Governor Josh Stein has announced a series of appointments to various boards and commissions across North Carolina.
David Webb of Nash County will join the Equal Access to Justice Commission as the Governor’s designee. Webb currently serves as Director of Intergovernmental Affairs in the Office of Governor Stein and has previous experience in political campaign roles and education.
Jessica West of Durham County has been appointed to the North Carolina Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing as a person who is hard of hearing. West is a Faculty Research Scholar at Duke University with prior research and teaching experience at Harvard Medical School and Duke University School of Medicine.
Several individuals have been named to the North Carolina Interagency Council for Coordinating Homeless Programs. Brett Altman, an assistant state budget officer, will represent the Office of State Budget and Management. Carla West, division director for human services at NCDHHS, will serve as Deputy Secretary for Opportunity and Well-Being. Debra C. Farrington, Deputy Secretary for Health at NCDHHS, brings over 30 years’ experience in behavioral health services.
Ashley Nicole Jarrett from Burke County will represent local government; she is assistant health director for Burke County Public Health. Amy Modlin from Pitt County joins as a member from a nonprofit serving people experiencing homelessness or those at risk; she works with Trillium Health Resources focusing on housing resources for individuals with disabilities.
Deronda Metz from Mecklenburg County will represent faith-based service providers; she has worked in homeless services for more than three decades and was recognized with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award by former Governor Roy Cooper in 2024.
Samuel Gunter from Durham County represents the North Carolina Housing Coalition, where he serves as executive director and has extensive affordable housing policy experience.
Marsha Basloe, also from Durham County, brings expertise in early childhood programs serving families experiencing homelessness. Pamela Suggs Story from Cumberland County specializes in services for public school students facing homelessness; she coordinates social work for Cumberland County Schools and was previously honored as National Homeless Liaison of the Year by the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth.
Fred G. Mills Sr., a real estate developer from Wake County, joins as a representative from the business community focused on affordable housing development. Karon McKinney from Forsyth County represents homeless continuums of care through her role at United Way of Forsyth County leading strategic housing initiatives.
Maria Perez will serve as Deputy Secretary for Medicaid representing NC DHHS on this council. Dr. Torry Reynolds from Forsyth County brings her background in higher education administration representing the NC Community College System.
Katrina Knight represents members committed to reducing homelessness; she leads Good Shepherd Center’s programs supporting people experiencing homelessness in Wilmington.
Jefferey Rawlings brings lived experience with homelessness along with his background in IT support and nonprofit work assisting those affected by poverty.
Emila Sutton represents Public Housing Authorities through her leadership role overseeing Raleigh’s affordable housing initiatives including new pilot programs addressing unsheltered homelessness using evidence-based practices.
Appointments were also made to other state bodies:
To the North Carolina State Banking Commission: Yolanda McGill (former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau deputy assistant director), Mike Conlon (president/CEO Affordable Communities Group LLC), and Alex Funderburg (former Bank of America managing director).
To the North Carolina State Social Services Commission: Brandon Williams will serve as 9th Congressional District Representative, bringing mental health clinical social work experience aimed at improving accessibility to care.
On the North Carolina Advisory Council on Cannabis: Dan Hirschman (NCDEQ general counsel), Kris Gardner (executive director, NC Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association), Patrick Chandler Brown (farmer recognized by NC A&T), and Brian Harris (Chief of Catawba Indian Nation) have all been appointed.
