Seal of the Governor
For Immediate Release: April 19, 2018
Contacts: Alenaa Yarmosky, Alena.Yarmosky@governor.virginia.gov | Secretariat of the Commonwealth, Caroline Corl, Caroline.Corl@governor.virginia.gov

Governor Northam Announces Administration Appointments

RICHMOND – Governor Ralph Northam announced additional appointments to his Administration today.

Secretariat of Commerce and Trade

Brian Ball, Secretary of Commerce and Trade
Brian Ball previously served in the Northam Administration as Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade and Special Advisor for Economic Development. Prior to joining the Northam Administration, Brian was an attorney at Williams Mullen where he concentrated his practice in mergers and acquisitions, securities laws and corporate governance matters. Brian served as an advisor to senior management, boards of directors and audit and special board committees handling such matters as internal investigations and activist shareholders. He also regularly represented clients before state and federal administrative agencies and the Virginia General Assembly. Brian served on the firm’s board of directors and as its General Counsel. 

Brian graduated with high distinction from the University of Virginia where he was an Echols Scholar and a member of Phi Beta Kappa.  He received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Virginia. He is admitted to practice in Virginia, the District of Columbia and California. He served as an assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California from 1981 to 1982.

Secretariat of Administration

Rue Collins White, Acting Director of the Department of Human Resources Management
Rue Collins White has been appointed Acting Director of the Department of Human Resources Management (DHRM). In her prior role at DHRM, she directed state policy, employment, talent management, employee compensation, salary administration, workforce and succession planning, management consulting, workforce analytics, and a central fee-for-service Shared Services Center. Rue has extensive state government experience in the design, development, and implementation of large-scale workforce programs and initiatives that drive organizational success. Throughout her career she has served in diverse human resource roles with the Governor’s Office of State Personnel, the Medical College of Virginia, the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services, and DHRM. 

 

Office of the Governor

Marissa Astor, Assistant Communications Director
Marissa Astor has been appointed as Assistant Communications Director in Governor Northam’s Communications Office. Prior to this appointment, she worked for several political and progressive issue campaigns, including roles in communications and surrogate operations. Marissa is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Psychology.

 

Secretariat of the Commonwealth
Board Appointments

Advisory Board on Behavior Analysis

  • Christina N. Giuliano, MS, BCBA, LBA of Salem, Executive Director, Blue Ridge Autism and Achievement Centers in Roanoke, Lynchburg, and Lexington

 

Auctioneers Board

  • Betty Bennett* of Staunton, Auctioneer & Realtor, American Real Estate, Inc.

 

Board of Optometry

  • Helene D. Clayton-Jeter, OD* of Rosslyn,  National Health Equity Director, Boston Scientific 

 

Cemetery Board

  • Enid Walker Butler* of Williamsburg, Volunteer Coordinator, Sentara Hospice
  • Armistead W. Dudley* of Norfolk, Bureau Manager of Cemeteries, City of Norfolk

 

Resources Authority Board

  • Thomas L. Hasty III* of Chesapeake, SEVP, TowneBank

 

Treasury Board

  • Neil Amin* of Henrico, Chief Executive Officer, Shamin Hotels
  • James Carney* of Midlothian, retired Vice President of Corporate Finance, Dominion Energy
  • Douglas W. Densmore* of Roanoke, Attorney, CowanPerry, P.C.
  • Lou Mejia* of Alexandria, Partner, Perkins Coie LLP

 

*denotes reappointment

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