of trustees.?

Additional information about the Public Employees Retirement Association can be found on the Secretary of State’s website .

Dan Hartman - Duluth, MN
State Capitol Preservation Commission
Public Member
Effective: February 26, 2025
Term Expires: January 4, 2027
Reappointment

Megan Kluthe - Minneapolis, MN
State Capitol Preservation Commission
Public Member
Effective: February 26, 2025
Term Expires: January 4, 2027
Reappointment

Mark Westpfahl - Saint Paul, MN
State Capitol Preservation Commission
Public Member
Effective: February 26, 2025
Term Expires: January 4, 2027
Reappointment

About the State Capitol Preservation Commission:
The State Capitol Preservation Commission coordinates the restoration, protection, risk management, and preservation of the Capitol building.

Additional information about the State Capitol Preservation Commission 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.